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| Today’s Top Story
Study: Risk of Complications in Knee and Hip Fracture in Geriatric Patients
A retrospective study published in the Nov. 1 issue of the Journal of the AAOS ® found comparable rates of acute complications, mortality, and readmission after surgery for geriatric knee and hip fractures. The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried for all patients aged ≥70 years who underwent surgery for hip or knee fractures (distal femur and tibial plateau fracture) between 2011 and 2016. Patients with knee fracture had greater length of stay, time to surgery, and likelihood of discharge home compared with hip fracture. Risk of deep vein thrombosis was significantly higher in the tibial plateau group versus other fracture types.
Read the abstract… |
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| In Other News
Study: Impact of Trends in Medicare Reimbursement for Total Joint Arthroplasty
Based on current negative trends in surgical Medicare payments, time-based reimbursement for surgical and office treatments are estimated to reach parity within a few years, according to a study published in the Oct. 1 issue of The Journal of Arthroplasty. Researchers identified procedural times of 27,447 knee and 27,130 hip arthroplasties, for a total of 204 minutes (3.4 hours) per procedure. A trend line was calculated using 25-year trends in Medicare reimbursement. The calculated surgical reimbursement rate was $318.89 per hour, or $1,083.04 for 3.4 hours. When extrapolated to the $1,083.04 price point, the year when hourly office reimbursement would equal hourly surgical work was 2024.
Read the abstract… |
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| Study Assesses Backside Humeral Liner Wear in Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty
A study published online in the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery assessed wear on the backside of polyethylene humeral liners after reverse shoulder arthroplasty failure. Twenty-one liners retrieved during revision were assessed. Mean time to extraction was 16 months. The researchers noted damage on the articular surface of all 21 liners and on the backside surface of 20 liners. Total articular surface damage was higher compared to the backside, including greater scratching, abrasion, and surface deformation. There were no differences in damage among the quadrants on either side of the liner.
Read the abstract… |
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| Study: One-year Improvement in Functional Scores after Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy
A retrospective study published online in Arthroscopy reported that the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score assessment demonstrated significantly greater improvements in questions regarding meniscal versus mechanical symptoms after arthroscopic partial meniscectomy. In total, 135 patients were assessed. The greatest improvements at one year were seen in questions regarding awareness of knee problems, pain frequency, twisting/pivoting difficulty, running difficulty, and confidence in the knee. The least improvement was observed for questions about difficulty getting on/off the toilet and/or the bath, grinding/clicking when moving, knee catches/hangs up when moving, and ability to straighten the knee fully.
Read the abstract… |
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| Supply Chain Shortages Impact Availability of Crutches
A report published online in Axios described how global materials shortages are impacting the availability of crutches. Aluminum and magnesium shortages, as well as worker shortages in Chinese ports, have led to supply chain delays and a backlog of distribution of crutches. According to the report, improvements in the backlog are expected to occur in December.
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| AAOS Now
Joseph A. Bosco III, MD, FAAOS, Wraps Up Presidency at Annual Meeting with Reflections on ‘Testing Our Mettle’
At the Your Academy session at the AAOS 2021 Annual Meeting in San Diego on Sept. 2, Immediate Past President Joseph A. Bosco, MD, FAAOS, finally addressed the membership in-person after his address at the cancelled 2020 Annual Meeting was shelved. He explained how the COVID-19 pandemic tested AAOS and the profession to their very limits, revealing how the underlying values and strengths of the organization empowered its rise to the occasion. “There is nothing like a crisis to reveal one’s true mettle,” Dr. Bosco said. “Over the last 18 months, the pandemic presented us with unforeseeable challenges. We met and bested each one.”
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