In the world of hip and knee replacements, many advancements have been made to make surgeries more successful for patients. For this, we are internally grateful, however there’s one thing that all orthopaedic surgeons try to avoid that can make a routine procedure a nightmare – INFECTION! In this episode, we have Michael Blankstein, MD, MSc, FRCSC, Antonia F. Chen, MD, MBA and Nicolas S. Piuzzi, MD who all have done extensive research on the prevention and dealing with infection speak openly about how infections can start, the different types of infections patients can develop and how it can drastically impact a patient’s life and their love ones.

Infections are very serious, and prevention is key, but with approximately 800k total knee replacements done each year in the US and 550k hip replacements, the two percent chance of one of those patients developing an infection causes major issues for the patient, their love ones and the surgeon. Although the numbers for patients with infections have decreased over time, surgeons should still be very cautious – only operating on patients who are medically optimized to avoid the possibility of infection.

In this episode, our surgeons discuss the two different types of infections (acute and chronic) and how to differentiate between the two. If you are considering a hip or knee replacement, you don’t want to miss this podcast recording. 

Enjoy, and thanks for listening to AAHKS Amplified!

In This Episode:

Michael Blankstein, MD, MSc, FRCSC
Antonia F. Chen, MD, MBA
Nicolas S. Piuzzi, MD

Swelling and bruising is very common following orthopaedic surgery. So, inevitably surgeons are tasked with the question “my knee is swollen, is this normal and what should I do?”  In this podcast, Andrew Scott Murtha, MD a member of the AAHKS Patient and Public Relations Committee sat with Charlie Yoo, MD  and Brian S. Parsley, MD to discuss how they manage the patient’s healing process and their concerns. 

As we mentioned, swelling and bruising is inevitable following surgery. It will happen but in the more recent years, about 95 percent of surgeons doing joint replacements are now using the drug tranexamic acid to drastically reduce bleeding during and after surgery. Too much walking or overdoing it immediately after surgery also contributes to swelling. In the podcast, the surgeons recommend you work on getting your range of motion and strength back immediately following surgery and to primarily focus on that. 

How long should the swelling last, when to contact your doctor and so many more questions are addressed in this recording. If you are considering a hip or knee replacement, you don’t want to miss this podcast recording. 

Enjoy, and thanks for listening to AAHKS Amplified!

In This Episode:

Andrew Scott Murtha, MD
Brian S. Parsley, MD 
Charlie Yoo, MD 

David G. Deckey, MD a member of the AAHKS Patient and Public Relations Committee moderated a very liberating conversation on returning to physical activity following arthroplasty surgery. Dr. Deckey was joined by Jason M. Jennings, MD, DPT, Ivan M. Tomek, MD, FRCSC and physical therapist Philip McKelvy, PT, DPT. In this episode, listeners will enjoy a full-on discussion from experts in the field of arthroplasty on their recommendations of when and how patients should return to activity that falls within moderate to high activity levels. Learn about limitations, the key to educating patients to avoid possibly injury and what physical activity is ideal during the healing process. 

If you are considering a hip or knee replacement, you don’t want to miss this podcast recording, no matter your personal activity level. There’s something for everyone, regardless of your activity level. 

Enjoy, and thanks for listening to AAHKS Amplified!

In This Episode:

David G. Deckey, MD
Jason M. Jennings, MD, DPT
Philip McKelvy, PT, DPT
Ivan M. Tomek, MD, FRCSC

One charge of  AAHKS’ Diversity Advisory Board (DAB) is to celebrate and highlight member diversity. The Hispanic/Latino culture is a unique ethnic group within the AAHKS membership. However, the group is underrepresented in both medicine, orthopaedic surgery and arthroplasty. Appreciating and celebrating the drive of the immigrant, the unique cultural experiences and where the arthroplasty field is headed for the Latin surgeon population in the US are ways in which we can cherish diversity within the AAHKS membership.   

Enjoy, and thanks for listening to AAHKS Amplified!

In This Episode:

Zachary C. Lum, DO
Carlos A. Higuera-Rueda, MD, FAAOS
Jordan C. Villa, MD 
Carlos J. Lavernia, MD, FACS, FAAOS
Victor H. Hernandez, MD, MS 
Claudette M. Lajam, MD
Michele R. D’Apuzzo, MD
Rafael J. Sierra, MD
Hernan A. Prieto Saavedra, MD
Alex Betech, MD 
Nicolas S. Piuzzi, MD 

What does it take to be a journal reviewer? If you’re interested in becoming a reviewer, this is the podcast for you! Our journal editors Michael A. Mont, MD (the Journal of Arthroplasty) and Brett R. Levine, MD, MS (Arthroplasty Today) discuss why we review the articles, what makes a good review – grading, ideal turnaround time and how you can get involved. AAHKS journals has a remarkable reputation that brings together the clinical and scientific foundations of joint replacement. They’re peer-reviewed to create the highest quality orginial research.

Enjoy, and thanks for listening to AAHKS Amplified!

In This Episode:

Brett R. Levine, MD, MS
Elizabeth G. Lieberman, MD
Michael A. Mont, MD
Joshua P. Rainey, MD
Kimberly K. Tucker, MD

At the 2024 AAHKS Annual Meeting, our Digital Health Committee Chair Shaun P. Patel, MD and Committee Member William B. Kurtz, MD had the pleasure of speaking with Saad Tarabichi, MD about his study presented at the meeting on “Glycated Albumin as a Predictor of Outcomes in Primary TJA Patients.” 

In this really study on a very common issue in the US – diabetes, Dr. Tarabichi uncovered that detecting diabetes is not as simple as we think it is. A study that initially starting with a FARE Grant by AAHKS recieved two years ago began looking into glycated albumin, a very standardized test. The study later consisted of a study with 1200 enrolled patients and Dr. Tarabichi predicting 90-day outcomes from these enrolled patients. Take a listen, I think the findings in this study will really surprise you.

Enjoy, and thanks for listening to AAHKS Amplified!

In This Episode:

At the 2024 AAHKS Annual Meeting, our Digital Health Committee Chair Shaun P. Patel, MD and Committee Member Nathaniel J. Nelms, MD had the pleasure of speaking with Thomas K. Fehring, MD about his study presented at the meeting and the genesis behind it “One-Stage vs. Two-Stage Treatment for Prosthetic Joint Infection: A Prospective, Randomized Trial.” 

Infection has always fascinated Dr. Fehring. That interest led him to understanding the purpose of why most standard treatments of care in the US are two-stage where one-stage is usually the preferrable treatment for Europeans. Understanding this is a very radical surgery, Dr. Fehring was completely surprised at what he uncovered. 

I think you’ll be just as surprised, listen and learn which had better results – one-stage or two-stage.

Enjoy, and thanks for listening to AAHKS Amplified!

In This Episode:

Thomas K. Fehring, MD

Each year, all industry partners and exhibitors are encouraged to apply for the Industry Innovation Award. This is a competitive product award for companies exhibiting at the AAHKS Annual Meeting. At the 2024 Annual Meeting, we presented Solenic Medical with the award for creating their patented technology using alternating magnetic fields (AMF). AMF generates thermal medical on the surface of the implants; aiming to eradicate biofilms, a common culprit in implant infections. This innovative solution offers a safer and more cost-effective alternative to invasive surgeries.

Cory L. Calendine, MD the Chair of the AAHKS Industry Relations Committee had the pleasure of speaking with James Lancaster at Solenic Medical about the award-winning product.

Listen and learn all about AMF, a first-of-its-kind, non-contact device, an IDE authorization for first-in-human use in the operating room setting. Respectfully, this product is contributing to significant leaps forward in orthopaedic care.

Enjoy, and thanks for listening to AAHKS Amplified!

In This Episode:

Cory L. Calendine, MD

Each year, all industry partners and exhibitors are encouraged to apply for the Industry Innovation Award. This is a competitive product award for companies exhibiting at the AAHKS Annual Meeting. At the 2024 Annual Meeting, we presented Guard Medical with this award for creating the NPseal. The NPseal is an innovative surgical dressing designed to deliver continuous, non-powered Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) to support wound healing. Cory L. Calendine, MD the Chair of the AAHKS Industry Relations Committee had the pleasure of sitting down with two representatives from Guard Medical to discuss the NPseal – CEO Machiel van der Leest and Director of Marketing Leandra Armstrong. 

Listen and learn all about the NPseal, it’s easy-to-use functionality and how it’s a cost-effective option that promotes patient compliance and aims to reduce the incidence of SSCs and SSIs in orthopedic procedures, which may help to significantly decrease healthcare financial burden.

Enjoy, and thanks for listening to AAHKS Amplified!

In This Episode:

Cory L. Calendine, MD
Leandra Armstrong 
Machiel van der Leest 

At the 2024 AAHKS Annual Meeting, David G. Deckey, MD, Cody C. Green, MD and Kevin A. Sonn, MD all members of the AAHKS Patient Education Committee sat down to define the different types of technology used during joint replacement such as manual technique, computer navigation and robotic systems. They also discussed the pros and cons for each technique as well. This information is helpful for patients who are still choosing their surgeon and being bombarded with misinformation due to excessive and incorrect marketing. 

Here are a few articles that help decide which surgeon and technology is best for you: Computer-Assisted Knee Surgery, Computer-Assisted Hip Surgery and Choosing the Right Surgeon for You. 

Enjoy, and thanks for listening to AAHKS Amplified!

In This Episode:

David G. Deckey, MD 
Cody C. Green, MD     
Kevin A. Sonn, MD