Top in rheumatology: Hip, knee arthroplasty; meniscal extrusion

The American College of Rheumatology and the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons recently issued new recommendations on the optimal timing of elective hip or knee replacement.

According to the organizations, patients with moderate to severe osteoarthritis who are indicated for hip or knee arthroplasty and have not responded to nonsurgical therapies should proceed to surgery without delay. It was the top story in rheumatology last week.

Another top story was about an association between meniscal extrusion and long-term incident knee osteoarthritis. Researchers reported that meniscus extrusion “is largely independently associated with the development of radiographic and clinical knee OA.”

Read these and more top stories in rheumatology below:

ACR, AAHKS: Most patients indicated for hip, knee surgery should proceed without delay

Patients indicated for hip or knee arthroplasty who have moderate to severe osteoarthritis and have not responded to nonsurgical therapies should proceed to surgery without delay, according to new recommendations. Read more.

Patients with meniscal extrusion more likely to develop knee osteoarthritis

Patients with knees that demonstrate meniscal extrusion are more likely to develop osteoarthritis over the long term, according to data published in Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism. Read more.

Proton pump inhibitors improve survival in systemic sclerosis-associated ILD

The use of proton pump inhibitors improves overall and progression-free survival in patients with systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease, according to data published in Rheumatology. Read more.

Family history paired with obesity or heavy alcohol use ‘markedly’ increase gout risk

Individuals with a family history of gout and who are either obese or heavy alcohol consumers demonstrate a “markedly increased risk” for gout, according to data published in Arthritis Care & Research. Read more.

Hooked on Rheum with George Muñoz, MD

As a fourth-year medical student doing an elective rotation in rheumatology, I was initially impressed by my first mentor, Dr. Harry Spiera, section chief and clinician extraordinaire at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Read more.