https://medicalxpress.com/orthopedics-news/ en-us Latest medical news and research in Orthopaedics According to a new study, 3D-printed spine models may support the work of spine surgeons, particularly in understanding highly complex cases and planning surgical procedures. The findings come from a study conducted at the Doctoral School of Semmelweis University and published in the journal World Neurosurgery. The researchers found that the technology could benefit not only physicians but also patients and their families by making it easier to explain spinal conditions and planned interventions. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-spine-surgeons.html Tue, 23 Jun 2026 16:20:03 EDT news701439121 When Maria Chiu began her Ph.D. at Northeastern University in 2023, she never expected to become her own research subject. She also didn't anticipate undergoing her fourth knee surgery. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-recovering-injury-consuming-vr-recovery.html Tue, 23 Jun 2026 13:00:13 EDT news701432742 Prehabilitation can help the elderly recover better and suffer fewer complications from spinal fusion surgery, a new study says. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-prehab-boost-seniors-recuperation-spinal.html Fri, 19 Jun 2026 16:40:04 EDT news701082662 The largest and longest clinical trial of its kind has found that resurfacing the kneecap during total knee replacement is likely to be the most cost-effective approach for patients and health care systems over the long term. Researchers from the University of Oxford and the University of Aberdeen followed more than 1,700 patients for 20 years as part of the KAT (Knee Arthroplasty Trial) study, making it the longest randomized controlled trial ever conducted in knee orthopedics. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-kneecap-resurfacing-patients-health.html Wed, 17 Jun 2026 18:30:05 EDT news700906032 Embolization of abnormal blood vessels using rapidly resorbable gelatin-based microspheres is safe and provides significant, lasting pain relief and functional improvement for patients with osteoarthritis-related knee pain, according to a new study published in Radiology. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-nonsurgical-procedure-relief-knee-pain.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 10:00:03 EDT news700735021 Orthopedic implants are designed to restore movement and relieve pain, offering patients a second or even third chance at mobility. A hip or knee replacement is often framed as a durable fix, engineered to last for years, sometimes decades, inside the human body. And modern hip and knee implants exceed expectations, providing long service time and significantly improved quality of life for the vast majority of patients. But durability inside biology, especially the human body, is never static once a foreign material is introduced. It responds continuously, at every scale. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-joints-corrosion-reshape-hip-knee.html Mon, 15 Jun 2026 17:10:03 EDT news700759501 Injections of platelet-rich plasma made from a patient's own blood are increasingly used to treat knee osteoarthritis, but their use is not widely accepted, and the treatment does not work for everyone. Investigators from Cedars-Sinai Health Sciences University have taken the first steps toward predicting which patients will benefit. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-biological-content-blood-derived-treatment.html Mon, 15 Jun 2026 08:00:04 EDT news700726022 The White House is gearing up to host a UFC event as part of celebrations marking 250 years of American independence. The fighters on the card are relying on body-conditioning techniques that have been around for centuries to try to emerge victorious. Muay thai, karate and jiujitsu all use ancient practices that condition the body for their field. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-hardening-body-science-martial-arts.html Thu, 11 Jun 2026 17:20:05 EDT news700402710 For patients suffering from traumatic injuries that leave behind "volumetric" gaps—where significant bone and blood vessels are lost—the clock is always ticking. Without a nearby blood supply, cells in the center of a large injury cannot survive, often leading to permanent tissue loss or failed grafts. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-natural-protein-scaffold-bone-blood.html Thu, 11 Jun 2026 16:40:04 EDT news700413241 A man in his 30s arrived at the Royal London Major Trauma Centre after what sounded like a relatively minor cycling accident. He had been riding a shared ebike when he lost control and fell. By the time I met him, scans had revealed a complex fracture around his ankle where his shinbone (tibia) had pierced his skin. He would need multiple surgeries to fix his broken bone and grafts for his skin and muscles, followed by many months of rehabilitation and a prolonged period away from work. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-lime-bike-leg-doctors-ebike.html Wed, 10 Jun 2026 12:00:03 EDT news700306713 An international research team has identified dozens of new genetic risk factors linked to lumbar spinal stenosis, a common degenerative condition of the lower spine. The study, led by researchers at the University of Oulu, provides new insight into the biological mechanisms behind one of the most frequent causes of mobility problems in older adults. The work was published in the journal Nature Communications. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-nerve-pain-genetic-clues-reshape.html Tue, 09 Jun 2026 19:00:01 EDT news700243022 No one wants to hear the distinctive pop of an ACL tearing or rupturing, which typically means the player's season is at an end. The ACL, or anterior cruciate ligament, is located inside the knee and provides stability during movements such as cutting, turning, twisting, and jumping. Deanna Brinks, M.D., a physical medicine and rehabilitation and sports medicine physician at the Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato, explains prevention and treatment. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-acl-injuries-women-expert-treatment.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 12:00:09 EDT news699792121 For millions of people living with osteoarthritis, daily life can involve a frustrating cycle of pain and stiffness. While current treatments like over-the-counter medications or steroid injections can temporarily dull the ache, they do not stop the joint from deteriorating. A Yale study published in the journal Bioactive Materials found that the medication lacosamide acts as a highly effective, dual-purpose treatment that relieves joint pain and reverses cartilage damage in osteoarthritis, especially when a specialized hydrogel delivers the drug directly into the joint. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-hydrogel-relieves-osteoarthritis-pain-cartilage.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 12:40:02 EDT news699706023 GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs, used for the treatment of diabetes—and more recently, weight loss—are associated with a significantly lower long-term risk of knee replacement surgery as a result of osteoarthritis, finds an analysis of medical records data, published in the open-access journal Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-glp-agonists-linked-significantly-term.html Tue, 02 Jun 2026 18:30:02 EDT news699612182 A new end-to-end PET imaging approach for osteosarcoma can rapidly and reliably distinguish tumor tissue from normal tissue and accurately assess surgical margins in real time. The novel platform, presented at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 2026 Annual Meeting, has the potential to fundamentally reshape surgical practice for osteosarcoma by enabling precise tumor resection, significantly reducing the risk of local recurrence, and preserving maximum limb function. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-pet-imaging-platform-rapidly-margins.html Tue, 02 Jun 2026 16:50:01 EDT news699636301 Researchers at WashU Medicine found that adults who regularly experience short or poor-quality sleep, as well as those who work night shifts, face a significantly higher risk of developing osteoarthritis and requiring hip or knee replacement surgery. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-poor-night-shift-linked-higher.html Tue, 02 Jun 2026 16:20:04 EDT news699621902 Early, specialized care for pediatric hip dysplasia can mean the difference between a child who grows up active and pain-free—and one who faces surgery, limited mobility, or even early hip replacement. Yet many patients are still diagnosed much later than they should be. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-trends-reshaping-pediatric-hip-dysplasia.html Tue, 02 Jun 2026 07:20:02 EDT news699600542 Millions of people in the UK suffer from joint pain and arthritis. But with long wait times for scans, specialist appointments, physiotherapy, and joint replacement surgery, many people turn to over-the-counter medicines, such as ibuprofen, to manage their joint pain, stay active, and continue working. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-ibuprofen-joint-pain.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 13:40:01 EDT news699528662 As professional baseball sees another high-profile elbow injury with Toronto Blue Jays right-hander José Berríos having undergone ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) surgery, new research from the University of Waterloo suggests many pitchers may be able to reduce stress on their elbows without sacrificing velocity. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-smarter-softer-baseball-pitchers-elbows.html Wed, 27 May 2026 13:20:01 EDT news699100141 Physiotherapist-led strength exercises improve hip pain in young people suffering hip joint impingements, new research shows. The La Trobe University study followed 154 participants over six months, comparing a targeted strengthening program with a standardized stretching program. Participants in the strength group were 2.3 times more likely to report perceived improvements in pain and had larger improvements in hip muscle strength compared to participants in the stretch group. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-strength-young-people-hip-pain.html Wed, 27 May 2026 09:20:04 EDT news699092222 A recent trial of community-based and nurse-led ultrasound screening for hip dysplasia in Japan has been met with great success, according to new research at the University of Tokyo. The trial achieved almost universal reach and 8.7% of infants were found to have suspected developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), including children with no clinical signs or known risk factors. The paper is published in the International Journal of Nursing Studies. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-community-based-baby-hip-screening.html Sat, 23 May 2026 20:30:01 EDT news698413893 More than 200,000 hip and knee replacements are performed in the U.K. every year. They are usually performed only when conservative treatments such as physiotherapy, weight loss, and medications are no longer effective. The average length of hospital stay for knee or hip replacement surgery is currently 2.7 days. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-home-sooner-recovering-redesigning-hip.html Tue, 19 May 2026 22:20:02 EDT news698401115 Researchers have developed a novel mouse model that replicates severe geleophysic dysplasia, including short stature, heart valve alterations, and early lethality—characteristics of this rare disease. The findings from the study in The American Journal of Pathology provide a basis for the identification of molecular mechanisms underlying geleophysic dysplasia, which can then be targeted for therapeutic purposes. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-mouse-recreates-severe-geleophysic-dysplasia.html Mon, 18 May 2026 18:00:06 EDT news698340179 Eyes, the high-resolution biological devices that help us visualize the outside world, are now being used as a portal to assess our internal health. Scientists have found that a closer evaluation of how one's retina is aging can provide crucial hints about bone health, especially in conditions such as osteoporosis, which makes bones weaker and more prone to fractures. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-written-eye-retina-biological-age.html Mon, 18 May 2026 12:00:09 EDT news698322087 Scientists' discovery of a molecular "switch" that activates an energy-burning pathway in mice has the potential to lead to new treatments for bone disease. The study, published in Nature, sheds new light on brown fat. Unlike white fat, which stores energy, brown fat cells burn calories, producing heat as a byproduct. For years, it was believed this process relied on a single pathway. More recently, researchers discovered a parallel pathway, but how it became activated had remained a mystery. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-discovery-fat-advances-bone-disease.html Sat, 16 May 2026 10:00:03 EDT news697733631 Researchers at Tampere University, Finland, have developed a groundbreaking 3D-printed ceramic implant material that closely mimics real human bone. The findings advance the development of personalized bone regeneration and may lead to more effective and accessible treatments for bone defects. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-3d-ceramic-implants-mimic-human.html Fri, 15 May 2026 11:20:08 EDT news698061302 New research from orthopedic specialists at Marshall Health Network and the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine demonstrates promising outcomes for patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using an advanced technique that combines biologic augmentation with internal stabilization. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-acl-surgery-approach-patients.html Thu, 14 May 2026 16:20:01 EDT news697992908 Increasing bone density in patients with a rare genetic condition that causes bones to break easily does not prevent fractures, a large clinical trial has found. Patients with brittle bone disease who were given treatments to boost their bone density experienced a similar number of fractures as those who received standard care. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-drug-trial-treatment-shift-brittle.html Thu, 14 May 2026 11:00:05 EDT news697909321 A new Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) position statement provides evidence-based support for the use of genicular artery embolization (GAE) as a minimally invasive treatment option for patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (KOA) who have failed conservative therapy and are not candidates for or wish to delay total knee arthroplasty. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-position-statement-highlights-role-genicular.html Tue, 12 May 2026 22:20:04 EDT news697819922 A new editorial appearing in Osteoporosis International, titled "Beyond the fracture: coordinated action for bone health equity in Africa," sets out a roadmap to address osteoporosis and fragility fractures across the continent. The paper is authored by members of the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) Board of Governance from the African region. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-action-africa-bone-health-gap.html Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:02 EDT news697729029