Study: Brake Reaction Parameters Normalize at Six Weeks Post-THA
Response to braking normalizes at six weeks following total hip arthroplasty (THA) in young, active patients, regardless of surgical approach, according to a study published online in The Journal of Arthroplasty. Forty-two patients received THA with a direct anterior approach (DAA) and 48 were treated via a posterolateral approach (PLA). Using a modern driving simulator, brake reaction parameters (BRPs) were measured preoperatively and every two weeks postoperatively until week eight. Although BRPs in the DAA group improved notably compared with the PLA group, both reached baseline levels at week six. BRPs were not associated with pain scores.
Study: Patients with Shoulder Pathology Showed High Rates of Psychological Distress
A retrospective study published online in the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery found that shoulder pathology patients reported high levels of psychological distress. In total, 277 patients completed the Optimal Screening for Prediction of Referral and Outcome–Yellow Flag Assessment Tool. Higher rates of yellow flags (YFs) indicate higher distress. Ninety-one percent of patients reported at least one YF, and the number of YFs was associated with baseline pain. The most common YFs were in the unhelpful coping (85 percent) and helpful coping (78 percent) domains. Operative patients had a significantly higher number of YFs compared with nonoperative patients.
Study: Patient Satisfaction after Wide-awake Flexor Tendon Repair
A retrospective study published online in The Journal of Hand Surgery investigated outcomes of wide-awake flexor tendon repair in zones 1 and 2 in patients treated at a major hand trauma center. Ninety-four tendons were repaired in 67 digits. Patient satisfaction was achieved in 89.6 percent of fingers and 77.8 percent of thumbs. One patient required correction of intraoperative gapping and one patient experienced rupture. Tenolysis was indicated in 5.1 percent of fingers and 111 percent of thumbs.
Study: Immediate-use Steam Sterilization Does Not Increase Risk of SSI
In a retrospective study published in The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery, surgical site infection (SSI) rates were similar between patients who had immediate-use steam sterilization (IUSS) used on surgical instruments in the OR and with those who did not. A total of 7,052 patients were propensity score-matched (PSM) according to IUSS use. SSI developed in 111 patients (1.57 percent), with 54.95 percent occurring in the IUSS group and 45.05 percent in the non-IUSS group. There were no associations between IUSS and greater incidence of SSIs.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra extended the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency by 90 days to mid-July. This extension provides ongoing public health benefits, such as expanded telehealth services, state support, and Medicaid coverage protections through July. Public health officials now see about 30,000 new COVID-19 cases daily, an uptick driven by the BA.2 subvariant of the virus. Experts monitoring the pandemic indicate that the number of cases is likely higher than reported since at-home tests are not captured in the data.
AAOS members will soon receive the print edition of the April issue of AAOS Now, but the electronic edition is already available on the AAOS Now website. This month’s issue highlights the Presidential Line and Guest Speaker addresses from the AAOS 2022 Annual Meeting, the pros and cons of robotic versus conventional knee replacement, a new group dedicated to improving LGBTQ+ representation in the orthopaedic community, and more.
Upcoming Course: Perfecting the Fundamentals of Inpatient and Outpatient Total Hip Arthroplasty
This comprehensive hands-on course is taking place June 10 to 11 in Rosemont, Ill. Explore contemporary strategies for preoperative planning, surgical execution, and postoperative management for both primary and revision hip arthroplasty. Spend most of the course in the cadaver lab honing your surgical skills. Save when you register by April 11.
