Corticosteroid Injections within Two Years of THA Associated with Postoperative Infections
According to a study in the Journal of the AAOS®, patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) who received >2 corticosteroid injections (CSIs) within two years of surgery were at an increased risk of postoperative infection within 90 days. To examine the effects of the number of CSIs or hyaluronic acid injections (HAIs) prior to THA and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) procedures, 230,487 THAs and 371,511 TKAs were analyzed. Patients were categorized based on the number of injections received presurgery (0, 1, 2, or >2). For TKA patients, the number of CSIs or HAIs was not associated with postoperative infection.
Study Compares Outcomes of High-intensity Progressive versus Routine Rehabilitation after TKA
The Journal of Arthroplasty published a randomized controlled trial that compared the efficacy of high-intensity progressive rehabilitation training (HPRT) versus routine rehabilitation training (RRT) in the early treatment of patients after undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). American Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) Knee Score, time to standing after surgery, and six-minute walk test (6MWT) were measured in 78 patients. Compared with the RRT cohort, HSS scores were higher in the HPRT cohort at two weeks, three months, and 12 months postsurgery. The first time to standing after surgery was also shorter and 6MWT scores were longer in the HPRT cohort.
Study: Better Constant Scores Two Years after RSA in Patients with Primary Osteoarthritis
A retrospective study of 414 patients in the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery compared outcomes of patients undergoing reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) for primary osteoarthritis (OA) with and without rotator cuff (RC) tears against those with secondary OA due to RC tears. Pre- and two-year postoperative Constant scores and range of motion were compared between groups. Constant scores were 73.8, 66.1, and 64.1 in the primary OA with intact RC, primary OA with RC tears, and secondary OA groups, respectively.
Study: Are Orthopaedic Virtual Appointments More Cost Effective than In-person?
A prospective study in Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research found that compared with in-person visits, orthopaedic virtual visits did not deliver cost savings, as measured by the time-driven activity-based costing method. In-person and virtual return visits were analyzed in patients who had an established relationship with the surgeon. For in-person visits, the total median cost was $127 USD, compared with $140 USD for virtual visits. Virtual visits were associated with four minutes less of total personnel time compared with in-person visits; however, surgeons spent two minutes longer on virtual visit activities than they did on in-person activities.
AAOS Members in the News: Joshua Matthew Abzug, MD; Catherine Anne Logan, MD, MBA, PT; and Kyle Duchman, MD
Joshua Matthew Abzug, MD, FAAOS, spoke to FOX-TV (Baltimore) about the role a local summer camp plays in helping children with limb differences. Catherine Anne Logan, MD, MBA, PT, FAAOS, talked with online news site the Mirror about NBA draft picks and perceptions around players’ height and injuries. Kyle Duchman, MD, FAAOS, shared pickleball injury prevention tips with CBS2 Iowa. If you are interested in working with media and serving as an AAOS spokesperson or orthopaedics subject matter expert, email media@aaos.org.
Happy Patients File Fewer Lawsuits: How to Avoid a Medical Liability Suit
A plethora of studies demonstrate that physicians with superior doctor-patient communication skills are at a significantly lower risk of being sued. Physicians who were sued less often spent more time with their patients, used humor during their interactions, and asked patients for their own opinions more often than physicians who were more frequently sued. Although there have been efforts to reduce lawsuits and limit malpractice payouts, there is evidence that encouraging doctor-patient communication is an effective method of reducing liability risk.
Do Not Miss Out on an Upcoming Practice Management Virtual Course
Senior residents and young practitioners—this is for you! Presented by AAOS, the American Alliance of Orthopaedic Executives, and the Illinois Association of Orthopedic Surgeons, the upcoming two-part virtual course, “Understanding the Business of Orthopaedics: Today’s Realities and Preparing for the Future,” will provide a foundation in practice management by engaging with renowned faculty about firsthand experiences and learning about practical solutions that drive success. This two-part virtual course takes place Sept. 30 and Oct. 14. If you cannot attend those dates live, register for the course to receive a recording.
AMA Conducting Survey Crucial to Medicare Reimbursement
The American Medical Association (AMA) has partnered with Mathematica to survey randomly selected physicians regarding practice expense. AAOS strongly urges members to complete the survey if contacted. The goal of the AMA Physician Practice Information Survey is to better understand the costs faced by physician practices to support physician payment advocacy. The study will serve as an opportunity to communicate accurate financial information to policymakers, including members of Congress and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
