Xylazine, a veterinary sedative, has increasingly been found as an adulterant in illicit fentanyl supplies across the USA. This combination has led to severe necrotic skin wounds among users, particularly in the Philadelphia region, posing significant challenges for patients and healthcare providers. As these frequently exhibit as extremity wounds, orthopaedic surgeons are amongst those involved in their care. We discuss the recent findings from the first regional symposium on this crisis with meeting co-chairs Drs. Asif Ilyas and Katharine Woozley. Dr. Ilyas is President of the Rothman Opioid Foundation, Partner and Fellowship Director at the Rothman Institute, and Professor, Vice Chair, and Associate Dean at the Drexel School of Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dr. Woozley is an Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Division Head of Hand and Nerve Surgery at Cooper Medical School in Camden, New Jersey.

In this final installment of the Ortho Time Machine episodes (for now…) we discuss Maurice Müeller, the genesis of the AO Foundation, and its profound impact on modern fracture fixation principles.  

The AO Foundation, or Arbeitsgemeinschaft für  Osteosynthesefragen, revolutionized fracture treatment by introducing principles that transformed patient outcomes worldwide.

In this episode, we will explore its origins, the visionary minds behind it, and the evolution of its groundbreaking techniques.

Welcome to Ortho Time Machine episodes where we explore pivotal moments and game-changing innovations in orthopaedic surgery. In this episode, we’ll journey through the life and legacy of Dr. Paul Harrington, whose work in spinal instrumentation changed the field forever.

You’ve probably heard of the Harrington Rod. It was the first widely successful spinal implant, designed to treat severe scoliosis and spinal deformities. But the story of how it came to be, and the man behind it, is as remarkable as the device itself.

Before Dr. Harrington’s innovation, scoliosis was often managed with rigid body casts, prolonged bed rest, and traction. These methods were not only uncomfortable but also largely ineffective for severe cases. It was clear that a transformative solution was needed.  

Enter the ingenuity and unwavering commitment of Dr. Harrington. Let’s dive in.

The Ortho Time Machine episodes continue with the remarkable journey of Total Knee Arthroplasty, or TKA—a procedure that has transformed the lives of millions suffering from debilitating knee arthritis.

In this episode, we’ll focus on the significant contributions of Dr. John Insall, whose innovative designs and surgical techniques elevated TKA to the gold standard it is today. From early prosthetic designs to complex revision systems, Insall’s work revolutionized how we treat degenerative knee diseases.

Join me as we unpack the fascinating evolution of knee arthroplasty, including the setbacks, breakthroughs, and the visionary leadership of Dr. Insall.

In this chapter of the Ortho Time Machine episodes, we’re focusing on a game-changing innovation that transformed the way surgeons diagnose and treat joint disorders. Masaki Watanabe and many others helped to pioneer arthroscopic surgery and gave orthopaedic surgeons a new way to see and treat inside joints without large incisions.

It’s hard to imagine modern orthopaedics without arthroscopy. Whether it’s repairing a torn meniscus, reconstructing an ACL, or repairing a rotator cuff, arthroscopy has become a cornerstone of our field. But how did it all begin? Who were the pioneers that made it possible? And what were the challenges along the way?

Join me as we dive into the fascinating story of arthroscopy, its early skeptics, and the visionary surgeons who saw its potential.

Welcome back to Ortho Time Machine episodes where we uncover the most transformative moments and figures in the history of orthopaedic surgery. In this episode, we’re delving into the extraordinary life and work of Gavriil Ilizarov—a man who, against all odds, revolutionized limb reconstruction and deformity correction. (Note that some of the character voices are computer-generated acting and not actual footage.)

Season 6 of the OrthoClips Podcast Series features a new mini-series entitled “Ortho Time Machine”, where we travel through the fascinating history of orthopaedic surgery, exploring the game-changing moments that shaped our field. In this first episode, we’re stepping into the operating theater of one of the most brilliant minds in orthopaedics: Sir John Charnley, the father of modern total hip arthroplasty, or THA. (Note that some of the character voices are computer-generated acting and not actual footage.)

We cover two recent review papers on the topic: “An Update on Spinal Cord Injury and Current Management” by Carroll et al in the October 2024 JBJS Reviews, and “Updates in the Early Management of Acute Spinal Cord Injury” by Lambrechts et al in the September 1, 2023 issue of JAAOS. Urgency of spinal decompression, controversies with methylprednisolone, emerging neuroprotective and regenerative therapies, and optimizing spinal cord perfusion are covered.

We review the results of the recent RCT published in the September 4, 2024 JBJS entitled “Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound Versus Sham in the Treatment of Operatively Managed Scaphoid Nonunions: The SNAPU Randomized Controlled Trial” by White and coauthors from the Wrist and Elbow Research Group of Canada (WECAN).

We review “Integrated Dual Lag Screws Have Higher Reoperation Rates for Fixation Failure Than Single Lag Component Cephalomedullary Nails: A Retrospective Study of 2,130 Patients with Intertrochanteric Femoral Fractures” from the September 18, 2024 JBJS. This compared patients treated with the Trigen InterTAN with DPS TFNA and Stryker Gamma 3. The authors are Christian Gonzalez and the Hip Fracture Nail Study Group.