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| Today’s Top Story
Study: Immersive Virtual Reality Training Beneficial in Orthopaedic Training
According to a randomized, controlled trial published online in The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery, immersive virtual reality (VR) training may be superior to traditional learning in orthopaedic training. The trial included two groups: senior orthopaedic residents (resident group, n = 19) and consultant shoulder arthroplasty surgeons (expert group, n = 7). Participants compared immersive VR to traditional learning with a technical journal article serving as a control; the task pertained to optimal glenoid exposure attainment. Outcome measures including the Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills (OSATS) score, a developed laboratory metric, verbal answers, and time to task completion were used to establish training superiority. Immersive VR, compared to the control, was superior in realism and teaching glenoid exposure. Knowledge testing outcomes were superior in the expert group compared to the resident group. Mean knowledge tests time completion was significantly shorter in the immersive VR group than the control group (11 minutes versus 20 minutes). The immersive VR group had superior OSATS instrument handling scores.
Read the abstract… |
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| In Other News
Study Assesses Efficiency of Smartphone Data Capture for Lower-limb Surgeries
A study published in the Feb. 1 issue of the Journal of the AAOS observed positive outcomes when using a smartphone data capture tool for knee arthroscopy. A database and user interfaces were created for Android and iOS operating systems. The creation of branching logic and discrete fields allowed for streamlined provider data input. Patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, meniscal repair, partial meniscectomy, or a combination of these procedures from the first four months of data collection (n = 100) were selected; chart review was used to collect duplicate data on the same 100 patients, and the two datasets were compared. The datasets presented almost perfect agreement in all areas measured. Data were more comprehensive, and near-perfect provider completion was achieved; data entry also proved to be efficient, with a median 151 seconds of completion time.
Read the study… |
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| Study: Switching to Alendronate after Teriparatide Minimizes BMD Loss Following THA
A study published online in the Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research evaluated the effectiveness of switching to alendronate from teriparatide to reduce bone mineral density (BMD) loss around the implant in total hip arthroplasty (THA) patients. Patients were randomized to receive either alendronate after teriparatide (switch; n = 17), continuous alendronate (ALD; n = 15), or no treatment (control; n = 16). Patients underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry to measure periprosthetic BMD one week and one and two years postoperatively; lumbar BMD was measured at the same time points. After two years, the switch group had significantly higher BMD percentage at zone one than the control group. Zone seven BMD percentage was significantly higher in both treatment groups compared to the control group. Lumbar BMD percentage anterior-posterior side was much higher in the switch group compared to the other groups, but lateral side was significantly higher in both the ALD and switch groups than the control group.
Read the study… |
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| Study Evaluates Joint-preserving Technique in Young Patients with Early Post-traumatic Ankle Arthritis after Severe Pilon Fractures
A study published in the January issue of Foot & Ankle International observed good outcomes in young patients with early post-traumatic arthritis of the tibiotalar joint after severe pilon fracture treated with a joint-preserving technique using autologous osteochondral graft in combination with ankle distraction and supramalleolar osteotomy (SMOT). Between February 2010 and November 2015, 17 eligible patients (average age, 32.1 years) were treated with osteochondral autograft transplantation; ankle distraction; and, if necessary, SMOT. Outcomes included the visual analog scale (VAS) score, Short Form 36 (SF-36) score, American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, and ankle range of motion (ROM). An average 18 months of follow-up data were available for 14 patients. At final postoperative follow-up, VAS, SF-36, and AOFAS scores, as well as ankle ROM, presented significant improvements. There were no reports of deep surgical site infection, donor site complication, nonunion, osteochondral block loosening, or resorption, and no patients required secondary arthrodesis.
Read the abstract… |
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| Medicare to Cover Acupuncture for Chronic Low Back Pain
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently finalized a decision to cover acupuncture treatment for chronic low back pain (LBP). In its announcement, the agency defines chronic LBP as nonspecific pain that is not associated with surgery or pregnancy and lasts for at least 12 weeks. CMS also stipulated that acupuncture will be covered for up to 20 treatments per year and must be administered by either a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner who has a graduate-level degree in acupuncture or Oriental Medicine from a school accredited by the Accreditation Commission on Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine or is supervised auxiliary personnel. AAOS supported the initial proposal, citing acupuncture as a complementary, nonclinical remedy for chronic LBP in its August 2019 comments. AAOS believes it to be a valuable supplement to traditional orthopaedic practice and appropriate for use as an alternative to pain medication for select patients.
Read the CMS fact sheet…
Read AAOS’ comments… |
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| AAOS Now
The Opioid Epidemic: Orthopaedic Residents’ Perspectives
Medicine, and orthopaedics in particular, has been implicated in opioid-related tragedies. In fact, orthopaedic surgeons are the third most common prescribers of opioids, and thus have an important role in addressing the current opioid epidemic. So how did we get here? Over the past few decades, there has been increasing awareness that pain significantly limits early postoperative mobilization and is an important determinant of satisfaction after surgery.
Read more… |
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| Your AAOS
Follow the Office of Government Relations on Twitter
Looking for AAOS advocacy updates on Twitter? Follow the Office of Government Relations for timely news and information. The Association arm of the Academy identifies, analyzes, and directs all health policy activities and initiatives to position AAOS as the trusted leader in advancing musculoskeletal health. Members are encouraged to follow this handle and engage with tweets to help promote the viewpoint of the orthopaedic community.
Follow @AAOSAdvocacy… |
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