January 27, 2021 | Today’s News

Study: Predictors of Number of Sutures Needed for Meniscal Repair

A study published online in BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders identified predictors of the number of sutures that would be used during meniscal repair. Final analysis consisted of 242 patients. Upon univariate analysis, patients treated within one month of meniscal tear were more likely to need fewer sutures than those who underwent repair more than a month after tear. Multivariate analysis found that duration of injury, presence of an ACL injury, and the side of the meniscus were predictive of the number of sutures used during repair.

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Study Evaluates Role of OR Size in SSI Rates

A retrospective study published online in the Journal of the AAOS ® found that, in addition to other parameters, the size of the OR may be correlated with the risk for surgical site infection (SSI). ORs were classified by total net square footage (NSF): small, 250 to 399 NSF; medium, 400 to 549 NSF; and large, 550 to 699 NSF. Of 11,163 total patients, 137 developed an SSI. SSI incidence by OR size was: small, 0.7 percent; medium, 1.3 percent; and large, 1.8 percent. Medium-sized ORs, younger age, procedure type (fusions and emergencies/traumas), longer procedures, and American Society of Anesthesiologists score > 3 all significantly impacted SSIs.

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A study published online in The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery analyzed the correlation between Medicaid expansion and increased utilization of total joint arthroplasty (TJA). Data were analyzed for nine states that expanded Medicaid in 2014 and two states that did not. A total of 39,452 TJAs were performed. Within expansion states, when compared to 2013 figures, TJA utilization increased 15 percent in 2014 and 23 percent in 2015. Within nonexpansion states, when compared to 2013, TJA utilization decreased 18 percent in 2014 and 11 percent in 2015.

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A study published in the January issue of Arthroscopy identified the 50 highest-cited papers on rotator cuff tear and analyzed their characteristics. Thomson ISI Web of Science was searched using the terms “rotator cuff” and “tear”; each article’s author(s), year of publication, source journal, geographic origin, article type (and subtype), and level of evidence for clinical articles were collected. The top 50 most cited papers were all published in seven journals. Forty-six articles were clinical; of these articles, 23 were case series. Nine articles proposed a new classification/scoring system or technique.

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A retrospective study published online in Foot & Ankle International observed good outcomes when using ultrasonography-guided Achilles sleeve avulsion repair. Twenty-one patients (mean age, 57.8 years) were treated by the same surgeon. The procedure took a mean 44 minutes, and the mean wound size was 1.5 cm. After six weeks, patients could walk freely with high-ankle shoes. By two years, significant improvements were observed in the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society and 12-item Short Form Health Survey scores. Two cases of superficial wound infection occurred, both of which were resolved with wound care and oral antibiotics.

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January Issue of AAOS Now Is Now Available Online

AAOS members will soon receive the print edition of the January issue of AAOS Now, but the electronic edition is already available on the AAOS Now website. This month’s issue highlights the AAOS Registry Program’s growth in 2020; how the COVID-19 vaccine provides hope for a return to in-person events, including the AAOS Annual Meeting; patient safety in the era of telemedicine; the conclusion of a series focused on novel technologies; and more.

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Video Retrospective: Persevering Together in 2020

A new AAOS video looks back on 2020 and all that members and the musculoskeletal community accomplished together.

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