| News for Professionals in the Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics Profession |  |
| Top Story
|  |  |
|
- Oxygen therapy increases amputation risk in diabetes
Data on more than 6,200 diabetes patients with foot ulcers revealed those who received oxygen treatment plus standard care did not show better wound healing than those who had only standard care. Researchers also found patients in the oxygen treatment group were more than twice as likely as those in the control group to undergo amputations. The results were published in Diabetes Care. Reuters
(2/22)
   
| Science and Technology
| | |
|
- Affordable silicone socket wins MIT prize
The Benevolent Technologies for Health project’s design of a silicone socket for prosthetic limbs won $10,000 funding in the MIT 100k Accelerate entrepreneurship competition and a chance to win $100,000 in the final contest. The socket, created with the developing world in mind, allows wearers to readjust it themselves using a vacuum pump. New Scientist
(2/20)
- Medical plastics producers see applications in O&P
Producers of thermoplastic elastomers welcomed recent guidance from the FDA that take into account usability engineering and human factors intended to improve medical device design. Producers have ideas to improve orthoses, prostheses and other devices, including using styrenic block copolymers to provide comfort and control in orthotic braces and using TPEs that offer grip properties and softness in prosthetic fingers. PlasticsToday.com
(2/22)
- Partial-hand amputee receives X-fingers
A Kansas man who lost his legs and several fingers to E. coli has been fitted with X-Fingers, mechanical devices that he powers with the remaining muscles in his hand. While computerized prostheses are available for whole-hand amputees, advanced prosthetics are not really available for people missing just a few fingers, according to practitioners at Hanger Prosthetics, who fit Martinez with the X-Fingers. Martinez, who uses microprocessor-controlled prosthetic feet, said, "It actually feels like your fingers. That's the amazing part. It feels as though I have fingers." KWCH-TV (Wichita, Kan.)
(2/26)
 | Help us make AOPA In Advance SmartBrief better!
Got 3 minutes? Tell us a little about your preferences and professional opinions in our short reader survey. You'll improve this newsletter, and all responses are anonymous and confidential. Get started now!
|
|
| Medical News
| | |
|
- Amputations less likely with use of shoe orthoses
Diabetes patients who used orthoses were significantly less likely to develop foot ulcers and undergo amputations, according to research reported at the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics World Congress in Hyderabad, India. Scientists with the Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Sweden studied 114 patients wearing one of three types of foot orthoses over two years and found that “[b]y effectively distributing pressure under the sole, the inserts minimize the risk of ulcers and ultimately work to prevent amputations,” according to Ulla Hellstrand Tang, CPO. Healio
(2/26)
- Study shows high prevalence, low awareness of type 2 diabetes
According to a Harris Interactive/HealthDay survey, one in eight Americans report being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, while more than one-third of respondents either had the disease themselves or had an immediate family member with diabetes. Researchers also found 35% of diabetes patients said their condition was only "somewhat" controlled, while 5% reported having poorly controlled diabetes. HealthDay News
(2/20)
| Legislative and Regulatory
| | |
|
- Ky. considers prosthetic parity law
 A new bill in Kentucky would prevent insurers from putting caps or limitations on prosthetic coverage. Amputees would be covered for the most appropriate prostheses as determined by their physicians. Stephanie Decker, the Kentucky native who lost her legs during a tornado in Indiana, where she now lives, is a vocal proponent of the bill, which would bring Kentucky in line with 20 other states with parity laws. WLKY-TV (Louisville, Ky.)
(2/20)
- Rapid ACO growth could change the face of health care
There were 428 commercial and Medicare accountable care organizations across 49 states as of January, according to this report, and physician groups now outpace hospitals as the main supporter behind the organizations. Analyst David Muhlestein of Leavitt Partners predicts that if ACOs see success in the coming years, the framework could become the primary care model in the U.S. Health Affairs Blog
(2/19)
| Trend Watch
| | |
|
| AOPA News
| | |
|
- Breaking news from AOPA
Have you heard about AOPA’s Business Optimization Analysis Tool? Thank you to our Policy Forum Sponsors! It's the last week to submit your papers for the 2013 World Congress. Was the Wheel good to you last week? Don't forget to claim your prize! Learn how in today's AOPA Breaking News.
| SmartQuote
| | |
|
 | Shared joys make a friend, not shared sufferings."
--Friedrich Nietzsche,
German philosopher
|
| |
| |
|
Read more at
SmartBrief.com |
|
|
|
| |
| |
| | Recent
AOPA In Advance SmartBrief Issues:
- Thursday, February 21, 2013
- Tuesday, February 19, 2013
- Thursday, February 14, 2013
- Tuesday, February 12, 2013
- Thursday, February 07, 2013
| | | Lead Editor:
Lisa Gough
Mailing Address:
SmartBrief, Inc.®, 555 11th ST NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20004 | |
| |
|
| © 1999-2013 SmartBrief, Inc.®
Legal Information |
|
