American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Introduces the Fracture & Trauma Registry Powered by PatientIQ

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) today announced the Fracture & Trauma Registry (FTR) will now be powered by PatientIQ. This new partnership will offer healthcare institutions a turnkey solution for FTR participation, thus reducing barriers to tracking evidence-based practices and advancing the delivery of musculoskeletal care.

Orthopaedic surgeon available to speak about physician roles in the monitoring of medical device recalls; factors that contribute to the highest quality of patient care

ROSEMONT, Ill. (October 3, 2022)—When a medical device fails to function as originally intended it can jeopardize patient safety and confidence. One important role of the FDA is to continue monitoring devices after approval to mitigate the detrimental effects of…

Orthopaedic experts offer recommendations for preventing common summer bone and joint injuries – swimming, lawnmower, barbecue safety and more!

ROSEMONT, Ill. (June 6, 2022)—When the weather warms up and the vacation season starts, you might want to dive right into all of your summer plans. However, summer activities come with risks for injuries if you’re not prepared. The American Academy…

AAOS Recognizes Excellence in Musculoskeletal Healthcare Journalism with 2022 Media Orthopaedic Reporting Excellence (MORE) Awards

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2022 MORE Awards. Presented annually to U.S.-based journalists, the MORE Awards acknowledge accurate reporting of musculoskeletal health news topics and celebrate the role media play in accurately educating and informing patients about musculoskeletal health issues, innovative bone and joint treatments, preventative care and patient recovery.

Orthopaedic surgeons available to speak about cartilage restoration of the knee in high-level athletes; factors that influence return to play

ROSEMONT, Ill. (October 28, 2021)—Articular cartilage injuries of the knee are being observed with increasing frequency in athletes, causing significant debilitation that threatens the ability to participate in sports. What’s more, these injuries have proven to be difficult to treat given the…

Orthopaedic experts available to comment on the Tokyo Olympic Games – training, injury prevention & more!

Let the games begin!  In training for and performing in the sports competitions of the Olympic Games, athletes can endure a variety of injuries that can lead to the development of chronic musculoskeletal issues. With the summer Olympics in Tokyo upon us, the American…

School’s Out for Summer – Time to Play It Cool on the Playground

With playground season in full swing, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) encourages parents and guardians to take a moment to familiarize themselves with the risks on playgrounds and ways to prevent injuries. Although minor bumps or bruises occur on playgrounds, many playground injuries, such as broken bones, dislocations and concussions, are more severe.

Identification of Psychological Risk Factors in Orthopaedic Trauma Patients Could Improve Post-Injury Planning

Musculoskeletal injuries comprise a large percentage of hospital admissions for adults and often lead to chronic pain and long-term disability. A new review article published in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons® (JAAOS®) recognizes the intimate connection between patients who sustain traumatic orthopaedic injuries and their subsequent psychological effects. The results suggest opportunity to improve overall patient health by attending to psychological and social concerns, along with physical health.

LAST CALL to enter the MORE Awards!

The AAOS invites journalists and print, online and broadcast news outlets to submit content to be considered for the 2021 Media Orthopaedic Reporting Excellence (MORE) Awards. Established in 2006, the MORE Awards is a prestigious honor in musculoskeletal healthcare journalism in the United States. Deadline for entry is Friday, January 22! Entry is FREE.

Fall prevention: Tips to enjoy favorite winter activities safely

While doctors applaud people for staying active and keeping safety measures in mind, they also are preparing for an uptick in injuries associated with these types of activities. Many winter outdoor activities may appear safer when it comes to spreading viruses. However, they still carry the inherent risk of physical injury, and it’s important to take special precautions to protect yourself and family.

Shared Decision-Making Empowers Patients with Information and Options to Benefit Bone and Joint Care

The importance of involving patients in the decision-making process for orthopaedic surgical procedures is the focus of a new review article published in the December issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons® (JAAOS). The literature review took a close look at the concept and practice of shared decision-making (SDM) and the ways it empowers patients to make educated decisions that are aligned with their views and values.

American Joint Replacement Registry Releases 2020 Annual Report

The American Joint Replacement Registry, the cornerstone of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Registry Program, released its 2020 Annual Report on hip and knee arthroplasty patient outcomes. AJRR is the largest orthopaedic registry in the world based on annual procedures submitted, and the analysis provides insight into U.S. hip and knee arthroplasty practice.

Total Joint Replacement and the Impact on Future Falls in Osteoarthritis Patients

Patients who have had a total joint arthroplasty (TJA) demonstrate excellent long-term outcomes with increased mobility and improved ability to complete their activities of daily living. However, there is still an ongoing debate whether patients who have undergone TJA are at an increased risk of falls and fragility fractures. According to a new research article published in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons®, authors compared the fall rates of nearly 500,000 cases of osteoarthritic patients and found those who underwent TJA experienced a significantly lower number of falls post-op than those who did not have the surgery.

AAOS Advances Biologics Initiative with Innovative Dashboard

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) continues to demonstrate its commitment to advancing the quality of musculoskeletal care in a fully transparent and scientific way. Debuting today as a new member benefit, the AAOS Biologics Dashboard is a dynamic online tool designed to help orthopaedic surgeons navigate the approval status of biologic-based interventions. The development of the AAOS Biologics Dashboard is just one of several efforts within the Academy’s Biologics Initiative that offers evidence-based guidance to the musculoskeletal health community. An additional effort is the revision of two biologics-related position statements, recently approved by the AAOS Board of Directors.

New study shows majority of patients do not believe e-cigarettes and vapes impact bone fracture healing

The use of e-cigarettes, vapes and mods have increased as smokers liken these alternatives as healthier and not having the same side effects of traditional cigarettes. Because e-cigarettes are readily available over the internet, unlike the sale of cigarettes, it perpetuates the notion that these are a safer alternative. A new study, “The New Era of Nicotine: Better for Patients?” released as part of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ (AAOS) Virtual Education Experience found that smokers and non-smokers believe the use of e-cigarettes and other smoking alternatives have less of an impairment on bone fracture healing than smoking traditional cigarettes, when in fact the nicotine found in both cigarettes and e-cigarettes can impede the healing process.

Can QR codes make a difference for children in casts?

When children require a cast due to a bone fracture, follow-up care instructions are typically given verbally or the patient is sent home with written instructions. However, patients and their caregivers run the risk of forgetting what was said or losing the instructions. Quick Response (QR) codes may be an effective method to relay instructions once patients are sent home with a cast, according to a new study released as part of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ (AAOS) Virtual Education Experience.

Study shows improved marital relationship and spousal quality of life following joint-replacement surgery

While individuals with osteoarthritis (OA) who undergo joint replacement surgery often experience reductions in pain, emotional distress and improved function, there is little known about how these recovery-related changes impact their spouse or marital relationship. A new study released as part of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ (AAOS) Virtual Education Experience titled “Marital Relationship and Quality of Life in Couples Following Joint Replacement Surgery” found that a spouse’s quality of life also improves when their partner experiences positive results, following total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Cannabis use for management of chronic musculoskeletal pain increasing, new study shows

The use of medical cannabis has garnered a lot of recent attention, especially as parts of the United States and Canada have legalized its use. While it has been studied in cancer and nerve pain, not much is known about the usage rate and its efficacy in managing chronic musculoskeletal (MSK) pain. According to a new study released as part of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ (AAOS) Virtual Education Experience, up to 20% of patients presenting to an orthopaedic surgeon with chronic MSK pain are using cannabis to manage their pain, with many reporting success. Additionally, two-thirds of non-users are interested in using it for the management of MSK pain, prompting a need to further study its effects.

Orthopaedic surgeons available to comment on the impact of COVID-19 on postponed elective surgery, the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries during a pandemic, and how patients can safely ease into outdoor activities after social distancing.

The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented situation that has raised healthcare questions for patients of all ages.  If you need an orthopaedic surgeon to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on patients’ musculoskeletal health, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)…

Managing Your Orthopaedic Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented situation that has raised healthcare questions for patients of all ages. With so much information being published about the outbreak, it can be difficult to know where to start looking or what information to trust. That’s why the experts from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) are reminding patients about OrthoInfo.org, the authoritative, trusted consumer website on bone and joint health.

Lawnmower Injuries Remain Prevalent for Children Despite Increased Awareness

As people head outside to mow their lawns this spring and summer, children continue to remain at risk for serious injuries and death associated with lawnmowers. A new review article published in the May issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (JAAOS) analyzed 13 years of lawnmower injuries in children across the United States, identifying disparities that exist in national and geographic incidence rates and injury characteristics. Children in rural areas not only experienced a higher rate of lawnmower injuries, but had an increased rate of infections, amputations, inpatient stays and surgical complications.