September 28, 2020 | Today’s News

Presidential Update from Joseph A. Bosco III, MD, FAAOS

In his latest message, AAOS President Joseph A. Bosco III, MD, FAAOS, announced that although the 2021 Annual Meeting has been pushed back to August 2021, the Board of Councilors and Board of Specialty Societies will meet virtually in March 2021. He also highlighted the Academy’s ongoing accomplishments despite the COVID-19 pandemic, including securing governmental payments and loans for orthopaedic practices, holding a successful virtual 2020 Annual Meeting, moving the 2021 in-person Annual Meeting, and codifying rules for return to essential surgery, as well as implementing the AAOS Strategic Plan. Dr. Bosco said that while additional challenges will arise over the next six months, AAOS members can “rest assured that we will continue to work on moving forward the Strategic Plan so that, when the pandemic is over, we will all emerge stronger than ever.”

Read Dr. Bosco’s message…

Study Identifies Dislocation Risk Factors in THA Patients with Developmental Hip Dysplasia

A retrospective study published online in The Journal of Arthroplasty evaluated predictors of dislocation in patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) underdoing total hip arthroplasty (THA). Forty patients who sustained dislocation were compared to 400 controls without hip instability. Mean follow-up was 32.3 months; mean time to dislocation was 4.4 months. The dislocation group had a greater proportion of women than the control group (82.5 percent versus 79.3 percent). Significant risk factors for postoperative hip dislocation in DDH patients were prior hip surgery, high hip center, diabetes, and acetabular inclination.

Read the abstract…

A study published online in the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities assessed racial and ethnic disparities in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Racial-identification data were available for 230,712 TKA patients; 72.5 percent of TKAs were performed in white patients. Racial and ethnic minorities had higher rates of diabetes, hypertension, and anemia, as well as longer surgery times. Black patients had significant disparities at baseline, as well as higher rates of tobacco smoking and congestive heart failure. Black and Hispanic patients had higher risks of complications and admissions. Length of stay (LOS) was longer in all racial and ethnic groups except Asians, whose readmission, reoperations, and overall complications rates were lower.

Read the abstract…

President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order on Thursday intended to preserve insurance coverage for patients with preexisting conditions. The administration portrays the order as a way to improve primary care access and allow patients to spend more time with physicians. At the same time, the administration seeks to strike down the Affordable Care Act, which includes provisions preventing insurers from discriminating against patients with preexisting medical conditions. The president also signed a separate order threatening executive action on surprise medical billing should Congress fail to act by the end of the year. The executive order does not include a rate-setting approach, which would cap payments to providers.

Read more…

Read the White House statement…

This year, many surgeons have been forced to pause care for their patients, delay procedures, and find new ways to support their patients virtually. In recognition of the difficult year, the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2020 will be free of charge. Taking place Oct. 3–7, this year’s meeting will be held virtually and offer sessions touching on all surgical specialties, as well as issues across the profession and important to surgeons globally. ACS is also still offering free access to this year’s Quality and Safety Conference.

Learn more and register for the Clinical Congress…

Register for the Quality and Safety Conference…

What Are the Driving Factors of Hospital LOS in Knee Arthroplasty?

LOS following TKA varies by patient and is dependent on factors pertaining to the patient, hospital, and surgeon. A study examined which of those three factors play the most significant role in determining a patient’s LOS postoperatively. The researchers concluded that patients’ chronic medical conditions and an academic teaching hospital are the most significant drivers of LOS following TKA. Peter Gold, MD, presented the study as part of the Annual Meeting Virtual Experience.

Read more…

AAOS Reports Email Scam Offering to Sell Data Lists

AAOS members and industry partners have reported receiving email solicitations that offer to sell data lists for attendees at the 2020 Annual Meeting These emails are scams and recipients are advised not to respond to these solicitations. Members should be assured that AAOS does not sell member data or otherwise disclose member data to these groups. The Academy has a stringent Privacy Policy that clearly outlines how membership data is used and stored and when it may be disclosed. Disclosure and use of AAOS member data by third parties is limited and strictly controlled through data use and data security agreements.

Each year, Annual Meeting exhibitors routinely receive these solicitations, and most national medical specialty associations report also being targeted by these groups. When these scammers can be identified, AAOS immediately responds, taking measures to terminate the activity. AAOS also posts reminders on the Annual Meeting web pages to be careful about purchasing from these groups.

AAOS takes data privacy very seriously and stringent measures are in place to protect member data. Data privacy concerns or inquiries may be directed to the AAOS data privacy officer at privacy@aaos.org.