Orthopedics This Week

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.