Popular CME course explores “hot topics” in orthopaedics

Orthopaedic surgeons from around the country will gather in New York this fall to share in thought-provoking discussions surrounding controversies in treating shoulder and elbow, hand, knee, hip, foot and ankle, and spine disorders.

Sponsored by the AAOS, the “Top Orthopaedic Controversies” continuing medical education (CME) course will take place in New York City, on October 15. Laith M. Jazrawi, MD, this year’s course director, has assembled an expert faculty to discuss current controversies across all orthopaedic specialties.

“I am excited to bring together this high-powered group of academicians, lecturers, and teachers to talk about some of the top controversies in orthopaedics,” said Dr. Jazrawi. “Participants will hear from the best of the best in each of the specialties. The course will provide a great deal of information for everyone—the general orthopaedist as well as the specialist.”

Hot topics
The course deals with controversies identified by faculty members, all of whom are experts in their fields. Most of the controversies are based on current “hot topics” in each of the specialties—particularly in areas where the evidence base supporting one treatment over another is not definitive.

“In many instances, the controversies involve two methods for approaching the same problem, neither of which is necessarily 100 percent correct. Each method has its pros and cons, and that sets the table for some interesting discussions,” Dr. Jazrawi said.

For example, the course leads off with a point-counterpoint discussion on using reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) or total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA)/hemiarthroplasty to address severe arthritis in the shoulder. Joseph D. Zuckerman, MD, will defend the use of RSA, while Evan L. Flatow, MD, will promote the merits of TSA/hemiarthroplasty.

Additional shoulder and elbow topics include advances in arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, controversies surrounding nerve releases and subscapularis muscle tendon repairs, and discussions on acromioclavicular reconstruction. Shoulder instability and when to use bone grafting around the shoulder will also be addressed.

Other sessions will focus on newer techniques for treating hand and distal radius fractures. Innovations and current state-of-the-art techniques for total hip arthroplasty will also be covered.

Recognizing that attendees want to experience as much learning as possible during the one-day course, the lunch hour will include a debate on achieving an anatomic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with various drilling techniques. Freddie H. Fu, MD, will present reasons for making the transition toward performing an anatomic ACL reconstruction. As a counterpoint, Andrew S. Rokito, MD, will argue that a traditional trans-tibial drilling technique is adequate for ACL reconstruction.

The knee session will include a discussion of controversies in the management of patellofemoral instability as well as a session arguing the benefits of microfracture over other cartilage restoration techniques for treating cartilage lesions. The knee session will end with a discussion on the pros and cons of partial knee replacement or osteotomy for treating unicompartmental knee arthritis.

Foot and ankle discussions will focus on advantages and disadvantages of cartilage resurfacing or arthroscopic débridement and drilling for talar osteochondritis dissecans lesions. New developments in total ankle replacement and distraction arthroplasty will also be covered. Finally, surgical techniques to correct poor spinal alignment and the clinical relevance of properly assessing spinal malalignment will be discussed, and pearls and pitfalls gleaned from clinical case scenarios will be presented.

“How-to” guides
As in the past, the course will include lectures, point/counterpoint debates, technique discussions, question-and-answer sessions, and case presentations. New for this year—and of special interest to surgeons who want to learn a new technique—“how-to” guides will walk attendees through select procedures.

The “Top Orthopaedic Controversies” course is designed to give participants the knowledge and skills to:

• Evaluate treatment approaches for current orthopaedic controversies
• Answer patient questions regarding different treatment options for orthopaedic conditions where controversy exists
• Determine an approach to treating orthopaedic conditions where controversy exists
• Recognize the potential complications from various surgical approaches as well as techniques for avoiding them and options for treating them, if they occur

“This is a very popular course—participants come from all over the country and we even get some international attendees,” said Dr. Jazrawi. “Not only does it provide a general overview of orthopaedics, but it incorporates many different disciplines into one course, making it especially important for general orthopaedists who are looking to maximize their learning.”

Registration for the 2011 AAOS “Top Orthopaedic Controversies” CME course (course number 3472) is still open. For more information, visit www.aaos.org/courses

Maureen Leahy is assistant managing editor of AAOS Now. She can be reached at leahy@aaos.org

AAOS Top Orthopaedic Controversies
Dr. Jazrawi serves as the course director and topic moderator for the section on shoulder and elbow. Other topic moderators include Martin A. Posner, MD (hand), James D. Slover, MD (hip), Freddie H. Fu, MD (ACL symposium/debate), Brian J. Cole, MD (knee), Cary B. Chapman, MD (foot and ankle), and Thomas J. Errico, MD (spine).