Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Orthopedics for May 2018. 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.
THURSDAY, May 31, 2018 -- A set of commonly available variables may be useful in predicting the five-year risk of height loss ≥1 inch in postmenopausal women, according to a study published online May 7 in Menopause.
THURSDAY, May 31, 2018 -- The widespread shortages of injectable opioids and small-volume parenteral (SVP) solutions are jeopardizing patient care and placing a strain on hospital operations, according to a report published by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP).
WEDNESDAY, May 30, 2018 -- All patients with painful bone metastasis should be referred for palliative radiotherapy to relieve the pain, regardless of age, according to a study published online May 23 in the Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Oncology.
THURSDAY, May 24, 2018 -- Patients served by the beleaguered Veterans Affairs health system may have wider access to private care, thanks to a bill approved Wednesday by the Senate. President Donald Trump is known to support the bill, which now awaits his signature.
THURSDAY, May 24, 2018 -- For children with X-linked hypophosphatemia, subcutaneous burosumab is associated with decreases in rickets severity and with improved renal tubular phosphate reabsorption, according to a study published in the May 24 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
THURSDAY, May 24, 2018 -- There is considerable global variation in personal health care access and quality, according to a study published online May 23 in The Lancet.
THURSDAY, May 24, 2018 -- Regional anesthesia is associated with a lower opioid consumption in both knee and hip replacement surgeries, compared to general anesthesia, according to a study published May 14 in PAIN Practice.
TUESDAY, May 22, 2018 -- Readmissions are higher in homeless veterans discharged to the community after surgery, compared to housed veterans, according to a study published in the June issue of Medical Care.
TUESDAY, May 22, 2018 -- Overall, 9.1 percent of individuals in the United States were uninsured in 2017, which was not significantly different from the level in 2016, according to a report published online May 22 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Centers for Health Statistics.
FRIDAY, May 18, 2018 -- Stigmatizing language used in medical records to describe patients can influence medical students and residents in terms of their attitudes towards the patient and their clinical decision-making, according to a study published in the May issue of the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
FRIDAY, May 18, 2018 -- For active-duty military personnel, the addition of chiropractic care to usual medical care is associated with improvements in low back pain intensity and disability, according to a study published online May 18 in JAMA Network Open.
WEDNESDAY, May 16, 2018 -- A nonprofit manufacturer could help keep generic drug prices down and maintain their supply, according to a perspective piece published in the May 17 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
WEDNESDAY, May 16, 2018 -- Best practices have been developed for using electronic health records (EHRs) to enhance patient-centered care, according to an article published online in Medical Economics.
MONDAY, May 14, 2018 -- Anxiety levels are associated with bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture risk in the lumbar spine and femoral neck among postmenopausal women, according to a study published online May 7 in Menopause.
MONDAY, May 14, 2018 -- From 2007 to 2016, the rate of deaths from falls among older adults increased by an average of 3.0 percent per year, according to research published in the May 11 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
FRIDAY, May 11, 2018 -- Hemorrhage control training for laypersons is the most efficacious method for controlling hemorrhaging, according to a study published online May 9 in JAMA Surgery.
FRIDAY, May 11, 2018 -- For patients with osteopenia or osteoporosis, taking a bisphosphonate (BP) drug holiday is associated with increased risk of fracture for patients with lower femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD) or T scores, according to a recent study published in Endocrine Practice.
THURSDAY, May 10, 2018 -- For patients with acute osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, percutaneous vertebroplasty does not result in significantly greater pain relief than a sham procedure at 12 months, according to a study published online May 9 in The BMJ.
WEDNESDAY, May 9, 2018 -- For nursing home (NH) residents with dementia and hip fracture, surgical hip fracture repair is associated with lower mortality, according to a study published online May 7 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
TUESDAY, May 8, 2018 -- Regulatory requirements are likely to be an important aspect of physician dissatisfaction with electronic health records (EHRs) that is driving burnout, according to an Ideas and Opinions piece published online May 8 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
MONDAY, May 7, 2018 -- In 2014, health care provider counseling for weight loss for adults with arthritis and overweight or obesity was 45.5 percent, up 10.4 percent from 2002, according to research published in the May 3 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
FRIDAY, May 4, 2018 -- Many organizations are not meeting the trial registration and results reporting requirements clarified by "The Final Rule," which had a compliance date of April 18, 2017, according to a study published online May 1 in BMC Medicine.
FRIDAY, May 4, 2018 -- Varying pain descriptors may be useful when evaluating patients with different stages of low back pain (LBP), according to a study published online April 30 in PAIN Practice.
THURSDAY, May 3, 2018 -- Many patients undergoing elective same-day or inpatient joint and spine surgery have unused opioids at one- and six-month follow-up, according to a study published online April 17 in Anesthesia & Analgesia.
TUESDAY, May 1, 2018 -- Physicians should be aware of the correct protocol for, as well as the laws involved in, firing employees, according to a report published in Medical Economics.