The American Association for Hand Surgery (AAHS)

The American Association for Hand Surgery (AAHS) and the Hand Surgery Endowment (HSE) are pleased to announce the recipient of the 2011 AAHS/HSE Research Grant.

Alexander Y. Shin, MD, Mayo Clinic
Conduit Wrapping after Nerve Repair - Functional Analysis

Dr. Shin received a $10,000 grant and will be acknowledged at the AAHS 2012 Annual Meeting. Please join the AAHS and HSE in congratulating Dr. Shin on this excellent accomplishment.

At the AAHS's Annual Business Meeting in January, the following AAHS members were elected to serve as Officers and Board Members:

Steven McCabe, MD, President

Jesse B. Jupiter, MD, President-Elect

Donald H. Lalonde, MD, Vice-President

Peter Murray, MD, Treasurer-Elect

Miguel A. Pirela-Cruz, MD, Historian

Jaiyoung Ryu, MD, Parliamentarian

Randip R. Bindra, MD, FRCS, Senior Director-at-Large

Jeffrey B. Friedrich, MD, Junior Director-at-Large

Sharon Andruskiwec, PT, CHT, Junior Affiliate Director-at-Large

Cervical Spine Research Society (CSRS)

CSRS 2011 Call for Abstracts

The Cervical Spine Research Society (CSRS) seeks abstracts for presentation at its 2011 Annual Meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona, from December 8 through December 10.  Submission deadline is May 17, 2011.

Detailed information can be found here.

2011 Research Funding Opportunities

The mission of the Cervical Spine Research Society (CSRS) is to carry out research and exchange information on the cervical spine.  For 2011, CSRS has allocated up to $200,000 to fund research grants in the following categories:  

• 21st Century Development Grants with annual budgets up to $75,000.
• Seed/starter grants include basic science projects with an approximate budget of $25,000.  Priority is given to proposals that are part of a research program with the potential to lead to other sources of funding.
• Resident/fellow grants are grants up to $15,000 awarded to an orthopaedic surgeon or neurosurgeon who will not complete his/her training before December 31, 2011.

A two page Letter of Intent (LOI) is due on April 1, 2011.  Access this link for detailed submission information. 

The Knee Society

The New Knee Society Scoring System

By Giles R. Scuderi, MD

There has been a need to develop a sophisticated total knee arthroplasty (TKA) results assessment system because of the growing number of younger and more active patients undergoing TKA.  Aside from the importance of continual improvements in patient care, all parties have an interest in monitoring and determining the outcomes of TKA.  Since TKA is an elective procedure, patient-reported subjective outcomes, as opposed to strictly objective or technical measures, are essential to any assessment of how well this intervention serves the goals of the patient.

The ideal scoring system is not only valid, but is broadly applicable; it accurately characterizes the outcome of every patient, regardless of whether it is good, poor, or excellent.  The ideal system should also detect changes before and after treatment and should provide the same measure of patient outcome regardless of age or gender.

In striving to achieve these goals, The Knee Society Score Committee developed and validated a new Knee Society scoring system (the Score)  The new Score, presented at the 2011 AAOS Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA, maintains several of the key features of its predecessor, as well as some of the principles seen in other validated questionnaires.  Key features of the new Score include questions addressing patient satisfaction, patient expectations, and the patient's symptoms while participating in a broad range of activities encountered in daily living, exercise, recreation, and sport.  It is anticipated that the new Knee Society scoring system will be the standard for measuring the outcome of TKA.  With any questions about the new Score, please contact The Knee Society at knee@aaos.org.

Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA)

2011 Specialty Day Review

The Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA) welcomed Rear Admiral US Navy (Ret) Ray Smith as the Presidential Guest Speaker at the 2011 Specialty Day. He discussed In Pursuit of Excellence: Globally and Locally. The day also included sections on general trauma concepts, international health care in Haiti with amazing tales of humanitarian efforts after the earthquake; practical biological issues; a review of highlight papers from the Annual Meeting; a well received session on arthroplasty for the trauma surgeon; and an informative session on the business of orthopaedic trauma.

Twenty-Seventh President Takes the Helm

After a successful OTA Specialty Day with more than 500 attendees, Andrew N. Pollak, MD, Baltimore, MD, took over from Timothy J. Bray, MD, Reno, NV, as President of the OTA. David Hak, MD succeeded Alan Jones, MD as Treasurer of the OTA. New members of the Board of Directors include David Teague, MD and Lisa K. Cannada, MD.

Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA)

POSNA Resident Review

The Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA) developed a publication/newsletter entitled the POSNA Resident Review.  This publication is intended to educate orthopaedic residents in specific pediatric orthopaedic topics.  The newsletter, which is distributed two times a year, consists of 7-10 OITE-style questions enabling residents to test their knowledge base, followed by brief explanations for proper treatment.  In addition to this case-based format of education, general articles pertaining to the field of pediatric orthopaedics also are included.  These articles will highlight different pediatric orthopaedic practices, advantages and challenges germane to this field, as well as a host of strategies to use when caring for children during residency and beyond. All five editions can be found on the POSNA website.

We are asking for your help by distributing this link (http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=tumtvfdab&et=1104714375916&s=521&e=00163Fz-Z9u9_XATJl2T2p1mLujGOpOgbtRb9iq8pc41NVWfe1DeCf2mdcSv7Zz5uF1G8TIZWMXCMFYe40-fB2cbVLOGJfgGAWtpHm6eP_wPrDi5KTL1EkGw5U9AJQdICutpsltQPTZ0P8MPPfsxn7eq5vIJKDue9ZApwVrJnWekwkfiI2UokwExA==), via email, to all of the orthopaedic residents in your program. Simply cut and paste the previous paragraph in your next email to residents.  It will be a great addition to their education.  We welcome your comments and suggestions at posna@aaos.org.

The Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society (RJOS)

The Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society (RJOS) is proud to announce that Lisa Cannada, MD has assumed the role of RJOS President.  The Presidential medal was passed from Dr. Laura Gehrig to Dr. Cannada at the RJOS Annual Luncheon in San Diego, CA, in February.  Dr. Cannada is Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Saint Louis University.

Dr. Cannada outlined her presidential plan for RJOS during the Annual Luncheon.  She stressed her commitment to the organization and to helping female orthopaedic surgeons achieve their goals.  Dr. Cannada discussed her vision of developing a leadership program to train women to be leaders in the medical profession. She also is committed to having RJOS develop a viable and vibrant mentoring program for female medical students, residents, and orthopaedic surgeons. 

The 2011 RJOS Board of Directors include:
Lisa Cannada, MD, President
Michelle James, MD, Vice President
Jennifer Wolf, MD, Secretary
Amy Ladd, MD, Treasurer
Michelle Wolcott, MD, Member at Large
Lisa Lattanza, MD, Member at Large
Laura Gehrig, MD, Immediate Past President
Ann Van Heest, MD, Past President

Scoliosis Research Society (SRS)

SRS Addresses Globalization

Responding to rapidly increasing membership from outside the United States plus numerous requests for educational collaboration with members and spine societies from outside the US, SRS leaders decided to convene a "Globalization Retreat" during the AAOS Annual Meeting. Thirty-nine members representing twenty countries spent a full day working with a facilitator to identify challenges and opportunities for SRS as it moves toward being a fully global association. The consensus was that SRS is already largely international in terms of education, membership and research. Short term and long term goals were established in the areas of membership, education, research, finance, governance and leadership, and small groups have been assigned to prioritize and work on strategies to achieve those goals. 

Florida Orthopaedic Society

Fellows Turn to Their State Orthopaedic Society for Assistance with EMR Selection 

Funded in part through a grant received from the BOC State Orthopaedic Society Committee, the Florida Orthopaedic Society (FOS) recently held a two-day demonstration program to assist Fellows with adoption of electronic medical records (EMR). The event, held in Orlando on January 21-22, was enthusiastically received by more than 80 surgeons, administrators, and other practice personnel in attendance.

FOS conducted a significant amount of preparatory work including the distribution of a pre-meeting questionnaire to each vendor and development of a model Patient Encounter Script that each vendor was asked to follow during their demonstration. The collection of baseline data and the development of an encounter script provided a greater opportunity for the attendees to compare the different systems on an equal footing and allowed the vendors to highlight those features that set their respective system apart from the competition.

The lively break-out debriefing sessions, and the large group wrap-up session were an indication of the high level of audience engagement.

FOS came away with a significant number of questions and feedback from the members. The next step in the project is to create a side-by-side reference tool on the key functions of the various systems as identified by the attendees. Those evaluation tools will be distributed to the entire FOS membership to assist those that may be implementing EMRs in their practice.

Hawaii Orthopaedic Association

By Linda Rasmussen, MD

In Hawaii, we are the only state with mandatory employer health insurance for employees who work more than 20 hours/week.  This results in fewer uninsured people; however, there is a significant shortage of physicians due to poor reimbursement.  A recent study by the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine reveals a shortage of 644 physicians.  We have 2,800 practicing physicians.  So while most people have insurance, there is lack of physicians to treat them.  The waits to see a physician are starting to resemble those in Canada.

The Hawaii Orthopedic Association (HOA) has been working with the Hawaii Medical Association and its lobbyist for years. To speak for our patients, we felt we needed our patients involved.  Three years ago we started "Save Our Doctors", a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization.  Approximately 51,000 people receive our newsletter.  If we want to do sign-waving and a rally, we can get the word out to them, and also to all those following us on Facebook, Twitter, and nearly all other social networks.  Visit our website for more.

Texas Orthopaedic Association

The Texas Orthopaedic Association (TOA) will have its 2011 Annual Meeting May 20-22 at the Hyatt Lost Pines Resort & Spa in Bastrop, TX (just outside of Austin). TOA's Program Chair, David Dodgin, MD, and TOA's President, L. Edward Seade, MD, created an outstanding continuing medical education program this year.  Guest faculty includes TOA's keynote speaker, Timothy S. Mologne, MD, of Appleton, WI, the Texas Society for Sports Medicine's (TSSM) keynote speaker John A. Bergfeld, MD of Cleveland, OH, and the Texas Orthopaedic Foundation's (TOF) keynote speaker Walter R. Lowe, MD of Houston, TX.

AAOS Now

AAOS Now wants to tell your story!  If you have a success story - like Dr. Rasmussen's (see Hawaii Orthopaedic Association) - consider sharing it with the AAOS fellowship.  AAOS Now wants to hear about legislative issues in the states, how your state or specialty society is attracting new members or increasing involvement among members, and other topics you think would be of interest to a larger audience.  We'll gladly give a "pat on the back" to new officers and award recipients who are members of the AAOS.  And if you have a challenging case to share, consider submitting it to our "What's Your Diagnosis?" feature.  Contact managing editor Mary Ann Porucznik at 847-384-4015 or email aaoscomm@aaos.org.