Today’s Top Story
Gov. Rick Perry advocates political engagement at PAC luncheon.
Former Texas governor Rick Perry spoke to supporters of the Orthopaedic Political Action Committee (PAC) during the annual PAC luncheon at the 2016 AAOS Annual Meeting. Mr. Perry served as governor from 2000 to 2015 and was a Republican candidate during the 2012 and 2016 U.S. presidential election primaries. Mr. Perry spoke on the importance of involvement in the political process and argued that political involvement is integral to the future practice of medicine. “I promise you [that if you are not engaged in the process], the powers that are out there on the other side are going to raise the money,” he explained. “And when it gets time to make decisions that are going to affect your practice of medicine, you’re not going to be at the table.” Read more…

Other News

Study: What radiographic factors are linked to increased risk of compartment syndrome after tibial fracture?
A study published online in the Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma attempts to identify radiographic indicators linked to compartment syndrome after tibial fracture. The research team conducted a retrospective review of 978 consecutive adult patients with tibial fracture, 56 of whom had compartment syndrome. They found that the likelihood of compartment syndrome increased by 1.67 per 10 percent increase in the ratio of fracture length to tibial length. In addition, the research team noted that compartment syndrome was most likely to occur with plateau fractures and that Schatzker VI fractures were more likely to develop compartment syndrome than any other Schatzker type. Finally, they found that fibular fracture was predictive of compartment syndrome with plateau fractures only and that segmental fractures were not more likely to develop compartment syndrome than other shaft fractures. Read the abstract…

Study: Lower nursing staff levels may increase risk of readmission after THA, TKA.
Findings published online in the International Journal for Quality in Health Care suggest that nurse staffing levels may correlate to readmission levels after certain orthopaedic procedures. The researchers conducted a cross-sectional analysis of secondary data for 112,017 patients admitted to an acute care hospital for elective total hip or total knee arthroplasty (THA or TKA). They found that nearly 6 percent of patients were readmitted within 30 days. After adjustment for patient and hospital characteristics, the researchers found that, for each additional patient per nurse, patients had an 8 percent increased risk of 30-day readmission and 12 percent increased risk of 10-day readmission. Read the abstract…

Breakfast in the Posters is a Friday morning Annual Meeting tradition.
Get your day off to a great start tomorrow by enjoying a free continental breakfast while perusing award-winning scientific posters at the Poster Awards Ceremony. The event, which begins at 7:00 a.m. in Academy Hall C, offers the opportunity to network with colleagues and examine nearly 600 posters in 11 exhibit categories—plus special-focus posters by the Orthopaedic Research Society, Board of Specialty Societies, Allied Health providers, and the Guest Nation, Colombia. Posters are also open for viewing daily through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Saturday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Poster presenters will be on hand to answer questions today and Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Read more…

New AAOS PSA campaign addresses distracted walking, injury prevention, and spine-impairment research.
At the Annual Meeting Opening Ceremony, AAOS unveiled its newest collection of public service announcements (PSAs). This year’s multimedia program covers television, radio, and print PSAs, and promotes the following:

  • The dangers of distracted walking
  • The importance of safe, proper ladder use
  • The significance of bicycle-riders and drivers sharing the road
  • Early intervention for spine-related impairment

AAOS public service materials are made available for free to Academy members. Read more…
Read the AAOS press release…
Learn more and order free PSA materials…

AAOS Now Daily Edition now online.
The daily edition of AAOS Now is now available on the AAOS Now website. Each day, the AAOS Now Daily Edition brings news of the AAOS Annual Meeting and much more to AAOS members both on-site and at home. Read the AAOS Now Daily Edition

Call for volunteers: U.S. Bone & Joint Initiative.
AAOS seeks to nominate members for the U.S. Bone & Joint Initiative president-elect position. The president-elect will serve from June 2016 to June 2017, as president from June 2017 to June 2019, and as immediate past-president from June 2019 to June 2020. Applicants for this position must be active fellows. In addition, all applicants must provide the following: an abbreviated biographical sketch, a letter outlining the nominee’s interest in serving and what he or she would like to accomplish, and a commitment to dedicate time to the position. All supporting materials must be submitted by Friday, March 11, 2016, to Donna Malert at: Read more…
Learn more…(member login required)