On May 4, AAOS ballots were distributed by email to each Active and Emeritus Fellow’s email address on file. All Fellows are encouraged to vote. Voting will remain open through June 3. Any Fellow who believes they have not received a ballot should check the email account provided to AAOS, including their inbox, clutter, and spam folders. If the ballot cannot be located, Fellows may contact governance@aaos.org to have their ballot reissued. Fellows can also verify that their correct email is on file by checking MyAAOS via the link below (login required).
Study Examines Outcomes of Prehabilitation for Patients Undergoing Orthopaedic Surgery
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 48 studies and 3,570 patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery in JAMA Network Open evaluated the association between prehabilitation and pre- and postoperative outcomes. Prehabilitation patients undergoing total knee replacement (TKR) reported better knee function, muscle strength, and flexion preoperatively. Total hip replacement patients had better health-related quality of life scores and muscle strength and abduction presurgery. The study reported moderate-certainty evidence in favor of prehabilitation for improved function at six weeks in patients undergoing TKR and in those undergoing lumbar surgery after six months.
Study Evaluates MRI as a Prognostic Tool for Meniscal Degeneration and Knee Osteoarthritis
The Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery published a case control study assessing the prognostic value of using MRI to predict meniscal degeneration related to incident destabilizing meniscal tears or accelerated knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Analyzing data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative, three groups without radiographic KOA at baseline were identified: accelerated KOA, typical KOA, and no KOA. Logistic regression models were employed to examine the association between the presence of medial meniscal degeneration and an incident destabilizing medial meniscal tear. Patients with medial meniscal degeneration had a threefold increased risk of developing an incident destabilizing medial meniscal tear within four years.
Study Validates Novel Thoracic Spinal Stenosis Surgical Invasiveness Index
A retrospective study of 989 patients undergoing open posterior thoracic spinal stenosis surgery in the Spine Journal found the thoracic spinal stenosis (TSS) invasiveness index (TII) was more strongly correlated with operative time and estimated blood loss than the surgical invasiveness index (SII). The study validated a novel invasiveness index incorporating TSS-specific factors for open posterior TSS surgery to predict operative duration and intraoperative blood loss as well as stratify surgical risk. TII explained 64.2 percent of operative times and 34.6 percent of estimated blood loss variation compared with SII, which explained 38.7 percent and 22.5 percent, respectively.
Study: High Incidence of Adverse Events Associated with Open Reduction for Infantile Developmental Hip Dysplasia
A prospective study found open hip reduction for infantile developmental dysplasia of the hip was associated with a 44 percent risk of proximal femoral growth disturbance (PFGD). The study was published in the Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics. To determine the outcomes following open reduction in a cohort of 232 hips, statistical analyses were employed to compare preoperative and operative characteristics that predicted re-dislocation, PFGD, and residual acetabular dysplasia. The rate of re-dislocation was 7 percent, and 81 percent of re-dislocations occurred in the first year after surgery. Additionally, patients treated with concomitant pelvic osteotomy had lower rates of residual dysplasia.
AAOS members will soon receive the print edition of the May issue of AAOS Now, but the electronic edition is already available on the AAOS Now website. This month’s issue highlights how minimally invasive techniques are evolving the subspecialties of hip, foot and ankle, shoulder, hand, wrist, and elbow, and orthopaedic trauma. In addition, this issue spotlights more coverage from the AAOS 2023 Annual Meeting in Las Vegas and features arguments for and against the proposed amendment to the AAOS Standard of Professionalism regarding Professional Relationships.
Submit Your Orthopaedic Research & Review Articles to JAAOS or JAAOS Global for Better Reach
Orthopaedic surgeons looking to share their articles with a wide and engaged audience should consider submitting to the Journal of the AAOS® ( JAAOS®) and Journal of the AAOS Global Research & Reviews® ( JAAOS Global). Both journals offer a platform for cutting-edge research, innovative techniques, and the latest advancements in orthopaedics. There are no submission fees. With a rigorous peer-review process and a commitment to high-quality, evidence-based research, JAAOS and JAAOS Global are trusted sources for orthopaedic surgeons around the world. By submitting to these journals, surgeons can help advance the field and contribute to the collective knowledge of orthopaedic medicine.
