August 14, 2020 | Today’s News

Apply for the CME Courses Program Chair Position

The Council on Education is seeking a volunteer to serve as the Continuing Medical Education (CME) Courses Program chair. The chair provides oversight of the Academy’s annual CME course calendar. The chair is responsible for identifying appropriate topics and subject matter experts, as well as ensuring Academy CME courses are planned and presented consistent with the requirements of AAOS, the American Medical Association, and the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education accreditation criteria, policies, and Standards for Commercial Support. Applicants should have experience in developing surgical skills and didactic live courses and webinars, including online live and virtual activities. The application deadline is Oct. 1.

Learn more and submit your application…(member login required)

Study Compares Safety Between Hip and Knee Versus Ankle Arthroplasty

A study published in the Aug. 15 issue of the Journal of the AAOS ® compared early complication rates between total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) versus total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Patients treated between 2006 and 2016 for TKA (n = 223,587), THA (n = 138,325), or TAA (n = 839) were included. TAA patients had a lower total complication rate (2.98 percent) compared to THA (4.92 percent) and TKA (4.56 percent) patients, as well as lower rates of blood transfusion (0.48 percent, 9.66 percent, and 6.44 percent, respectively) and readmission (1.45 percent, 3.66 percent, and 3.40 percent, respectively).

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According to a study published online in the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, preoperative partial thickness rotator cuff tears do not impact anatomical total shoulder replacement (TSR) for osteoarthritis. Pre- and postoperative clinical assessments included Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS), range of movements (ROM), and rotator cuff Radiographs were used to assess loosening. Final analysis included 36 TSR patients with partial thickness rotator cuff tears who were followed for a mean 5.8 years. All patients demonstrated significant improvements in pain and ROM. OSS improved by at least 14 points. External rotation, forward flexion, abduction, and internal rotation all improved.

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A study published online in The Journal of Hand Surgery assessed the epidemiology of and trends in available treatments for radial head fractures. Data from a national inpatient database registry spanning 2007 to 2016 were retrospectively reviewed, including 70,118 radial head fractures. Over the study period, the annual number of fractures rose 20 percent. Peak fracture incidence for women occurred between ages 55 and 64 years compared to 30 to 39 years for men; women were also more likely than men to sustain a fracture. Locking plate fixation of comminuted fractures and radial head arthroplasty became more common over the study period, while radial head resections were performed less often.

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A retrospective study published in the August issue of the European Spine Journal assessed which red flag signs and symptoms in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with back pain were correlated with serious pathologies. Among 1,000 patients who presented to the ED with back pain over a 14-month period, 69 percent had red flags. Red flags associated with serious spinal/nonspinal pathology included fever, tuberculosis (TB) history, known nephrolithiasis/abdominal aortic aneurysm, unexplained weight loss, writhing in pain, urinary symptoms, and flank pain. Red flags associated with serious spinal pathology included saddle anesthesia, TB history, intravenous drug use, acute onset urinary retention, and anal tone loss.

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Study: How Has COVID-19 Affected Pediatric Fractures?

A study published in the September issue of the Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics analyzed the epidemiology of pediatric fractures during the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers retrospectively compared acute fractures at a single level 1 pediatric trauma hospital from March 15 to April 15 (pandemic) versus the same window in 2018 and 2019 (prepandemic). Final analysis included 1,745 fracture patients. During the pandemic period, significant decreases were observed in fracture incidence, presenting age for fractures, and the number of fractures requiring surgery. Injuries at home and on bicycles increased, while sports-related injuries decreased.

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Applying for a Residency and Fellowship from an Osteopathic Perspective

Match Day has always been exciting for students and educators alike. This past March was the first time that all allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) applicants participated exclusively in the National Resident Matching Program. This article takes a closer look at what makes DOs and MDs similar and different.

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