Study Finds HA Injections Useful for Plantar Fasciopathy

Mary Ann Porucznik

Results of a multicenter, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial presented during the 2013 annual meeting of the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) indicate that the use of high–molecular-weight hyaluronic acid (HA) injections may be effective in reducing pain and improving function in patients with plantar fasciopathy (PF). According to presenter Tsukasa Kumai, MD, PhD, of Nara, Japan, PF is the most common cause of plantar heel pain.

Managing Turf Toe Injuries

Maureen Leahy

Professional athletes often sustain foot and ankle injuries. Turf toe—hyperextension of the hallux metatarsophalangeal (MP) joint created by an axial load in a fixed forefoot—is especially common in athletes who play field sports, particularly on artificial turf, according to Robert B. Anderson, MD, of OrthoCarolina, Charlotte, N.C., and orthopaedist for the Carolina Panthers football team. Speaking at the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) annual meeting, Dr.

Are They Fit or Just Plain Fat?

Mary Ann Porucznik

Today’s football players are big. According to Letha Y. “Etty” Griffin, MD, between 1924 and 1980, there were never more than eight National Football League (NFL) players who weighed more than 300 pounds. But a 2009 study of NFL rosters found 343 players who weighed more than 300 pounds. “We have made an epidemic of big people—not only tall players but heavy players as well,” said Dr.

Tackling Rhabdomyolysis in College Football Players

Jennie McKee

Weekend warriors who exercise too hard on a hot summer day may seem like the most likely candidates for exertional rhabdomyolysis (ER), a condition in which muscle fibers break down and release intracellular elements into the bloodstream, causing dark urine, muscle swelling, pain, and weakness. But according to a recent study, college football players are also at risk for ER, which can result in renal failure and other complications.

Know the Ins and Outs of Subspecialty Certification

Shepard R. Hurwitz, MD

Do you specialize in surgery of the hand? Is most of the care you provide related to sports medicine? If you answered in the affirmative to either question, earning and maintaining subspecialty certification in these areas from the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) may be beneficial to you and your patients. In this month’s column, I will explore the requirements for subspecialty certifications in surgery of the hand and sports medicine.

Survey Measures Orthopaedic Resident Satisfaction

Robert F. Murphy, MD

Although most orthopaedic residents are satisfied with the orthopaedic surgery components of their internship year, many believe that orthopaedic knowledge and surgical skills training are lacking, according to data presented during the American Orthopaedic Association’s Council of Residency Directors meeting. Effective July 1, changes in the PGY-1 curriculum require interns to participate in 6 months of orthopaedic rotations instead of 3 months.

Fourth Time’s the Charm?

Terry Stanton

Although many orthopaedic surgeons may never encounter an in-flight emergency or call for assistance, William C. Watters III, MD, MS, of Houston has been involved in no fewer than four incidents, including one in which he was the stricken passenger. The first occurred in the 1970s, during his time as a medical resident, on a Pan Am 747 flying from Puerto Rico to Philadelphia. Dr. Watters was the lone physician to respond to a request for medical help; a nurse on board also came forward.