Some 800,000 knee replacements and 550,000 hip replacements are performed in the US each year. Factoring in the ever-expanding aging population, projections show the figure for knee replacements alone will explode to 3.5 million procedures being done annually by 2030—and that is just one type of procedure within a single…

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Editor's Note An increasing number of young and middle-aged adults are opting for knee and hip replacements earlier in life, breaking the stereotype that such surgeries are primarily for seniors aged 65 or older. That is according to a July 24 article in U.S. News & World Report. Citing research…

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Editor's Note New findings from health consultant Sg2’s 2024 Impact of Change report projects a 21% increase in ambulatory surgery center (ASC) volume, to reach 44 million by 2034, ASC Focus July 8 reports. An aging population, better diagnostics, and epidemiological factors are driving this demand, Tori Richie, senior consulting…

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Editor's Note A study published May 7 in JAMA Open found no significant risk of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) when colonoscopy is performed within one year of total joint arthroplasty (TJA), whether the colonoscopy was done before or after the surgery. However, certain comorbidities such as kidney and pulmonary disease,…

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Editor's Note Popular weight-loss \ drug semaglutide could significantly increase risk for repeat operations patients with diabetes who undergo lumbar surgery. According to a May 8 report in Medscape Medical News, the findings are pending review for publication and reportedly provides the first evidence on the impact of semaglutide on…

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Editor's Note Following are various growth opportunities for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), as identified by four industry leaders and published by Becker’s ASC Review on May 10: Sean Hartzell, principal of ECG Management Consultants, identified: Growth potential in shifting low- to medium-acuity and single-night stay cases from hospitals to ASCs…

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Editor's Note With the goal of helping patients choose if outpatient care is right for them and identify the right ambulatory surgery center (ASC) for their needs, US News & World Report unveiled on May 14 its inaugural ranking of the best ASCs in the US. Reportedly, “fewer than 15%…

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Editor's Note Recognizing that complying with some standards is more difficult than complying with others, The Joint Commission regularly evaluates which areas are most difficult so it can tailor education accordingly. To that end, a May 7 report reveals the top 5 most frequently cited elements of performance (EPs) in…

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Editor's Note Arthroscopic surgery for arthritis patients does not impact long-term incidence of total knee arthroplasty (TKA), according to a study published April 18 in Jama Network Open. The secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial focused on 178 adults diagnosed with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee and referred for…

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Editor's Note Research suggests patients qualifying for surgical treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) could benefit just as much from reverse total shoulder replacements (RTSR) as traditional anatomical total shoulder replacement (TSR). Led by the University of Oxford and involving researchers from the University of Bristol, the data appeared April 30 in…

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