Intermountain Healthcare

Postoperative inflammatory markers and surgical wound infection after elective short-segment lumbar fusion: the importance of surgical context

Abstract. Introduction: Postoperative white blood cell (WBC) count and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) are routinely available after lumbar fusion, but early elevations may reflect surgical stress. We evaluated associations of postoperative day (POD) 1 and POD3 WBC/NLR with...

Plain Radiograph Use in Pediatric Blunt Trauma Patients with Suspicion for Cervical Spine Injury: A Prospective Observational Analysis of the Western Pediatric Cervical Spine Study

BACKGROUND: Despite guideline support for plain radiography (XR) in low-risk pediatric blunt trauma, CT remains the predominant imaging modality for cervical spine evaluation, increasing radiation exposure. We evaluated contemporary XR utilization and its diagnostic performance i...

Effectiveness of RSV Prevention Strategies in US Infants: 2024–2025

OBJECTIVE: In 2023, 2 products, a long-acting monoclonal antibody (nirsevimab) and maternal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination, were recommended in the United States to prevent severe RSV disease among infants in their first RSV season. Low uptake during the 2023 to 20...