Dr. Smith is a fellowship-trained, Board Certified orthopaedic surgeon with extensive training in hip & knee surgery from the prestigious Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota & the New Albany Surgical Hospital in New Albany, Ohio. He completed his Orthopedic Surgery Residency at Michigan State University & medical school..
Following failed conservative treatment, PCL repair or reconstruction is a safe and viable treatment option for pediatric and adolescent patients with multiligament or isolated PCL injuries, according to recent study results.
Researchers from the United Kingdom have reported similar improvements in patient-reported outcomes after elective total knee arthroplasty regardless of patient body mass index, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
“Patients achieve equivalent improvements in knee function and general health irrespective of their preoperative BMI,” Baker told ORTHOPEDICS TODAY. “Obese patients gain as much benefit from knee replacement as patients with a ‘normal’ BMI, even if they do not end up at a similar postoperative level. Accordingly, we feel that the obese should not be excluded from the benefit experienced by their fellow patients with lower BMI from undergoing total knee replacement.”
Knee arthroplasty helped increase patients’ walking speed at 6 months to 60 months postoperatively, according to a study conducted by researchers in The Netherlands.
For the analysis, the authors looked through 16 independent comparisons of pre-operative and postoperative walking speed for patients who underwent knee arthroplasty. In all, they identified 12 studies in their survey of MEDLINE, Web of Science, and PEDro, for a total of 419 patients.
Researchers from London, Ontario, found total knee arthroplasty efficacious in patients with body mass indices equal to or greater than 50, but remained cautious about the safety of the procedure in the group due to higher risks of complications and revisions.
Replacement surgery in a damaged knee joint by placing an artificial prosthesis will alleviate pain and help better movement of the knee.
For most patients, a replacement knee surgical procedure will last for at least 15 to 20 years, especially if cared for properly and not put under too much strain. More than 90% of people who have total knee replacement surgery experience a dramatic decrease in knee pain and a significant improvement in their ability to perform common activities of daily living.
The use of the direct anterior approach in total hip arthroplasty can yield good results backed by numerous studies but depends upon proper education, according to one surgeon’s experience.
J. Bohannon Mason, MD, shared his findings at the International Congress for Joint Reconstruction San Diego 2012 meeting, which was held in collaboration with Orthopedics Today.
“The best approach? They all have advantages and disadvantages,” he said. “When you look at [DA], it does require special instrumentation and I would say it does require special training – however, you have quick recovery, stability and proper cup positioning.”
Tart cherries may help reduce chronic inflammation, especially for the millions of Americans suffering from debilitating joint pain and arthritis, according to new research from Oregon Health & Science University presented at the American College of Sports Medicine Conference (ACSM) in San Francisco, Calif.1 In fact, the researchers suggest tart cherries have the "highest anti-inflammatory content of any food" and can help people with osteoarthritis manage their disease.
Along with providing the fruit's bright red color, the antioxidant compounds in tart cherries - called anthocyanins - have been specifically linked to high antioxidant capacity and reduced inflammation, at levels comparable to some well-known pain medications.
After an initial period of rapid penetration in the first year, investigators of a level 1 study using radiostereometric analysis found a significantly lower steady state wear rate during 10-year follow-up among total hip arthroplasties performed with highly crosslinked polyethylene liners compared to conventional polyethylene.
In a recent presentation, one surgeon outlined his indications for follow-up and revision of metal-on-metal total hip replacements.
Thomas P. Schmalzried, MD, presented his experience at the International Congress for Joint Reconstruction San Diego 2012 meeting, which was held in collaboration with Orthopedics Today.
According to Schmalzried, revision should be considered in patients who display poor clinical results, such as pain or mechanical symptoms. Pseudotumor or other soft tissue involvement, such as edema and necrosis, are also a sign that revision should be performed within 3 months. Osteolysis and high metal ion levels should also bring revision into consideration.
Schmalzried stressed he still observes asymptomatic patients with “clean” MRIs, regardless of their metal ion levels.
A common, painful hip condition in elite athletes may be able to be repaired with an improved surgical technique, according to researchers presenting their work at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine's Annual Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland.
"In our review of 21 male, elite athletes who had hip pain and instability issues (hypoplastic or labrum tear), 81 percent returned to play at a similar level as before they were hurt, after receiving an arthroscopic reconstruction technique using an ipsilateral iliotibial band autograft," said research author, Marc J. Philippon, MD, of the Steadman Philippon Research Institute in Vail, Colorado.
