Today’s Top Story
Study: THA linked to societal value in excess of cost.
Findings published online in the journal Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research suggest a net societal benefit to the use of total hip arthroplasty (THA) procedures that offsets the costs of such procedures. The authors used a Markov model to assess overall cost-effectiveness of THA compared with nonsurgical treatment. Compared with nonsurgical treatments, they found that THA was associated with an increase in average annual patient productivity of $9,503. The authors estimate that use of THA increases average lifetime direct costs by $30,365, which is offset by a projected $63,314 in lifetime savings through increased productivity. Based on a net societal savings of $32,948 per THA patient and more than 300,000 THAs performed per year in the United States, they estimate total lifetime societal savings to be nearly $10 billion. Read the complete study…

Other News

Study: How do imaging techniques compare for the diagnosis of periprosthetic hip infection?
A study published in the Oct. 5 issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery examines the efficacy of various imaging techniques for diagnosis of periprosthetic hip infection. The researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 31 studies, representing 1,753 hip prostheses. They found that the pooled sensitivity and specificity were 88 percent and 92 percent, respectively, for leukocyte scintigraphy; 86 percent and 93 percent for fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography; 69 percent and 96 percent for combined leukocyte and bone marrow scintigraphy; 84 percent and 75 percent for antigranulocyte scintigraphy; and 80 percent and 69 percent for bone scintigraphy. The researchers write that there was not enough clinical data to perform meta-analyses for radiography, ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. They conclude that, of currently used imaging techniques, leukocyte scintigraphy has satisfactory accuracy in confirming or excluding periprosthetic hip infection, while combined leukocyte and bone marrow scintigraphy was the most specific imaging technique. They note that fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography offered appropriate accuracy in confirming or excluding periprosthetic hip infection, but “may not yet be the preferred imaging modality because of limited availability and relatively higher cost.” Read the abstract…

Stakeholders argue for national patient identifier.
In a letter to committee leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives, a coalition of 23 healthcare industry stakeholders has advocated for removal of an 18-year-old ban that prevents the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from developing and implementing a national patient identifier system. “The absence of a national strategy for accurately identifying patients has resulted in significant costs to hospitals, health systems, physician practices, and long-term post acute care (LTPAC) facilities as well as hindered efforts to facilitate health information exchange,” the writers argue. They note that patient identification errors often begin during the registration process, and “can initiate a cascade of errors, including wrong site surgery, delayed or lost diagnoses, and wrong patient orders.” The writers suggest that increased data exchange among providers along with incorrect or ineffective patient matching could have an increasingly negative effect on patient safety. Read more…(registration may be required)
Read the letter (PDF)…

Brain Trauma Foundation updates guidelines for management of severe TBI.
The Brain Trauma Foundation has released an updated edition of its Guidelines for the Management of Severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). The guidelines were developed by a panel of experts who reviewed data from 189 studies covering approximately 18 topics. They were reviewed for evidence-based integrity and have received the endorsement of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. Read more…
Read the abstract in the journal Neurosurgery…
View the guidelines…

South Dakota.
The Sioux Falls Argus Leader reports that a case before the South Dakota Supreme Court could determine whether hospitals in the state are required to turn over information on physician performance in fraud cases. A lower court recently ruled that plaintiffs who sue healthcare providers should be granted access to certain materials used by hospital peer review committees to review physician performance. The court held that a peer review statute that protects those materials from disclosure can be breached under a crime-fraud exception. Read more…

Members-only housing for 2017 AAOS Annual Meeting closing soon!
Oct. 25 is the last day for AAOS members to reserve a room for the 2017 AAOS Annual Meeting before reservations are opened to all attendees. Reserve now for the best selection of rooms and hotels. The 2017 Annual Meeting will be held March 14–18 in San Diego. All official AAOS hotels not within walking distance will offer free shuttle bus service to the San Diego Convention Center. Housing is currently open for AAOS members only. Learn more about the AAOS Annual Meeting…
Reserve your room…

Last call: Instructional Course Committees.
Oct. 10 is the last day to submit your application for a position on an Instructional Course Committee. Members of Instructional Course Committees grade Instructional Course Lecture applications, provide input regarding course curriculum, and evaluate courses at the AAOS Annual Meeting. The following openings are available:

  • Adult Reconstruction Hip (chair, two members)
  • Adult Reconstruction Knee (three members)
  • Foot and Ankle (three members)
  • Hand and Wrist (two members)
  • Pediatrics (two members)
  • Practice Management (one member)
  • Spine (four members)
  • Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy (two members)
  • Trauma (one member)
  • Tumor (two members)

Applicants for these positions must be active fellows with a practice emphasis in the relevant area. Learn more and submit your application…(member login required)

Last call: Committee positions closing soon!
A number of openings on the AAOS Committee Appointment Program website are closing soon. Act now to apply for the following positions:

  • Biological Implants Committee (closes Oct. 10; one member opening)
  • Bylaws Committee (Oct. 10; two members)
  • Central Evaluation Committee (Oct. 13; one member—hand)
  • Communications Cabinet (Oct. 10; one member—social media expert)
  • National Quality Forum Improving Diagnostic Accuracy Committee (Oct. 13; liaison)
  • OKU Evaluation Committee (Oct. 13; one member—oncology)
  • Orthopaedic Video Theater Committee (Oct. 10; two members—adult reconstruction hip and knee)

Learn more and submit your application…(member login required)