"Outpatient"-Same-calendar-day Discharge Hip and Knee Arthroplasty.

As the length of stay for hip and knee arthroplasty has decreased over the years, "outpatient," or same-calendar-day discharge has become increasingly common. Outpatient arthroplasty offers several possible benefits over traditional inpatient arthroplasty, including potential for cost reductions, faster rehabilitation, improved patient satisfaction, and reduced reliance on hospital resources. Despite these possible benefits, concerns remain over feasibility and patient safety.

Management of Lower Extremity Long-bone Fractures in Spinal Cord Injury Patients.

The AO classification system, used as a guide for modern fracture care and fixation, follows a basic philosophy of care that emphasizes early mobility and return to function. Lower extremity long-bone fractures in patients with spinal cord injury often are pathologic injuries that present unique challenges, to which the AO principles may not be entirely applicable. Optimal treatment achieves healing without affecting the functional level of the patient.

Radiographic Assessment of Guided Growth: The Correlation Between Screw Divergence and Change in Anatomic Alignment.

Background: Assessment of changes in anatomic alignment following guided growth traditionally utilizes full-length standing radiographs which subjects patients to larger radiation doses than does a single anteroposterior radiograph of the knee. In an effort to minimize radiation exposure, the present study sought to determine whether changes in screw divergence (SD) of the 2-hole tension band plate used for hemiepiphysiodesis reliably predicts change in alignment.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted involving all patients with genu varum or genu valgum treated with hemiepiphysiodesis at a single institution.