Home Orthopedics August 2015 Briefing – Orthopedics

August 2015 Briefing – Orthopedics

Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Orthopedics for August 2015. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.

FDA Warns of Joint Pain Tied to DPP-4 Inhibitors

MONDAY, Aug. 31, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Use of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors in type 2 diabetes is tied to severe joint pain in some patients, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned on Friday.

Osteonecrosis of Jaw Risk Highest for IV Bisphosphonate Use

MONDAY, Aug. 31, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is highest in association with intravenous bisphosphonate use, according to a study published online Aug. 19 in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.

AMA: Ruling Makes It Easier for Insurers to Terminate Doctors

FRIDAY, Aug. 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The outcome of a recent case regarding the termination of physicians by an insurance company following a dispute over the necessity of medical services provided has serious implications for physicians and their patients, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).

Growth Hormone May Benefit Bone Health in Older Women

FRIDAY, Aug. 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Older women with osteoporosis may benefit from a few years on growth hormone, a new, small trial suggests. The results were reported online Aug. 27 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

Periop Bridging Unnecessary for Most A-Fib Patients on Warfarin

THURSDAY, Aug. 27, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For most atrial fibrillation patients taking warfarin who require temporary interruption for a procedure, perioperative bridging with heparin is unnecessary, according to a study published in the Aug. 27 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Sleep Deprived Surgeons Appear to Be Self-Regulating Well

THURSDAY, Aug. 27, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The risk of death, hospital readmission, or complications following surgery is no more likely if the surgeon worked a midnight shift before a daytime operation, according to a study published in the Aug. 27 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Lower RASDS Complications for Higher Hospital, Surgeon Volume

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 26, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Perioperative complication rates are lower with increased hospital and surgeon volume for revision adult spinal deformity surgery (RASDS), according to research published in the Sept. 1 issue of The Spine Journal.

Too Few Blacks, Hispanics Pursuing Careers As Physicians

TUESDAY, Aug. 25, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Too few members of certain minority groups are pursuing careers in U.S. medicine, resulting in a serious lack of diversity among general practitioners and specialists, according to a research letter published online Aug. 24 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

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Corticosteroid Injections of Little Benefit for Low Back Pain

TUESDAY, Aug. 25, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Epidural corticosteroid injections for radicular low back pain or spinal stenosis may provide some relief for certain patients, but any benefits are temporary, according to a review published online Aug. 25 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Vitamin D Tied to Fewer Falls in Homebound Seniors

FRIDAY, Aug. 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Delivering vitamin D supplements to homebound seniors might help lower their risk of falls, according to a study published online Aug. 16 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

Patient, Family Advisors Can Play Key Role in Practices

FRIDAY, Aug. 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Practices can employ patient and family advisors in order to help them focus on patient-centered care needs, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).

Report Highlights Ways to Improve Physician Resilience

THURSDAY, Aug. 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Strategies can be adopted for improving physician resilience and the ability to handle the challenges presented by patient care, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).

Favorable Effect of Exercise on BMD Continues As Women Age

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For early-postmenopausal osteopenic women, exercise is consistently favorable for bone mineral density (BMD) over a prolonged period, according to a study published online Aug. 1 in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.

Lumbar Spine BMD Ups Fx Risk in Women With Discordant T-Scores

TUESDAY, Aug. 18, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Lumbar spine (LS) bone mineral density (BMD) increases fracture risk among women with lower LS T-score than femoral neck (FN) T-score, according to a study published online Aug. 4 in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.

CDC Determines Prevalence of Osteoporosis in Older Adults

THURSDAY, Aug. 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The prevalence of osteoporosis and low bone density has been examined among adults aged 65 years and older. The findings were published online Aug. 13 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).

More Physicians Reporting Dissatisfaction With EHR Systems

THURSDAY, Aug. 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — More physicians report being dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with their electronic health record (EHR) system, compared with five years ago, according to a report published by the AmericanEHR Partners and the American Medical Association.

HAC Reduction Program Penalty Kicks in for FY2015

TUESDAY, Aug. 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The latest Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) effort to reduce hospital-acquired conditions (HACs) is the HAC Reduction Program, according to an Aug. 6 health policy brief published in Health Affairs.

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In-Person Staff Meetings Are Valuable for Health Care Teams

MONDAY, Aug. 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — In-person staff meetings, which are not too short or too long and are held frequently, are valuable for health care team operation, according to an article published in Medical Economics.

Many Hospitals Being Penalized for 30-Day Readmissions

FRIDAY, Aug. 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — About half of the nation’s hospitals are being penalized by Medicare for having patients return within a month of discharge, losing a combined $420 million, according to a report published by Kaiser Health.

10-kHz Spinal Stimulation Aids Back, Leg Pain

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — High-frequency spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is superior to conventional lower-frequency treatment for relief of chronic back and leg pain, according to a study published online July 22 in Anesthesiology.

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Bone Health Benefits Lacking for Vitamin D Supplements

TUESDAY, Aug. 4, 2015 (HealthDay News) — High doses of vitamin D do not appear to protect postmenopausal women from osteoporosis, according to research published online Aug. 3 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

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