Federal Court Strikes Down Key Parts of No Surprises Act Rule
On Feb. 23, a federal judge issued a decision and final judgment to set aside key parts of the rule for implementing the No Surprises Act which took effect Jan. 1. He agreed with the Texas Medical Association that parts of the Independent Dispute Resolution Process for resolving out-of-network bills are inconsistent with congressional intent and should be invalidated on a nationwide basis. The lawsuit is one of six against the major healthcare rule, including one led by the American Medical Association and the American Hospital Association that AAOS joined in filing an amicus brief for in January.
Study: Time to Wound Closure Associated with SSI after Fasciotomy for Acute Compartment Syndrome
In patients with acute compartment syndrome, time to closure after fasciotomy is related to the incidence of surgical site infections (SSIs), according to a retrospective study published in the February issue of the Journal of the AAOS: Global Research & Reviews ®. Twenty-five of 142 patients (17.6 percent) developed an SSI after fasciotomy. Median time to closure was significantly associated with odds of SSI, with a “golden period” for closure at four to five days after fasciotomy, the authors noted.
Study Identifies Relationship between Inflammatory Response and PROMs after TKA
A randomized study published online in Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy found that total knee arthroplasty (TKA) designed with a novel hypoallergenic coating system led to similar midterm patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) scores compared to standard implants in 120 patients without a known metal allergy. Blood cytokine patterns at five years postoperatively were similar with coated implants and standard implants. The authors noted, regardless of implant type, patients with an increased inflammatory response (elevated IL-8) had worse Oxford Knee Scores (overall and function subscale), UCLA activity scale scores, and Short-Form 36 quality-of-life scores.
Study: Retear after Arthroscopic RCR Is Associated with Deteriorating Function over Time
Retear after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (RCR) is strongly associated with progression of osteoarthritis, with worsening functional outcomes over time, according to a retrospective study published online in Arthroscopy. In total, 201 patients were followed for at least 5 years. Overall retear rate was 21.4 percent. There was an overall improvement in American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scores at short- and long-term follow-up, regardless of retear. The retear group demonstrated lower functional scores at final follow-up compared with outcomes at two-year follow-up.
Study: Characteristics of Bouldering Injuries that Require ED Visit
A retrospective study published online in Injury reported that bouldering injuries differ from known injuries from rock climbing, as most bouldering injuries were in the lower extremities. In total, 430 patients with 447 acute injuries who presented to an urban ED were evaluated. The most common injured regions were the ankle (36.7 percent), knee (16.8 percent), elbow (12.3 percent), spine (7.2 percent), and shoulder (6.3 percent). Around 20 percent of patients required surgical treatment. Men were significantly more likely to return to bouldering after injury than women.
Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Board of Councilors
While at the AAOS 2022 Annual Meeting in Chicago, the AAOS Board of Councilors (BOC) will celebrate 50 years of providing advocacy and support of the Academy and the profession—a celebration that is “near and dear to my heart,” according to Editor-in-chief Robert M. Orfaly, MD, MBA, FAAOS. “As the conscience and voice of our members to AAOS, [the BOC] recognizes the importance of leading to serve, communication, advocacy, and education.”
Did you know that now you can share your videos and get published faster with OVT Now? OVT Now features an expedited peer-review process and fast publication online. Once uploaded, a video is submitted to AAOS committee members in the given orthopaedic specialty and is quickly reviewed and published. With this option, you can showcase your skills and help advance orthopaedic education more than ever. This growing collection offers OVT viewers the chance to discover relevant content, and access to the very latest in orthopaedic surgical techniques. Log in to submit a video and discover all OVT has to offer.
