Patient-matched and Custom Implants and Instruments

S. Raymond Golish, MD, PhD, MBA

The topic of custom implants and instruments generates excitement about the potential of new and innovative technology, especially for 3D printed devices. Numerous terms—including "patient-matched," "patient-specific," "customized," and "custom"—have been used to describe implants and instruments that are tailored to a specific patient's anatomy.

Taking the Big Bite

Matthew J. Wilson, MBBS (Lond), FRCS (Eng), FRCS (TR&Orth); Derek Amanatullah, MD; Atul F. Kamath, MD; Bharath Loganathan, MBBS, D.Ortho, MS (Ortho), MRCS (Edin)

"If you're going to chew on something for a long time, make sure you take a big bite!" So advised William H. Harris, MD, director emeritus of the Harris Orthopaedics Laboratory at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, during a once-in-a-lifetime lunchtime meeting. This message on how to approach research and career opportunities, rather than simply our sandwiches, was a fitting take-home message for all of us.

Low Complication Rate Reported from New Outpatient TJA Facility

Terry Stanton

A study tracking patients who underwent total joint arthroplasty (TJA) at a newly opened outpatient facility reported a low number of adverse events during the facility's first year of operation. The study, presented in a scientific poster at the AAOS Annual Meeting, reported results for 432 patients who underwent either total hip arthroplasty (THA; n = 177) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA; n = 255) in the outpatient surgery center over 13 months.

Patient Safety Experts to Participate in Summit

William J. Robb III, MD; Paul Zemaitis, MPH

Despite the many technological advances in health care, surgical adverse events leading to patient harm still exist. As a leader in the patient safety movement, AAOS aims to help healthcare organizations work together to address the many issues and challenges involved in providing safe, high-quality care. Together with the American College of Surgeons, AAOS will sponsor the National Surgical Patient Safety Summit (NSPSS), Aug. 4–5, in Rosemont, Ill.

Trends and Recent Research in Hip Arthroscopy

Dean K. Matsuda, MD

It has been 4 years since the last AAOS Now update on advances in hip arthroscopy. Since then, arthroscopic techniques and the field of hip preservation have rapidly evolved. This updated overview explores some of the latest hot topics, technical advancements, and emerging evidence-based studies in hip arthroscopy. As in any evolving field, current information and analysis is subject to change.

Safe, Effective Use of NSAIDs in the Changing Pain Management Environment

Christopher L. Gaunder, MD

Prescription opioid abuse and opioid-related accidental deaths have reached all-time highs in this country. In response, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently announced plans to overhaul its policies regarding opioid medications, an action that may prompt many orthopaedic surgeons to seek alternatives to manage their patients' pain.

Second Look – Clinical News and Views

These items originally appeared in AAOS Headline News Now, a thrice-weekly enewsletter that keeps AAOS members up to date on clinical, socioeconomic, and political issues, with links to more detailed information. Subscribe at www.aaos.org/news/news.

Face Off: Surgical Versus Nonsurgical Treatment of Acute Achilles Tendon Ruptures

Robert L. Parisien, MD, Christopher C. Dodson, MD; David P. Trofa, MD; William N. Levine, MD

The Achilles tendon (AT) is the most commonly ruptured tendon in the human body. The incidence of AT ruptures has increased in recent decades, with the number of reported ruptures per 100,000 people in North America now ranging from 5.5 to 9.9. Most acute AT ruptures occur as a result of trauma or athletic activity. Other described mechanisms include unexpected dorsiflexion, push-off with the knee in extension and forced dorsiflexion of a plantarflexed foot.