Aspirin Vs. Warfarin: Which Is Better at Preventing VTE?

Jennie McKee

Aspirin may be a more effective prophylaxis than warfarin in preventing venous thromboembolism (VTE) after total joint arthroplasty (TJA), according to research presented by Javad Parvizi, MD, FRCS, at the 2013 AAOS Annual Meeting. When Dr.

The Future of Digital Health Technologies

Andrew R. Hsu, MD

Recent advances in hardware development and integrated software have unleashed a wave of creativity and innovation in the technology industry, resulting in new approaches and devices that can be applied to orthopaedic practices. The digitization of health care offers the possibility of faster, cheaper, and better care for patients, and advances outside the traditional orthopaedic arena can be applied in new ways to improve practice logistics within the framework of healthcare reform.

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 British orthopaedist is best known for his monographs on fractures and dislocations, as well as his detailed description of tuberculosis of the spine. Percivall Pott (1714–1788) Sir John Charnley (1911–1982) Robert Jones (1857–1933) E.

Metabolic Workup Can Be Key to Healing Certain Nonunions

Maureen Leahy

Certain fracture nonunions can heal without surgical intervention, if the underlying metabolic or endocrine abnormalities are corrected, according to Mark R. Brinker, MD, of Fondren Orthopedic Group and Texas Orthopedic Hospital, Houston. During his presentation on “The Missing Info…How to Do the Metabolic Workup,” Dr.

PFA: Has It Improved?

Peter Pollack

Speaking at the joint Specialty Day session of the Knee Society and the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS), Jess H. Lonner, MD, of the Rothman Institute, Philadelphia, and Douglas A. Dennis, MD, of the Colorado Joint Replacement Center, Denver, presented different perspectives on the subject of patellofemoral arthroplasty (PFA) (Fig. 1). Many problems “virtually eliminated” Speaking first, Dr.

Lateral or Medial UKA: Which Is Better?

Peter Pollack

“Both lateral and medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) are safe and effective,” said Keith R. Berend, MD, during The Knee Society/American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons Specialty Day program. “I was asked to discuss whether lateral UKA is better than medial UKA, and I should disclose that I’m a big fan of medial UKA, which comprises more than half of my knee practice.”

Second Look—Clinical News and Views

HA for GH-OA According to a study in the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery (May) treating glenohumeral osteoarthritis (GH-OA) with sodium hyaluronate (HA) has little efficacy. The double-blind, randomized, controlled, multicenter trial involved 300 patients with GH-OA who received three weekly injections of either HA (n = 150) or phosphate-buffered saline(n = 150).

Treating Charcot Foot

Terry Stanton

The optimal treatment for Charcot foot—amputation or salvage—has been a subject of continuing debate, and not only among orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeons. The American Diabetes Association has also been working to review and summarize the evidence surrounding treatment methods for Charcot foot. During the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society’s 2013 Specialty Day meeting, Michael S. Pinzur, MD, of Chicago’s Loyola Medical Center, examined the issue from two different perspectives.

Physician Attitudes and Weight Bias

Joseph J. Gugenheim, MD

With regard to diseases, including obesity, we physicians like to think that “they” (the patients with the disease) are the problem and “we” (the physicians) are the solution. But our attitudes toward obese patients may make us part of the problem regarding their care. The recent forum sponsored by AAOS Now on “Obesity, Orthopaedics, and Outcomes” focused primarily on the medical issues associated with overweight and obese patients.

Orthopaedic Traumatology—More than Just Surgery

Timothy J. Bray, MD

Orthopaedic traumatology is an increasingly rewarding and demanding profession that requires mastery of specific, complex surgical techniques for outstanding patient care. Additionally fellowship graduates must master the business skills required for both personal and professional success and the leadership skills to work with industrial partners, community hospital providers, and professional organizations.

Get the Inside Scoop on MOC

Shepard R. Hurwitz, MD

By now, it’s no secret that the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) has replaced recertification with Maintenance of Certification (MOC), an ongoing process of knowledge- and skills-based education focused on improving quality and patient care. And yet, you may still have questions. You may not know how and why the MOC process came to be or may be unclear on what needs to be submitted when. That’s where I come in.