AAOS Moves Forward on Quality Initiatives

During its meeting on Sept. 5, 2014, the AAOS Board of Directors took several steps on quality issues, approving three new clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) and one new appropriate use criteria (AUC). The CPGs and AUC were presented by Kevin J. Bozic, MD, MBA, chair of the AAOS Council on Research and Quality.

Casualty Sex Differences: A New Dilemma in Modern Warfare

CPT Christina Hylden, MD; LTC Anthony Johnson, MD; MAJ Jessica Rivera, MD

War has evolved over the centuries—from the Greek Phalanx, the Roman Legion, and the British Cavalry to armored regiments, missile defense teams, and naval battalions. Projectile weaponry has advanced from arrows and muskets to high-powered rifles and missiles. War zones have moved from designated lines of conflict with highly visible opponents to guerilla tactics, drone attacks, and inconspicuous (but highly explosive) packages.

Getting to the Why of Birth Palsy Shoulder Deformity

Sharon Johnson

Obstetric monitoring and delivery techniques are better than ever in the industrialized world. Still, the incidence of brachial plexus birth palsy (BPBP) is increasing. BPBP is a traumatic neuromuscular injury affecting peripheral nerves. Studies have shown incidence rates ranging from 1.5 to 4.6 of every 1,000 live births each year, and up to one-third of affected children sustain permanent osseous shoulder deformity and contracture leading to lifelong functional impairment. Katherine R.

Cost-effectiveness Research: How to Implement Study Findings into Clinical Practice

Eric F. Swart, MD; Eric C. Makhni, MD, MBA; Samir Mehta, MD

As healthcare costs and expenses continue to rise, interest in cost-effective medicine increases. This has led to an expansion in cost-effectiveness analyses (CEA) to evaluate the economic impact of various common orthopaedic interventions. CEA, however, is not the same as cost-benefit analysis for treatment. The results from CEA may not always be straightforward, and incorporating these results into clinical practice may be quite challenging.

Off-Label Use of Biologics and Devices in Orthopaedics

Stuart B. Goodman, MD, PhD; Shep J. Friedman, MD; Ivan Cheng, MD; A. Seth Greenwald, DPhil (Oxon); Barbara D. Buch, MD

Stuart B. Goodman, MD, PhD; Shep J. Friedman, MD; Ivan Cheng, MD; A. Seth Greenwald, DPhil (Oxon); and Barbara D. Buch, MD Many innovations in orthopaedic surgery and other medical subspecialties have evolved from off-label use of approved devices, biologics, and pharmaceutical products.