December 21, 2020 | Today’s News

Presidential Update from Joseph A. Bosco III, MD, FAAOS

In his latest message, AAOS President Joseph A. Bosco III, MD, FAAOS, discussed the combined $900 billion COVID-19 aid package and $1.4 trillion omnibus spending bill that Congress is set to approve this week. Dr. Bosco highlighted several wins for orthopaedic surgeons that are incorporated in the package before Congress, namely language that helps mitigate the impact of impending Medicare cuts and finally ends surprise medical bills, which have plagued patients for years. He credited the positive developments to the tireless advocacy of AAOS members throughout 2020 and ended stating that he hopes the good news will bring Fellows the peace and motivation needed to build on this success in the new near.

Read Dr. Bosco’s message…

Learn more about the COVID-19 relief bill…

Study: TJA Outcomes in Renal Transplant Versus Dialysis Patients

A study published online in the Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research observed better total joint arthroplasty (TJA) safety and outcomes in renal transplant patients than dialysis patients. Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were queried through November 2019 to identify relevant studies; the final meta-analysis and systematic review consisted of 10 studies. The renal transplant group had a lower risk of mortality and revision Periprosthetic joint infection risk differed in subgroups with different sample sizes. Dislocation, venous thromboembolic disease, and overall complications did not largely differ between the groups.

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A study published in the November issue of the Journal of the AAOS: Global Research & Reviews ® surveyed orthopaedic trauma fellowship program directors regarding which factors they consider the most important in program applicants. Forty-nine program directors responded to a web-based survey; 45 percent considered the interview the most important factor. Additional important components were letters of recommendation, personal connections to the applicant and/or letter writers, and the applicant’s background in trauma. Upon weighted score calculation, the interview remained the most important factor, followed by letters of recommendation, personal connections to the applicant/letter writers, the applicant’s residency program, strength of the applicant’s background in trauma, and research experience.

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A retrospective study published in the December issue of the Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma evaluated 10-year patient-reported outcomes in patients with femoral head fracture. Final analysis consisted of 28 patients (average age, 39.2 years; average follow-up, 14.0 years) who received nonoperative management, ORIF, fragment excision, total hip arthroplasty (THA), or a combination of treatments. Most patients received surgical management (86 percent). Three-quarters of patients sustained a complication. Seven patients were converted to THA after an average of 6.4 years, three of whom later underwent revision. The average Oxford Hip Score was 36.6

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A study published online in the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery found that the patient-level value of total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) widely varied by procedure type and certain preoperative characteristics. A total of 239 elective primary anatomic or reverse TSA patients with a minimum two-year follow-up were identified. The value ranged from 100 (which was the minimum) to 680. Factors associated with decreased value were reverse shoulder arthroplasty, prior ipsilateral shoulder surgery, more self-reported allergies, diabetes, and lower preoperative American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Score.

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Osteoporosis Is Not Just a ‘Woman’s Disease’

Osteoporosis is often mischaracterized as a “woman’s disease,” but it poses a significant burden for men as well. On average, men have higher peak bone mass than women, and they have different bone geometry. Men also don’t experience the accelerated bone loss that women experience during menopause. However, men comprise 20 percent of Americans with osteoporosis by bone mineral density criteria. This article, part two in a series about osteoporotic bone fracture, provides an overview of a presentation given by Nelson Watts, MD, for the Ninth Own the Bone Symposium, titled “Bone Health and Fragility Fractures: Introduction to Secondary Fracture Programs, What’s the Problem?”

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Read part one…

Flash Sale: Members Save on AAOS Publications from Wolters Kluwer

AAOS members and residents receive a 35 percent discount plus free shipping on AAOS publications from Wolters Kluwer now through Dec. 31.

Shop here and save…