Study: High 30-day Mortality after Hip Fracture Surgery in Older Patients with COVID-19 Infection
A retrospective cohort study published in the Journal of the AAOS: Global Research and Reviews ® reported a 30-day all-cause mortality of 14.6 percent after hip fracture surgery in patients with COVID-19 infection, compared with 3.8 percent in COVID-negative patients. In total, 3,303 adults aged ≥65 years who underwent hip fracture surgery from March through December 2020 were included. Total all-cause mortality during the study period was 27.0 percent among COVID-positive patients.
Physician Mental Health Bill Passes Congress, to Be Signed into Law
Last week, the U.S. Senate passed the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act, which will provide funds to help reduce and prevent mental and behavioral health conditions, suicide, and burnout, as well as increase access to evidence-based treatment for physicians, medical students, and other healthcare professionals. The bill is expected to be signed into law by President Joe Biden later this week. AAOS worked to garner support for this bill during Orthopaedic Advocacy Week and through the AAOS Advocacy Action Center, resulting in 32 additional cosponsors for the legislation. It was also featured as the topic of episode 21 on the AAOS Advocacy Podcast.
Study: Less Pain, Improved Function with Kinematic versus Mechanical Alignment TKA
Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with kinematic alignment led to less pain at six weeks follow-up compared with mechanical alignment, according to a study published in The Journal of Arthroplasty. One hundred patients with kinematic and 100 with mechanical alignment TKA were included. Six-week Visual Analog Scale scores were higher with mechanical alignment; this difference was mitigated by one year, when knee range of motion was similar in both groups. Kinematic alignment led to significantly better Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Scores and Forgotten Joint Scores up to two years postoperatively.
Randomized Study Finds Duloxetine Reduces Pain in End-stage Knee OA Compared with Standard Care
A randomized controlled trial published in BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders found that duloxetine reduced pain compared with placebo in patients with end-stage knee osteoarthritis (OA) with neuropathic symptoms. In total, 111 patients with knee or hip OA were randomized to standard care with or without eight weeks of duloxetine. Forty-four percent of the duloxetine group reported improvements after treatment, compared with no patients in the control group. Knee Injury or Hip Injury OA Outcome Scores for pain were 11.3 points lower in the duloxetine group than controls. Knee patients demonstrated significantly greater improvement than hip patients.
Study: Impact of Cast Immobilization on Outcomes after Arthroscopic Foveal Repair
A study published online in The Bone & Joint Journal compared outcomes of postoperative mobilization with a short-arm cast (SAC) in the semisupination position and a long-arm cast (LAC) in the neutral position following arthroscopic triangular fibrocartilage complex foveal repair. Forty patients were included (SAC, n = 16; LAC, n = 24). The LAC group demonstrated significantly more restriction in supination compared with the SAC group; conversely, pronation was significantly more restricted in female patients in the SAC group. Both groups improved in terms of pain and functional outcomes. LAC on the dominant hand was associated with higher disability caused by immobilization.
Study Shows More than Half of Opioids Prescribed to Young Patients after Orthopaedic Surgery Go Unused
A study conducted at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta revealed that adolescents undergoing orthopaedic surgery who are prescribed opioid medications for postoperative pain management rarely consume the full amount of liquid or tablet doses prescribed. Despite this discrepancy, 91 percent of patients reported being satisfied or very satisfied with their pain control.
OrthoInfo, the Academy’s patient education website, is here to provide your patients with in-depth information—all written, reviewed, and regularly updated by orthopaedic experts. This includes a full range of articles to help patients understand conditions that affect the hip, and what to expect if they need hip replacement surgery.
