Today’s Top Story

AAOS Joins Organizations in Voicing Concern over Rising Risk of Caring for Patient Athletes

In an open letter published earlier this week, AAOS and 27 other sports medicine organizations voiced concern over the rising complexity and risk associated with providing care to patient athletes. They pointed to their higher likelihood of injury, lower return-to-play rates, and increased likelihood of significant loss of high-earning income potential. A concerted effort is needed to preserve this special physician-patient relationship so as not to dissuade subspecialized training or threaten patients’ access to care long-term. AAOS continues to work with the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM), which organized the letter, and others to monitor such issues and ensure optimal medical care.

Read ESPN’s story…

Read AOSSM’s open letter…

 
 
 
 
In Other News

Study: Impact of PNB versus Epidural versus General Anesthesia on Mobility in Hip Fracture Patients

Peripheral nerve blocks (PNB) were associated with slower postoperative time to ambulation and increased length of stay (LOS) than epidural and general anesthesia in patients aged ≥65 years who underwent surgery to treat hip fracture, according to a study in the Journal of the AAOS®. The retrospective review was comprised of 1,352 patients. Time to ambulation, time to out-of-bed, and LOS were compared between patients who received PBD, epidural, and general anesthesia. Patients in the epidural anesthesia group were associated with less delay to first out-of-bed, less delay to ambulation, and overall reduced LOS.

Read the abstract…

 
 
 
 
Study Explores Long-term Survival and Risk Factors for Failure in Medial UKA

A retrospective cohort study in the Journal of Arthroplasty investigated the survival rate of medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) and the risk factors associated with failure. The survival rate and radiological outcomes were collected from 365 knees undergoing a medial UKA. After five and 10 years, the implant survival rate was 92 percent and 88.4 percent, respectively. Risk factors for tibial implant failure included postoperative hip-knee-ankle angle ≤175 degrees and joint line lowering ≥2 mm, and the combination of those factors significantly increased the risk of failure.

Read the abstract…

 
 
 
Study: Association between Radiographic Findings of Concomitant Injuries and ACL Tears in NFL Athletes

The Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine published a cross-sectional study which examined the association between radiographic findings of concomitant injuries and ACL tears in NFL athletes. Overall, 191 radiographs were reviewed, and the data collected included ACL tear type and location, presence and location of bone bruises, meniscal tears, articular cartilage pathology, and concomitant ligament pathology. Bone bruises were identified in 94.8 percent of ACL tears, of which 81 percent were observed in the tibial plateau. Of the direct contact injuries (21 percent), there was a higher risk of having a concomitant medial collateral ligament tear and/or medial patellofemoral ligament injury.

Read the study…

 
 
 
 
Comparative Analysis of Surgical versus Nonoperative Approaches in Scaphoid Waist Fractures in Adolescent Patients

A retrospective study comparing the rate of complications and radiographic and clinical parameters between surgical treatment (ST) and nonoperative orthopaedic treatment (OT) by percutaneous screw fixation in adolescent patients approaching skeletal maturity found OT of scaphoid waist fractures in adolescents resulted in a higher rate of nonunion than ST. The study was published in Orthopaedics & Traumatology: Surgery & Research. Thirty-seven patients were in the OT group, and 21 were in the ST group. No nonunions occurred in the ST group, and the duration of immobilization (eight weeks) and the number of consultations were higher in the OT group.

Read the abstract…

 
 
 
AAOS Now

AAOS CPG Addresses Clavicle Fractures

The AAOS Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) on Clavicle Fracture Treatment, released in late 2022, provides guidance on managing these fractures and offers recommendations for selecting appropriate hardware for specific fracture types. Co-chairs for the CPG development group were Melissa Wright, MD, representing the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, and Gregory J. Della Rocca, MD, PhD, FAAOS, representing AAOS. “This CPG is particularly exciting because the literature on clavicle fractures has advanced considerably over the last several decades, and there have been major shifts in practice patterns,” Dr. Wright stated.

Read more…

 
 
 
Your AAOS

Register Today for ‘The Next Generation of Biologics,’ Taking Place in Washington, D.C.

The AAOS’ third annual Biologics Symposium, titled “The Next Generation of Biologics,” is presented in collaboration with the Biologic Association and will take place on July 12 in Washington, D.C., a day before the 2023 American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine Annual Meeting. The symposium will feature renowned faculty, including program chairs Jason L. Dragoo, MD, FAAOS; Scott Rodeo, MD, FAAOS; and Shane A. Shapiro, MD, who will share their insights and expertise. Orthopaedic surgeons who wish to expand their knowledge about the rapidly evolving field of biologics are encouraged to attend this live event. Visit the link below for more information.

Register today…