AAOS President Paul Tornetta III, MD, PhD, FAAOS, will open the President’s Symposium on orthopaedic infections, addressing the ongoing challenges and advancements in prevention and treatment.
Published 3/12/2025
Infection remains a significant challenge in orthopaedics, impacting both total joint arthroplasty and fracture treatment. Despite advancements, infection rates remain stubbornly high, exceeding 10 percent in some fracture cases, and treatment fails in up to 30 percent of patients with established infections. On Wednesday, the “President’s Symposium: Orthopaedic Infections: The Last Frontier” (Symposium W), held from 1:30 to 3 p.m. in Room 6D, tackles this critical issue head-on.
The symposium, introduced by moderators Paul Tornetta III, MD, PhD, FAAOS, and William T. Obremskey, MD, MPH, FAAOS, features a distinguished panel of experts who will explore the current state of infection prevention and treatment. Matthew P. Abdel, MD, FAAOS, and George V. Russell, MD, MBA, FAAOS, will frame the discussion by addressing the core problem of orthopaedic infections. The focus then shifts to specific prevention strategies, with Craig J. Della Valle, MD, FAAOS, addressing arthroplasty and Reza Firoozabadi, MD, FAAOS, covering fractures.
Current treatment protocols are also examined, with Antonia F. Chen, MD, MBA, FAAOS, discussing arthroplasty and Heather A. Vallier, MD, FAAOS, focusing on fracture care. Looking toward the future, Kenneth Urish, MD, PhD, FAAOS, and Benjamin Ollivere, MD, MBBS, FRCS (Ortho), MA, explore promising advancements in arthroplasty and fracture treatment, respectively, aimed at reducing infection rates and improving eradication strategies.
The symposium concludes with a panel discussion moderated by Janet D. Conway, MD, FAAOS, fostering dialogue on this crucial topic.