Today’s Top Story
Study: Slightly overactive thyroid linked to increased fracture risk.
Data from a study published in the May 26 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association suggest that subclinical hyperthyroidism may be associated with an increased risk of fracture. The researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 70,298 participants across 13 prospective studies. Overall, 4,092 (5.8 percent) had subclinical hypothyroidism (defined as thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH] ≥ 4.5-19.99mIU/L) and 2,219 (3.2 percent) had subclinical hyperthyroidism (TSH < 0.45mIU/L). After adjustment and across 762,401 person-years of follow-up, the researchers found the hazard ratio (HR) for subclinical hyperthyroidism compared to normal thyroid function to be 1.36 for hip fracture, 1.28 for any fracture, 1.16 for nonspine fracture, and 1.51 for spine fracture. They also noted that lower TSH was associated with higher fracture rates, as was endogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism (excluding thyroid medication users). The researchers found no association between subclinical hypothyroidism and fracture risk. Read more…
Read the abstract…
Other News
Study: Is IM nailing better than VLP for unstable DRF?
A study published in the June issue of The Journal of Hand Surgery compares the use of intramedullary (IM) nails and volar locking plates (VLP) in the treatment of unstable distal radius fracture (DRF). The research team conducted a randomized study of 60 patients with closed, displaced, unstable, extra-articular, metaphyseal DRFs treated with either IM nailing (n = 30) or VLP (n = 30). At 5-week follow-up, they found that patients treated with IM nailing regained extension earlier, but had similar range of motion to patients treated with VLP. The research team noted that, compared to VLP patients, significantly fewer IM nail patients required opioid pain medication. Overall, there were three failures in the IM nailing cohort and one in the VLP cohort. All 10 employed patients with IM fixation returned to previous work compared with 10 of 12 employed patients treated with VLP. The research team states that time to work return was similar across both groups. Read the abstract…
Study: Perioperative delirium linked to increased cost and length of stay for surgical patients with fragility hip fracture.
Findings from a Canadian study published in the May 20 issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery suggest that perioperative delirium may be commonly associated with surgery for a fragility hip fracture and linked to increased costs and length of stay. The authors evaluated the records of 242 patients age 65 years or older who underwent surgical treatment of a fragility hip fracture at a single center. They found that 116 patients (48 percent) developed perioperative delirium. The authors noted that delirium was associated with a mean incremental total length of hospital stay of 7.4 days, a mean incremental length of stay following surgery of 7.4 days, and a mean incremental episode-of-care cost (in 2012 Canadian dollars) of $8,286, compared against patients without delirium. Read the abstract…
How do physicians deal with burnout?
An article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune looks at the issue of physician burnout. According to a 2012 study, 38 percent of physicians screened positive for depression risks, and 6.4 percent had contemplated suicide within a 12-month period. The writer notes that non-clinical issues such as paperwork and electronic health records are often cited as contributing factors to burnout. One physician expert states that healthcare professionals can reduce stress through the use of deep-breathing relaxation exercises, improved sleep habits, and confidants who may be available around the clock. Read more…
Connecticut.
Lexology reports that the governor of Connecticut has signed into law an amendment to the Connecticut Reporting Requirement, which is modeled after the federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act. The requirements of the Connecticut Reporting Requirement, as amended, are in addition to an applicable manufacturer’s obligations under the Sunshine Act and any applicable reporting requirements of other states. The amendment extends the deadline to begin reporting from July 1, 2015, to July 1, 2017, changes the reporting period from quarterly to annual, and limits payment recipients covered by the law to advanced practice registered nurses who do not practice in collaboration with a physician. Read more…
June 1 is the last chance to submit abstracts for AAOS 2016 Annual Meeting!
Share your knowledge with orthopaedic surgeons from around the world at the 2016 AAOS Annual Meeting, to be held March 1-5, 2016, in Orlando, Fla. Nowhere else will your discoveries reach such a wide-ranging orthopaedic audience! June 1 is the last day to submit abstracts for paper presentations, poster presentations, and scientific exhibits. The deadline for Orthopaedic Video Theater submissions is July 15. Please note that, prior to abstract submission, presenters and all co-authors must disclose current financial relationships in the AAOS Disclosure Database Program. Submit your abstract…
Last call: Submit your 2014 OITE answer file by May 31 to be included in the final scoring.
To be included in the final scoring, 2014 Orthopaedic In-Training Examination (OITE) answer files must be submitted no later than May 31, 2015. The 20 scored and recorded CME credits will be posted to transcripts immediately.
OKOJ June updates now online!
Check out the new topics and video in the Orthopaedic Knowledge Online Journal (OKOJ) on the AAOS OrthoPortal website. The following topics have been recently added or updated: “Classifications of Distal Radius Fractures,” “In-office Carpal Tunnel Release,” and “Techniques for Soft-tissue Coverage of the Foot and Ankle.” A new video, “In-office Carpal Tunnel Release,” has also been made available. OKOJ now offers full-text, downloadable PDFs for articles in recent issues, with more on the way! View these topics and more…(member login required)
