Don’t discount aspirin for DVT prevention

New study finds common drug a possible treatment option to prevent blood clots in knee replacement patients Taking aspirin to prevent blood clots after knee surgery may be a safe and effective alternative to currently recommended treatments that are often costlier and riskier, according to preliminary results from a study presented at the 2008 Annual Meeting by Kevin J. Bozic, MD, MBA.

Repairing “irreparable” rotator cuff tears with biologic tissue

Peter Pollack

Irreparable rotator cuff tears continue to challenge orthopaedic surgeons. Given improved understanding and advances in shoulder arthroscopy, the incidence of such tears may be decreasing, yet many cases are still considered irreparable. In a paper presented at the 2008 AAOS Annual Meeting, Stephen J. Snyder, MD, Jason A. Higgins, MD, James L. Bond, MD, and Joseph P.

Meetings and Course Listings

Listed below are upcoming continuing medical education (CME) courses and orthopaedic meetings (May through September 2008). For more information about AAOS-sponsored courses, contact the AAOS customer service department at (800) 626-6726 or visit the CME course section of the AAOS Web site. For more information about other CME courses or orthopaedic meetings, contact the source provided.

Good news, bad news on ACL reconstruction

Annie Hayashi

Associated meniscal lesions affect OA development According to an Argentinian study presented at the AAOS 75th Annual Meeting, 90 percent of patients who underwent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery to restore knee stability showed favorable initial results. Osteoarthritis (OA) was more likely to develop in patients who required meniscectomies in addition to the reconstructive surgery.

Do gender-specific implants make a clinical difference?

Jennie McKee

Experts discuss current data and implications for patient outcomes Are women so anatomically different from men that they require gender-specific hip and knee implants? A panel of experts, moderated by Craig J. Della Valle, MD, explored this question during the 2008 AAOS Annual Meeting. Until recently, orthopaedic surgeons chose from an array of standard implants designed to fit both men and women.

The hip resurfacing/hip replacement debate

Both total hip replacement and hip resurfacing procedures continue to spark a lively, ongoing discussion among orthopaedic surgeons. Total hip replacement is a proven, effective technique that results in excellent pain relief and function in most patients for many years. Hip resurfacing, on the other hand, has had its ups and downs—with implants that were introduced in the early 1990s, then withdrawn from the market, and reintroduced under special circumstances more than a decade later.

Poor outcomes probable with ACL revisions

Primary reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) generally results in high levels of patient satisfaction. But as the number of primary ACL reconstructions increase, the potential for revision surgery also rises. Patients who have had good results after a primary ACL reconstruction may expect similar results after revision surgery. But according to Rick W. Wright, MD, such expectations may be misplaced.

Do you understand what I’m saying?

Study finds age, education are key for understanding surgical consent forms Signing a surgical consent form is a common and required part of the healthcare process. Before undergoing almost any medical procedure, patients must read and sign a form stating that they understand the treatment and agree to have it performed.

Tandem surgery better for shoulder dislocation

Peter Pollack

According to the results of a Level 1, prospective, randomized, double-blind controlled trial, tandem surgery consisting of primary arthroscopic examination and repair of a Bankart lesion reduces the risk of subsequent instability, and that benefit is distinct from any therapeutic effect of arthroscopic examination and lavage of the glenohumeral joint. The study results were outlined by Paul J. Jenkins, MBChB, MRCS, during the 2008 AAOS Annual Meeting.

AAOS/AAHKS satellite program “unprecedented”

Howard Mevis

Satellite technology brings cutting-edge course to three sites It isn’t easy to schedule time away from your practice to attend continuing medical education (CME) courses. Traveling to distant locations is not only time-consuming, it can be costly. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the courses came to a location near you?

Take advantage of CME and SAE offerings from AAOS

The Academy offers a wide array of Continuing Medical Education (CME) courses, home study programs, and self-assessment examinations (SAEs) to help you meet Maintenance of CertificationTM (MOC) requirements. Each year, the AAOS CME Courses Committee presents a complete orthopaedic curriculum of approximately 30 courses. The AAOS MOC Board Preparation and Review Course focuses on MOC examination preparation.