Today’s Top Story
Study: Bicruciate-retaining implants may see reduced survivorship compared to conventional implants for TKA.
Data from a short-term study published online in the journal Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research suggest that bicruciate-retaining (BCR) implants may be associated with reduced survivorship compared to conventional cruciate-retaining (CR) implants for total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The researchers conducted a therapeutic study of 475 primary TKAs performed by two surgeons. Overall, 78 procedures (16 percent) were performed with BCR implants, 294 procedures (62 percent) were performed with CR implants, and 103 procedures (22 percent) were performed with anterior-stabilized or more constrained designs as a result of increased deformity and/or ligamentous deficiencies. Among patients for whom information was available at 12-month follow-up, the researchers found that knees in the BCR group had higher rates compared to the CR group for all-cause revision as well as irrigation and débridement with component retention. In addition, there was a greater proportion of radiolucent lines in the BCR cohort compared with the CR cohort. There were no differences between cohorts in Physical Function Computerized Adaptive Test scores, Global10 scores or knee range of motion outcomes. Read the abstract…
Other News
HHS begins Phase 2 of HIPAA audit program.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has begun Phase 2 of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) audit program. During this phase, OCR will review the policies and procedures adopted and employed by covered entities and their business associates to meet selected standards and implementation specifications of the Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules. HHS states that the audits will primarily be desk audits, although some on-site audits will also be conducted. The 2016 audit process begins with an email sent to covered entities and business associates requesting that contact information be provided to OCR in a timely manner. The agency notes that communications from OCR may be incorrectly classified by email servers as spam, and recommends that covered entities check their junk or spam email folders for emails from OCR. Lack of response to the OCR email will not prevent an audit or compliance review. Read more…
Learn more about the audit program…
Study: Orthopaedic specialty hospitals may have shorter lengths of stay following shoulder arthroplasty.
According to a study published online in the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, shoulder arthroplasty performed at an orthopaedic specialty hospital (OSH) may be associated with reduced length of stay (LOS) compared to the same procedure performed at a tertiary referral center (TRC). The authors conducted a matched cohort study of 136 primary shoulder arthroplasties performed at an OSH and 136 primary shoulder arthroplasties performed at a TRC. They found that average LOS was 1.31 days at the OSH and 1.85 days at the TRC. Of 136 OSH patients, 3 patients (2.2 percent) required transfer to a TRC. Overall readmission rates were similar across both institutions. Read the abstract…
Study: Nerve procedure could reduce “phantom limb” pain for amputees.
Data from a pilot study presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Interventional Radiology suggest that use of an image-guided, percutaneous, nerve cryoablation technique may reduce “phantom limb” pain for amputation patients. The researchers treated 10 patients with refractory phantom pain following amputation using percutaneous image-guided (computed tomography and ultrasound) cryoablation of the nerve and/or neuroma in their symptomatic residual limb that corresponded to the distribution of their symptoms. All patients saw mild improvements on Visual Analog Scale and Modified Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire scores at 7-day follow-up, and statistically significant improvements at 45-day follow-up. Read more…
Read the abstract…
Study: More dietary calcium may not reduce risk of fracture.
Findings from a study conducted in South Korea and presented at the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society suggest that increased dietary intake of calcium may not be associated with reduced risk of fracture among older people. The research team evaluated data on 2,199 men aged 50 years or older and 2,704 postmenopausal women followed for a mean of 13 years who did not have a history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) or stroke. They found that higher dietary intake of calcium was associated with decreased risk of CVD and stroke, but not reduced risk of fracture. Read more…
Read the abstract…
Study: Dog study suggests that suspensory fixation may offer improved tendon-to-bone healing compared with interference screw fixation in tunnels for ACL reconstruction.
According to a canine study published online in Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic & Related Surgery, suspensory fixation of all–soft tissue (AST) tendon autografts in sockets may offer superior tendon-to-bone healing compared with interference screw fixation in tunnels. The research team randomly assigned 12 dogs to treatment using a validated, hybrid, double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction technique with either suspensory fixation in sockets (n = 6) or interference screw fixation in tunnels (n = 6). The investigators found that histologic assessments displayed significantly better graft incorporation with four-zone direct healing to bone for grafts using suspensory fixation in sockets compared with the grafts using interference screw fixation in tunnels. In addition, graft healing to bone was significantly better at the aperture and mid-socket location for the cohort that underwent suspensory fixation in sockets. Biomechanical properties were similar between groups. Read more…
Read the complete study…
Call for volunteers: AMA representatives to ACGME Board of Directors and Institutional Review Committee.
AAOS seeks to nominate members to the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Board of Directors and to a separate position on the ACGME Institutional Review Committee. Applicants for these positions must be AAOS active fellows and members of the American Medical Association (AMA). In addition, all applicants must provide the following: an online AAOS CAP application, an abbreviated curriculum vitae (not to exceed three pages), a current full curriculum vitae, a 100-word biosketch, a letter of interest highlighting their expertise in the subject area and a statement that they are able to participate in full capacity, and a completed electronic application form for AMA Nomination for External Leadership Position. All materials must be submitted by April 8, 2016 at 11:59 pm CT, to Kyle Shah, at: shah@aaos.org
Download the AMA application forms…
Learn more and submit your application to AAOS…(member login required)
