Study: Changes in Medial Joint Gap after Posterior Femoral Condylar Resection and Posterior Osteophyte Removal during TKA
A retrospective study published online in The Knee investigated intraoperative changes in medial joint gap during total knee arthroplasty (TKA). A total of 167 knees with varus osteoarthritis undergoing either cruciate-retaining (CR, n = 80) or posterior-stabilized (PS, n = 87) TKA were included. After posterior femoral condylar resection and posterior osteophyte removal, the medial joint gap was significantly increased at 90 degrees of flexion and 0 degrees of extension in CR and PS TKAs. At 0 degrees of extension, there was a gap reduction of 0.60 mm after femoral component placement in PS TKAs.
Study: Incidence of Primary versus Secondary Frozen Shoulder Recurrence after Hydrodilatation
Shoulder & Elbow published a retrospective study online evaluating the outcomes and recurrence rates of frozen shoulder treated by hydrodilatation. Data collected from 55 shoulders included primary or secondary frozen shoulder, length of symptoms, and diabetic status pre- and nine months postinjection. Researchers injected 40 mg of triamcinolone and 10 to 25 mL of a local anesthetic into the rotator interval. Six patients failed to improve, and 10 patients experienced transient improvement followed by recurrence. Primary frozen shoulder patients had a higher rate of recurrence compared with secondary frozen shoulder patients (33 percent versus 16 percent).
Study Investigates the Association between Surgeon Experience and Surgical Outcomes after Operative Fixation of Acetabular Fractures
According to a study published online in the Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma, surgeon experience was strongly associated with acetabular surgical outcomes. The retrospective study reviewed 795 patients who underwent ORIF (open reduction-internal fixation) for an acetabular fracture. The main outcome measurements included the rates of reoperation, readmission, and deep infection. Deep infection rates were not associated with surgeon experience. There was a strong association between experience and the rates of reoperation (16.9 percent overall) and readmission (9.7 percent overall). Regarding reoperation rates, the time until 50 percent peak surgical performance was 2.4 years in practice.
Study: Inflammatory Response in Tibial Plafond Fractures versus Ankle Fractures
In a prospective comparative study published online in Foot & Ankle International, elevated cytokines in patients with tibial plafond fractures suggested a greater inflammatory response when compared with ankle fractures. Synovial fluid aspirations were obtained within 24 hours of injury in 29 patients with plafond fractures and 36 patients with ankle fractures. Most ankle fracture patients suffered 44-B injuries, and 15 ankle fractures had articular impact. The concentration of several interleukins was significantly higher in patients with acute tibial plafond fractures compared with acute ankle fractures.
Study Identifies Risk Factors for Avascular Necrosis after Closed Reduction for Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip
The Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics published a retrospective study analyzing the risk factors related to avascular necrosis (AVN) after closed reduction for developmental dysplasia of the hip. Demographics were obtained from patient records, and AVN was evaluated using Salter criteria and Kalamchi and MacEwen classification. In total, 140 hips in 108 children with an average follow-up of 10 years were included in the analysis. Overall, 44 hips developed AVN, and 10 percent of patients had grade 2 or higher AVN. The incidence of AVN increased with the grade of dislocation and underdevelopment of the ossific nucleus.
AAOS Reinforces Its Focus on Patient Safety, Launches New Device Recall Dashboard
AAOS leadership and the Committee on Devices, Biologics, and Technology have teamed up with the Patient Safety Committee to publish a quarterly Device Recall Dashboard, which went live on Sept. 1. The goal of the dashboard is to provide orthopaedic surgeons with critical recall information that will ensure high-quality patient care and protect the health and well-being of their patients.
Limited Spots Remain: 55th Annual AAOS Course for Orthopaedic Educators
Get inspired with new approaches for teaching and modeling your orthopaedic education at this popular course, taking place Nov. 6 to 9. This highly interactive course keeps you on the cutting edge of today’s most important educational developments, equipping you with the tools to deliver an optimized orthopaedic learning experience. Through interactive working sessions, you’ll review and discuss case studies and participate in real-world problem-solving exercises.
