Cervical Spine Surgery Costs Climb

Jennie McKee

Hospital costs for cervical spine surgeries rose significantly between 2002 and 2009, according to a study presented at the 2012 Cervical Spine Research Society annual meeting. The increase in costs may be due to older patients undergoing these procedures, according to Kern Singh, MD, who worked with his colleagues to analyze national trends in cervical spine procedures.

MOC 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.

Implications of Adjacent Segment Disease After Cervical Spine Surgery

Maureen Leahy

Anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a common treatment for cervical spondylosis, with clinical success in relieving the pain and improving the neurologic symptoms associated with the disease. However, adjacent segment disease (ASD) has been associated with cervical spine fusion. Samuel K. Cho, MD AAOS Now: What is ASD? Dr. Cho: The exact definition of ASD varies in the literature.

Prior Nail Fixation May Increase Complication Risk at Conversion

Peter Pollack

Data presented at the 2012 annual meeting of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons suggest that using a cephalomedullary nail (CMN) for fixation of an intertrochanteric hip fracture may increase the risk of complications during conversion total hip arthroplasty (THA), compared to prior fixation with sliding hip screw and side plate (SHS) devices. “CMN devices have become increasingly popular in the treatment of intertrochanteric hip fractures,” explained presenter Christine M.

FDA Issues Safety Communication on MoM Devices

Proposed new rule would require PMA for MoM implants As this issue of AAOS Now went to press, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had issued a new safety communication for orthopaedic surgeons, other healthcare providers, and patients with or considering a metal-on-metal (MoM) hip implant. The new document is based, in part, on the results of the June 2012 meeting of the Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Devices Advisory Panel.

Impact of Trochanteric and Retrograde Femoral Nailing on Patient Gait

Maureen Leahy

Trochanteric-entry femoral nailing can potentially cause a mechanical disturbance in patient gait, according to data presented at the 2012 annual meeting of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association. In comparison, although retrograde nailing involves the knee joint for proper entry portal placement, it does not have a significant effect on gait function. Femoral shaft fractures have historically been treated with antegrade intramedullary (IM) nails inserted through the piriformis fossa.

Second Look—Clinical News and Views

SURGIFLO Hemostatic Matrix products recalled The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a Class I recall of Ethicon, Inc., SURGIFLO Hemostatic Matrix and SURGIFLO Hemostatic Matrix Kit Plus FlexTip with Thrombin. The agency states that there is an issue within the packing process, where a cut could potentially breach the double Tyvek® pouch of the packaging. According to FDA, the product may cause serious adverse health consequences, including death.

BJD Measures Global Burden of Disease

Landmark study shows impact of musculoskeletal conditions Musculoskeletal conditions are the second greatest cause of disability globally according to a report by international experts, published in The Lancet (Dec. 15, 2012). The first comprehensive study of the worldwide impact of all diseases and risk factors found that musculoskeletal conditions such as arthritis and back pain affect more than 1.

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! An expanded explanation of the correct answers can be found below. This famous British surgeon developed a traction splint for managing femur fractures and described the reduction maneuver for nursemaid’s elbow in 1883.

ABOS Initiates Easy Transfer of CME Data for MOC

Jennie McKee

The newly redesigned American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) website—www.abos.org—is now even more dynamic, thanks to a joint effort of the ABOS and the AAOS.

Taking Aim at Youth Gun Violence

Maureen Leahy

In 2012, shooting tragedies in smaller towns such as Aurora, Colo., and Newtown, Conn., raised the profile of efforts to curb gun violence in the United States. Media attention focused on the number of dead in each incident, resulting from a single shooter using a semiautomatic assault weapon with a large capacity magazine. But such events are rare and account for only a small fraction of total firearm-related deaths and injuries in the United States.