Study finds possible predictor of OA after ankle fracture

Jennie McKee

Initial cartilage damage influences long-term outcomes After surgical reduction of an ankle fracture, osteoarthritis (OA) may still develop in up to 50 per­cent of pa­tients. But is there a way to predict which patients will be affected? According to Dutch researcher Sjoerd Stufkens, MD, and Swiss colleagues, a correlation exists between the cartilaginous lesions resulting from the fracture and long-term outcomes in patients.

Meetings and Course Listings

Listed below are selected upcoming continuing medical education (CME) courses and orthopaedic meetings (December 2008 through April 2009). 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 at www.aaos.org/courses For more information about other CME courses or orthopaedic meetings listed, contact the source provided.

Symposium explores causes, treatments of stress fractures of the foot

Jennie McKee

Experts discuss navicular, central metatarsal, and fifth metatarsal stress fractures Stress fractures of the foot are a common problem among military recruits, athletes who participate in high-impact sports, and others who suddenly and dramatically increase their level of activity. These injuries occur when muscles become too fatigued to absorb the shock of repeated impacts. The impacts are then transferred to the bones, resulting in stress fractures.

Treating Achilles tendon rupture: Surgery or bracing

Annie Hayashi

Study examines which treatment method reduces complications Which method of treating an acute Achilles tendon (AT) rupture has fewer complications—minimally invasive surgery or functional bracing? According to a randomized, controlled, multicenter clinical trial conducted in the Netherlands, surgical treatment resulted in fewer complications and reruptures. The results of this study were published in the September 2008 American Journal of Sports Medicine.

Implant retrieval analysis reveals what’s inside hip resurfacing devices

Annie Hayashi

Metal-on-metal implant analysis yields clues for understanding osteolysis and wear Implant retrieval analysis can connote failure with devices, processes, and technique. Implants retrieved from hip resurfacings, however, present opportunities to develop better devices and processes for patients, according to Pat Campbell, PhD. Dr. Campbell serves as the director of the Implant Retrieval Laboratory of the J.

CME Wizard works like a charm

Carolyn Rogers

Does the prospect of paging through the 2009 Annual Meeting preliminary program—comparing hundreds of instructional courses and symposia, and juggling conflicting time slots—give you a headache? What if you could wave a magic wand and—“presto”—your ideal schedule would simply appear in front of you? Meet the AAOS Annual Meeting CME Wizard.

Keep up CME with OKO

Keith Huff

By Keith Huff Continuing medical education (CME) is an integral part of every physician’s career. States specify CME requirements for licensure renewal and the American Board of Medical Specialties and its member boards such as the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) specify CME for Maintenance of Certification™ (MOC). Keeping up with the latest developments in the field mandates that physicians spend a great deal of time—and money—each year amassing CME credits.

Get a leg up on learning

Jennie McKee

Coordinated courses focus on foot and ankle, offer discount The AAOS is offering two continuing medical education courses in December and March—one lecture-based, the other skills-based—that are mostly content-linked and intended to help orthopaedists increase their ability to treat common foot and ankle problems. Enrolling in both courses will not only enhance the learning experience, but will also allow participants to receive a 20 percent discount on tuition for the skills course.

Second Look – Clinical News and Views

If you missed these Headline News Now items the first time around, AAOS Now gives you a second chance to review them. Headline News Now—the AAOS thrice-weekly, online update of news of interest to orthopaedic surgeons—brings you the latest on clinical, socioeconomic, and political issues, as well as important announcements from AAOS. Surgeon General calls for action to address rise in DVT, PE Steven K. Galson, MD, MPH, the acting U.S.

Changes in CME: Innovations and challenges

Elaine Fiedler

An interview with Edward Akelman, MD AAOS Now: What challenges did the CME Committee face during your tenure as chair? How did you respond to those challenges? Dr.

Can viscosupplementation ease ankle OA?

Jennie McKee

Current data show good results, but long-term studies still needed Orthopaedists may soon have a new tool in the fight against ankle osteoarthritis (OA). Viscosupplementation—specifically, the injection of hyaluronic acid derivatives into the joint—has been shown to be effective in studies of OA of the knee.