JOSEPH DOMINIC MARATT, MD

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This study examined how well EOS imaging works for planning hip replacement surgeries compared to standard X-rays. Researchers found that EOS imaging accurately predicted the correct size of hip components in 71% of cases for the acetabulum and 66% for the femur, and 98% of the time, it was within one size of the desired measurements. This is important because using EOS means less radiation exposure for patients, and it could lead to better outcomes in surgeries. Who this helps: Patients undergoing hip replacement surgery.

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This study looked at how COVID-19 sped up the use of digital health tools for patients with bone and joint problems. Researchers found that changes in Medicare rules allowed these technologies to be quickly adopted, which has shifted the way orthopedic care is delivered. Moving forward, these digital approaches could permanently enhance how patients receive care from their doctors, making it more convenient and accessible. Who this helps: This helps patients and orthopedic doctors by improving care delivery.

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Surgeons replacing knee joints need to position the artificial femur (thighbone component) at the correct angle for it to work well and last long, but they currently use a one-size-fits-all approach that doesn't account for natural differences between people's bones. Researchers measured the actual bone angles in over 1,200 patients' CT scans and found that while most people's bones angle about 3 degrees, some groups—particularly about 11% of Asian patients—have significantly different angles that the standard surgical method misses. Surgeons should develop better ways to customize femur component positioning rather than using the same angle for everyone, especially for patients with unusual bone shapes.

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This study focused on creating and testing a tool to help orthopaedic surgery residents clearly pass on important patient information to one another, which can minimize mistakes during patient care. The results showed that using this tool led to a 25-27% reduction in negative outcomes for patients, indicating it effectively improved communication among medical staff. This matters because better information sharing can lead to safer surgeries and better patient experiences. Who this helps: This helps patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery.

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Researchers compared two surgical approaches for hip replacement—a newer front-door method and a traditional back-door method—by studying over 2,000 patients to see which one worked better. Both approaches had nearly identical rates of hip dislocation after surgery (less than 1% for both), though the front-door method had slightly more bleeding and fractures while the back-door method required longer hospital stays. Neither surgical approach proved superior to the other based on these short-term safety results.

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This study looked at how the angle of the pelvis, known as pelvic tilt, affects the placement of parts used in total hip surgery. Out of 138 patients, 17% had a pelvic tilt greater than 10 degrees before their surgery. The researchers found that adjusting the angle of the implant based on the pelvic tilt seen in pre-surgery imaging could improve the surgery outcome for many patients. Who this helps: This helps patients undergoing total hip replacement surgery.

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This study looked at what factors might predict how satisfied patients are after having total knee replacement surgery. Researchers found that patients who experienced higher levels of pain and disability before surgery, but who had less decline in their overall health, were more likely to report being satisfied with their surgery. This is important because it helps doctors understand which patients might have a better experience after surgery, guiding their discussions with patients about expectations. Who this helps: This helps patients considering knee surgery and their doctors.

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This study looked at the shape and orientation of hip sockets (acetabula) in men and women to see if there are differences that could lead to hip problems like femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). Researchers analyzed data from 878 patients and found that women had a mean acetabular version of 22.2 degrees, while men had a mean of 19.1 degrees, indicating that overall, women have a different hip socket shape. Importantly, they also found that true acetabular retroversion was similar in both genders, which challenges the idea that women are more likely to have hip deformities leading to impingement. Who this helps: This research benefits doctors and healthcare providers as they assess and treat hip conditions in both men and women.

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Researchers asked 284 patients who had hip or knee replacement surgery what they thought these procedures cost and who got paid how much. Patients guessed the surgeon made about $12,000, the hospital was reimbursed about $28,000, the hospital's actual costs were about $24,000, and the artificial joint itself cost about $6,500. The patients got most of these numbers significantly wrong—they dramatically overestimated how much money the surgeon pocketed, thinking surgeons got a much bigger slice of the pie than they actually do. This matters because when patients don't understand where healthcare money actually goes, they can't make informed decisions about their care or have realistic conversations with doctors and hospitals about costs.

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Surgeons replacing hip joints often accidentally make one leg slightly longer or shorter than the other, which causes pain and walking problems for patients. This paper describes a new measurement tool that surgeons can use during hip replacement surgery to ensure both legs end up exactly the same length. The researchers tested their method on 31 hip replacement patients and found that the new technique kept leg-length differences to less than 2 millimeters on average—essentially perfect alignment that patients won't notice or feel.

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Doctors used a cheap, internet-based computer system to plan hip replacement surgeries instead of the traditional method of printing X-rays and physically drawing on them with plastic sheets. The new system worked just as accurately as the old method but saved doctors significant time and made the planning process easier. The study shows this internet-based approach is ready for doctors to use in real practice, but hospitals and regulators need to update their rules about storing patient data in the cloud before this technology can be fully adopted.

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Researchers created a detailed computer model to study the superior glenoid labrum, a part of the shoulder that often causes pain and injuries. They compared the model's predictions of how the labrum responds to shoulder movements with real-life measurements, and found that their model was very accurate, usually within 1 standard unit of the actual results. This model helps us better understand how injuries happen in this area, which is important for developing better treatments and preventive measures. Who this helps: This helps patients with shoulder pain and doctors treating them.

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This study looked at three different methods for estimating the force produced by shoulder muscles during movements. Researchers tested 13 people performing various shoulder and elbow actions while measuring muscle activity. They found that while each method can provide useful estimates of muscle force, the best choice depends on what is most important for a specific analysis—either accurate muscle force estimates or precise predictions of shoulder movement. Who this helps: This helps doctors and researchers studying shoulder function and rehabilitation.

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This study explored a new computer model designed to help surgeons plan how to best fix a specific type of arm fracture (distal humerus fractures) before surgery. Researchers found that using this model with a variety of screw positions and lengths allowed for better placement of screws, ultimately improving the quality of the fixation. In practical testing, the model efficiently calculated nearly 1.2 million possible screw combinations in under a minute, providing a solid plan for surgery. Who this helps: This benefits surgeons and their patients by improving surgical outcomes for those with distal humerus fractures.