Autograft or Allograft for ACL Reconstruction?

Jennie McKee

Whether to use an autograft or an allograft in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is still controversial. Although patella tendon autograft has long been considered the gold standard, allograft safety has improved significantly in the last 15 years, making it a viable option in some patients, according to Mark D. Miller, MD, who reported on the latest information on autograft and allograft tissue and offered tips on selecting an allograft tissue bank during the 2012 Arthroscopy Association of North America Specialty Day Program.

Evolving Care During a Decade at War

Madeleine Lovette

During the decade since terrorists attacked the World Trade Centers in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., more than 32,000 service members have been wounded in action as part of Operations Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Although Dec. 15, 2011, marked the end of the military mission in Iraq and current operations in Afghanistan are winding down, the medical mission to treat and rehabilitate those wounded continues.

Scoliosis and Sex

Amy L. McIntosh, MD; Jennifer M. Weiss, MD

The cause of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS)—curvature of the spine that measures greater than 10 degrees—is unknown. Although AIS affects both boys and girls older than age 10, AIS is more than 10 times more common in girls than in boys, with an overall ratio of 11:1. AIS prevalence increases throughout the teenage years due to curve progression that is associated with the adolescent growth spurt. During the adolescent growth spurt, curves can increase up to 20 degrees in a year.

The Clinic–Lab–Clinic Loop in Understanding BMPs

Sally T. Halderman

The body depends on complex biologic checks and balances, and activating one molecular pathway toward a therapeutic goal may trigger feedback loops that dampen the effect. Jaimo Ahn, MD, PhD, an orthopaedic trauma surgeon as well as a cell and molecular biologist, wondered whether a feedback loop might be one factor limiting the effectiveness of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) in accelerating bone healing.

THA Impingement Studies Win OREF Clinical Research Award

Terry Stanton & Madeleine Lovette

Finite element analysis provides models to identify crucial forces and phenomena Terry Stanton & Madeleine Lovette The dislocation rate in total hip replacement is sometimes as high as 5 percent for primary procedures and 10 percent for revisions. Impingement in total hip arthroplasty (THA), along with subluxation, is also an appreciable problem with large societal and financial costs.

New Gene Therapy Technique Shows Promise for Bone Repair

Terry Stanton

A paper summarizing 18 years of laboratory work and research to develop a “same day” regional gene therapy to enhance bone repair was the recipient of the Kappa Delta Elizabeth Winston Lanier Award. The paper, “Regional Gene Therapy (RGT) to Enhance Bone Repair,” by Jay R. Lieberman, MD, describes progress in research into this type of therapy as part of a comprehensive tissue engineering strategy to treat patients with large bone defects or a compromised biologic environment.

Growth factor holds promise for treating disk disease

Madeleine Lovette & Terry Stanton

Kappa Delta Young Investigator focused on treating IVD at molecular level Madeleine Lovette & Terry Stanton Intervertebral disk (IVD) degeneration leading to chronic back pain is a common musculoskeletal condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Current treatment options—both surgical and nonsurgical—focus on easing the symptoms of IVD degeneration.

The Value in Musculoskeletal Care

USBJI issues Summary and Recommendations The concept of “value” often tops any discussion of healthcare reform. In October 2011, 125 representatives of the musculoskeletal care community gathered in Washington, D.C., to examine the value of musculoskeletal care from multiple viewpoints.

What Is the Bonferroni Correction?

Matthew A. Napierala, MD

The Bonferroni correction is an adjustment made to P values when several dependent or independent statistical tests are being performed simultaneously on a single data set. To perform a Bonferroni correction, divide the critical P value (α) by the number of comparisons being made. For example, if 10 hypotheses are being tested, the new critical P value would be α/10. The statistical power of the study is then calculated based on this modified P value.