Orthopaedics News CME

• Bone Mineral Density Monitoring May Not Be Needed Up to 3 Years After Starting Bisphosphonates CME A study suggests that monitoring bone mineral density in postmenopausal women in the first 3 years after starting treatment with a potent bisphosphonate is unnecessary and may be misleading.
  Medscape Medical News CME, July 2009
• Exercise Training Boosts Benefits of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy CME/CE The addition of an exercise program yielded improved functional and hemodynamic changes on top of those already observed with biventricular pacing in patients with heart failure.
  Heartwire CME, June 2009
• Surgery May Relieve Pain of Degenerative Spondylolisthesis CME A study shows that patients choosing surgery for degenerative spondylolisthesis with spinal stenosis have substantially greater relief from pain with time vs those who do not have surgery.
  Medscape Medical News CME, June 2009
• FDA Approves Bryan Cervical Disc for Radicular, Intractable Neck or Arm Pain CME A device is indicated for single-level cervical disc replacement in patients with disc disease and intractable radiculopathy and/or myelopathy that has failed at least 6 weeks of conservative therapy.
  Medscape Medical News, June 2009
• Hyperkyphosis Associated With Increased Mortality in Older Women With Vertebral Fractures CME A new cohort study shows that hyperkyphosis is an important predictor of all-cause mortality in older women with vertebral fractures.
  Medscape Medical News, June 2009
• FDA Safety Changes: Advair Diskus, Orap, Rocephin CME/CE The FDA has approved safety labeling revisions for fluticasone propionate and salmeterol xinafoate inhalation powder, pimozide tablets, and ceftriaxone sodium injection.
  Medscape Medical News, May 2009
• FDA Approvals: Risperdal Consta and Cimzia CME/CE The FDA has approved new indications for risperidone long-acting injection (Risperdal Consta) and certolizumab pegol (Cimzia).
  Medscape Medical News, May 2009
• Sustained Benefits Seen With Combination Drug Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis CME/CE Finnish researchers say that use of a combination of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs vs just a single one of these drugs to treat early rheumatoid arthritis results in higher long-term remission rates.
  Reuters Health Information, May 2009
• Actual or Simulated Acupuncture Therapy May Be Effective for Chronic Low Back Pain CME/CE In a randomized trial, individually tailored acupuncture, standard acupuncture, and a simulation using toothpicks at key acupuncture points were each more effective than usual care for chronic low back pain.
  Medscape Medical News, May 2009
• ADT Increases Risk for Fractures and Cardiovascular-Related Death in Prostate Cancer Patients CME Although the absolute risk is low, androgen-deprivation therapy is associated with an increased risk for skeletal fracture, incident diabetes, and cardiovascular-related mortality in patients with prostate cancer.
  Medscape Medical News, May 2009
• New Pain Assessment Tool May Help Separate Radicular From Axial Back Pain CME/CE A new pain assessment tool to help distinguish radicular from axial back pain may facilitate diagnosis and improve targeted analgesic treatment of low back pain.
  Medscape Medical News, April 2009
• Zoledronic Acid Infusion Effective for Bone Loss Linked With Glucocorticoid Use CME In a randomized trial, a single 5-mg intravenous infusion of zoledronic acid was more acceptable to patients vs 5 mg of oral risedronate daily to prevent and treat glucocorticoid-related bone loss.
  Medscape Medical News, April 2009
• Nonvertebral Fracture Prevention With Vitamin D May Be Dose-Dependent CME/CE A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials shows that a higher dose of vitamin D should reduce fractures by at least 20% for individuals aged 65 years or older.
  Medscape Medical News, March 2009
• Weight Loss May Not Help Prevent Progression of Knee Osteoarthritis With Varus Alignment CME A study shows that obesity is a risk factor for incident knee osteoarthritis but that there is no overall relationship between obesity and the progression of knee osteoarthritis.
  Medscape Medical News, March 2009
• Vitamin C Supplementation May Help Prevent Gout CME A prospective study shows that higher vitamin C intake is independently associated with a lower risk for gout.
  Medscape Medical News, March 2009
• Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries May Cause Transient, Persistent Symptoms After Injury CME/CE Mild traumatic brain injuries, especially if more severe, are more likely vs orthopaedic injuries to cause transient or persistent increases in postconcussive symptoms in the first year after injury.
  Medscape Medical News, March 2009
• Kyphoplasty Shows Benefit in Vertebral Fracture CME The first large, randomized, long-term study of balloon kyphoplasty for vertebral fracture has confirmed it can be done with low periprocedural morbidity rates and can result in clinical improvement.
  Medscape Medical News, March 2009
• FDA Approvals: Symbicort and Synvisc-One CME/CE The FDA has approved a new indication for budesonide/formoterol fumarate dihydrate inhalation aerosol (Symbicort) and a new formulation for hylan G-F 20 (Synvisc-One).
  Medscape Medical News, March 2009
• American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons Issues Forefoot Disorders Practice Guideline CME New treatment guidelines regarding forefoot disorders address common forefoot conditions, including broken bones, bunionettes, toe deformities, and pain in the ball of the foot and small toes.
  Medscape Medical News, March 2009
• FDA Safety Changes: Boniva, Emend, Clozaril CME/CE The FDA has approved revisions to the safety labeling for ibandronate sodium tablets (Boniva), aprepitant capsules (Emend), and clozapine tablets (Clozaril).
  Medscape Medical News, February 2009