Today’s Top Story
FDA announces Class I recall of DePuy Synthes Power Tool System battery adaptors.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a Class I recall for DePuy Synthes Power Tool System battery adaptors. The adaptor and light adaptor are power sources for the DePuy Synthes Small Battery Drive (SBD) and the Small Battery Drive II (SBD II) surgical power tool systems. The SBD and SBD II power the Synthes Power Tool system, which includes attachments for drilling or cutting bone in orthopaedic surgery. The company is recalling the components due to a potential for the adaptors to produce extreme internal pressure, which may cause the device to explode. Read more…
Other News
Study: Many opioid-naïve patients continue to fill opioid prescriptions for 90 days or more after hand surgery.
A study published online in The Journal of Hand Surgery suggests that many opioid-naïve patients may continue to fill opioid prescriptions for 90 days or more following hand surgery. The research team reviewed insurance claim information on 77,573 patients opioid-naïve adult patients who underwent an elective or trauma-related hand surgery procedure between 2010 and 2012. Overall, 59,725 patients (77 percent) filled a perioperative opioid prescription. Of those, 13 percent of patients continued to fill prescriptions between 90 and 180 days after surgery. The researchers note that elective surgery patients were more likely than trauma patients to continue to fill opioid prescriptions after 90 days. Overall, younger age, female gender, lower income, comprehensive insurance, higher Elixhauser comorbidity index, mental health disorders, and tobacco dependence or abuse were associated with prolonged opioid use. Read the abstract…
HHS guides offer assistance to providers in selecting and using EHRs.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) has released two guides designed to help healthcare providers effectively use health information technology. EHR Contracts Untangled: Selecting Wisely, Negotiating Terms, and Understanding the Fine Print, explains important concepts in electronic health records (EHR) contracts, and includes example contract language to help providers and health administrators in planning to acquire an EHR system and negotiating contract terms with vendors. The Health IT Playbook is a web-based tool intended to simplify the process of finding practical information and guidance on specific topics as providers research, buy, use, or switch EHRs. Read more…
Read EHR Contracts Untangled (PDF)…
Access the Health IT Playbook…
Reporting of concussion increased over 6-year span.
A report released by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association finds that diagnosis of concussion has increased over the last 6 years. The researchers reviewed medical claims for 936,630 diagnosed concussions from the company’s database from 2010 through 2015. They found that concussion diagnoses increased 71 percent for patients ages 10 through 19, while concussion diagnoses for adults ages 20 through 64 increased 26 percent. In addition, concussion diagnoses increased 118 percent for young females, compared to a 48 percent increase among young males. However, the researchers note that young males are still diagnosed with 49 percent more concussions than young females. The researchers suggest that much of the increase may be driven by improved awareness of proper response to concussion. Read more…
Read the complete report…
California.
The New York Times reports that the governor of California has signed legislation to require physicians to reference an opioid database before writing prescriptions for certain drugs. Under the new law, providers must check the database for signs of abuse when initially prescribing opioids, steroids, sleep aids, and psychiatric medications, and recheck the database every 4 months for as long as the drug regimen is continued. Read more…
AAOS Board approves updated position statement on care of patients with fragility fractures.
The AAOS Board of Directors has approved an updated position statement regarding the orthopaedic care of patients with fragility fractures. “While there have been significant advancements in the surgical management of fragile bone,” the statement reads, “avoiding fracture is in the best interest of the patient and society. Unfortunately, despite the compelling evidence that treatment of patients with fragility fractures can reduce the risk of future fractures by up to 50%, the overwhelming majority of patients with fragility fractures are not effectively treated to prevent a secondary fracture.” The statement advises that orthopaedic surgeons provide a leadership role in two critical issues:
- Ensuring the use of best practices in patients with potential fragility fractures to suspect and detect fragile bone disease
- Entering patients who are confirmed to have such conditions into treatment programs to protect against secondary fractures
The position statement was developed as a joint effort between AAOS, the American Orthopaedic Association, the Orthopaedic Trauma Association, and the International Geriatric Fracture Society. Read the position statement (PDF)…
October AAOS Now is online now and in your mailbox soon!
AAOS members will soon receive the print edition of the October issue of AAOS Now, but the online edition is already available on the AAOS Now website. This month’s issue includes an article on the recently held National Surgical Patient Safety Summit, a look at discussing advocacy issues with patients, information from a study on the effects of cigarette smoking on total ankle arthroplasty, and much more. In addition, the AAOS Now home page has been redesigned to feature links to current print and online articles! Visit the new AAOS Now home page…
Read “AAOS Puts Patient Safety at the Forefront”…
Read “Talking Politics with Patients”…
Read “TAR and Nicotine”…
