Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Orthopedics for March 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.
Mobile Health App Use Continuing to Increase
TUESDAY, March 31, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The number of mobile health apps is continuing to increase and doctors are embracing this trend, with more than one-third of physicians recommending their use in the past year, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
Small, Steady Decline in Cancer Rates in U.S. Over Past Decade
TUESDAY, March 31, 2015 (HealthDay News) — America is making slow but steady progress against cancer, with a continuing decline in cancer deaths, according to a new report published online March 30 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. The report was coauthored by experts from the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries, the American Cancer Society, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the U.S. National Cancer Institute.
2015 Match Sees High Proportion of Unmatched Seniors
MONDAY, March 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — About 6.1 percent of U.S. allopathic medical school seniors in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) were not placed into first-year residency positions, with a higher percentage of unmatched seniors than in 2014, according to a report published by the American Medical Association.
E-Health Intervention Feasible in Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
THURSDAY, March 26, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For obese patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), an e-health intervention is feasible and effective for increasing physical activity and decreasing fat mass, according to a study published in the April 1 issue of The Spine Journal.
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Physicians Should Be Aware of Signs of Burnout
THURSDAY, March 26, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Burnout can be prevented if physicians are aware of the warning signs, according to an article published by the American Medical Association.
Exercise Training Cuts Rate of Injurious Falls in Older Women
MONDAY, March 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For older women, exercise is associated with reductions in the rate of injurious falls and injured fallers, according to a study published online March 23 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Electronic Solutions Underway for Rx Prior Authorizations
FRIDAY, March 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Efforts are underway to offer technological solutions to the burdens associated with prior authorizations, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
Fracture Rate Higher Following Stem Cell Transplant
FRIDAY, March 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The incidence rate of fractures is significantly higher in patients following hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) compared to the general U.S. population, according to a study published online March 16 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Early Imaging Doesn’t Improve Back Pain Outcomes in Seniors
TUESDAY, March 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Early imaging is not associated with improved outcomes at one year among older adults with a new primary care visit for back pain, according to a study published in the March 17 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Jyoti Meditation Program Effective for Chronic Neck Pain
TUESDAY, March 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — An eight-week jyoti meditation program is effective for patients with chronic neck pain, according to a study published in the January issue of The Journal of Pain.
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More Than 16 Million Americans Have Gained Coverage Under ACA
TUESDAY, March 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The Obama Administration reported Monday the largest drop in the number of Americans without health insurance since the Johnson administration expanded health coverage through Medicare and Medicaid 50 years ago.
Gender-Specific Variation in Medical Specialties
MONDAY, March 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Medical specialties vary by gender, with obstetrics/gynecology and pediatrics dominated by female residents and specialties such as surgery, emergency medicine, and anesthesiology dominated by males, according to a report published by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).
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HHS Wants to Help Restore Joy of Medicine
FRIDAY, March 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is listening to physicians and wants to address the regulatory burdens they face, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
Getting Heard May Be Key to Getting New Job
FRIDAY, March 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Your voice may be the key to landing a new job, researchers report in an upcoming issue of Psychological Science.
Long-Term NSAID Use Beneficial in Knee Osteoarthritis
THURSDAY, March 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with knee osteoarthritis, long-term nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use is associated with improvements in symptoms and disease progression, according to a study published in the March issue of Arthritis & Rheumatology.
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Clinical Trial Data Often Not Reported in Timely Manner
THURSDAY, March 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Researchers are not promptly reporting the results of clinical trials to ClinicalTrials.gov, according to an article published in the March 12 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Guidelines Provided for Viscosupplementation in Knee OA
WEDNESDAY, March 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with knee osteoarthritis, the evidence should be considered before recommending viscosupplementation, according to a case vignette study published in the March 12 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Physicians Should Plan Exit Strategy in Advance
WEDNESDAY, March 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Physicians should begin planning their exit strategy three to five years in advance, according to the American Medical Association.
Persistent EHR Nonadoption Could Mean Lower Payment
WEDNESDAY, March 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Persistent nonadopters of electronic health records (EHRs) tend to be older, and are employed in smaller practices, according to a letter published in the March 3 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Frustrated by Regulations, Doctors Increasingly Miserable
WEDNESDAY, March 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The nationwide Physician Misery Index is 3.7 out of 5, with the vast majority of physicians reporting that the business and regulation of health care has worsened the practice of medicine, according to a report published by Geneia.
Surgery Seldom Needed for Fracture of Proximal Humerus
TUESDAY, March 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — When an older patient breaks the upper arm, surgery is often no better than simply immobilizing the limb, according to a new study. The study was published in the March 10 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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AAMC: Significant Shortfall of Physicians Projected for 2025
TUESDAY, March 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The expected shortfall of physicians is projected to reach about 46,000 to 90,000 by 2025, according to a study conducted by IHS Inc. for the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).
Manual-Thrust Manipulation Boosts Short-Term Benefit in LBP
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 18, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with low back pain (LBP), manual-thrust manipulation (MTM) is associated with greater short-term reductions in disability and pain than mechanical-assisted manipulation (MAM) or usual medical care (UMC), according to a study published in the Feb. 15 issue of Spine.
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Abnormalities on MRI Predict Knee Replacement
MONDAY, March 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Structural joint damage measured with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can predict knee replacement in the following year, according to research published in the March issue of Radiology.
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Changes Being Made to Med School Applicant Assessment
FRIDAY, March 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — In accordance with the changes in graduate medical education to better prepare doctors for a changing health care system, changes are being made to medical school applicant evaluation, according to an article published Feb. 19 by the American Medical Association (AMA).
Various Factors Influence Central Cord Syndrome Management
FRIDAY, March 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with central cord syndrome (CCS), patient, surgical, and institutional factors influence surgical management and mortality, according to a study published in the March 1 issue of The Spine Journal.
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National Hospital Rating Systems Rarely in Agreement
FRIDAY, March 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — National hospital rating systems are rarely in agreement, according to a study published in the March issue of Health Affairs.
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Confidence Gap Between Male and Female Med Students
FRIDAY, March 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Female medical students perform at the same or higher level as men, but they lack confidence compared with men, according to a letter published in the March 3 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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FDA Launches First App to Identify Drug Shortages
THURSDAY, March 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A mobile phone application (app) has been released to identify current drug shortages, resolved shortages, or discontinuations of drug products, according to a press release published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Rush University Adds Patient Scores to Doctor Profiles
WEDNESDAY, March 4, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Rush University Medical Center’s website has started adding the results of patient surveys to individual physician profiles, according to a report published by the medical center.
Nurse Follow-Up by Phone Cuts Problems Post Orthopedic Sx
WEDNESDAY, March 4, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A program of phone follow-up by nurses can reduce problems that discharged patients may experience after undergoing orthopedic surgery, according to research published online Feb. 23 in the Journal of Clinical Nursing.
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Sedative Pre-Anesthesia Doesn’t Increase Patient Satisfaction
TUESDAY, March 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A new study questions the need for giving a sedative to surgical patients before anesthesia is administered. The report was published in the March 3 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Cerebral Blood Flow Could Assist Concussion Prognosis
TUESDAY, March 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A new study of college football players suggests that cerebral blood flow (CBF) can function as an objective signal for the initial evaluation of a concussion, as well as measuring progress and recovery. The findings were reported online March 2 in JAMA Neurology.
Research Measures Perceptions of Physician Compassion
TUESDAY, March 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Patients prefer physicians who convey a more optimistic message, and perceive in them a higher level of compassion, according to a study published online Feb. 26 in JAMA Oncology.
Acetaminophen Risks May Be Underestimated
TUESDAY, March 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Acetaminophen may not be as safe as previously thought, with larger doses and long-term use linked to increased risk of health problems, a new report contends. The findings were published online March 2 in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
Hospital Design Has Little Effect on Patient Satisfaction
MONDAY, March 2, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Hospital design has little effect on patient satisfaction, according to a study published online Feb. 5 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
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Earlier Surgery Tied to Greater Benefit in Cervical Radiculopathy
MONDAY, March 2, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with painful degenerative disc disease and radiculopathy, undergoing anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) surgery within six months of becoming symptomatic is associated with a greater reduction in arm pain scores, according to a study published in the March 1 issue of The Spine Journal.
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