November 5, 2021 | Today’s News

Study: Tiered Prioritization for Reinstating Orthopaedic Procedures during the Pandemic

A study published in the Nov. 1 issue of the Journal of the AAOS ® reported the feasibility of a four-tiered prioritization list for the phased-in reinstatement of orthopaedic procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic. The consensus-based list was tested for reliability in 63 randomized cases across all subspecialties within a large health system. Case distribution between tiers 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 35 percent, 14 percent, 27 percent, and 24 percent, respectively. Interrater agreement ranged from 0.63 to 0.72 and intrarater reliability ranged from 0.62 to 1.0. The highest levels of agreement were in tiers 1 and 4, and for oncology and foot/ankle subspecialties.

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Comorbidities, Alcohol Abuse, and Anemia Are Risk Factors for Above-knee Amputation in PJI

A retrospective case-control study published online in BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders identified risk factors associated with above-knee amputation (AKA) in patients with periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). Eleven cases of PJI treated with AKA were compared with 57 cases treated with limb salvage. Factors most frequently associated with AKA were severe comorbidities, alcohol abuse, and preoperative anemia. Anemia was present in all 11 amputees. AKA patients underwent a median of eight reoperations, compared with five among limb salvage patients.

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Daytime pain relief, self-care improvement, and shoulder range of motion (ROM) improvement were the most frequently cited “very important” expectations of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA), according to a study published online in the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. In total, 107 patients being treated for glenohumeral arthritis were enrolled. A greater number of “very important” expectations was associated with African American race, higher Patient-reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Pain Interference scores, and lower overall preoperative satisfaction.

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A randomized controlled study published in JAMA Network Open found that local methylprednisolone injection in idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome significantly delayed the need for surgery at five years follow-up. In total, 111 patients were assigned to methylprednisolone 80 mg or 40 mg or placebo. At follow-up, 83.8 percent (80 mg) and 91.9 percent (40 mg) of the steroid group and 97.9 percent of the placebo group required surgery. Mean time to surgery was 180 days, 185 days, and 121 days, respectively. Differences in time to surgery were statistically significant between the 80 mg injection and 40 mg groups, as well as between the placebo and 40 mg injection groups.

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This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended that children aged 5 to 11 years be eligible for COVID-19 vaccination following last week’s authorization from the FDA. Xavier Becerra, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, issued a statement regarding the CDC’s recommendation. “This is another major milestone in our efforts to protect more children, their families, and our communities as we work to end the pandemic,” he said. “Thanks to their rigorous, comprehensive and independent review of the data, we know that vaccination of younger children against COVID-19 proved to be safe and effective.”

Read the CDC recommendation…

Read Secretary Becerra’s statement…

At Annual Meeting, AAOS President Daniel K. Guy, MD, FAAOS, Emphasizes ‘What Really Matters’

Taking the stage at the Your Academy event at the AAOS 2021 Annual Meeting, the first live Your Academy event since March 2019, Daniel K. Guy, MD, FAAOS, 2021–2022 AAOS president, said he felt lucky to be at the meeting, surrounded by family, friends, and colleagues. Summing up his message of gratitude to be part of a proud and respected profession and to be a leader in an organization that faithfully and honorably serves the interests of its members and the health and well-being of their patients, Dr. Guy returned to the theme of his speech: “Does this matter? You bet it matters.”

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Registration is Open for the AAOS 2022 Annual Meeting

Make plans now to reach new heights in musculoskeletal care by registering for the AAOS Annual Meeting, March 22–26, 2022. And where better than Chicago, the city of architectural wonders and skyscrapers? Join world leaders and innovators to explore what’s next in research, practice techniques, and technology to reach the pinnacle of excellence. Member registration is open.

Learn more and register…