Journal of Clinical & Experimental Orthopaedics

Description

Orthopaedic surgery has benefited from significant progress in surgical techniques and implants through advances in technology and science. Recent developments integrating medical imaging and spatial tracking technologies open an entirely new field. A virtual reality image allows the surgeon to plan and simulate the entire procedure before the actual case; follow in real-time the position of surgical tools, implants, and bone in different planes simultaneously; and obtain a precise digital record of the operation performed. These enhancing systems promise to empower the surgeon as the accuracy and safety in the operating room can dramatically be improved. A myriad of applications is currently under development, embracing every orthopedic surgery subspecialty. Sound clinical trials, cost, availability, and practicality are the challenges these new technologies face, but it is very likely that they will soon prove their benefits for the patient and surgeon.

Metabolism

The Muco Poly Saccharidoses (MPSs) are a family of disorders characterized by the accumulation of glycosaminoglycans, which is caused by enzyme deficiencies in the lysosomal metabolism of these normal cellular byproducts. Skeletal abnormalities are early and prominent features of MPS, and the orthopaedic surgeon is often the first healthcare provider to raise suspicion for this diagnosis. Recently developed medical therapies for the management of MPS (ie, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, intravenous enzyme replacement therapy) have led to increased lifespan but have not had much effect on the development of skeletal deformities. Patients must be monitored carefully and treated surgically as necessary. Conditions that may require surgical management include cervical spine and atlantoaxial instability, gibbus deformity, hip dysplasia and osteonecrosis, genu valgum, and carpal tunnel syndrome. The orthopedic surgeon should have a basic understanding of MPS and of the clinical presentation, musculoskeletal abnormalities, and radiographic findings associated with this group of disorders. Several recently developed analgesic techniques effectively control pain after major orthopaedic surgery. Neuraxial analgesia provided by epidural and spinal administration of local anesthetics and opioids provides the highest level of pain control; however, such therapy is highly invasive and labor intensive. Neuraxial analgesia is contraindicated in patients receiving low-molecular-weight heparin. Continuous plexus and peripheral neural blockades offer excellent analgesia without the side effects associated with neuraxial and parenteral opioids. Intravenous patient-controlled analgesia allows patients to titrate analgesics in amounts proportional to perceived pain stimulus and provide improved analgesic uniformity. Oral sustained-release opioids offer superior pain control and greater convenience than short-duration agents provide. Opioid dose requirements may be reduced by coadministration of COX-2-type nonsteroidal analgesics. The use of nationwide databases to conduct orthopaedic research has expanded markedly in recent years.

Mechanical Stabilization

Nationwide databases offer large sample sizes, sampling of patients who are representative of the country as a whole, and data that enable investigation of trends over time. The most common use of nationwide databases is to study the occurrence of postoperative adverse events. Other uses include the analysis of costs and the investigation of critical hospital metrics, such as length of stay and readmission rates. Although nationwide databases are powerful research tools, readers should be aware of the differences between them and their limitations. These include variations and potential inaccuracies in data collection, imperfections in patient sampling, insufficient postoperative follow-up, and lack of orthopaedic-specific outcomes. Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated substantial variations in per capita rates of many surgical procedures, including rotator cuff repair. The purpose of the current study was to characterize orthopaedic surgeons' attitudes concerning medical decision-making about rotator cuff surgery and to investigate the associations between these beliefs and reported surgical volumes. A survey was mailed to randomly select orthopedic surgeons listed in the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons directory. Only individuals who had treated patients for a rotator cuff tear, or had referred patients for such treatment, within the previous year were asked to complete the two-page survey. The survey comprised fifteen questions regarding clinical opinion, including four regarding hypothetical cases. Clinical agreement was defined as >80% of the respondents answering similarly. Although mechanical stabilisation has been a hallmark of orthopedic surgical management, orthobiologics are now playing an increasing role. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a volume of plasma fraction of autologous blood having platelet concentrations above baseline. The platelet α granules are rich in growth factors that play an essential role in tissue healing, such as transforming growth factor-β, vascular endothelial growth factor, and platelet-derived growth factor. PRP is used in various surgical fields to enhance bone and soft-tissue healing by placing supraphysiological concentrations of autologous platelets at the site of tissue damage. The easily obtainable PRP and its possible beneficial outcome hold promise for new regenerative treatment approaches.