Study: Few Complications Seen with Peripheral Nerve Block

Terry Stanton

A study on the use of peripheral nerve block (PNB) in foot and ankle surgery revealed an overall low complication rate associated with that anesthetic method. Of postoperative complications that did occur, most were neurological in nature and few were serious or unresolved. The researchers found no clear association in complication rates for popliteal blocks versus ankle blocks.

Study: Optimal Timing of Antibiotic Prophylaxis for Foot and Ankle Surgery Not Clear for SSI Prevention

Terry Stanton

A study aiming to pinpoint the optimal timing of antibiotic administration to prevent surgical site infections (SSIs) following foot and ankle surgery found that timing of intravenous prophylaxis does not appear to significantly affect the risk of SSI. Results demonstrated that host factors and duration of surgery appear to play a much larger role in SSI incidence.

AAOS Board Approves AUC on Antibiotic Use for Dental Procedures

Terry Stanton; Sheryl Cash

At its September meeting, the AAOS Board of Directors approved a suite of appropriate use criteria (AUC) providing guidance on when it may be appropriate to consider antibiotic administration prior to dental procedures in patients with replacement joint implants.

Wanted: Orthopaedic Surgeon-Scientists!

Roxanne E. Wallace, MD

Orthopaedic innovations come to market in a variety of ways. Sometimes, a researcher will uncover a clue to a new treatment. Then, orthopaedic surgeons will conduct clinical trials to see whether the treatment works. Other times, a clinician will notice a similarity among patients and turn to a researcher to find the reason. And sometimes, the researcher and the clinician are one and the same: the elusive orthopaedic surgeon-scientist.

Multisensory Patient Education and Informed Consent

Research recently published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery finds that patient education involving the use of multiple senses (sight, hearing, and touch) during a surgeon-patient informed consent discussion improves patients' understanding of anticipated care and possible outcomes. The randomized, controlled trial involved 67 consecutive patients with a new diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis and who were treated with a corticosteroid injection.

Timing Is Everything

Amy Kile

Overall, the more than 600,000 total knee and 300,000 total hip replacements performed in the United States each year lead to positive patient outcomes; however, rare complications such as periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) can arise.

The ABCs of Biologics

Adam I. Edelstein, MD

The use of biologics is rapidly expanding in the treatment of orthopaedic pathology. Biologics are used to augment healing in various musculoskeletal tissues including bone, tendon, cartilage, and muscle. Biologics include cells, tissues, and nonviable compounds such as growth factors. Residents typically gain exposure to biologics during their surgical training but may have limited formal education on this topic.