Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2011
Mentor: William Robertson, M.D.
Department: Orthopedic Surgery
Room number: 1801 Inwood Rd, 4th Floor
Mail Code: 8883
Phone number: (214) 645-5795
E-mail: William.robertson@utsouthwestern.edu
Project title: “Patient Follow-Up After Surgical Treatment of Musculoskeletal Injuries: What Predicts Compliance”
Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): 00000059
Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): N/A
Project Type: patient-based
Brief Description of Project:
Purpose: The assessment and degree of patient outcome following orthopedic surgery can be negatively impacted by poor patient follow-up. The purpose of this study is to determine if and how patient follow-up rates are influenced by a pre-visit reminder phone call.
Methods: After IRB approval, a retrospective chart review identified all scheduled post-operative visits for orthopedic surgery patients during a two year period (October 2008 to October 2010) at our level 1 trauma center. This included patients from various subspecialty areas of orthopedics (i.e. trauma, arthroplasty, sports medicine, hand, foot, and spine). For each patient, we’ll obtain demographic data and determined the distance between the patient’s home and the clinic. In the 90-day post-operative period, we’ll determine whether the patients completed their scheduled clinic visit, cancelled the appointment, or did not show. We will perform a univariate analysis to assess the impact of patient age, sex, race, and distance from home to clinic on clinic follow-up attendance rates after surgery. During the first 90 days following surgery, patients are routinely scheduled for 2, 6, and 12 weeks follow-up appointments. We will look at each visit to determine if a phone call has a larger impact on one visit compared to another.
Standard practice at our institution is that every patient be sent a letter, by standard mail, reminding them of their upcoming appointment. In October 2009, our clinic instituted an additional telephone call reminder system one-day prior to the appointment to notify patients of upcoming appointments. We analyzed the data to assess if this phone call reminder affected the follow-up rate.
The medical student’s responsibilities will include assisting in chart review, data analysis, manuscript preparation and editing. Additionally, the medical student will assist in writing an IRB for a prospective clinical study that will look at the predictors of post-operative follow-up in specifically the orthopedic trauma and sports medicine population. This prospective study will help us analyze the impact of various factors (race, socioeconomic status, age), type of surgery (upper or lower extremity), and chronicity (acute vs. chronic), on patient follow-up and ultimately clinical outcome. Throughout this study, the medical student can play a continued role by assisting in patient enrollment and follow-up contact. A secondary investigation could include a cost analysis of the phone call reminder system.
Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students:
Robertson, W. Siddiqui, A. “Patient Follow-Up After Surgical Treatment of Musculoskeletal Injuries: What Predicts Compliance”. October 2010 – Present
Robertson W, Dumont G, Brown T. Assessment of Glenoid Version Using Physician Operated CT Scan Technology. Present
Robertson W, Dumont G, Brown T. Assessment of Glenoid Anterior Bone Loss Using Physician Operated CT Scan Technology. Present
Robertson, W. Knight, JR. Open versus Arthoscopic Assisted Acromioclavicular Joint Reconstruction: A Prospective Controlled Trial. Present
Robertson WJ, Mattern CJ, Hur J, Su EP, Pellicci PM. “Failure mechanisms and closed reduction of a constrained tripolar acetabular liner”. J Arthroplasty. 2009 Feb;24(2):322.e5-11. Presented at the 2007 Young Arthroplasty Investigators Conference. San Diego, CA.
Bedi A, Chen N, Robertson WJ, Kelly BT. “The management of labral tears and femoroacetabular impingement of the hip in the young, active patient”. Arthroscopy. 2008 Oct;24(10):1135-45.
Robertson WJ, Gardner MJ, Barker JU, Boraiah S, Lorich DG, Kelly BT. “Anatomy and Dimensions of the Gluteus Medius Tendon Insertion.” Arthroscopy. 2008 Feb;24(2):130-6.
Robertson WJ, Kelly BT. “The Safe Zone for Hip Arthroscopy. A Cadaveric Assessment of Central, Peripheral, and Peritrochanteric Compartment Portal Placement”. Arthroscopy. 2008 Sept; 24(9): 1019-26. Presented at the 2008 AANA and AAOS meetings.
Gardner MJ, Robertson WJ, Barker JU, Boraiah S, Kelly BT; Helfet DL, Lorich DG. “Anatomy of the Greater Trochanteric 'Bald Spot': A Potential Portal for Abductor Sparing Femoral Nailing?". Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2008 Sep; 466(9):2196-200. Presented at the 2007 OTA Meeting. Boston, MA.
Robertson WJ, Hatch JD, Rodeo SA. “Evaluation of tendon graft fixation using α-BSM calcium phosphate cement.” Arthroscopy. 2007; 23 (10) 1087-92 .
Robertson WJ, Kadrmas WR, Kelly BT. “Arthroscopic management of labral tears in the hip: A systematic review of the literature.” Clinical Orthopedics and Related Research. 2007;455:88-92.
Kelly BT, Robertson WJ, Potter HG, Warren RF, Rodeo SA. “Hydrogel meniscus replacement in the sheep knee: Preliminary evaluation of chondroprotective effects.” Am J Sports Med. 2007; 35:43-52.Presented at the 2006 Eastern Orthopedic Association meeting.
Leunig M, Robertson WJ, Ganz R. “Femoroacetabular Impingement: Diagnosis and Management, Including Open Surgical Technique”. Oper Tech Sports Med. 2007; 15:178-188.
Robertson WJ, Kelly BT, Green DW. “Osteochondritis dissecans of the knee in children.” Curr. Opin. Pediatr. 2003; 15: 38-44.