Theodore A. Blaine, MD

Use of a cryo-pneumatic compression device may decrease opioid consumption and improve function after shoulder surgery compared with standard of care rehabilitation, according to published results.

Compared with several operative interventions, nonoperative treatment with functional bracing yielded the highest rates of nonunion and reoperation for patients with humeral shaft fractures.

Tranexamic acid was associated with reduced perioperative bleeding in all types of shoulder surgeries and may reduce postoperative pain and operation time, according to published results.

A 31-year-old right-hand dominant woman presented to the Yale New Haven Hospital’s Emergency Department as a polytrauma patient following a head-on motor vehicle collision. She was a restrained driver and experienced loss of consciousness. However, she had a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 15 on arrival. She had bilateral upper extremity deformities. The patient’s medical history was significant for bipolar disorder, depression, anorexia and alcohol abuse.

Minimal disruption of soft tissue and the potential for faster recovery are attractive benefits of minimally invasive surgery. However, mini-incision surgery must meet the same standards and offer the same successful outcomes as traditional, larger-incision operations. And while mini-incision hip and knee replacements have become accepted, there are no reports on mini-incision shoulder arthroplasty.