Giving Zion Two Hands

Scott F.M. Duncan, MD, MPH, MBA

The surgery made headlines around the world. In June, 8-year-old Zion Harvey became the first child and youngest person ever to receive a bilateral hand transplant. In the hand surgery world, the event was akin to landing a man on the moon—pretty incredible. The surgery was special in many ways—a stunning technical achievement, a unique collaboration among institutions, and a generous humanitarian gesture.

Unlocking the Biology of NBPI

Sharon Johnson

Neonatal brachial plexus injury (NBPI) is the most common birth injury and the most common cause of paralysis in children. Usually diagnosed at birth, NBPI is characterized by a loss of movement or weakness in the arm or hand due to damaged nerves around the shoulder. Most children with NBPI recover, but 20 percent to 30 percent sustain permanent disability. In those who do not recover, the weakness can be complicated by joint contractures that persist even if the nerves are repaired.

Measuring Performance, Post-SGR

William T. Brox, MD, Joseph P. DeAngelis, MD; Jill E. Larson, MD

Now that the sustainable growth rate (SGR) is no more, orthopaedic surgeons are facing a new value-based environment. In this post-SGR healthcare world, quality and performance measurement are of critical importance. In particular, the orthopaedic community must have a common understanding of these terms. Global payments, bundled payments, and shared-risk contracts are all tied to various measurement processes, which are generically referred to as “performance measures.”

Capitalizing on Research Expertise

Jayson Murray, MA; Ryan Pezold, MA

Developing clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) and appropriate use criteria (AUC) isn’t easy. And when it comes to these and other evidence-based medicine (EBM) tools, few professional medical organizations can match the AAOS in experience, expertise, and proprietary technology. But professional medical organizations realize the importance of physician-developed CPGs and AUC.

Orthobiologics for Fracture Healing: Opportunities and Risks

Philipp Leucht, MD; J. Tracy Watson, MD

Understanding of the biology of bone healing has increased dramatically, with a corresponding surge in the number of orthobiologics available for use in augmenting fracture healing and bone defect management. This often makes it problematic for surgeons to determine the correct biologic (osteogenic, osteoconductive, or osteoinductive) for a given clinical problem.