"When set in a graph, the results looked like an inverted bell, with complications spiking on both ends of the spectrum and dipping in the middle," said Carlos J. Lavernia, MD, Chief of Orthopaedics at Mercy Hospital in Miami and Chief of the Orthopedic Institute. "Even after controlling for all external factors that could have affected the outcomes, the inverted-bell shape remained intact, indicating that diabetic patients who control their blood sugar prior to surgery will inevitably have better outcomes."
*Many individual factors (including timing of last meal) are examined to determine a "normal blood glucose level," but medical expertise states that 70mg/dL- 120mg/dL is considered ideal. Patients with diabetes or hypoglycemia are urged to narrow that range even further and have or should have their own "norms" identified by a physician.
Strong mental and emotional health can set the stage for success (Embargo: February 18)
Finally, during a symposium moderated by David C. Ayers, MD, The Arthur Pappas Professor and Chair of Orthopedics at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, participants learned that patients can help to determine how well they tolerate the recovery process and the degree of functional improvement they gain after surgery based on their mental approach before, during and after surgery.
Dr. David C. Ring, MD, Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Harvard Medical School and one of the symposium presenters, said, "Individuals who recognize within themselves the ability to ensure that things will be okay consistently report less pain and disability for a given disease or impairment."
Through a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Dr. Ayers is currently leading a team of researchers who are studying the emotional aspects of musculoskeletal health in patients undergoing total
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| Contact: Lauren Pearson pearson@aaos.org 847-384-4031 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Source:Eurekalert |