Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Orthopedics for September 2009. 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.
Bacterial Infections Are a Factor in Many H1N1 Deaths
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 30 (HealthDay News) -- Many patients who have died of H1N1 influenza this year had a bacterial co-infection that likely contributed to their deaths, according to a Sept. 29 early release of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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Low Back Pain in Pregnancy a Major Health Issue in Iran
MONDAY, Sept. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Low back pain (LBP) in pregnancy is an extremely common health problem in Iran, affecting more than 84 percent of women at some point in their pregnancies, according to a study in the October issue of The Spine Journal.
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H1N1 Virus's Genetic Makeup Appears to Be Staying Stable
MONDAY, Sept. 28 (HealthDay News) -- The genetic makeup of the H1N1 flu has remained stable, which means the yet-to-be-released vaccine is likely to be a good match for the virus, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced at a Sept. 25 media briefing.
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Surgery May Be Better Than Other Carpal Tunnel Therapies
FRIDAY, Sept. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome produced better outcomes than non-surgical therapies, but the clinical advantage was modest, according to a study in the Sept. 26 issue of The Lancet.
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Neck Index Found Adequate in Test-Retest Reliability
FRIDAY, Sept. 25 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with mechanical neck disorders, the Neck Disability Index demonstrates adequate responsiveness, according to a study published in the October issue of The Spine Journal.
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Review Advises Hand Washing, Other Antiviral Measures
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 23 (HealthDay News) -- Hand washing, wearing a mask, and isolating potential cases are all effective in interrupting the spread of viral respiratory infections and should be given greater attention when planning for widespread outbreaks, according to research published Sept. 22 in BMJ.
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Spotlight on Social Networking Use Among Medical Students
TUESDAY, Sept. 22 (HealthDay News) -- A majority of medical schools report instances of medical students posting unprofessional content on social networking Web sites, including some instances of violations of patient confidentiality, according to a report in the Sept. 23/30 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Physician Medical Errors Linked to Fatigue and Burnout
TUESDAY, Sept. 22 (HealthDay News) -- The incidence of medical error is associated with a host of factors related to physician fatigue, burnout, and mental and emotional well-being, according to a study in the Sept. 23/30 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Scoliosis Surgery Linked to Good Long-Term Outcomes
MONDAY, Sept. 21 (HealthDay News) -- In the long term, patients who receive surgical treatment for scoliosis are no more likely to develop low back pain or have an impaired quality of life than the general population, according to two studies in the Sept. 15 issue of Spine.
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Pain Linked to Functional Decline in Middle-Aged Adults
MONDAY, Sept. 21 (HealthDay News) -- In middle-aged adults, pain is associated with an accelerated decline in physical function, with mobility limitations similar to those decades older without pain, according to a study in the September issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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Low Scoliosis Revision Surgery Rate Seen at Center
FRIDAY, Sept. 18 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with idiopathic scoliosis who undergo primary fusion surgery, reoperation rates may vary greatly between institutions, according to a study in the Sept. 15 issue of Spine.
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Operative Treatment of Benefit to Older Scoliosis Patients
THURSDAY, Sept. 17 (HealthDay News) -- In middle-aged and older patients with scoliosis, operative treatment may be associated with a significantly improved quality of life compared to non-operative treatment, according to two studies published in the Sept. 15 issue of Spine.
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Spinal Treatment May Not Improve Neurologic Recovery
THURSDAY, Sept. 17 (HealthDay News) -- Treatment with high-dose methylprednisolone sodium succinate (MPSS) does not improve neurologic recovery in patients who have suffered acute spinal cord injury and increases the risk of pneumonia as a complication, according to a study in the Sept. 15 issue of Spine.
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Taxes on Sugared Sodas Could Cut Consumption
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Imposing a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages could reduce consumption and generate income for obesity reduction and healthy eating education interventions, according to an article published online Sept. 16 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Exercise, Shockwave Therapy Compared for Shoulder Pain
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 16 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with subacromial shoulder pain, supervised exercise improves shoulder mobility and lessens pain better than extracorporeal shockwave treatment, according to a study published online Sept. 15 in BMJ.
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Cancer Drug May Increase Risk of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Treatment of postmenopausal breast cancer with an aromatase inhibitor increases the risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), although cases are mild to moderate and do not lead to patients stopping treatment, according to a study published online Sept. 14 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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FDA Approves Four Vaccines for H1N1 Influenza
TUESDAY, Sept. 15 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved four H1N1 influenza vaccines, according to a Sept. 15 news release issued by the agency.
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Drug Interaction E-Alerts Show Benefit to Patient Safety
MONDAY, Sept. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Drug interaction alerts from electronic prescribing likely improve patient safety and reduce costs in outpatient care, despite the fact that over 90 percent of the alerts are overridden by physicians, according to a study in the Sept. 14 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.
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Mutated H1N1 Virus Resistant to Antiviral Drug Oseltamivir
FRIDAY, Sept. 11 (HealthDay News) -- The discovery of H1N1 mutations resistant to the neuraminidase inhibitor oseltamivir in two adolescent girls sharing a cabin at a North Carolina camp prompted a new recommendation from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the proper prophylactic use of antiviral drugs, according to a case report in the Sept. 11 issue of the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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Satisfaction High Among Hip Replacement Patients
THURSDAY, Sept. 10 (HealthDay News) -- Four years after total hip arthroplasty, most patients report that their preoperative expectations were either completely or somewhat fulfilled, according to a study published in the Sept. 1 issue of the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
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Acupuncture Helps Pregnant Women With Low Back Pain
THURSDAY, Sept. 10 (HealthDay News) -- A week of continuous auricular acupuncture can reduce pain and disability in pregnant women with low back and posterior pelvic pain, according to a study published in the September issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
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Compensation Status Doesn't Delay Canadians' Back Surgery
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 9 (HealthDay News) -- In Canadian patients with sciatica from a herniated lumbar disc, compensation status has no effect on waiting times for elective surgical lumbar discectomy, according to a study published in the Sept. 1 issue of Spine.
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Spinal Nerve Infiltration Has Potential in Low Back Pain
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 9 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with low back pain and radicular pain, an L2 spinal nerve infiltration may temporarily reduce symptoms, according to a study in the Sept. 1 issue of Spine.
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Costs Escalating for Patients With Spine Problems
TUESDAY, Sept. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Since 1997, national expenditures for spine conditions have dramatically increased, while self-reported mental and physical health and activity limitations in spine patients have significantly worsened, according to a study in the Sept. 1 issue of Spine.
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Time-of-Day, Staffing Affect Orthopedic Surgery Outcomes
MONDAY, Sept. 7 (HealthDay News) -- The time of day orthopedic surgery is performed and the number of residents available to assist in subsequent patient care can both impact medical outcomes, according to studies in the Sept. 1 Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
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Abstract - Browne
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Yoga Effective in Treating Chronic Low Back Pain
FRIDAY, Sept. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with chronic low back pain derive better results in terms of reduced functional disability, pain and depression when they do a 24-week course of yoga compared with standard medical care, according to a study in the Sept. 1 Spine.
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Joint-Preserving Treatment Can Delay Hip Replacement
FRIDAY, Sept. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Periacetabular osteotomy, or reorienting a shallow hip socket to better engage the head of the femur, can preserve hip-joint function and avoid a full hip replacement for years, according to a study in the Sept. 1 Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
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Parathyroid Hormone May Be Beneficial in Osteoporosis
FRIDAY, Sept. 4 (HealthDay News) -- In a rat model of osteopenia, parathyroid hormone has beneficial short-term effects on bone stability and microstructure when compared with estradiol, according to a study published in the Sept. 1 issue of Spine.
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Many Orthopedic Trials Do Not Adhere to Principle for Validity
FRIDAY, Sept. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Many orthopedic randomized clinical trials do not properly follow the intention-to-treat principle, potentially producing bias in trial results and analyses, according to a report in the Sept. 1 Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
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Mutant Mice Offer Model for Study of Arthritis Pathogenesis
THURSDAY, Sept. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Mice with a defective gene that impairs collagen production needed for joint maintenance may provide a model for the investigation of the pathogenesis and treatment of osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease (DDD), according to a study in the September issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.
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Collagenase Injections Can Improve Range of Motion
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Injection of collagenase clostridium histolyticum into the affected hand joints of patients with Dupuytren's disease can reduce joint contracture, improve range of motion, and provide an office-based alternative to risky hand surgery, according to a study in the Sept. 3 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Academic Medical Centers Active and Diverse in Research
TUESDAY, Sept. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Research at academic medical centers is active and diverse, with nearly a quarter of life-science researchers receiving no funding, and relationships with industry more commonly seen among translational and clinical researchers than basic science researchers, according to a study in the Sept. 2 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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