Evidence-based medicine and new technology were the focuses of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) 2016 Annual Meeting this week. New data sets and reserach was presented to give orthopaedic surgeons an extra edge in helping patients. Incase you missed them, here are some highlights, as provided by AAOS:
Musculoskeletal Conditions Cost $213 billion Annually in Treatment, Lost Wages: An estimated 126.6 million Americans (one in two adults) are affected by a musculoskeletal condition—comparable to the total percentage of Americans living with a chronic lung or heart condition—costing an estimated $213 billion in annual treatment, care and lost wages, according to a new report issued today by the United States Bone and Joint Initiative (USBJI). “The Impact of Musculoskeletal Disorders on Americans: Opportunities for Action” outlines the prevalence and projected growth of musculoskeletal disorders in the U.S., and recommends strategies for improving patient outcomes while decreasing rising health and societal costs. For more information about this report, visit: www.boneandjointburden.org
More Than Half of Lawn Mower Injuries Require Amputation: Warnings, operating instructions, design modifications and safety tips all aim to protect children and teens from injuries caused by lawn mowers. However, a study found that an alarming number of serious injuries still occur, with 53 percent of injured children requiring an amputation. Researchers reviewed data from the Pennsylvania Trauma Outcome Study on the 199 children, ages 0 to 17(mean age 8), admitted to a pediatric or adult trauma center between 2002 and 2013 with lawnmower injury. For more information about this report, visit: www.abstractsonline.com
Youngest, Oldest Patients Often Report More Pain, Less Activity After Surgery: While all age groups report comparable improvement in range of motion following total knee replacement surgery (TKR), new research found that patients age 45 and younger, and those age 75 and older, report more pain and less activity following the procedure. Total knee replacement (TKR) is one of the most popular elective orthopaedic surgeries, with the overall incidence increasing by 120 percent from 2000 to 2009: 188 percent for patients ages 45 to 64, and 89 percent for patients ages 65 to 84. For more information about this report, visit: www.abstractsonline.com
Physician Empathy Improves Outcomes, Patient Satisfaction: A study links patient-perceived physician empathy with improved outcomes and medical care satisfaction. In the study, 112 new patients (mean age 51) at the Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Orthopaedic Surgery rated personal interaction with their hand surgeon. In addition, patients completed a health literacy test, provided sociodemographic information, and answered questions about pain, upper extremity function and depression. For more information about this report, visit: www.abstractsonline.com
Digital Fitness and Orthopaedics: Many orthopaedic patients are eager to track and improve their health and progress before, during and after treatment. A digital fitness device, technology already owned by one in 10 Americans, provides a unique opportunity for patients to monitor their activity levels, medication use, weight, sleep patterns, rehabilitation progress, and other personal health data, ultimately empowering them to improve clinical outcomes.
The study is the first to objectively review applications of these devices specifically for orthopaedic care. With consumer sales soaring, “fitness devices have the potential to transform orthopaedic care,” said lead study author Claudette Lajam, MD, an assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery at NYU Langone Medical Center. “If we can get people more involved in their care and help them get in better shape, then everyone wins—patients, physicians, and the entire health care system.” For more information about this report, visit: www.abstractsonline.com
Self-Guided Rehab Offers Same Outcomes of Outpatient Rehab: Research challenges two common rehabilitation standards: physical therapy following total hip replacement (THR) at an outpatient facility, and gradual movement of the quadriceps tendon following total knee replacement (TKR) surgery. In the study, “Formal Physical Therapy After Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty May Not Be Necessary,” researchers found that patients who performed prescribed exercises at home without a physical therapist progressed comparably as those who received physical therapy at an outpatient facility. For more information about this report, visit: www.abstractsonline.com
Remote Care: Impact on Outcomes and Savings: Orthopaedic care for patients living in remote areas may be managed through phone or email, allowing patients to receive treatment without travelling to a larger, urban hospital for care, according to a new study. The study also found that remote care may provide significant savings in time, missed work, and health care and transportation costs for residents living in rural areas. For more information about this report, visit: www.abstractsonline.com
Strategic Opioid Approach: The use of opioids (narcotic pain medication), often prescribed for chronic musculoskeletal pain, has skyrocketed in recent years with 98 percent of the world’s opioid prescriptions filled in North America. Two research studies link decreased opioid use prior to joint replacement surgery with improved patient satisfaction and outcomes, fewer complications, and a reduced need for post-surgical opioids. For more information about this report, visit: www.abstractsonline.com
Poor Helmet Fit associated with Concussion Severity: High school football players with ill-fitting helmets are at greater risk for more severe concussions, according to a study. “This study suggests that incorrect helmet fit may be one variable that predisposes a football player to sustain a more severe concussion,” said senior study author Joseph Torg, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine at Temple University Health System, who has identified acceptable tackle techniques for the NFL. For more information about this report, visit: www.abstractsonline.com
