Today’s Top Story

FDA announces recalls of two lots each of AuroMedics Pharma Ampicillin and Sulbactam, Piperacillin and Tazobactam products

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced voluntary recalls of two lots of AuroMedics Pharma Ampicillin and Sulbactam for Injection USP, 3 g/single-dose vials, as well as two lots of AuroMedics Pharma Piperacillin and Tazobactam for Injection, USP 3.375 g in a single-dose vials. The recall of the Ampicillin and Sulbactam lots was initiated due to customer complaints of the presence of red particulate matter in the product that is believed to be red rubber particles from the manufacturing process of the active ingredients. The Piperacillin and Tazobactam products have been found to contain particulate matter, visible only after reconstitution, that was confirmed to be glass within the vial.

Read more about the Ampicillin and Sulbactam for Injection recall…

Read more about the Piperacillin and Tazobactam for Injection recall…

 
 
Other News

Study: What factors are linked to abnormal knee laxity after primary ACL reconstruction?

A study published online in the journal Arthroscopy seeks to identify factors associated with abnormal anterior knee laxity after primary anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. The authors reviewed data on 5,462 patients who underwent primary ACL reconstruction with no associated ligament injuries at a single institution. Patients were considered to have abnormal anterior knee laxity if the postoperative side-to-side difference was greater than 5 mm. The authors found that risk of abnormal anterior knee laxity was significantly linked to age younger than 30 years, preoperative side-to-side difference greater than 5 mm, hamstring tendon graft, and medial meniscus resection. They note that female sex, medial meniscus suture, lateral meniscus resection, and lateral meniscus suture were not associated with an increased risk of abnormal knee laxity.

Read the abstract…

 
 
 
Administration seeks to rescind funds from some healthcare programs

HealthLeaders Media reports that President Donald J. Trump seeks to employ a budget maneuver called “rescission” to eliminate $15 billion in federal spending, including $7 billion from the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and $800 million from the U.S. Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI). Administration officials state that the move will not negatively impact CHIP, as $5 billion of the designated funding can no longer be spent because the period for it to be sent to states has expired, while $2 billion would be removed from a federal contingency fund meant to be used only in the case of a budget shortfall. However, some observers cite concerns about the proposal, noting that funding for CHIP was allowed to lapse in 2017, and the CMMI funding was intended to develop ways to make healthcare programs work more efficiently.

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CMS announces strategy to address needs of providers and patients in rural areas

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced a Rural Health Strategy intended to ensure that individuals who live in rural areas have access to high-quality, affordable healthcare. The strategy focuses on the following five objectives to achieve the agency’s vision for rural health:

1.    applying a “rural lens” to CMS programs and policies

2.    improving access to care through provider engagement and support

3.    advancing telehealth and telemedicine

4.    empowering patients in rural communities to make decisions about their healthcare

5.    leveraging partnerships to achieve strategic goals

Among other things, CMS states that the strategy is designed to avoid unintended consequences of policy and program implementation.

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Read the Rural Health Strategy outline (PDF)…

 
 
 
Major pharmacy chain to implement unilateral restrictions on opioid prescriptions

The Hill reports that within 60 days, Walmart and Sam’s Club pharmacies plan to limit the supply of first-time opioid prescriptions for acute pain to seven days, and restrict prescriptions to a maximum of 50 morphine milligram equivalent doses per day. They will also require e-prescriptions, by Jan. 1, 2020, for controlled substances. Supporters of the move say that such limits are needed to reduce overprescribing and diversion. Opponents, including the American Medical Association, have argued that dosage decisions should be kept between the patient and the physician.

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Your AAOS

Vote now: AAOS 2019 Nominating Committee, ten resolutions, and three bylaw amendments

Electronic voting is now open for active, emeritus, and inactive fellows to elect the five members of the 2019 Nominating Committee, and to determine action on ten AAOS resolutions and three AAOS bylaw amendments. Online voting is quick, secure, and confidential. For the resolutions and bylaw amendments, at least five percent of the total fellowship must cast ballots for the voting to be valid. Ballots must be submitted by Wednesday, May 30, 2018 An AAOS member ID is required to vote. For more information, please contact Donna Malert, at:

malert@aaos.org

Learn more and cast your ballot…  (member login required)

 
 
 
Call for abstracts: AAOS 2019 Annual Meeting

Share your knowledge with orthopaedic surgeons from around the world at the AAOS 2019 Annual Meeting, to be held March 12–16, in Las Vegas. Nowhere else will your discoveries reach such a wide-ranging orthopaedic audience. Please note the following deadlines:

  • June 1, 2018—Paper presentations, posters, or scientific exhibits
  • July 16, 2018—Orthopaedic Video Theater presentations

Presenters and all coauthors must disclose financial relationships in the AAOS Disclosure Database Program prior to abstract submission. Disclosure reported on April 1, 2018, or later is acceptable.

Submit abstracts…

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