This webinar is an AAOS benefit - join for free!

Description

Accurate procedure coding is essential for compliant reporting, reimbursement, and healthcare data integrity. Join Dr. Brian Cunningham, CCRC Liaison to the AHA Editorial Advisory Board, for an in-depth discussion of ICD-10-PCS (Procedure Coding System), the coding system used exclusively for reporting inpatient hospital procedures.

This session will provide practical guidance on the structure and application of ICD-10-PCS codes, clarify key distinctions between ICD-10-PCS and CPT coding, and help attendees navigate common areas of confusion when selecting the appropriate code set. Whether you are a coding professional, physician advisor, or healthcare administrator, you'll gain valuable insights to support accurate inpatient procedure reporting.

Learning Objectives

• Examine the structure and purpose of ICD-10-PCS, a seven-character alphanumeric code set used exclusively for inpatient hospital procedure reporting.
• Differentiate between ICD-10-PCS and CPT coding and identify when each code set is appropriate for use.
• Apply key principles of ICD-10-PCS coding to support accurate and compliant procedure reporting.

Webinar Director

Brian Cunningham, MD

Accompanied by

Christine Banks (KZA Consultant)

Register today to strengthen your understanding of inpatient procedure coding and gain practical insights that support accurate, compliant reporting! 

This webinar is an AAOS member benefit - members join for free!
 

Description

Artificial intelligence and augmented and virtual reality technologies are rapidly reshaping orthopaedic surgery, from preoperative planning and intraoperative navigation to skills training and postoperative outcome prediction. This session will provide surgeons with a practical overview of current AI and AR/VR applications in orthopaedic practice, exploring how these tools are being integrated into clinical workflows, surgical education, and patient care. The presentation will also address the practical, ethical, and regulatory considerations surgeons must weigh as these technologies become more prevalent. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of where this technology stands today, where it is headed, and how to thoughtfully evaluate its role in their own practice.

Learning Objectives

1.    Describe current and emerging applications of artificial intelligence in orthopaedic surgery, including diagnostic imaging analysis, preoperative planning, and outcome prediction.
2.    Identify how augmented reality and virtual reality platforms are being used to enhance surgical training, intraoperative navigation, and patient education.
3.    Evaluate the practical, ethical, and medicolegal considerations associated with adopting AI and AR/VR technologies into clinical practice, including data privacy, algorithmic bias, and liability.
4.    Assess strategies for integrating these tools into a surgical practice while maintaining patient safety and quality of care.
 

Director

Eric Swart, MD, FAAOS

Faculty

Sean Tabaie, MD, MBA, FAAOS, David Neuman, MD, FAAOS

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education (CME) for physicians. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

If you are unable to attend the live webinar, you may still register to be notified upon the availability of the recorded session. Access to the recording will be granted for a duration of 2 years.

This webinar is an AAOS member benefit: Members attend for free! 

Description

Preoperative GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Use and Postoperative Outcomes in Orthopaedic Surgery: A Scoping Review of Perioperative and Recovery Outcomes

Introduction:
The rapid expansion of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) use for weight management and diabetes has raised perioperative questions, particularly regarding delayed gastric emptying and infection risk. Emerging real-world data suggest a more nuanced perioperative profile. This scoping review synthesizes evidence on preoperative GLP-1 RA exposure and postoperative outcomes across orthopaedic procedures, with emphasis on soft-tissue sports medicine, and is intended to map associative perioperative outcomes rather than establish causality.

Methods:
Following Arksey-O'Malley and Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and PRISMA-ScR reporting, we searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL Ultimate, Academic Search Premier, and Ovid Emcare (2015 to 2025). Eligible studies evaluated adult orthopaedic patients with documented GLP-1 RA use and postoperative outcomes. Three reviewers independently screened and extracted study characteristics, exposure timing, perioperative management, and outcomes.

Results:
Of 117 records screened, 35 studies met inclusion. Most were large retrospective cohorts spanning arthroplasty, spine fusion, trauma fixation, foot/ankle fusion, shoulder arthroplasty, and rotator cuff repair. Across hip, knee, and shoulder arthroplasty, GLP-1 RA use was generally associated with similar or lower 90-day complications, reduced periprosthetic joint infection, shorter length of stay, and fewer readmissions or revisions. Spine findings were mixed: Several cohorts showed lower infection and readmission, while others noted increased pneumonia, acute kidney injury, or pseudarthrosis in long-term semaglutide users. Trauma and ankle fracture cohorts showed no increase in short-term complications and in some cases lower mortality, with isolated signals for increased late fall-related injuries. Soft-tissue cohorts (rotator cuff repair and distal radius fixation) demonstrated fewer adverse events without increased aspiration or revision surgery risk. Functional outcomes (PROMIS) were rarely reported.

Conclusion:
Preoperative GLP-1 RA exposure is not broadly associated with increased postoperative risk and often correlates with lower infection, readmission, and mortality rates—particularly in arthroplasty, spine, and ankle fracture fixation cohorts. Findings in spine surgery are more mixed and warrant cautious interpretation, especially with prolonged semaglutide exposure. Outcomes in sports-medicine procedures seem reassuring, although prospective multicenter studies with standardized perioperative protocols and PROMIS-based outcomes are needed.

Learning Objectives

• Review the current evidence regarding preoperative GLP-1 receptor agonist use and its association with postoperative outcomes across common orthopaedic procedures.
• Evaluate the potential benefits and risks of perioperative GLP-1 receptor agonist use, including effects on infection rates, readmissions, complications, and recovery following orthopaedic surgery.
• Compare postoperative outcomes associated with GLP-1 receptor agonist use among arthroplasty, spine, trauma, foot and ankle, and sports medicine procedures, recognizing areas where evidence is consistent and where uncertainty remains.
• Apply current evidence to perioperative decision-making and patient counseling regarding GLP-1 receptor agonist management in orthopaedic surgical practice.

Director

Jonathan Grauer, MD, FAAOS

Co-Authors

Isabella Strickler, BA, Annabella Jensen, BS, Kyle Cragg, BS, Robert Dean, MD, Ryan McNassor, MD, Joe Guettler, MD, FAAOS, James Bicos, MD, FAAOS

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education (CME) for physicians. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
 

If you are unable to attend the live webinar, you may still register to be notified upon the availability of the recorded session. Access to the recording will be granted for a duration of 2 years.

This webinar is an AAOS benefit - join for free!

Description

Retirement for orthopaedic surgeons looks nothing like it did a decade ago, and understanding what's changed can make all the difference in how you plan your next chapter.

The traditional model of setting a date, handing off patients, and walking away from clinical medicine is giving way to something far more nuanced. Today's orthopaedic surgeons are navigating a landscape shaped by economic pressures, persistent workforce shortages, evolving care models, and deeply personal questions about identity and purpose. The result is a retirement that unfolds less like an on/off switch and more like a dimmer — gradual, intentional, and highly individualized.

In this session, experts from Jackson Physician Search, the exclusive physician recruitment partner of AAOS, will explore the forces reshaping physician retirement and what they mean specifically for orthopaedic surgeons. Whether you're years away from retirement or actively thinking about winding down, this session will help you understand your options and approach your transition with clarity and confidence.

Webinar Director

Camille Carter
Director, Recruiting - Jackson Physician Search

Whether retirement is years away or right around the corner, this session will help you explore your options and prepare for a transition that aligns with your goals, values, and vision for the future.

This webinar is an AAOS member benefit: Members attend for free!

Description

Patient education and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are becoming increasingly important in delivering high-quality, value-based orthopaedic care—but how can surgeons integrate these tools without adding unnecessary burden to patients or practice workflows?

Join a panel of orthopaedic leaders as they discuss practical strategies for improving patient engagement, implementing PROMs efficiently, and using patient-reported data to support meaningful shared decision-making in the clinic. Through real-world examples and interactive discussion, faculty will explore the evolving role of digital tools, AAOS resources, and AI-driven technologies in enhancing patient care while maintaining clinical judgment.

Whether you're beginning to incorporate PROMs into your practice or looking to optimize existing workflows, this webinar will provide actionable insights you can apply immediately.

Learning Objectives

• Identify practical strategies to improve patient education and engagement before and during orthopaedic clinical visits using digital resources and evidence-based tools.
• Describe best practices for implementing patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) into clinical workflows while minimizing burden on patients and healthcare teams.
• Apply PROM data to facilitate shared decision-making and support patient-centered treatment discussions in orthopaedic practice.
• Discuss the evolving role of PROMs, digital health technologies, and artificial intelligence in advancing value-based orthopaedic care while preserving clinical judgment.

Director

Stuart J Fischer, MD, FAAOS 

Faculty

Brian Cunningham, MD, FAAOS, Lauren Shapiro, MD, MS, FAAOS, Kevin Bozic, MD, MBA, FAAOS, Judith Baumhauer, MD, MPH, FAAOS

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education (CME) for physicians. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
 

If you are unable to attend the live webinar, you may still register to be notified upon the availability of the recorded session. Access to the recording will be granted for a duration of 2 years.

For course details, schedule, faculty list and more, click here. 

This webinar is an AAOS member benefit: Members attend for free!

Description 

Primary elbow osteoarthritis is a functionally disabling condition primarily affecting middle-aged men engaged in manual labor, weightlifting, or throwing. Total elbow arthroplasty is particularly limiting for this population given its lifelong lifting restrictions and long-term complication and revision rates. This webinar reviews the full spectrum of joint-preserving options for such patients. Attention will be given to evaluation of the arthritic elbow, including assessment of blocks to motion, ulnar nerve pathology, and the respective roles of radiographs and CT in staging disease and surgical planning. Discussion will include nonoperative management and its limits, followed by a comparison of arthroscopic and open osteocapsular arthroplasty, including indications, surgical approaches (Outerbridge-Kashiwagi, lateral column, and medial "over-the-top"), reported outcomes, and complication profiles. Particular attention will be paid to ulnar nerve management and delayed-onset ulnar neuritis, a known complication following surgical management. Finally, discussion will conclude around salvage options for advanced disease and guidance on setting realistic patient expectations regarding motion gains and disease progression over time.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this webinar, participants will be able to:
1. Perform a thorough history and physical examination of patients with osteoarthritis of the elbow and understand how to use X-ray and advanced imaging for staging and preoperative planning.
2. Describe the evidence supporting operative versus non-operative management of elbow arthritis and recognize appropriate indications for operative intervention.
3. Compare arthroscopic and open osteocapsular arthroplasty with respect to indications, expected outcomes, and potential complications, and identify appropriate indications for concomitant ulnar nerve management.
4. Identify patients who are appropriate candidates for salvage procedures such as interpositional arthroplasty and arthrodesis as an alternative to total elbow arthroplasty.

Webinar Director

Eric Wagner, MD, FAAOS

Co-Authors

Dennis DeBernardis, DO, Tej Joshi, MD, Mandeep Virk, MD, FAAOS

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education (CME) for physicians. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
 

If you are unable to attend the live webinar, you may still register to be notified upon the availability of the recorded session. Access to the recording will be granted for a duration of 2 years.

For course details, schedules, faculty list and more, click here.

For course details, schedule, faculty list and more, click here. 

This critical training and review helps you gain clarity on the IME and QME report creation process - a valuable skill rarely taught in residency programs. Evolve your skills in patient history and examination, IME/QME report writing, cross-examination and more. Training includes faculty critique of actual IME/QME reports.

For course details, schedule, faculty list and more, click here. 

Effectively combine the clinical and non-clinical elements of workers' compensation

This distinctive and hands-on course will help you enhance your approach to managing both the medical and non-medical aspects of workers’ compensation cases. Delve into the latest legal, administrative, ethical, and insurance challenges within your cases and discover strategies for addressing them.

With new topics and expert instructors, gain updated insights into causation, diagnosis, and treatment options to improve outcomes for work-related injuries and illnesses. Learn proven methods for utilization review, causation analysis, report writing, medical liability, depositions, and patient communication skills.