Orthopaedics News

Monday, March 05, 2007 AAN Therapeutics Panel Discourages Use of Epidural Steroid Injections for Radicular Low Back or Cervical Pain
The American Academy of Neurology's therapeutics and technology assessment subcommittee cautions against use of epidural steroid injections for radicular lumbosacral pain and concludes that there is insufficient evidence to make any recommendation for radicular cervical pain...

Tuesday, February 13, 2007 Wider Use of Spinal Cord Stimulation for Axial LBP Urged at Pain Medicine Meeting
Spinal cord stimulation is effective for axial low back pain (LBP) as well as for radiculopathy and should be more widely used for pain relief in LBP patients who have persistent pain associated with failed back surgery syndrome...

Friday, July 21, 2006 Study Suggests Glucosamine Not So Safe After All
People with untreated diabetes who take glucosamine may experience spikes in glucose levels when they take supplements of glucosamine…Biggee BA, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. Published Online: 3 July 2006. doi:10.1136/ard.2006.058222.

Tuesday, July 18, 2006 Orthopaedic Surgeons Must Learn to Manage Obese Patients
As the epidemic of obesity collides with the skyrocketing rates of joint replacement surgery, orthopaedic surgeons will need to brush up on skills to better manage obese patients…Guss D, et al. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2006;14:425-432.

Thursday, May 25, 2006 Meniscus Allografts Survive, Provide "Shock Absorber" in Severe Arthritis
Meniscus retread might help delay need for total knee replacement... Stone KR, et al. Arthroscopy. 2006;22:469-478.

Thursday, May 25, 2006 Hyperosmolar Dextrose Sweetens Chronic Tendinosis

Ultrasound-guided hyperosmolar dextrose injections into tendon relieve chronic tendinosis... Maxwell NJ, Ryan M, Taunton JE, Wong A. Presented at: American Roentgen Ray Society 106th Annual Meeting; April 30–May 5; Vancouver, BC. Abstract 172.

Thursday, May 25, 2006 Higher Strength MRI Reduces Need for Arthroscopy for Shoulder Injuries
MR imaging at 3.0 Tesla may be able to replace arthroscopy for diagnosing some types of shoulder cartilage damage... Magee TH, Willams DS. Presented at: American Roentgen Ray Society 106th Annual Meeting; April 30–May 5; Vancouver, BC. Abstract 52.

Monday, May 22, 2006 Second Year of FACT Trial Confirms Alendronate Advantage Over Risedronate for Preventing Bone Loss
Twenty-four-month data show that alendronate surpasses risedronate in reducing the risk of bone loss in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis... Bonnick S, et al. Clin Endocrin Metab. 24 April 2006; [Epub ahead of print]

Monday, May 15, 2006 Infliximab Cools Spinal Inflammation in AS
Six months of infliximab significantly reduced MRI-proven sites of spinal inflammation in patients with ankylosing spondylitis... Braun J, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:1646-1652.

Friday, May 12, 2006 Cochrane Review Questions Muscle Relaxants, NSAIDs, Botox for Neck Pain
A Cochrane systematic review of randomized trials of medicines and injections used to treat mechanical neck disorders such as whiplash found scant support for commonly used treatments such as muscle relaxants and NSAIDs, and a general lack of solid clinical research on treatment of neck pain... Peloso PM, et al. J Rheumatol. 2006;33:957-967.