Study: Does Glenohumeral Internal Rotation Deficit Increase Risk for Shoulder Conditions in Professional Baseball Pitchers?
A study published online in the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery found that glenohumeral internal rotation deficit (GIRD) was significantly associated with certain shoulder conditions in professional baseball pitchers. Twenty-six male pitchers were stratified into two groups: the GIRD group (a loss of 20 degrees or more in the throwing shoulder internal rotation [IR]) and the non-GIRD group Compared to the non-GIRD group, pitchers in the GIRD group had significantly lower total range of motion deficit (throwing – nonthrowing), muscle thickness ratio (throwing:nonthrowing) of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus, and muscle strength ratio (throwing:nonthrowing) of external rotation, as well as significantly higher muscle strength ratio (throwing:nonthrowing) of the IR.
Study: Trends in Physician Reimbursement for Arthroscopic Procedures
A study published online in Arthroscopy observed that the Medicare reimbursement rate for physicians for common arthroscopic procedures fell by nearly 30 percent over a two-decade period. The Calendar Year 2017 Public Use File data on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ website was used to identify the top 20 most common arthroscopic procedures. National reimbursement averages from 2000 through 2019 were determined using the Physician Fee Schedule Look-up Tool. After adjusting for inflation, Medicare reimbursement decreased by 29.81 percent over the study period; the mean reimbursement dropped from $906 in 2000 to $632 in 2019.
Study Assesses Correlation Between Taking Benzodiazepines and Complication Risk After TKA
A study published online in The Journal of Arthroplasty found that patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) taking benzodiazepines had an increased risk for complications. Primary TKA patients were stratified by whether they had a preoperative benzodiazepine prescription record and then further by one versus multiple preoperative benzodiazepine prescription(s). Patients with multiple preoperative benzodiazepine prescriptions had higher adjusted odds of 90-day and two-year revision, 90-day resection, 90-day and two-year femur fracture fixation, and two-year delirium, as well as decreased adjusted odds of 90-day and two-year manipulation under anesthesia.
Study Analyzes Relationship Between Toe Exercises and Metatarsalgia
A study published online in the Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research examined the impact of toe exercises on metatarsalgia. Toe strength measurement was conducted in 41 patients (56 feet) with a mean age of 63.4 years. Pre- and post-treatment visual analog scale (VAS) and American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores, marble pickup, and single-leg standing time (SLST) were recorded. Toe plantarflexion strength, VAS and AOFAS scores, marble pickup, and SLST improved after treatment. Patients with symptoms for longer than one year had significantly lower VAS score changes. On multivariate analysis, factors significantly associated with lower VAS score improvement were longer disease duration and higher BMI.
Study Assesses Mental Health of Orthopaedic Trauma Patients
A retrospective study published online in the Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research examined the prevalence and risk factors of anxiety and depression in orthopaedic trauma patients Patients treated between July 2015 and December 2017 filled out the Huaxi Emotional-Distress Index (HEI) questionnaire. A total of 162 patients (8.1 percent) had an HEI score > 8; approximately 1 percent of patients had severe emotional disorders, defined as an HEI score ≥ 17. Logistic regression identified VAS score and Injury Severity Score as risk factors for emotional disorders, while marital status was a protective factor.
The Annual Report of the Academy’s American Joint Replacement Registry (AJRR), released at the Annual Meeting of the American Association of Knee and Hip Surgeons, tells the story of a year marked by a multitude of successes and growth for AJRR. AJRR made news in June when it crossed the mark of two million hip and knee procedures as reported by more than 1,300 enrolled sites, with an overall cumulative procedural volume growth of 24.4 percent compared to the previous year.
AAOS Encourages Congress to Improve Deal to End Surprise Medical Billing
On Dec. 17, AAOS wrote to congressional leadership advocating for improvements to the newly announced legislation to end surprise medical billing, which may be included in a year-end package and passed by Congress in the next several days. The “No Surprises Act” is the result of compromise negotiations between four committees and follows more than two years of AAOS advocacy to remove patients from the middle of out-of-network billing disputes. The legislation contains an independent dispute resolution (IDR) process in place of a federal rate-setting benchmark, as AAOS and other physician groups requested. AAOS continues to call for further improvements, including lessening the impact of a 90-day waiting period following IDR
