The new Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) for the Management of Osteoarthritis of the Hip, recently approved by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), supports the use of physical therapy as part of the first line of treatment.
A media release from the AAOS states that the new AUC supports the Clinical Practice Guideline, “Management of Osteoarthritis of the Hip,” that strongly recommends the use of pre-surgical treatments to ease pain and improve mobility, including corticosteroid injections, physical therapy and non-narcotic medication (specifically acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or tramadol) for pain; and Both anterior and posterior approaches for total hip replacement (THR) surgery.
In addition, the new criteria highlight when “hip replacement may be appropriate even when patients have modifiable risk factors, such as obesity, mental health disorders, smoking and diabetes,” says Robert H. Quinn, MD, AAOS AUC section leader on the Committee on Evidence-Based Quality and Value, in the release.
For example, he adds, “Some patients, who have worked closely with their medical team to best mitigate these risk factors, might be considered on an individual basis” for surgery.
“In these instances,” he adds, “the doctor and patient must weigh the benefits and risks of surgery. At the end of the day it’s one surgeon and one patient, and hopefully both are considering the optimal treatment, based on the patient’s particular condition and diagnosis.”
[Source(s): American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, PR Newswire]
