Forum Examines Stem Cells in Orthopaedics

Mary Ann Porucznik

The ability of stem cells to divide and become more specialized cells—such as bone, blood, or muscle—makes them attractive agents in many areas of medicine. Additionally, the ability to harvest stem cells from an individual and reimplant them in the same individual, thus potentially reducing or eliminating the risk of infection, makes stem cell therapy appealing to both patients and physicians.

Freddie H. Fu, MD, Honored for Decades of ACL Research

Terry Stanton

To read a summary of the research conducted by Freddie H. Fu, MD, of the University of Pittsburgh, is to read a modern history of advances in techniques and concepts to repair a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). His paper detailing the results of his three decades of research in this field is the recipient of the 2014 Kappa Delta Elizabeth Winston Lanier Award. The work done by Dr.

Research Zeroes in on Pathogenesis of Rotator Cuff Disease

Jennie McKee

“Understanding the natural history of rotator cuff disease is fundamental for developing appropriate surgical indications,” asserted Ken Yamaguchi, MD, MBA, recipient of the 2014 Kappa Delta Ann Doner Vaughan Award. For more than 10 years, Dr. Yamaguchi, of Washington University School of Medicine, and his colleagues conducted a longitudinal, prospective follow-up study of a large cohort of patients with asymptomatic rotator cuff tears to learn about the natural history of the disease.

Understanding Muscle Atrophy and FI in Massive RCTs

Award-winning research may lead to improved outcomes after rotator cuff repair Brian Feeley, MD, received the 2014 Kappa Delta Young Investigator Award for his pioneering research into the molecular pathways that govern muscle atrophy and fatty infiltration (FI) in rotator cuff tears (RCTs). Throughout a 5-year period, Dr. Feeley and his fellow researchers developed a small animal model of RCTs and used this model to identify the ways in which RCTs affect surrounding muscle.

OMeGA Changing Fellowship Grant Schedule

Although OMeGA Medical Grants Association has realigned its fellowship grant cycle to correspond to the fellowship match process, efforts to secure funding commitments in alignment with match decisions have unfortunately been increasingly difficult. Two donors (Zimmer and Medtronic) support OMeGA’s alignment with the fellowship match process, but most donors are not currently in a position to commit funds 18 months in the future.

OREF Award Goes to SPORT Project

Terry Stanton

After years of planning, the Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial (SPORT) was funded in 1998 by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) to compare surgical and nonsurgical outcomes for intervertebral disk herniation (IDH), spinal stenosis (SpS), and degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS) using both randomized and observational study designs. The results were so significant that the paper written by James N.

Arthroplasty Registries Expand Around the World

Jennie McKee

As the demand for total joint arthroplasty continues to increase, growing attention is being paid to arthroplasty registries, which can serve as vehicles for reporting outcomes and enhancing the quality of care patients receive. Although challenges to participation—such as the need for funding—must be overcome, registries can yield a great deal of data that can guide practice improvement and help to demonstrate the value of care.

Turning Fat into Bone

Mark Crawford

More than 350,000 spinal fusions are performed each year in the United States. Despite significant technological improvements, up to 40 percent of these procedures result in pseudarthrosis, a condition that usually requires repeat surgery. Not only is this a major ordeal for patients, it’s a big concern for healthcare systems that are desperate to control costs. Bone autograft is the standard approach for spine fusion today; however, chances for complications developing are still high.