Orthopaedic Practice in the United States

TaCarra Moore, MPH; Hazel Oreluk, MA

Every 2 years, the AAOS surveys members to track the numbers and practice patterns of orthopaedic surgeons. The results are summarized in Orthopaedic Practice in the United States (OPUS). The information collected helps ensure that AAOS members are accurately represented, that Academy program and products evolve to reflect changes in membership, and that the AAOS continues to address the professional needs and interests of its members.

The Female Athlete Triad: Who Falls Under the Umbrella?

Emily Curry, BA; Elizabeth Matzkin, MD

Female athletes were historically stereotyped as weaker, softer, less durable, and more vulnerable compared to male athletes. However, after the passage of Title IX—the federal civil rights law that prohibited sex discrimination in education, including athletics—participation in sports by girls and women skyrocketed from 7 percent in 1972 to 42 percent in 2012.

Reminder: Upcoming MOC Deadlines

Important deadlines are approaching for the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery’s (ABOS) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. In particular, diplomates whose certification expires in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, or 2020 should be aware that they may face important deadlines in November and December 2013, including deadlines for the submission of continuing medical education credits to the ABOS. Need assistance?

USBJI Summit Focuses on Best Practices

The U.S. Bone and Joint Initiative (USBJI) will hold a summit on “Best Practices in Patient-centered Musculoskeletal Care,” Nov. 18–19, 2013, at the Washington Court Hotel in Washington, D.C. The conference is the second in a series of biennial summits for the leadership and staff of musculoskeletal healthcare professionals and patient organizations, government officials, and insurance and industry representatives.

Why Patients Don’t Show Up for Surgery

Cynthia Kahlenberg, BA; Robert J. Wetzel, MD; Sara L. Edwards, MD

In the current era of high healthcare spending, physicians must develop a heightened sense of financial awareness. Hospital systems, in response to external pressures, are constantly reevaluating their resource utilization and seeking ways to improve efficiency. In particular, the surgical setting is one area in which it is especially important to monitor costs and expenditures because wasted time can add up to thousands of wasted dollars.

The Risk of Occupational Injuries among Orthopaedic Surgeons

Jennie McKee

Occupational injuries—such as carpal tunnel syndrome, back sprains, and torn ligaments—are a common complaint of patients who seek orthopaedic care. Many of the orthopaedic surgeons who provide that care may also sustain on-the-job injuries, according to a study recently published in The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. To assess occupational injuries among orthopaedic surgeons, the study used an electronic survey that was sent to all of the orthopaedists in the state of Tennessee.

Getting to Zero Infections

Terry Stanton

At the beginning of 2011, the rate of surgical site infections (SSIs) at St. Luke’s Boise Medical Center in Idaho was 1.1 percent. By national standards, that is fairly respectable; at some hospitals, the rate runs greater than 2 percent. Executives and staff at St. Luke’s wanted to do better. They estimated that each infection cost an average of $100,000 and that reducing the incidence could save millions, with obvious benefits to patient welfare.

Can You Read Me Now?

Mary Ann Porucznik

The popularity and widespread use of electronic communications cannot be debated. In fact, the phenomenal growth of social media such as Facebook and Twitter has almost surpassed the significance of email. But not when it comes to medicine. Electronic communications between patients and physicians are still rare, and with good reason, according to a recent study in the journal Health Affairs.

Second Look—Clinical News and Views

Return to military after TJA Data presented in The Journal of Arthroplasty (September) suggest that total joint arthroplasty (TJA) may have efficacy when appropriately indicated among young, active patients who seek to continue their military careers. The research team surveyed 42 service members (average age 45 years) who had undergone major joint arthroplasty at a mean follow-up of 4½ years.

AOA Announces Leadership Immersion Series

The American Orthopaedic Association (AOA), in collaboration with the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, has designed the AOA Leadership Immersion Series to provide orthopaedic surgeons with the opportunity to further develop essential leadership skills. Module 1, “Surviving Health Care Changes: Leaders Taking Strategic Action,” will be held Nov. 15–16, 2013.

Addressing Arthritis as a Chronic Disease

Alexandra Page, MD

How do you counsel a 15-year-old girl who has had an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction about osteoarthritis (OA)? What do you say about OA to the 45-year-old weekend athlete who, during a routine follow-up visit after rotator cuff repair, incidentally mentions feeling a sporadic knee ache? What do you tell the 30-year-old laborer who has a fracture affecting a joint or his 50-year-old foreman whose knees hurt all day?