Platelet-rich Plasma: The Path Forward

Terry Stanton

For just about every orthopaedic condition, there is a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment that purports to remedy it. Yet evidence of efficacy for PRP and other blood-derived formulations remains elusive for many applications. During the AAOS 2018 Annual Meeting symposium titled “Use and Misuse of Biologics,” Scott A.

Academy Approves Guidelines for SSIs and Imaging Before Referral to an Oncologist

Terry Stanton

The Academy’s Board of Directors has approved two systematic literature reviews (SLRs): Management of Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) and Use of Imaging Prior to Referral to a Musculoskeletal Oncologist. The latter SLR was a product of the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) and was developed through the Academy’s Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) process by the AAOS Evidence-Based Quality and Value Unit, with funding provided by both organizations.

Board Approves CPG From AAHKS on Tranexamic Acid

In addition to approving the two SLRs on oncology imaging referrals and surgical site infections, the AAOS Board of Directors endorsed a CPG prepared and submitted by the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS) in conjunction with the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ASRA) and the Hip and Knee Societies covering use of tranexamic acid (TXA) in total joint arthroplasty (TJA).

MountainView Regional Medical Center Leverages Registry Data to Earn Joint Commission’s Gold Seal

Karen Metropulos, MBA

MountainView Regional Medical Center (MVRM), located in Las Cruces, N.M., has been an American Joint Replacement Registry (AJRR) subscriber since November 2014. AJRR participation helped Mountainview’s Total Hip and Knee Replacement Center utilize registry benefits to achieve and maintain The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal certification. Other healthcare institutions can learn from the center’s experience in choosing a registry capable of supporting a Joint Commission–certified program.

A Clinical Pathway for Geriatric Hip Fractures

Ian Broussard, DO

As the elderly population grows, so does the number of geriatric hip fractures, making appropriate management of such fractures increasingly important. The goal is to maximize patient outcomes without increasing healthcare expenditures. One approach is the development of a clinical pathway. A clinical pathway is a sequential plan of care that involves a structured multidisciplinary approach to address a specific healthcare problem according to evidence-based guidelines.

Recovery Care Centers Expand the Benefits of Ambulatory Surgery Centers

John C. Steinmann, DO; Alexander Sah, MD; Angela Carlson, MHA; Michael Bergerson; Basil Besh, MD

Prior to 1970, all surgeries were performed in hospitals and were associated with long lengths of stay and high costs. Improved surgical techniques, along with the desire to reduce the costs of simple surgeries in hospitals, have led to the development of ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). Several surgical cases that were once considered to be inpatient only have migrated to ASCs, with well-documented high rates of patient satisfaction, good outcomes, and cost savings.