A weighty problem: Trauma treatment for obese patients

Mary Ann Porucznik

61 percent of U.S. adults are overweight or obese—and they present a growing problem in emergency departments across the country Obesity—defined as a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30—is presenting problems for orthopaedic trauma surgeons across the country.

Sharpen your abstract for 2008 Annual Meeting

Jennie McKee

From submission to presentation, here’s what happens to abstracts for the AAOS Annual Meeting Your cutting-edge research is ready to be committed to paper and revealed to the world. Showcasing it at the AAOS Annual Meeting is an opportunity you don’t want to miss. Give your abstract the best chance of being chosen by following these simple guidelines. Submitting your abstract The deadline for submitting your abstract is June 4, 2007.

Podium and poster abstracts: details at a glance

Poster presentations will be shown for the entire meeting (5 days). The presenters are required to be at their poster from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. (except on Saturday and Sunday) for discussion. A 4' × 8' tackboard will be provided for your use. Poster presentations are graded on-site during the Annual Meeting by the sub-committee members, who select the best poster in each classification.

Considerations for Grading Abstracts

Positive Features Innovative Well-outlined Subject may have impact in future membership Topic of current interest to membership Practical Educational, provocative Topic needs further discussion or airing A fresh approach to an old problem Impressive series Author speaks from wealth of experience Good message Problem fundamental to orthopaedic surgeons Controversial, but fresh approach Subject needs emphasis Not new, but a good summary Clarifies a difficult subject An important s

Tissue recalls: What to do

Michael J. Joyce, MD

What orthopaedic surgeons should do when notified of an allograft tissue recall or market withdrawal The March/April 2007 issue of AAOS Now addressed the critical role orthopaedic surgeons play in ensuring the public health through the reporting of adverse events (“MedWatch: Your link to adverse event reporting”). This issue examines the actions orthopaedic surgeons should take when notified of a tissue recall or market withdrawal.

MOC Class of 2010:Requirements for recertification

Jennie McKee

If your board certification expires in 2010, you’re among the first group of Diplomates to go through the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery’s (ABOS) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) process for board recertification. The goal of this new program is to encourage ongoing professional improvement among orthopaedic surgeons. Although 2010 is still three years away, it’s not too early to plan out exactly how you intend to meet the program requirements.

Changing trends in CME present opportunities for AAOS

Mary Ann Porucznik

At a Board of Directors’ Workshop, participants assessed current and future efforts There’s no denying that the continuing medical education (CME) programs sponsored by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) are among the best available in the United States. Not only do they earn high marks from members, they serve as the backbone of the Academy’s programs and are models for other organizations.

Antibiotic laden cement: Current state of the art

Terry A. Clyburn MD; Quanjun Cui, MD

Total joint arthroplasty (TJA) has become so successful and commonplace that excellent results are expected in all cases. Though rare, infection of TJA can be a devastating complication, resulting in an unhappy patient and a potential lawsuit. With public reporting, such infections may also tarnish the reputation of a skilled surgeon. Antibiotic laden cement (ABLC) has been used for more than 30 years as a delivery device for antibiotics in the treatment of infected TJAs.