Rotator cuff repair: Arthroscopic or open?

Treatment of partial tears remains an issue According to Evan L. Flatow, MD, the treatment of partial thickness rotator cuff tears remains an ongoing area of controversy because orthopaedic surgeons lack evidence-based data that can help in making treatment decisions. “Randomized, prospective studies don’t exist,” says Dr. Flatow. “Even the retrospective studies available aren’t really very well controlled.

Simple diagnostic test may predict foot and ankle instability

Carolyn Rogers

Study also finds foot type is unrelated to instability A patient’s risk of foot and ankle injury does not appear to be related to foot type—cavovarus, flatfoot, or neutral—according to a study presented at the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society’s (AOFAS) 2007 Annual Meeting in Toronto. The study, led by Richard T. Laughlin, MD, of Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, reevaluated the correlation between foot types and the incidence of foot and ankle injuries in college athletes.

Choosing a treatment for proximal humeral fractures

Peter Pollack

Whether or not to operate is just one question Proximal humeral fractures, notes Joseph D. Zuckerman, MD, have a higher rate of incidence than hip fractures, and increase exponentially in patients older than 50 years of age. Although most are nondisplaced fractures and are treated nonsurgically, the surgical treatment of complex fractures remains an issue. According to Dr.

On the genetic frontier: Idiopathic scoliosis

Scoliosis is derived from the Greek “skoleosis,” which means “a crookedness.” But for orthopaedic surgeons specializing in this challenging disease, scoliosis is often far more than a simple crookedness. The use of growing rods, titanium ribs, and advanced surgical techniques has helped thousands, but researchers continue to look for ways to advance the science. The AAOS has endorsed an information statement on scoliosis screening in schools (see article here).

Orthopaedics makes a comeback at USF

Jennie McKee

University reopens orthopaedic training program after 17 years For nearly two decades, the University of South Florida’s (USF) College of Medicine lacked one crucial component: orthopaedics. The void was created in 1990 when, as the result of a political dispute, 13 of the 17 orthopaedic surgery faculty members left USF and formed the Florida Orthopaedic Institute (FOI), which established its own resident training program.

AAOS endorses scoliosis screening statement

Mary Ann Porucznik

The AAOS has joined the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS), the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA), and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in endorsing an information statement about screening for idiopathic scoliosis in adolescents. The statement, which was authored by B. Stephens Richards III, MD, and Michael G. Vitale, MD, is called an educational tool and not the product of a systematic review.

OKO wins WebAwards

Carolyn Rogers

Web portal honored for medical, education, and publishing excellence The Academy’s online education portal just added three prestigious awards to its virtual trophy case. Orthopaedic Knowledge Online (OKO) was recently honored by the Web Marketing Association (WMA) with three “Standard of Excellence WebAwards.” This honor “recognizes the standard of excellence for which all Web sites should strive,” according to the WMA.

Maintenance of Certification deadline: Dec. 15, 2007

If your board certification expires in 2010 and you plan on taking the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery’s (ABOS) Maintenance of Certification™ (MOC) written exam in 2009, you must have obtained and submitted documentation of 120 AMA PRA Category 1 CME Credits™ (including 20 credits from one or two scored and recorded self-assessment examinations) by Dec. 15, 2007.

Second Look: Clinical

In case you missed these news items the first time around, AAOS Now gives you a second chance to review them. Links are available online at www.aaos.org/now. Stay current by subscribing to Headline News, the AAOS thrice-weekly online update of news of interest. Headline News brings you the latest on clinical, socioeconomic, and political issues, as well as important announcements from AAOS. Subscribe to Headline News at www.aaos.org/news/news.

Meetings and Course Listings

Listed below are upcoming continuing medical education (CME) courses and orthopaedic meetings through April 2008. For more information about AAOS-sponsored courses, contact the AAOS customer service department at (800) 626-6726, visit the CME course section of the AAOS Web site at www.aaos.org/courses, or contact the source listed. For more information about other CME courses or orthopaedic meetings, contact the source provided.