Samuel Castro Jr

All Publications

• Language as Healing: The Moment I Understood My Place in Medicine. Academic medicine : journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges Castro, S. 2025

  View details for DOI 10.1097/ACM.0000000000006235

  View details for PubMedID 40911882

• Vibration therapy during needle procedures improves pain sensitivity while worsening pain threshold: A randomized, crossover study of healthy volunteers. The journal of vascular access Rodriguez, S. T., Sheira, D., Castro, S., Zuniga-Hernandez, M., Wang, E. Y., Gardner, K., Hijazi, M., Shang, L., Nguyen, H., Stacey, H., Young, L., Cocanower, C., Chriss, M., Jackson, C., Suen, M. Y., Caruso, T. J. 2025: 11297298251366739

  Abstract

  Despite advancements in pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies, pain and anxiety during needle-related procedures affect most patients. Through activation of large diameter nerve fibers, vibration therapy has been proposed to alleviate pain by minimizing perception of concomitant painful stimuli. This study investigated the effectiveness of a Bluetooth-enabled haptic device (BHD) in reducing pain sensitivity and improving patient satisfaction during needle procedures. Given the frequency of vascular access procedures, from IV catheter placements to phlebotomy, improving patient experience during these encounters is essential. Non-pharmacologic tools like the BHD may enhance vascular access by improving patient cooperation and reducing procedure-related distress.This was a prospective crossover study conducted at an academic hospital in Northern California. Participants included healthy adults with no history of chronic pain, who underwent a series of pinprick stimuli and different vibration patterns (A, B, C, and D) applied by the BHD. The primary outcome investigated mechanical pain sensitivity, and secondary outcomes explored mechanical pain threshold and satisfaction. Mechanical pain sensitivity was assessed using numerical pain ratings, while pain threshold and satisfaction were measured through standardized thresholds and survey responses, respectively. Data were analyzed using mixed-effect linear and logistic regression models.A total of 199 participants were enrolled. All vibration patterns reduced perceived pain compared to the control condition, with Pattern D achieving the greatest reduction (p < 0.001). Regarding mechanical pain threshold, Pattern A increased the odds of pain detection (odds ratio: 1.63, p = 0.019), while other patterns showed no differences. Approximately 77% of participants recommended the BHD.The BHD reduced procedural pain, supporting use of vibration therapy as a non-pharmacological strategy to improve patient comfort during needle procedures. Future studies should explore vibration patterns with clinical procedures and assess the device's impact across diverse populations.

  View details for DOI 10.1177/11297298251366739

  View details for PubMedID 40878660

• Post-discharge complications and follow-up timing after hospitalization for traumatic rib fractures. European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society Anderson, T. N., Earley, M., Rockwood, S. J., Zudock, E. J., Steeman, S. L., Footman, J. K., Castro, S., Myers, A. A., Flojo, R. A., Forrester, J. D. 2025; 51 (1): 78

  Abstract

  To evaluate frequency and timing of post-discharge complications in patients with traumatic rib fractures undergoing operative or nonoperative management.We retrospectively reviewed adult patients with rib fractures admitted to a Level 1 trauma center from 1/2020 to 12/2021. Outcomes included rib-related complications, pneumonia within 1 month, new diagnosis of opioid- or alcohol-use disorder, and all-cause mortality. Patients were stratified on whether they underwent surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF). Associations between risk factors and outcomes were evaluated through Fine and Gray hazard models with death (or in-hospital death for the post-discharge death outcome) as a competing risk.Of 976 patients admitted with rib fractures, 904(93%) underwent non-operative therapy and 72(7%) underwent SSRF. Nonoperative patients had less-severe injuries and shorter ICU length-of-stay. Rib-related complications occurred in 13(1%) nonsurgical patients and 4(6%) surgical patients. In the nonsurgical group, presence of hemo/pneumothorax on admission was associated with increased risk of rib-related complications [subdistribution hazard ratio (SHR) (95% CI): 5.95(1.8, 19.67)]. Pneumonia within 1 month occurred in 9(1%) nonsurgical patients and 1(1%) surgical patient. New diagnosis of alcohol or opioid-use disorder was made in 14(2%) nonsurgical patients and 1(1%) surgical patients. All-cause mortality was 68(8%) in the nonsurgical group and 2(3%) in the surgical group. Older age was associated with mortality in the nonsurgical cohort [SHR (95% CI): 1.83(1.46, 2.28)].Post-discharge rib-related complications were rare in both groups, but occurred primarily within 2 weeks, suggesting concentrated earlier follow-up may be beneficial. These findings help inform recommendations for follow-up in this population.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s00068-024-02682-w

  View details for PubMedID 39856347

  View details for PubMedCentralID 6531730

• Initial Multivisceral Resection for Retroperitoneal Liposarcoma Does Not Predict Improved Outcomes After Recurrence Sun, B. J., Yue, T. M., Nobuhara, C. K., Castro, S., Agolia, J. P., Lee, B. SPRINGER. 2024: S42

  View details for Web of Science ID 001185577500086

• Upper extremity trauma in Costa Rica - Evaluating epidemiology and identifying opportunities CURRENT ORTHOPAEDIC PRACTICE Appiani, L., Castro, S., Romero, B., Salas, J., Vindas, P., Soto, R., Artavia, C., Kamal, R. N., Shapiro, L. M. 2023; 34 (6): 280-284

  View details for DOI 10.1097/BCO.0000000000001233

  View details for Web of Science ID 001124056300006

• Upper Extremity Trauma in Costa Rica - Evaluating Epidemiology and Identifying Opportunities. Current orthopaedic practice Castro Appiani, L. M., Castro, S., Romero, B., Díaz Salas, J. D., Vindas, P., Soto, R., Artavia, C. C., Kamal, R., Shapiro, L. M. 2023; 34 (6): 280-284

  Abstract

  Traffic accidents and musculoskeletal injuries represent a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Costa Rica. To inform capacity building efforts, we conducted a survey study of hand and upper extremity (UE) fellowship-trained surgeons in Costa Rica to evaluate the epidemiology, complications, and challenges in care of UE trauma.Aiming to capture all hand and UE trained surgeons in Costa Rica, we compiled a list of nine surgeons and sent a survey in Spanish using Qualtrics. Assessment questions were developed to understand the burden, complications, practice patterns, challenges, and capacity associated with care of UE trauma. Questions were designed to focus on opportunities for future investigation. Questions were translated and adapted by two bilingual speakers. Data were reported descriptively and open-ended responses were analyzed using content analysis.Nine (100%) surgeons completed the survey. Distal radius fractures, hand and finger fractures, and tendon injuries are the most frequently noted conditions. Stiffness and infection are the most common complications. About 29% of patients are unable to get necessary therapy and 13% do not return for follow-up care with monetary, distance, and transportation limitations being the greatest challenges.The burden of UE trauma in Costa Rica is high. Identifying common conditions, complications, challenges, and capacity allows for a tailored approach to partnership and capacity building (e.g. directing capacity building and/or research infrastructure toward distal radius fractures). These insights represent opportunities to inform community-driven care improvement and research initiatives, such as Delphi consensus approaches to identify priorities or the development of outcome measurement systems.

  View details for DOI 10.1097/bco.0000000000001233

  View details for PubMedID 38404621

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC10888422

• Patient Follow-up After Orthopaedic Outreach Trips - Do We Know Whether Patients are Improving? World journal of surgery Leversedge, C., Castro, S., Appiani, L. M., Kamal, R., Shapiro, L. 2022

  Abstract

  BACKGROUND: The burden of traumatic musculoskeletal injuries falls greatest on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). To help address this burden, organizations host over 6,000 outreach trips annually, 20% of which are orthopaedic. Monitoring post-surgical outcomes is critical to ensuring care quality; however, the implementation of such monitoring is unknown. The purpose of this review is to identify published follow-up practices of short-term orthopaedic surgery outreach trips to LMICs.METHODS: We completed a systematic review of Pubmed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and ProQuest following PRISMA guidelines. Follow-up method, rate, duration, and types of outcomes measured along with barriers to follow-up were collected and reported.RESULTS: The initial search yielded 1,452 articles, 18 of which were eligible. The mean follow-up time was 5.4months (range: 15days-7years). The mean follow-up rate was 65.8% (range: 22%-100%), the weighted rate was 57.5%. Fifteen studies reported follow-up at or after 3months while eight studies reported follow-up at or after 9months. Fifteen studies reported follow-up in person, three reported follow-up via phone call or SMS. Outcome reporting varied among mortality, complications, and patient-reported outcomes. The majority (75%) outlined barriers to follow-up, most commonly noting transportation and costs of follow-up to the patient.CONCLUSIONS: There is minimal and heterogeneous public reporting of patient outcomes and follow-up after outreach trips to LMICs, limiting quality assessment and improvement. Future work should address the design and implementation of tools and guidelines to improve follow-up as well as outcome measurement to ensure provision of high-quality care.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s00268-022-06630-w

  View details for PubMedID 35764890