Preoperative Opioid Use Increases Risk of Postoperative Narcotic Demand Following ACLR

Maureen Leahy

Preoperative use of opioid medications in patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is a strong predictor of postoperative opioid demand, according to study data presented at the 2017 annual meeting of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. According to the study's authors, the demand for narcotics drops significantly by the third month after surgery for most patients.

Study Suggests Surgery is a Safe Treatment Option for Pectoralis Major Tendon Ruptures

Maureen Leahy

Pectoralis major tendon ruptures are relatively uncommon and little information exists about the demographics of these injuries or the surgical outcomes of their repair. Study data presented at the 2017 annual meeting of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, however, indicate that surgical repair of acute pectoralis major tendon ruptures is associated with a low rate of re-rupture and a low risk of complications.

AAHKS and Rheumatologists Team Up to Issue TJA Guideline

Terry Stanton

A newly issued set of clinical recommendations offers surgeons guidance in preventing periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) through medication management in arthroplasty patients who have inflammatory rheumatic diseases. Certain drugs may increase a patient's risk of infection.

Putting Yourself in Your Patient's Place

Identifying a patient's values to appropriately address them during treatment is an important part of medical decision making. In the August issue of AAOS Now, members of the Patient Safety Committee began a discussion focused on identifying and responding to patient preferences in treatment.

Teaching Residents the Fundamentals of TJA

Ann O'Neill

This spring, the AAOS, in collaboration with the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS), The Hip Society, and The Knee Society, presented surgical skills courses for orthopaedic residents on the fundamentals of hip and knee arthroplasty. Since their inception in 2014, the courses have been presented annually in a regional setting. The 2017 courses were held in three locations across the country under the direction of James I. Huddleston, III, MD, and Erik N.

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.asp (member login required).

Correction

The article "Abnormal Elbow Findings Identified in Little League Throwers," summarizing a scientific paper presentation made at the AAOS 2017 Annual Meeting, misidentified the presenter of the study. The study was presented by Andrew Pytiak, MD, of Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children. Dr. Pytiak is the first author of the study. AAOS Now regrets the error.

HIV and the Orthopaedic Patient

Terry Stanton

Since HIV was first documented in the United States in 1981, great strides have been made in the prevention of transmission and the management and treatment of HIV/AIDS. Still, an estimated 1.2 million persons aged 13 years or older are living with HIV infection in the country. Approximately 156,300 (12.8 percent) are unaware of their infection.

Measures to Avoid Complications in TKA

Terry Stanton

Wound complications after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are rare—with only 0.33 percent of more than 17,000 patients in a Mayo Clinic registry requiring surgical intervention within 30 days. However, when complications do occur, they can be serious and expensive.