June 1, 2023 | Today’s News

Testosterone Replacement Therapy Associated with Increased Rates of RCTs and RCRs

A study in the Journal of the AAOS^® found an increased rate of rotator cuff tears (RCTs) and repairs (RCRs) in patients who were prescribed testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) when compared against control patients. Of the 673,862 patients with RCTs analyzed, 9,168 were prescribed TRT for at least 90 days before their RCT. The rates of RCT, RCR, and subsequent or revision RCR were compared between the TRT and control groups. Those in the TRT group had a 26.7 times greater risk of undergoing a subsequent RCR within one year of undergoing a primary RCR.

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Study Examines Urgent Care Utilization following THA

The Journal of Arthroplasty published a study evaluating urgent care utilization following total hip arthroplasty (THA) and factors associated with urgent care visits compared with ED visits in patients in the United States. Overall, 213,189 patients were identified. Of these, 17.7 percent had visited an ED within 90 days of THA and 1.0 percent visited urgent care. Predictors of urgent care utilization included having the procedure performed in the northeastern or southern regions, having a commercial insurance plan, being female, and having a lower burden of comorbidities. Over one-quarter (25.6 percent) of ED visits were related to the surgical site compared with 4.8 percent of urgent care visits.

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A study in the Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma published a retrospective comparative study investigating whether an acute fixation protocol for high-energy tibial plateau fractures increases the rate of wound complications in 134 patients treated with ORIF. The primary outcomes were wound complications and reoperations. Twenty-six of 31 patients received definitive fixation within 48 hours under the acute ORIF protocol versus 19 of 103 treated under the standard delayed protocol, and no differences in the rate of wound complications or reoperations were observed. The acute ORIF protocol was associated with lower operative costs and shorter lengths of stay.

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The Journal of Hand Surgery published a prognostic study examining the relationship between pain intensity and unhelpful thoughts/distress in patients recovering from upper-extremity injuries. New or returning patients with upper-extremity injuries completed scales to measure pain intensity, magnitude of capability, symptoms of depression/anxiety, catastrophic thinking, and pain accommodation. Multivariable analysis was used to assess factors associated with pain intensity and other variables while controlling for demographic/injury-related factors. Greater pain intensity in the uninjured and injured arms was found to be independently associated with more unhelpful thinking regarding symptoms.

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Advanced age and tracheotomy were found to be independent risk factors for postoperative nosocomial pulmonary infection in patients with spinal cord injuries (SCI), according to a study in the European Spine Journal. The study, which sought to establish the best prediction model for postoperative nosocomial pulmonary infection through machine learning, included 870 patients, of whom 11.26 percent developed pulmonary infection. In addition to age and tracheotomy, the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale scores were also risk factors for postoperative nosocomial pulmonary infection.

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AAOS Membership Council Focuses on Member Experience

AAOS Now Deputy Editor Alexandra Page, MD, FAAOS, sat down with the inaugural chair of the AAOS Membership Council Elizabeth Matzkin, MD, FAAOS, at the AAOS 2023 Annual Meeting in March to discuss the impetus for creating the Membership Council, the council’s accomplishments, and future opportunities. “We exist for our members. If members have recommendations, suggestions, or things that we can do to make membership better—I would love to hear from you,” Dr. Matzkin shared.

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Submit Now for the Kappa Delta and OREF Clinical Research Awards

AAOS is soliciting manuscripts for the 2024 Kappa Delta Orthopaedic Research Awards and the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation (OREF) Clinical Research Award. Up to two $20,000 Kappa Delta awards (Elizabeth Winston Lanier Award and Ann Doner Vaughn Award), one $20,000 Kappa Delta Young Investigator award, and one $20,000 OREF award will be bestowed, provided manuscripts of requisite quality are submitted. Manuscripts should represent a large body of cohesive scientific work generally reflecting years of investigation. Submissions are due by 11:59 p.m. CDT on July 1.

Learn more and submit your application…

Build your confidence and review the content you need to pass the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) exam with this virtual preparation package. This course is also a fantastic learning opportunity for those looking for a refresher on advances across orthopaedics. Access convenient, pre-recorded lectures starting June 15 covering testable topics, test-taking strategies, and mock exam questions. Follow up with live-streamed lectures on July 14 to 15 where expert faculty, including Albert J. Aboulafia, MD, FAAOS (oncology), and David P. Gurd, MD, FAAOS (pediatrics), recap the most important testable facts and concepts and answer your questions.

Register now…