Going to the dogs for novel tumor treatments

Annie Hayashi

Canine model provides surrogate for osteosarcoma research Osteosarcoma in children and adolescents is relatively rare, with between 500 to 600 new cases diagnosed every year in the United States. The incidence of osteosarcoma (OSA) in pet dogs, however, is 20 times higher, with about 10,000 to 15,000 new cases occurring annually.

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.

Conventional surgery serves patients well

Alan S. Hilibrand, MD

New techniques must show clear advantage Over the past 10 years, through the successful collaboration of surgeons and industry, less-invasive techniques have been developed and popularized for treating common orthopaedic conditions. Such procedures, often incorporating arthroscopic techniques, have been successful in areas such as joint reconstruction of the knee and the shoulder. Alan S.

Tubular diskectomy minimizes collateral damage

Raymond J. Gardocki, MD

A logical progression moves spine surgery forward Minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) has recently gained popularity, partly because achieving spinal decompression or stabilization without disrupting normal functioning anatomy intuitively makes sense. Much of the demand for MISS comes from patients who have seen family and friends benefit from these techniques. Raymond J.

Meetings and Course Listings

Listed below are upcoming continuing medical education (CME) courses and orthopaedic meetings (October through February 2010). 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.

EBM, CPGs, and workers’ compensation

J. Mark Melhorn, MD

Building a foundation for better care, improved decision-making Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is the conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients. Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) aim to guide decisions and criteria regarding diagnosis, management, and treatment in specific areas of health care.

Predicting OA after ACL injury

Jennie McKee

Researchers use quantitative MRI to detect early degeneration “As orthopaedic surgeons, we pride ourselves on how well we reconstruct the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL),” said C. Benjamin Ma, MD. “And yet, recent studies have shown that degenerative changes develop in the knees of more than 50 percent of patients with ACL injuries, despite surgical reconstruction.” When the ACL is injured, explained Dr. Ma, the articular cartilage is also damaged.

The Universal Protocol—Can’t love it or leave it!

Dirk H. Alander, MD

By Dirk H. Alander, MD Let’s put an end to wrong-site surgery The new Universal Protocol: Understand it? Vilify it! Live with it. All are responses to the enactment of the updated 2009 universal protocol for invasive procedures. What may have gotten lost in the recent upheaval—particularly with regard to healthcare reform—are the continuing safety efforts of the AAOS.

AAOS Comprehensive Orthopaedic Review makes the grade

Maureen Leahy

Developed by an expert editorial team headed by Jay R. Lieberman, MD, the AAOS Comprehensive Orthopaedic Review is an all-inclusive resource covering the full spectrum of core orthopaedic knowledge. Tops in testing Since its introduction in February 2009, the textbook has sold more than 4,000 copies and is helping scores of orthopaedic residents prepare for the Orthopaedic In-Training Exam (OITE) and the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery Board Certification examination.

The Oobleck of resident education

William A. Grana, MD, MPH

I think the commentary (“Let’s rethink how we train orthopaedic surgical residents” by Joseph E. Sheppard, MD, AAOS Now, April 2009) clearly stated the issues currently facing many public institutions in successfully maintaining comprehensive educational programs for orthopaedic residents while retaining quality faculty in fiscally sound environments. The proposed hybrid model might work in selected situations if community faculty understand that academic activity is the primary expectation.

SPORT supports surgical treatment for spondylolisthesis

Annie Hayashi

Pain relief, functional improvements continue at 4 years Two years ago, results from the Spine Patients Outcomes Research Trial (SPORT) study showed that surgical treatment of degenerative spondylolisthesis and associated spinal stenosis resulted in greater short-term improvements than nonsurgical treatment. A recent review of the data at the 4-year mark supported that conclusion.

Safety and litigation update for shoulder pain pumps

By Benjamin T. Busfield, MD, and Laura B. Kalur, Esq. It’s time to stop using intra-articular pain pumps Several modalities have emerged for postoperative pain control to facilitate outpatient surgery. For shoulder arthroscopy, these modalities include regional nerve blocks and pain pumps.

Transparency: the ‘silver bullet’ in compliance

Jennie McKee

Disclosure must play a key role in physician-industry relationships “The world has changed,” Kathleen McDermott, JD, told an audience of American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) fellows during the 2009 AOSSM Annual Meeting. “Expectations of transparency, evolving ethical standards, and competition for physician and hospital business have created a challenging climate to navigate.” Ms.