Taking Off: The Impact of Spaceflight on Musculoskeletal Tissue

Mary Ann Porucznik

During the past two years, orthopaedic researchers have had a unique opportunity to study the impact of microgravity, such as that experienced during spaceflight, on musculoskeletal tissues. Over the course of three space shuttle missions, a NASA mouse-tissue Biospecimen Sharing Program looked at the effects of spaceflight not only on bone and muscle but also on cartilage and tendon. Three investigators involved in the program—Stavros Thomopoulos, PhD, of Washington University in St.

Submit an Abstract for the 2013 Annual Meeting

Kathie Niesen, CMP

Kathie Niesen, CMP Do you have a research idea that would make a great presentation? Consider formulating it into an abstract and sharing it with AAOS members, residents, and other orthopaedic professionals during the premiere educational event in orthopaedics—the 2013 AAOS Annual Meeting, March 19–23, 2013, in Chicago. The AAOS Program Committee invites you to submit your abstracts for paper/poster presentations, scientific exhibits, and multimedia education presentations.

Studies Examine Fracture Outcomes, Recurrence with Bisphosphonates

Terry Stanton

Two studies presented during the AAOS 2012 Annual Meeting examined implications of the association between the use of bisphosphonates and atypical femur fracture. One looked at outcomes in those patients who did sustain such a fracture, while the other explored whether discontinuing bisphosphonate treatment in patients after a fracture decreases the risk of a second atypical fracture on the other femur.

Study Seeks Compartment Syndrome Predictors

Maureen Leahy

Compartment syndrome is a serious condition that is difficult to diagnose; typically, orthopaedic surgeons must rely on clinical assessment and compartment pressure measurements. Study data presented at the 2012 AAOA Annual Meeting, however, indicate that lateral and medial displacement of the femur and increased fracture severity are strong predictors of compartment syndrome in tibial plateau fractures.

Obesity Linked to More Growth-Plate Fractures in Children

Terry Stanton

Two studies of pediatric patients with fractures, which were presented at the 2012 AAOS Annual Meeting, found that obese children are more likely to incur fractures that involve the growth plate, or physis, than nonobese children. In a study examining lower-extremity long-bone fractures in obese and nonobese pediatric trauma patients, Shawn R.

International Perspectives on Alternate Bearings

Maureen Leahy

Millions of individuals are living full and active lives thanks to joint replacement. Recent attempts have been made to improve bearing surfaces and address problems such as increased friction and joint wear. The current state of alternate bearings—ceramic-on-ceramic (CoC), metal-on-metal (MoM), and highly cross-linked polyethylene—for total hip arthroplasty was discussed by a panel of international experts during the 2012 AAOS Annual Meeting.

Meetings and Course Listings

General APR. 11–15 AAOS Board Preparation and Review Course Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza, Chicago Course director: A. Jay Khanna, MD APR. 18–22 Mid-America Orthopaedic Association Annual Meeting Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa, Bonita Springs, Fla. Website: www.maoa.org APR. 20–22 AAOS Advances in Care of the Aging Athlete Arizona Grand Resort, Phoenix Course directors: Lt. Col. John M. Tokish, MD; Richard J.

Studies Find Patients Have Low Levels of Vitamin D

Jennie McKee

Low levels of vitamin D may be a common problem among orthopaedic patients, according to findings of three separate studies presented at the AAOS Annual Meeting. The studies examined vitamin D levels in three types of orthopaedic patients: adults undergoing spinal fusion, postmenopausal women with distal radius fractures, and orthopaedic trauma patients.

BMP Use Doesn’t Help Long-Term Fusion Outcomes

Terry Stanton

A database and literature review with meta-analysis of 18 studies from seven countries indicates that lumbar fusion outcomes at 24 to 48 months after surgery are not significantly improved by the use of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP). The results were presented by Evalina Burger, MD, and colleagues at the 2012 AAOS Annual Meeting in their poster, “Two-Year Bone Morphogenetic Protein Clinical Effects after Lumbar Fusion in Degenerative Disc Disease.”

Antibiotic Nails Can Be Effective in Treating Tibial Infections

Jennie McKee

According to a study presented at the AAOS 2012 Annual Meeting, custom-made antibiotic-impregnated cement nails were effective in treating tibial infections that occur in patients with a tibial fracture who undergo intramedullary (IM) nailing. Researchers conducted a retrospective study of 32 patients who underwent IM nailing of tibial fractures and in whom deep postoperative infection subsequently developed. The use of antibiotic-impregnated IM nails cleared 75 percent of the infections.

Managing Maintenance of Certification

Maureen Geoghegan

Confused about where you are in your 10-year certification cycle? Wondering what all the talk about Maintenance of Certification (MOC) really means for you? Preparing for your recertification exam? The AAOS and the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) have a variety of resources available to improve your understanding of MOC and your CME and self-assessment requirements—as well as to help you plan, manage, and achieve MOC. Does MOC apply to you? Chances are, yes.

What’s Your Diagnosis?

In this feature, AAOS Now publishes a series of images, challenging readers to diagnose the condition depicted. The images for this month’s challenge were submitted by Brian Norton, MD, a PGY-4 resident at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center department of orthopaedic surgery. Dr. Norton also provided the following information: The patient is a 64-year-old male with complaints of a “shooting-type” pain and discomfort between the third and fourth metatarsals.

PRP May Be a Useful Option for Chronic Plantar Fasciitis

Peter Pollack

I wanted to see how effective a new technique—platelet-rich plasma (PRP)—would be with patients who have chronic plantar fasciitis. These patients had symptoms for a long time and traditional treatment modalities weren’t working for them,” explained Raymond Rocco Monto, MD, who presented his paper, “PRP Is More Effective than Cortisone for Chronic Severe Plantar Fasciitis” during the 2012 AAOS Annual Meeting.

Safety of Simultaneous Bilateral vs. Unilateral TKA

Peter Pollack

What factors are associated with complication rates after simultaneous total knee arthroplasty (TKA)?” asked Bryan D. Springer, MD, who presented his study, “Factors Associated with Perioperative Complication Rates after Unilateral vs. Simultaneous TKA,” at the AAOS Annual Meeting. Dr. Springer and Susan M. Odum, MS, drew data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), a national claims database. “We looked back over a 4-year period, from 2004 through 2007,” said Dr. Springer.

Untreated Varicose Veins Increase DVT Risk in THA Patients

Maureen Leahy

Untreated varicose veins (VV) significantly increase the risk of postoperative deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, the risk of DVT is the same for patients with surgically treated VV as for patients with no previous history of VV problems, according to study data presented by Anahita Dua, MD, at the AAOS 2012 Annual Meeting.