Posterior Surgical Treatment Options for CSM

Maureen Leahy

Laminectomy and fusion and laminoplasty for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) are associated with similar levels of myelopathy improvement in elderly patients at 1-year follow-up, according to study data presented at the North American Spine Society (NASS) annual meeting. "Degenerative cervical myelopathy is the most common cause of spinal cord impairment in the elderly.

Second Look—Clinical

According to findings presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research and reported on in Medscape, patients treated with denosumab may see a persistent reduction in bone turnover, continued increases in bone density, and low incidences of fracture over a 10-year period.

Study: Most Patients Have Unrealistic Expectations of Lumbar Surgery Outcomes

Most patients undergo elective lumbar surgery to improve their pain and funcational limitations. However, data presented at the North American Spine Society 2015 annual meeting indicate that the level of improvement that patients expect following lumbar surgery may not be realistic and frequently exceeds the expectations of their surgeons. The paper, "Concordance between Patients' and Surgeons' Expectations of Lumbar Spine Surgery," was recognized as one of the meeting"s "Best Papers."

What Else Was New at NASS?

According to of Louisville, Ky., transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) has replaced posterior spinal fusion (PSF) as the most commonly used fusion technique for the treatment of lumbar degenerative disorders. The shift, however, has often failed to show improved clinical outcomes, based on previous studies. For that reason, Dr.

Fracture Pattern May Help Predict Surgical Outcomes of SCHFX

Jennie McKee

Most children who undergo surgical treatment of supracondylar humerus fractures (SCHFX) return to high levels of physical function. But according to research presented at the Orthopaedic Trauma Association's 2015 annual meeting, patients whose SCHFX are classified as flexion injuries may have worse functional outcomes after surgery than those with extension injuries.

Patient Opioid Use May Be Modifiable Risk Factor for TJA

Jennie McKee

"More than one-quarter of U.S. adults have experienced chronic pain from arthritis," said Kevin J. Bozic, MD, MBA. "Opioids are increasingly being prescribed for musculoskeletal pain, particularly arthritis." According to Dr. Bozic, opioid use has been shown by many investigators to have a negative impact on total joint arthroplasty (TJA) outcomes, "leading to an increased risk of complications and a decrease in functional outcomes and patient satisfaction." Dr.

Obesity Tied to Early Failure of Primary THA

Jennie McKee

Patients who are obese (body mass index [BMI] greater than 30) have a higher rate of postoperative complications after undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA)—that much is clear from the literature. But the unknowns include the time to presentation for each of the various obesity-related complications after primary THA until revision THA. During the 2015 annual meeting of the American Assocation of Hip and Knee Surgeons, Ali J.

Studies Highlight Hip Care

A series of studies presented at the 2015 annual meeting of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons examine various aspects of patient care surrounding total hip arthroplasty (THA). In 1965, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) instituted a rule requiring Medicare patients to stay in the hospital for 3 days following THA before they can be admitted to a skilled nursing facility.

Number of Pediatric Scoliosis Cases Rises

Peter Pollack

"Over the past 15 years, the treatment of scoliosis has changed dramatically," explained Jeffrey R. Sawyer, MD, during the Scoliosis Research Society 2015 annual meeting. "We've seen increasing volume as well as a relative increase in volume among younger patients." Dr. Sawyer presented data from his study, "Changing Trends in Pediatric Spine Surgery in the United States: 1997–2012," which looks at recent trends in pediatric spine surgery in the United States.

Meeting the Bone Health Challenge

Andrew D. Bunta, MD

Now that we, as orthopaedic surgeons, have agreed to do something about the bone health of our patients—in particular, older adult fracture patients—it's time to consider how we can become involved. First, we must decide whether to take an advocacy role, to actively coordinate care, or to personally involve the orthopaedic team in ensuring proper bone health care. Many avenues are open to different practice settings, as previously noted.