Smoking Associated with Fracture Nonunion, Longer Healing Times

Maureen Leahy

Study data presented at the AAOS 2013 Annual Meeting revealed that smoking is associated with increased nonunion rates, longer healing times, and higher rates of wound complications in long-bone fractures. Although cigarette smoking is recognized as one of the major causes of preventable disease in the United States, little reported analysis exists regarding the effects of smoking on fracture healing and postoperative infection after long-bone fracture surgery, according to the authors.

EWI VIII: Sequelae of Combat Injuries

G. Jake Jaquet

More than 40,000 U.S. military personnel have been wounded in battle over the past dozen years, 80 percent of them sustaining extremity injuries. Treating these injuries is challenging because many are the product of improvised explosive device blasts, resulting in high-energy injuries rarely seen elsewhere.

“Orthobiologics” Have Promise Across Surgery Categories

Terry Stanton

The use of biologic agents such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein (rhBMP) continues to draw heightened interest. Research is expanding the understanding of both their potential and their limitations. In addition, results of clinical experience are helping to guide physicians in applying these products in their practices.

Face Off: Bone Health Management

POINT: Internists should be in charge of bone health. Douglas W. Lundy, MD, FACS In taking the “internist” side of this argument, I must admit to being somewhat conflicted. Although I firmly believe that orthopaedic surgeons should be more involved in the bone health of our patients, I can see that internal medicine physicians are more focused on a daily basis on the issues that often lead to poor bone health and the treatment of those conditions.

Preventing Inpatient Falls after Total Joint Surgery

Mary Ann Porucznik

Despite the implementation of fall prevention programs, inpatient falls continue to occur and can result in significant morbidity. According to research presented yesterday, the use of nerve blocks in total joint arthroplasty leads to a higher rate of falls, especially for patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

AAOS Begins Second Year of TeamSTEPPS Project

Howard Mevis

An important component of the Academy’s patient safety program is improving communication and teamwork skills among operating room (OR) teams, which include the surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, physician assistants, and OR techs. “Too often mistakes occur in the OR because someone on the team didn’t speak up,” noted Dwight W. Burney III, MD, member of the AAOS Patient Care Project Team.

MOC May 1 Deadline Reminder

AAOS fellows whose certification expires in 2014, 2015, or 2016 and who plan to take the ABOS Maintenance of Certification (MOC) examination in 2014 should check their MOC dashboards on the ABOS website (www.abos.org) for the application. The application deadline is May 1, 2013.

Orthopaedic Trivia Quiz

AAOS Now tests your knowledge of orthopaedic trivia. Take a minute and see how well you know your orthopaedic trivia—but don’t peek at the answers!