Orthopedics This Week: Recent Episodes
RRY Publications, LLC
We are the publishers of Orthopedics This Week, the most widely read publication in the Orthopedics industry. Orthopedics is, in our way of thinking, a small town with roughly 250,000 residents. These residents include clinicians, nurses, administrators, staff, suppliers, manufacturers, scientists, sales people, regulators, investors and consultants. So we think of ourselves as the community paper. We hope that our little paper, which we publish 40 times a year, will illuminate, elevate and educate you. Like small town publishers and writers everywhere, we are also part of this community and, for good or ill, that fact finds its way into our attitudes and commentaries. Yes, we are biased—in favor of you, our community. Roughly 3.3 times each month, Orthopedics This Week brings you the latest breaking orthopedic news. We also host innovative technology conferences and publish quarterly Market Forecasts and Analysis. Occasionally we also publish data and conference books. We are part of a unique, essential and endlessly fascinating industry. What a great place to be!
Bipartisan bill HR 2474 the Medical Product Review Harmonization Act of 2017 was submitted by California U.S. House of Representatives Mimi Walters and Ami Bera on May 16, 2017. If passed the bill will make certain Class II medical devices quicker and easier to get FDA clearance—including removing the need for redundant, duplicative review processes.
Jack Zigler keeps tracking his ProDisc patients, now 12 years post FDA approval. Just as he found at 3 years, 5 years and 7 years post approval, LADR is superior to fusion. And cheaper. Yet, on May 1, 2017 United Healthcare cited no long term data to label LADR “unproven.” Such a monumental mistake. Read on.
Spook technology stolen from U.S. spy agencies was used by hackers in a phishing cyberattack that crippled Britain’s National Health Service and computers worldwide. Outdated healthcare computer systems make healthcare systems easy targets. Read about this attack and see what you can do to keep patients safe.
Orthopedics This Week calls for a change in the economic framework for the clinical study process globally. The current system is undermined by systemic bias, lack of reproducibility and scalability. The causes come from multiple factors, many of which are non-corporate. It is time to address these issues.
Once upon a time lumbar arthroplasty was the most innovative and exciting development in spine surgery. Thirteen years ago the procedure hit a reimbursement wall. That was then, this is now. The resurrection of TOPS is the latest sign that lumbar arthroplasty has a second wind.
Millions of patients have evaluated their hospital, physician and nurse experience by way of the HCAHPS survey. Patients seem happy. But CMS isn’t. And poorer hospitals are calling foul. We checked with the expert about all this and read a handful of new studies. Conclusion: HCAHPS is a very good, albeit not perfect, thing.
A bill is pending to amend the Internal Revenue Code’s Public Health Service Act (PHSA). The Budgeting for Opioid Addiction Treatment Act (BOAT) potentially places a one penny per milligram excise tax on most opioid prescriptions, with the revenue earmarked for opioid treatment programs.
The most senior FDA executives went public with their worries, frustration even, we suspect, impotence regarding the plethora of stem cells therapies in the market last November. And that article, which appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine just keeps growing in influence. Here is what Celia Whitten, Peter Marks and Robert Califf said.
Kern Singh, M.D. is advancing the science of spine with the establishment of the MISSG. New research suggests that we need to look deeper into RA to treat it. Ted Davis, 25-year veteran of life sciences, takes helm at Active Implants.
A private Brazilian insurance group claims U.S. orthopedic and other implant device makers and the U.S. government allegedly violated the Foreign Corruption Act. In numerous private lawsuits, the group alleges a “Prosthetic Mafia” gorged payers.
OK, everyone agrees tenodesis is the way to go for TSA. But with no prospective, randomized clinical trials regarding the long head of the biceps after total shoulder arthroplasty there remain too many questions. Which, of course, results in a spirited debate between Galatz and Crosby.
Excellent debate this week. While both debaters agree that metal backed shoulder implants fail, the battle lines are clearly drawn when it comes to uncemented tantalum versus cemented poly. Evan Flatow and Bill Seitz give us an outstanding debate and review this week with Thomas Thornhill moderating.
In this new era of cost containment in medicine, adding over $1,000 to the cost of a procedure sounds fiscally irresponsible. A group of new studies about post op infection rates provide new insights into this critical issue as contributing commentator, Jay Mabrey, M.D., MBA, CPE explains.
A new concussion model developed by Gretchen Thomsen, Ph.D., of the Regenerative Medicine Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and colleagues triggered earlier onset of familial Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis symptoms. The researchers hope that the model can be used to develop novel therapies.
According to their colleagues, these are the leading orthopedic hand surgeons in North America. Whether handling the wrist, elbow, or hand, these exemplary physicians have reached the pinnacle of their profession.
Peachtree Orthopedics is the second orthopedic clinic in Atlanta to fall victim to TheDarkOverlord hacking group in 2016. With over half a million patient records held at ransom, with sensitive information leaked in a teaser threat, Peachtree is working with the FBI to prevent patient identity theft
This is a very challenging problem. Young people with severe shoulder problems. Arthroplasty or arthroscopy? In this debate, the nuances are in full display. This is one of CCJR’s best. Congrats to Seth Greenwald for this excellent program.
All-poly tibia is a very cost effective alternative and, says David Lewallen, M.D., should be part of every knee surgeon’s armamentarium. BUT, newer modular designs and metal backed trays give today’s surgeon more versatility, counters Aaron Hofmann, M.D. This is an essential debate and a must read for every orthopod.
Familiar pain meds are associated with hearing loss in women! Houston Methodist is sporting a new ortho biomechanics lab, complete with state-of-the art motion equipment. And Rush is the only facility in the U.S. with a new technology to tackle implant corrosion.
Seven months after the DOJ filed a lawsuit to stop the $37B Aetna-Humana merger, along with a complementary Anthem-Cigna merger, a district judge rules in favor of the DOJ—but Aetna promises a quick appeal. What does a potential merger mean for the millions of Medicare Advantage customers who rely on these mega insurers for coverage?
A decade-long legal battle between Zimmer Biomet, the Department of Justice (DOJ), and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ended in a grand finale with a $30.5 million settlement. Allegations include violations of the U.S> Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and improprieties in Brazil and Mexico.
Renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Jamie Alexandra Dale is seeking justice and $31 million after she was attacked and left for dead by her ex-boyfriend and former NFL player Curtis Jordan. Her permanent injuries have left her unable to continue her surgery practice. Her story is not only heartbreaking but an indication of the economic toll this attack represented.
Which companies will increase shoulder and foot/ankle market share in 2017. In mid-December we received a flashlight into the opaque future of those two dynamic extremity markets. The early Xmas gift came courtesy of top global medical technology analyst, Glenn Novarro. Here is what we learned.
It’s Donald Trump’s world in Washington. The Boss is driving agendas now and here’s the absolutely very latest. The ACA is first up. But there is also a spate of other year-end developments—primarily new digital healthcare initiatives—that should be noted.
Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Tom Price is in charge of implementing President-elect Trump’s promise to repeal and replace Obamacare. He faces a 2,000 page long law and a Rubik’s Cube of rules and regulations. But he is the right guy for the job having led the Republican effort over the last couple of years to design an alternative plan. Can Obamacare be untwisted? What does it mean for orthopedics? We find out.
It’s not a revolution, but it is changing orthopedics. 3D printing produced the fastest new product launch in Stryker Spine’s history. It also represented 20% of the winning spine technologies for 2016. Stryker’s rousing success with Tritanium has lessons for everyone. Here they are.
This week’s Orthopaedic Crossfire® debate tackles the sometimes contentious subject of patella resurfacing. Jess Lonner says it is rarely, if ever, necessary. Steven Haas finds a slew of meta studies that say otherwise. Who wins? You be the judge.
NASS new guidance document regarding bone growth stimulators for spine fusion brings clarity to an often confusing gaggle of products and indications. Bottom line, the evidence supports some bone stimulators and not others in spine fusion. Here’s the story.
To tourniquet or to not tourniquet, that is the question. Dickey Jones says “Let it Bleed”. Keith Berend fights mightily to defend a near defenseless position. But at the end of the day, the winner, it seems, is tranexamic acid. Get ready to read one of the most unusual CCJR debates yet. Have fun folks.
RBC’s excellent spine surgeon survey, now in its eighth year, was released a couple of weeks ago and it provided many insightful, even surprising, results. Which products are spine surgeons most excited about? What do they think is happening with reimbursement? Is their business growing or declining? Here are RBC’s answers.
Robots, 3D printing and clever strategies for navigating the spinal anatomy dominated this year’s winning technologies. Clearly we are in an environment where risk reduction rules. And so our panel selected impressively clever technologies which make every surgeon even more perfect…and awesome. Congratulations to each and every winner!
Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush is welcoming five new physicians! New research from Australia is re-examining an old vertebroplasty debate. ZendyHealth and Kerlan-Jobe have teamed up to offer a “name your price” surgery option.
A new, data driven tool which cuts patient assessment time from weeks to, literally, 30 seconds is the hot new technology for professional athletes. Eventually, maybe sooner, it will be coming to a large joint clinic near you. Maybe your clinic. This innovation feels like a game changer. It measures muscle health and therefore rehab milestones and progress.
To stem or not to stem, that is the question when faced with a specifically complex primary or revision knee arthroplasty because of deformity or instability. New Zealander Kelly Vince gives the pro-stem case while HSS’ Thomas Sculco shows himself to be a stem-less kind of guy. Who wins? The reader. Another truly excellent and informative debate from CCJR.
Patient specific instrumentation: added cost with no proven value or an evolving technology to raise outcomes and improve OR efficiencies? This very timely debate pits two great surgeon/scientists against each other and in the process sheds light and understanding on this critical issue.
The hype surrounding Zimmer Biomet’s Vanguard ID had us double checking with our surgeon friends. They told us this is actually a particularly interesting innovation in total knee arthroplasty. Apparently, the venerable Vanguard knee is still capable of a few new tricks. Here’s what we learned.
Is chemonucleolysis for painful lower back disc herniation returning? In the 1980s chymopapain achieved fairly wide spread use as a chemonucleolysis agent. Outcomes were highly technique and patient selection dependent. It eventually left the market. Now two large firms have inked a deal to bring a new chemonucleolysis approach to market. Will this one work?
Medical marijuana is the law in 23 states, 1.2 million marijuana cards have been issued and the two most common reasons for getting a medical marijuana card are back and arthritis pain. How should orthopedists in those states deal with the phenomenon of medical marijuana? We have some answers.
In the exam room, OR, or the research lab, these are some of the top sports knee surgeons in North America.
New JBJS study offers an intriguing look at an extended release steroid injection for knee pain. Authors Bodick, Lufkin and Kumar report that extended release triamcinolone acetonide (TCA) prolongs and amplifies pain relief in arthritic knees.
From the late 1990s to today, the number of annual deaths from preventable medical errors has increased roughly four-fold. What is going on? Former head of patient safety at AAOS tackles this troubling statistic head on and discusses new efforts to stem the rising tide of adverse surgical events in the U.S.
Acetabular bone loss and impaction grafting, for which patients is it good strategy, which patients is it a ‘no-way’ strategy and is it overly technique dependent? Alejandro Gonzalez Della Valle and Allan Gross, with Daniel Berry moderating, tackle this important and impactful (pun intended) subject.
Same day total knee arthroplasty is the siren song of large joint reconstruction. Michael Berend has performed over 2,000 knee arthroplasties with 98% of these folks going home the same day and recommends it strongly. Michael Dunbar points out that these are select patients in a tightly controlled environment. Hard to duplicate especially with heavier, more diabetic and older patients. Read this very interesting debate here.
Same day total knee arthroplasty is the siren song of large joint reconstruction. Michael Berend has performed over 2,000 knee arthroplasties with 98% of these folks going home the same day and recommends it strongly. Michael Dunbar points out that these are select patients in a tightly controlled environment. Hard to duplicate especially with heavier, more diabetic and older patients. Read this very interesting debate here.
Unicompartmental Knee or Total Knee? What’s not to like about preserving natural kinematics, lower infection rate and good post op range of motion? But can the patient live with higher revision rates? Dr. Thienpont argues for Uni while Dr. Ranawat takes the counter position. Great and timely debate this week.
OK, it’s a distal femoral peri-prosthetic fracture. Do you reach for the locking plates, the screws or the intramedullary nails? Or do you opt for a mega prosthesis? This week’s Orthopaedic Crossfire® debate tackles this excellent subject with ENDO-Klinik’s Gehrke choosing the big implant and Orlando Health’s Haidukewych going ORIF. Who wins? You judge.
Legendary private investment firm Stephens Group, LLC has made the leap into spine. Earlier this year another major private equity firm, Kohlberg & Company also put their considerable resources behind a small spine company. Stephens is investing in CoreLink, a relatively unknown St. Louis based manufacturer. What’s going on?
The Big Five private insurance carriers—you know who they are—want to consolidate into the Big Three. The U.S. Department of Justice has sued to block them. The American Medical Association agrees and says that if the DOJ fails, private health insurance in America will be forever changed. For the worse. Hard to disagree.
DePuy Synthes’ new U.S. President Juan-José Gonzalez sat down with OTW recently and painted a picture of an invigorated DePuy Synthes. It’s a vision that wraps the implant in a blanket of services and digitized intelligence. Where’s DePuy Synthes heading? Into a most interesting future. Check it out.
DePuy Synthes has scale, but can it also navigate a changing and ever more challenging orthopedic environment? New leadership and a series of innovative moves paint a picture of a more nimble and aggressive DePuy Synthes. Here is Part 1 of our series: Inside DePuy Synthes’s Strategic Playbook.
Invibio was the first provider of PEEK to obtain an FDA Master File. The product was a game changer. According to the FTC, the company then tried to create a monopoly by locking up customers with exclusivity contracts. When competitors tried to enter, they were blocked. The FTC filed a lawsuit. The company agreed to a Consent Decreed. Will the monopoly end?
Two former California politicians have pleaded guilty to bribery charges and joined nine others who have pleaded guilty in the massive Worker’s Comp criminal billing scheme that cost insurers over $600 million. The scorecard keeps growing. More to come?
Open reduction internal fixation or total hip arthroplasty for younger (50-60 years old) patients with displaced femoral neck fractures? This week’s debate pits George Haidukewych against Edwin Su. Who wins? You do…with an outstanding debate.
Here are the Best Sports Medicine Technologies for 2016. Sports medicine is the hot new arena in orthopedics and these innovative products show why. This year’s panel of judges included Drs. James Andrews, Brian Cole, John Dorris, David Petron and Tom Vangsness.
The federal government and a giant healthcare system are preparing to square off over the issue of “Steering and Tiering.” The government says Carolinas Healthcare System, due to its dominant market share, is keeping prices high and competitors down. The big guns are out on this one.
When you want to know who the best is, you seek out the best. So we sought out leading spine surgeons and asked them to select their peers who stand out. Here is that list...
When Zimmer Biomet announced that it intended to buy LDR for $1 billion, investors immediately turned their attention to NuVasive, Globus and other fast growing, independent spine companies. Is Zimmer’s bid a sign that spine may start consolidating? Wall Street thinks so. But Wall Street would. What’s the real story?
The world’s largest spinal implant company, Medtronic Spine, is adding robotics to its product line. That brings the number of major orthopedic suppliers with computer-assisted surgery and robotics to three. Are surgeons ready? Are other orthopedic product suppliers scratching their heads? Here are the details.
PODs (physician-owned distributors) are spreading. The U.S. Senate and the device industry continue to try to kill them off. The latest attack from the U.S. Senate found an unexpected ally—leaders of the POD movement. Read about the latest battle in this ongoing war.
GUEST EDITORIAL: Value-based purchasing is changing everything surgeons, administrators and orthopedic product suppliers are doing. But how fast and how powerfully are these changes coming? Ted Kucklick, President of Cannuflow, answers these questions in his excellent guest editorial.
Is the use of ceramic-on-ceramic in young patients the new standard of care? Yes, says Lee. In fact c-on-c has better wear, is more reliable and provides more options. Not so fast says Schmalzried. Survivorship and function are no better, there is a squeaking and fracture risk. Who wins this debate? You be the judge.
Legendary private equity firm, Kohlberg, is investing in spine and Amendia is the vehicle. Kohlberg’s MO is to buy a platform company, invest in management then bolt on acquisitions. On average, Kohlberg puts between $50-300 million to work. This could be interesting.
A landmark study out of Michigan tracked the effects of health plan prior authorizations on low-back pain patient care. Do such requirements reduce spine surgeries or lower costs? The data clearly shows they do not. It also explains why. Every health plan, hospital and spine surgeon should read this study.
Injections prior to TKR or THR could mean an increased risk of infection, according to two new studies. Research from Rush indicates that those who are malnourished before surgery are at a higher risk of infection. And new work has found that a full 65% of patient satisfaction was attributed to physician empathy!
A survey of orthopedic programs reveals that most do not feel ready for the bundled payment initiative. Academic hospitals have lower total cost per procedure, and community hospitals have a shorter LOS, says a Cleveland Clinic study. How to save $2.5 and $4 billion in healthcare costs? Go to a high volume center for knee replacement.
The FDA approved nearly every PMA submitted to it in 2015 (98%). And shortened time to decision for both PMA and 510(k) significantly. The trends are clearly favorable. Where does the FDA go from here? Even faster approvals, they say. Here’s the data.
TranS1 and AxiaLIF? Back from the dead? Yes and behind it is an up and coming player in orthopedics—Jeffrey Schell. Michigan born and bred, Schell has made formerly bankrupt TranS1 profitable and AxiaLIF steadily gaining new users and champions. It’s a remarkable story.
Anterior hip arthroplasty. Is it really better, faster and cheaper or is that mere marketing hype? This week’s debate pits William J. Hozack, M.D. against Fares Haddad, M.B., F.R.C.S. with Paul Lachiewicz moderating on this hot topic. Who wins this most entertaining debate? You be the judge.
How disabling is scoliosis. A new study finds that it can be more disabling than such other conditions as blindness or amputation. Brigham and Women finds art sharpens observational skills. Former AAOS president—Dr. Terry Canale—honored with the William W. Tipton Leadership Award.
Johns Hopkins researchers are making it possible for patients to control fingers of a prosthetic limb in a way never before possible! Turns out that patients already taking opioids for pain fare better if non-opioid methods are used as well. And a team from the University of Missouri has found that a new biologic method of resurfacing a joint results in improved outcomes.
It’s been a tough March so far for Alphatec. Former CEO and longtime board member, John Foster, resigned mere days before the release of the 2015 financial report. That report revealed that sales fell 10% in 2015 and, after write-offs, losses were $179 million. Putting it nicely, the company is in a transition.
Did Tom Sculco get the short straw in this dual mobility THA debate against Steven MacDonald? At one point Moderator Thornhill offered to shield Dr. Sculco from MacDonald’s expected onslaught of data. What really happened? Here’s a clue: Australian Registry! And not much blood on the floor.
What is the #1 debated issue in TKA? USC’s Orthopedics Department Chair will tackle that and more at the upcoming Great Debates at AAOS. A new study shows that pain and function are improved when you freeze nerves prior to TKA. And alarming research finds that African-Americans with RA twice as likely to have atherosclerotic blood vessels (increasing the chances of heart attack, stroke or death).
Donald Trump wants to repeal and replace Obamacare. “We have to take care of the people in our country. We can’t let them die on the sidewalks of New York or the sidewalks of Iowa or anywhere else.” Sounds good. Except his plan costs the public purse almost $500 billion over ten years and removes over 20 million people from insurance coverage. What’s in the plan? Read it here.
EXPAREL is a widely used post-operative pain treatment for large joint arthroplasty. But not for spine. Have two Chicago doctors created the alternative to EXPAREL for spine surgery…and possibly large joints and other surgeries as well?
The FDA’s panel of spine orthopedic experts roundly voted against recommending approval for Medtronic’s DIAM Spinal Stabilization System. But Medtronic is not giving up. Read what happened at the panel meeting and how Medtronic is responding.
Corrosion, adverse tissue reaction, fracture and Australian Registry data. Jacobs and Murphy stir all those concepts up into a hot gumbo of data and case studies. This debate serves up the facts behind distal neck modularity. Bottom line, these guys were for it before they were against it.
Work from the University of Liverpool: genes point toward stress fracture susceptibility. Should surgeons avoid arthroscopic partial meniscectomy for patients with degenerative knee disease and mechanical symptoms? UCSF researchers say that to avoid knee buckling and possible falls, it’s necessary to target specific exercises to patients in need.
When Breg was a division of Orthofix, it grew 32% in eight years. Since spinning off, Breg has doubled in three years. What happened and where is this, the second largest bracing company in the world, heading? The answer is both interesting and highly strategic.
A new study shows that wrong-site surgery is still with us. New research from HSS shows that bariatric surgery before TKR could be cost-effective for morbidly obese patients with end-stage arthritis. And the chief of Sports Medicine at MGH is on to new vistas out West.
Natural orifice surgery. Now that’s a concept. The human body has a fair number of such entry points. But, for spine surgery? On the shoulders of the GI surgeon community, a strong argument in the form of two patents and a YouTube video say “Yes”.
Forty-six tons of rigging, truss and hoists. 28,000 square feet of usable floor space. Zimmer Biomet’s AAOS booth was a theatrical live event experience. How did they do it? We peek behind the curtain to show you. So put up those tray tables and make sure your seat belt is buckled. It’s not a booth, it’s a spaceship.
Metal on Metal Hip Resurfacing—YES! It is an option for the right patient and surgeon. De Smet v. Dunbar dive into this very interesting, CCJR debate.
The National Spine Foundation is attacking spine-related disability! The JBJS is recognizing superior work with its new Elite Reviewer Program. And a polymer delivers a time-released molecule to heal bone.
The Boston Shoulder Institute is using novel methods to cut confusion and improve outcome measurements. A Level 1 trauma center finds the best way to clear a backlog of OR cases. And the chief of Sports Shoulder at Penn is a part-time comedian who knows the power of healing with humor.
“Don’t worry,” says one Wall Street analyst to hip and knee makers about Medicare’s new joint replacement payment model. The CJR payment model kicks in on April Fool’s Day and hospitals will be holding the risk bag over surgical outcomes. Will device makers share in the risk? Probably not. Here’s why.
Meet the most incredible orthopedist you will ever read about. His story begins, sadly, as an all too familiar story of refugees fleeing unimaginable violence. The rest of the story, however, is about a brilliant mind and how, against all odds, he redesigned prosthetics to be biologically friendly and osseointegrative. Three words—amazing, uplifting and instructive.
At the end of the day, we are partners with our hospitals, physicians and patients. We may forget that from time to time and especially in the heat of a competitive moment. But then tragedy strikes—as it did in November in Paris. At those moments the true soul of orthopedics emerges.
Hospitals and surgeons want Congress to build a bigger safe harbor to protect them from lawyers suing them for violations of the Stark Law. New payment models pushing hospitals and physicians to collaborate, may run afoul of the Stark Law written in a bygone economic time. Read what they want the new harbor to look like.
Scalia—what does his absence mean for healthcare? Is the President’s new budget—with funding proposals for FDA and CMS—dead on arrival? Finally, Opioids —new initiatives this month from both the FDA and Congress.
Better than fusion. At the five year mark. Head to head, prospective, Level 1 clinical study. Coflex® beats fusion for patients with moderate to severe lumbar stenosis (up to grade 1 spondylolythesis) at 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, 24 months and, now, 60 months. It’s a game changer, folks.
Despite the critical nature of pediatric orthopedics, most don’t flock to this subspecialty. One reason? It is emotionally challenging. But some do…and some become real standouts. Here is our list.
JBJS article discusses how while using BMDSMSCs did not aid in healing, the implant itself participated in the repair. Jim Bradley, M.D. has found that when it comes to elite athletes, those with posterior instability and rotator cuff tears fare better than those with SLAP tears and rotator cuff involvement. And the lead article in the Global Spine Journal has found that neck pain improved for many patients following laminoplasty.
The anterior hip arthroplasty approach is now performed by an estimated 26% of all orthopedic surgeons. The Wall Street Journal just touted it and OTW’s senior writer, Billie Young, just had it. It could become the most common hip surgery of all. But should it?
Orthopedics is a consumer products industry. That’s a fact. But how well do we understand consumer thinking and how clearly do we see the influence consumers are exerting on orthopedic products and services? Global consulting and research powerhouse, McKinsey, tackled this question and found some sobering answers.
New research indicates that orthopedic randomized controlled trials are under-powered therefore give results but not answers. The Rothman Institute excited about newborns? What’s up? And John Dormans, M.D. is the new L.E. Simmons Chair in Orthopedics at Texas Children's Hospital.
Foot and ankle patients are avoiding blood clots by “sheer luck” says a new study. Repairing the rotator cuff without addressing the scapula does patients a great disservice, says the head of Penn’s Center for Musculoskeletal Disorders. And the chief of orthopedics at CHOP discusses measures they have taken to redesign their fellowship program.
Forty years ago Charnley raised the issue of pulmonary embolism risk. This remains a significant concern for surgeons. This excellent debate from CCJR brings us fully up to date on the latest thinking, studies and advice.
Medical Device cybersecurity concerns and continued payment reforms are dominating the agenda in Washington at the start of 2016. Both CMS and FDA are making recommendations which will affect orthopedic surgeons, clinics and patients. Here are highlights and lowlights.