MDNews - Greater Boston

S URGEONS AT UNIVERSITY Hospitals Leuven in Belgium have discovered a new ligament in the knee that may prove important for patients with tears to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Even after successful ACL surger y, some patients suf- fer from pivot shift, in which the knee gives way during periods of physical activity. That led to years of research by or thopedic surgeons Steven Claes, MD, a nd Joha n Bellemans, MD. Their research found a previously unknown ligament positioned in the front of the knee, called the anterolateral + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + THAT'SNEWS A CCORDING TO A recent study published in BMJ, knee replacement surgery may reduce heart attack and stroke risk by 54 percent; hip replace- ment may cut the risk by almost 40 percent. The study compared 153 patients with moderate to severe osteoarthritis who had undergone a knee or hip replacement with 153 who also had the condition but had not received joint replacement surgery. Participants were studied for seven years. Researchers are not sure precisely why joint replacement surgery generates cardiovascular benefits. They believe it may be related to multiple factors. For example, a reduction in pain could allow a patient to exercise more and maintain a healthy weight, which in turn can translate into decreased risk of heart attack and stroke. ■ — Kimmely Sanders ligament (ALL), that was pres- ent in all but one of the knees studied. Later research found t hat pivot shif t wa s directly related to injury of the ALL. The physicians are currently developing a surgical technique to repair ALL injuries and provide better treatment for patients with serious ACL tears. ■ — Kimmely Sanders Joint Surgery Could Cut Heart Disease Risk New Ligament Discovered in Knee R E SE ARCH FROM THE University of Missouri found that almost three-fourths of orthopedic trauma surgeons may drastically underes- timate the frequency of domestic violence injuries among their patients, and fewer than a quarter are trained to recognize those injuries. The study surveyed 690 surgeons who are members of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association. It asked about the impor- tance of healthcare workers spotting and responding to indications of intimate partner violence, as well as their ability to do so. It also asked them to estimate the frequency of domestic violence injuries among patients. A recent international study conducted among orthopedic trauma clinics and published in The Lancet found that 40 percent of North American patients reported having been subjected to violence. Of the 153 orthopedic surgeons who responded to the University of Missouri survey, however, 74 percent estimated that intimate partner violence had occurred among 5 percent or fewer of their patients. Researchers hope the study will encourage orthopedic surgeons to further their understanding of the topic and of community resources that can assist victims. ■ — Kimmely Sanders Survey: Lack of Knowledge of Domestic Violence among Ortho Surgeons 1 2 | Greater Boston MD NEWS ■ M D N E W S . CO M

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