Trauma News

Results published in The Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma showed a decreased lean psoas cross-sectional area may be associated with an increased all-cause mortality rate at 1 year among elderly patients who experienced orthopedic trauma.

Orthopedic surgery is a highly demanding profession. More than one-third of orthopedic surgeons work 60 hours per week, not including call responsibilities or after-hours academic or leadership work. Fortunately, for many, we have found a rewarding profession. However, the ego gratification can be addictive and lead to excessive hours away from family and friends.

Among older men with osteomyelitis, the rate of fragility fracture at any major osteoporotic site is 78% higher compared with those without osteomyelitis, study findings showed.

A report published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research showed little to no evidence that vertebroplasty and balloon kyphoplasty reduce pain compared with non-surgical or placebo procedures.

Using a machine learning approach, researchers found that patients on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors who were prescribed prodrug opioids had more pain after leaving the hospital than those prescribed active form opioids.

There is an increased chance for unplanned reoperation in patients who underwent above-knee amputation if they had prior revascularization, multiple indications for amputation and postoperative wound complications, according to a recently published study.

WAIKOLOA, Hawaii — Surgeons should consider fracture location, bone quality and implant stability when they treat complex distal femoral fractures, according to a presenter at Orthopedics Today Hawaii.

Patients who underwent elective or trauma surgery rated physicians based on the patient’s likelihood to make a full recovery and their overall impression of the hospital, according to results published in The Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma.

Oral antibiotic therapy is noninferior to IV antibiotic therapy when used in the first 6 weeks of treatment for complex bone and joint infections, according to results from OVIVA, a randomized controlled trial.

Treating osteoporosis in an orthopedic practice is challenging. Orthopedic clinicians are typically not as well-versed in osteoporosis diagnosis and treatment as they may be with other musculoskeletal conditions. Many times, the orthopedic provider feels that this should be managed by the patient’s internist or primary care physician. However, it has been shown that providing osteoporosis care in orthopedic settings can have significant positive effects on prevention and treatment of osteoporotic fractures. Additionally, most patients who are identified with an osteoporotic fracture and subsequently treated surgically for that osteoporotic fracture is not treated for their underlying osteoporosis.