BJJ Podcast with Specialty Editor for Children's Orthopaedics, Daniel Perry – Highlights from the Past Year

Description

In the April episode of the Bone & Joint Journal podcast, host Andrew Duckworth welcomes listeners and expresses gratitude for their engagement. He reflects on previous topics discussed in earlier episodes, highlighting significant research in orthopaedics, including the impact of antibiotic-loaded bone cement on revision risks after hip and knee arthroplasties, as well as a trial comparing fixation methods for hip fractures.



This month, Duckworth introduces Mr. Dan Perry, the specialty editor for children's orthopaedics, inviting insights into recent trends and challenges faced in the field, particularly as a result of the pandemic. Perry shares experiences from Alder Hey Children's Hospital, where the challenges presented by COVID-19 affected service delivery yet did not drastically disrupt elective procedures. He notes a few positive cases of COVID-19 in patients, underscoring the resilience of children's health in the face of the virus.



The discussion transitions to the landscape of research priorities in children's orthopaedics, emphasizing the growing global collaboration among specialists. Perry notes that trauma research is gaining momentum and that there is growing enthusiasm for conducting multi-centre studies which span across various countries.



As they delve into specific studies, Perry highlights a Scottish program aimed at improving hip surveillance in children with cerebral palsy, which has shown promise in reducing rates of hip dislocation through earlier intervention. Another interesting study reviewed the surgeries for osteonecrosis in childhood leukemia survivors, drawing attention to the effectiveness of core decompression, even amidst uncertainties about its impact.



The episode further covers the importance of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and the use of the PROMiSe platform to accurately gauge children's experiences following orthopedic treatment. Perry appreciates the adaptive aspects of PROMiSe, which tailor questions based on patient capabilities, thereby improving the quality of feedback for clinicians.



Throughout the conversation, there is a palpable focus on evidence-based practices, the evolution of treatment strategies, and the importance of clinical trials to establish best practices. Perry concludes by expressing optimism about future research directions, especially surrounding developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), highlighting a commitment to proving the cost-effectiveness of universal screening.



The episode wraps up with Duckworth thanking Perry for the insightful discussion, encouraging listeners to engage on social media about the topics covered, and taking a moment to express hopes for better times ahead.

Specialties

Paper Links

https://online.boneandjoint.org.uk/doi/abs/10.1302/0301-620X.103B.BJJ-2020-1740.R1
https://online.boneandjoint.org.uk/doi/abs/10.1302/0301-620X.102B3.BJJ-2019-1203.R1
https://online.boneandjoint.org.uk/doi/abs/10.1302/0301-620X.102B12.BJJ-2020-0732.R2
https://online.boneandjoint.org.uk/doi/abs/10.1302/0301-620X.103B3.BJJ-2020-0239.R3