July 18, 2023 | Today’s News

Act Now to Nominate Future Leadership

The AAOS Nominating Committee is actively soliciting nominees for individuals to serve in the following positions:

• Second Vice President
• Treasurer-elect
• Board Member-at-large [Age 45 and over] (over age 45 on Feb. 19, 2024)
• Board Member-at-large [Under age 45] (younger than age 45 on Feb. 19, 2024)
• Nominees to the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery

Nominations close on Aug. 7. Members can review the position descriptions—including information about responsibilities, desired experience, and time commitments—as well as submit nomination(s) online.

Learn more and submit your nomination…

Study Assesses Effectiveness of Pre- versus Postoptimization TJA Protocols

A retrospective study in the Journal of the AAOS^® compared the 90-day outcomes of patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty (TJA) before and after implementation of an optimization protocol. Outcomes (emergency department [ED] visits, readmission, and mortality) were compared between pre- and postoptimization groups. Overall, 25,925 total hip (THAs) and 60,484 total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) were included. The postoptimization THA cohort had lower rates of ED visits (12.1 percent versus 9.4 percent) and readmissions (5.6 percent versus 3.8 percent). The TKA postoptimization group had lower rates of ED visits (13.1 percent versus 11.9 percent), readmissions (5.6 percent versus 3.0 percent), and mortality (0.3 percent versus 0.2 percent)

Read the abstract…

According to a retrospective review in the Journal of Arthroplasty, patients undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty (pTHA) via the direct anterior (DA) approach were more likely to receive revision THA (rTHA) via a discordant approach compared with patients who received pTHA via a posterior (PA) or laterally based (DL) approaches To investigate the impact of rTHA approach concordance on postoperative outcomes, operative characteristics and postoperative outcomes were analyzed in 839 concordant and 78 discordant patients. Discordance was observed in 29.5 percent of DA-pTHA patients, 14.7 percent of the DL-pTHA patients, and 3.7 percent of PA-pTHA patients. Approach concordance did not impact dislocation, infection, or fracture rates.

Read the abstract…

Investigating the impact of opioid dependence on outcomes after total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA), a retrospective study of 58,975 patients in the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery found preoperative opioid dependence to be associated with a higher risk of complications and rates of readmission. Postoperative outcomes, costs, and length of stay (LOS) were compared between patients with opioid use disorders (OUD) and non-opioid-dependent patients. The OUD group had higher odds of revision, dislocation, and bleeding. Additionally, total costs ($20,741 versus $19,643) and LOS (1.8 versus 1.6 days) were higher in the OUD group.

Read the abstract…

CMS Proposes Changes for 2024 Medicare Outpatient and Physician Fee Schedule Payments

On July 13, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued both the 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) Proposed Rule as well as the 2024 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System Proposed Rule. Key changes proposed for the MPFS include a decrease of $1.14 (or 3.36 percent) from the 2023 conversion factor, expansion of telehealth services, delay in implementation of the 2017-based Medicare Economic Index, and an indefinite pause of the Appropriate Use Criteria program for advanced diagnostic imaging services. The OPPS/ASC rule proposes increasing payment by 2.8 percent and adopting the Risk-Standardized Patient-Reported Outcome-Based Performance Measure (PRO-PM) for elective total hip and total knee arthroplasties in the hospital-based outpatient department setting.

Read more about the MPFS Proposed Rule…

Read more about the OPPS/ASC Proposed Rule…

Advancements in Anatomical Shoulder Replacement Surgery Improve Surgical Factors and Long-term Patient Outcomes

Shoulder replacement surgery has become increasingly commonplace and often is performed on an outpatient basis. Recent advancements in total shoulder replacement (TSR) have helped to reduce complications and costs and improve patient experiences and outcomes. Primary areas of advancement include implant design and materials, preoperative planning, pain control, and surgical instrumentation. A well-positioned TSR can be expected to last more than 20 years and is designed to alleviate pain and provide a functional shoulder.

Read more…

OrthoInfo Spotlights Arthritis Topics

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 about arthritis to help your patients understand their condition, including treatment options to manage symptoms. Visit OrthoInfo to discover a wealth of musculoskeletal health content that you can share with patients any time: You can print, send electronically, or link to it from your practice site. Or, add this QR code to your business cards, email signature, patient handouts, etc., to give patients direct access to the website.

Read “Arthritis: An Overview”…

Read “Osteoarthritis”…

Read “Rheumatoid Arthritis”…

Read “Inflammatory Arthritis of the Hip”…

Read “Juvenile Arthritis”…

Your professional network just got bigger! Exclusive to the AAOS Membership App, the new group chat feature allows you to chat securely with three or more AAOS members at once. Use this feature to consult with colleagues, make new connections, exchange valuable insights, and more. On an AAOS Committee? Use the new group chat function to keep your AAOS conversations organized and in one place.

Learn more and download the app for free today…