The OTA Podcast

In this episode, outgoing OTA President Thomas HIggins, MD shares the story of his severe accident in December 2025 and reveals how his personal recovery has reshaped his perspectives on trauma care and patient rehabilitation. Michael Blankstein, MD hosts the discussion.

Host Joe Patterson, MD chats with JOT paper author Arun Aneja, MD about the JOT published article: "High Rate of Missed Geriatric U-Type Sacral Fractures Despite Advanced Imaging: A Retrospective Case Series" Click the link to see the publication.

Drs. Christopher Doro and Lauren Summers discuss elbow fracture dislocations including radial head, coronoid, and terrible triad fractures. They cover diagnosis and management of these patients in this high yield case series.

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Drs. Christopher Doro and Lauren Summers discuss d distal humerus fractures. They cover diagnosis and management of these patients in this high yield case series.

For additional educational resources visit OTA.org

Drs. Alex Crespo, Nathaniel Schaffer, and Benjamin Wharton discuss proximal humeral fractures. They cover diagnosis and management of these patients in this high yield case series.

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This episode is sponsored by BONESUPPORT™, maker of CERAMENT® G with Gentamicin – the one and only FDA authorized, antibiotic-eluting bone void filler. For more information, visit https://www.bonesupport.com/en-us/products/cerament-g/

Paul Matuszewski, MD, from University of Kentucky is joined by Chris Cosgrove, MD and Peter Everson, MD to discuss how they're using new technology and evidence to best care for their patients in today's cost-conscious landscape. Over the course of forty minutes, they discuss their move towards single-stage surgeries, shortened antibiotic treatment regimens, and how they're even treating some of their patients outpatient with CERAMENT G. They also discuss the new CMS ruling for FY2027 and what it means for CERAMENT G.

Interested in staying in touch? Follow BONESUPPORT on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/bonesupport-ab/

References discussed in this episode:

· Conway J, et al. 'Antibiotic Cement-Coated Rods.' Bone Joint J. vol. 96-B, no. 10, 2014, pp. 1349-1354. doi:10.1302/0301-620X.96B10.33799.

· McNally et al. 'Single-stage treatment of chronic osteomyelitis with a new absorbable, gentamicin-loaded, calcium sulphate/hydroxyapatite biocomposite: a prospective series of 100 cases.' Bone Joint J. 2016;98-B(9):1289-96

· Godina M. Early microsurgical reconstruction of complex trauma of the extremities. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1986;78(3):285-292. doi:10.1097/00006534-198609000-00001

· McNally et al. 'Mid- to long-term results of single-stage surgery for patients with chronic osteomyelitis using a bioabsorbable gentamicin-loaded ceramic carrier.' Bone Joint J. 2022;104-B(9):1095-1100.

· Ferguson J et al., 'A Comparison of Clinical and Radiological Outcomes between Two Different Biodegradable Local Antibiotic Carriers Used in the Single- ­stage Surgical Management of Long Bone Osteomyelitis', Bone & Joint Research, 2023; 12(7): 412–22

· Henry et al., 'Long-Term Follow-Up of Open Gustilo-Anderson IIIB Fractures Treated With an Adjuvant Local Antibiotic Hydroxyapatite Bio-Composite', Cureus. 2023; 15(5).

· Li et al. 'Oral versus Intravenous Antibiotics for Bone and Joint Infection.' The New England Journal of Medicine, 2019; 380:425-436

· Major Extremity Trauma Research Consortium (METRC). 'Oral vs intravenous antibiotics for fracture-related infections: the POvIV randomized clinical trial.' JAMA Surg. 2025;160(3):276-284.

Information discussed regarding CMS:

· Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (US). Medicare program; hospital inpatient prospective payment systems for acute care hospitals (IPPS) and the long-term care hospital prospective payment system and policy changes and fiscal year (FY) 2027 rates; requirements for quality programs; other policy changes; and adoption of updated versions of certain health information technology standards. Final rule (CMS-1849-F) [Internet]. Fed Regist. 2026 Aug 4 [cited 2026 Aug 20]. Available from: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/04/2026-15833/medicare-program-hospital-inpatient…. Also available from: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-08-04/pdf/2026-15833.pdf

Drs. Alex Crespo, Mary Kate Erdman, and Jennifer Eurich discuss tibial plateau fractures. They cover diagnosis and management of these patients in this high yield case series.

For additional educational resources visit OTA.org

Drs. Roman Natoli and Michael Weaver discuss how implant biomechanics can influence the biological environment of fracture healing. They explore the principles behind controlled axial micromotion, early clinical experience with OrthoXel's Apex Micromotion Nailing Systems, and the research shaping its potential role in tibial and femoral fracture fixation.

Learn more about the clinical evidence supporting micromotion technology on the OrthoXel website.

Connect with OrthoXel on LinkedIn and follow our podcast on Spotify.

For additional educational resources visit OTA.org

Drs. Greg Gaski, Zach Bennett, and Colin Harrington chat about distal tibia pilon and ankle fractures. They discuss diagnosis and management of these patients in this high yield case series.

For additional educational resources visit OTA.org

This episode is sponsored by Bonebridge, the Swiss medical device manufacturer dedicated to reducing complexity in orthopaedic trauma care. Join Dr. Marc Swiontkowski of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Dr. Chip Routt of UTHealth McGovern Medical School in Houston, Texas and Dr. Michael Miranda of Orthopaedic Associates of Hartford in Hartford, Connecticut for a conversation about simplifying orthopaedic fracture fixation.

The three surgeons explore the roots of the minimalist, biology-first approach to fixation, and ask whether today's larger constructs and ever-growing implant systems are serving patients as intended. Drawing on decades of experience from the OR, the laboratory, and teaching residents, the surgeons discuss where the subspecialty of orthopaedic trauma has drifted, and offer practical advice for guiding younger surgeons to ask better questions before they open the tray. These and more topics will be discussed at the Bonebridge Education Inaugural Luncheon Symposium on Thursday, September 24th, at 12:40 PM in Exhibit Hall 4 at the OTA Annual Meeting in Nashville, TN. Learn more and plan your attendance at https://bonebridge.us/events