Reader Survey
Please share your feedback! We’re interested to learn more about your experience with American Nurse Journal.
Musculoskeletal / Orthopedics
The New York Times published an article on concerns related to “metal-on-metal” hip implants. Read the article at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/04/health/04metalhip.html?partner=rss&emc=rss.
A study in the Jan. 19 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) found that in older, postmenopausal women with normal bone mineral density testing or…
Anaphylaxis can kill within minutes unless the victim receives immediate treatment. Calling a rapid response team to the scene can avert disaster.
Part 1 of a four-part series on clinical trials
What seems like a simple pulled muscle to a shipping clerk turns out to be cauda equina syndrome, a potentially paralyzing injury that warrants immediate surgery.
Fibromyalgia produces many symptoms but no signs, so some clinicians dismiss it as a wastebasket diagnosis. But the pain is very real, and patients with fibromyalgia need you…
Fibromyalgia produces many symptoms but no signs, so some clinicians dismiss it as a wastebasket diagnosis. But the pain is very real, and patients with fibromyalgia need you…
How to provide skilled care that stops the damage and helps your patient manage the injury.
This progressive degenerative spine condition is commonly mistaken for arthritis. This article covers assessment and management, including preop and postop care.
A study of 701 adults with subacute or chronic back pain found that cognitive behavioral therapy reduced pain and disability compared to those who didn’t receive the intervention.…
In older adults with arthritis, opioid use increases the risk of fractures and safety events requiring hospitalization, compared to nonselective NSAIDs (nsNSAIDs) and selective cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitors (coxibs),…
An update of drug news, including alerts, approvals, and removals.
An update of drug news, including alerts, approvals, and removals.
Web Exclusive! An update of drug news, including alerts, approvals, and removals at www.AmericanNurseToday.com/journal.
Web Exclusive! An update of drug news, including alerts, approvals, and removals at www.AmericanNurseToday.com/journal.
In young adults, early rehabilitation and optional delayed reconstruction for acute anterior cruciate ligament tears (ACL) reduced the need for surgery compared to rehab and early ACL reconstruction…
On April 19, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that Stryker Orthopaedics has recalled ShapeMatch Cutting Guides, used in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) instrumentation. Read more.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the Pinnacle CoMplete Acetabular Hip System, the first ceramic-on-metal total hip replacement system for patients with osteoarthritis. Read more.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Jakafi (ruxolitinb), the first drug approved to treat patients with the bone marrow disease myelofibrosis. Read more.
On March 19, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first generic versions of Boniva (ibandronate) tablets, used to treat osteoporosis. Read more
On June 1, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Prolia (denosumab), an injectable treatment for postmenopausal women with osteoporosis who are at high risk of fractures.…
On March 29, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that a two-day expert advisory panel meeting on metal-on-metal hip replacement systems will take place June 27-28.…
Be sure you’re up to date on this common problem.
The more you know about menopause, the more you can help patients understand and cope with symptoms.
More Americans seem destined for total knee replacement. Learn about the different types of knee replacement surgery and how nurses can improve outcomes for patients who opt for…
Should patients receive neuromuscular blockers while mechanical ventilation is withdrawn?
A degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis (OA) is marked by cartilage erosion, osteophyte formation, joint hypertrophy, and subchondral sclerosis. A leading cause of disability in older adults, it affects…
Think you know all about rheumatoid arthritis? Think again. Misunderstandings about the disease abound, even among healthcare professionals.
Nitroglycerin ointment applied at bedtime for 2 years slightly increased bone mineral density in postmenopausal women states a study in JAMA. Read more at http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/305/8/800.abstract.
Look, I’m a nurse, and I’ve probably seen a thousand broken bones in the last 35 years. Well, not actually seen them, but seen them wired, immobilized, splinted,…
Most elderly men don’t know they are at risk for osteoporosis-and they probably won’t find out until a nurse tells them.
Pain, arthritis, fractures, and skeletal deformities are calling cards of Paget’s disease. A new one-dose drug therapy can produce extended remission.
Suspect polymyalgia in patients who continue to decline after treatment for pericardial effusion.
Our Editor-in-Chief tells the story of her experience as a patient.
Osteoarthritis (OA) affects 27 million Americans and is one the most common causes of disability. It negatively affects the quality of life for many, but often patients don’t…
A team approach reduces rates of major complications for complex spinal reconstructive surgery by two thirds, according to a report in Spine Deformity. The three main features are:…
Nina Robbins, age 36, is admitted to the medical unit with pyelonephritis. She states she has had a fever above 102° F, back pain, vomiting, and painful urination…
Home health settings present a challenging health care environment for home healthcare workers who perform patient movement and handling activities, such as lifting, transferring, or repositioning patients. All…
Learn how to keep four types of special-needs patients mobile and keep yourself injury-free.
These six drug profiles, along with the six in the March issue of American Nurse Today, bring you up to date on significant advances in drug therapy.
The rapid response team makes all the right moves when a patient experiences neck swelling and difficulty swallowing after an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion.
Osteoporosis and low bone mass affect about 44 million Americans. Women account for 80% of that number. And each year, more than 1.5 million Americans suffer osteoporotic fractures.
An update on risk factors, prevention, and treatment.
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is less costly and more effective than rehabilitation, according to a cost-utility analysis published in the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. Long-term…
A study to be published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism found that physical activity, even minor increases, in premenopausal women is effective in reducing sclerostin,…
Handgrip strength corresponds to other markers of aging such as people’s future mortality, disability, cognitive decline and ability to recover from hospital, according to a study in PLOS…
A study published in JAMA Psychiatry has found that common methods of assessing mental or physical disorders may consistently underestimate the prevalence of mental disorders among middle-aged and…
Light physical activity, such as pushing a shopping cart or vacuum, can help people with or at risk of knee arthritis avoid developing disabilities as they age, according…
A study published in Osteoporosis International reports that older men who have low levels of vitamin B12 have a higher risk of fractures. Read more.
Good news for younger women taking estrogen Estrogen therapy may have cardioprotective effects for women who start taking it in their 50s. A study from the Women’s Health…
Controversy over new Lyme disease guidelines The new guidelines released by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (ISDA) have run into some criticism. In fact, the International Lyme…
A weekly round-up of clinical and practice news and alerts.
CDC recommends annual flu shots for children ages 2 to 4 For the first time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is endorsing yearly flu shots…
Learn how to detect and manage pain in patients who may not respond to pain in expected ways.
Infection Control and Epidemiology has published “Updated US Public Health Service guidelines for the management of occupational exposures to human immunodeficiency virus and recommendations for postexposure prophylaxis.” Access…
A study in February’s Spine reports that use of bone morhphogenetic proteins (BMP) in spinal fusion surgery for older adults with lumbar stenosis reports that use of BMP…
Bone metastases causes significant pain and raises the risk of fractures and spinal-cord compression. Learn how to help patients cope.
“Metal-on-metal” hip implant concerns on the rise
The New York Times published an article on concerns related to “metal-on-metal” hip implants. Read the article at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/04/health/04metalhip.html?partner=rss&emc=rss.
NEJM study assess BMD retesting
A study in the Jan. 19 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) found that in older, postmenopausal women with normal bone…
Act fast against anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis can kill within minutes unless the victim receives immediate treatment. Calling a rapid response team to the scene can avert disaster.
Are you ready to care for patients in clinical trials?
Part 1 of a four-part series on clinical trials
Astute assessment prevents paralysis
What seems like a simple pulled muscle to a shipping clerk turns out to be cauda equina syndrome, a potentially paralyzing injury that warrants…
Be a myth-buster: Stop the misconceptions about fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia produces many symptoms but no signs, so some clinicians dismiss it as a wastebasket diagnosis. But the pain is very real, and patients…
Be a myth-buster: Stop the misconceptions about fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia produces many symptoms but no signs, so some clinicians dismiss it as a wastebasket diagnosis. But the pain is very real, and patients…
Cervical Spine injuries: Preserving function, improving outcomes
How to provide skilled care that stops the damage and helps your patient manage the injury.
Cervical spondylosis with myelopathy: Painful and sometimes paralyzing
This progressive degenerative spine condition is commonly mistaken for arthritis. This article covers assessment and management, including preop and postop care.
Cognitive behaviorial therapy
A study of 701 adults with subacute or chronic back pain found that cognitive behavioral therapy reduced pain and disability compared to those who…
Compared to nsNSAIDs and coxibs, opioid use in older adults with arthritis increases risk of safety events
In older adults with arthritis, opioid use increases the risk of fractures and safety events requiring hospitalization, compared to nonselective NSAIDs (nsNSAIDs) and selective…
Drugs Today – November 2008
Web Exclusive! An update of drug news, including alerts, approvals, and removals at www.AmericanNurseToday.com/journal.
Drugs Today – September 2008
Web Exclusive! An update of drug news, including alerts, approvals, and removals at www.AmericanNurseToday.com/journal.
Early rehab for ACL tears may lessen need for surgery
In young adults, early rehabilitation and optional delayed reconstruction for acute anterior cruciate ligament tears (ACL) reduced the need for surgery compared to rehab…
FDA announces recall of Stryker cutting guide for TKA
On April 19, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that Stryker Orthopaedics has recalled ShapeMatch Cutting Guides, used in total knee arthroplasty…
FDA approves first ceramic-on-metal total hip replacement system
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the Pinnacle CoMplete Acetabular Hip System, the first ceramic-on-metal total hip replacement system for patients…
FDA approves first drug for myelofibrosis
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Jakafi (ruxolitinb), the first drug approved to treat patients with the bone marrow disease myelofibrosis. Read…
FDA approves first generic versions of Boniva
On March 19, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first generic versions of Boniva (ibandronate) tablets, used to treat osteoporosis. Read…
FDA approves new drug for osteoporosis
On June 1, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Prolia (denosumab), an injectable treatment for postmenopausal women with osteoporosis who are at…
FDA seeks advice on metal-on-metal hip replacements
On March 29, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that a two-day expert advisory panel meeting on metal-on-metal hip replacement systems will…
Guiding your patients through menopause
The more you know about menopause, the more you can help patients understand and cope with symptoms.
Joint adventures: The path to total knee replacement
More Americans seem destined for total knee replacement. Learn about the different types of knee replacement surgery and how nurses can improve outcomes for…
Last Breath: The ethics of pharmacologic paralysis
Should patients receive neuromuscular blockers while mechanical ventilation is withdrawn?
Managing knee osteoarthritis in older adults
A degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis (OA) is marked by cartilage erosion, osteophyte formation, joint hypertrophy, and subchondral sclerosis. A leading cause of disability in…
Myths and misconceptions about rheumatoid arthritis
Think you know all about rheumatoid arthritis? Think again. Misunderstandings about the disease abound, even among healthcare professionals.
Nitroglycerin ointment slightly increases bone mineral density in postmenopausal women
Nitroglycerin ointment applied at bedtime for 2 years slightly increased bone mineral density in postmenopausal women states a study in JAMA. Read more at…
On breaking a bone for the first time…at age 59
Look, I’m a nurse, and I’ve probably seen a thousand broken bones in the last 35 years. Well, not actually seen them, but seen…
Osteoporosis-not just for women
Most elderly men don’t know they are at risk for osteoporosis-and they probably won’t find out until a nurse tells them.
Paget’s disease: A therapy update
Pain, arthritis, fractures, and skeletal deformities are calling cards of Paget’s disease. A new one-dose drug therapy can produce extended remission.
Polymyalgia rheumatica: A possible cause of pericardial effusion
Suspect polymyalgia in patients who continue to decline after treatment for pericardial effusion.
Proactive intervention for osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) affects 27 million Americans and is one the most common causes of disability. It negatively affects the quality of life for many,…
Protocol reduces complications for complex spinal surgery
A team approach reduces rates of major complications for complex spinal reconstructive surgery by two thirds, according to a report in Spine Deformity. The…
Respiratory failure from a myasthenic crisis
Nina Robbins, age 36, is admitted to the medical unit with pyelonephritis. She states she has had a fever above 102° F, back pain,…
Safe patient handling and movement in home healthcare settings
Home health settings present a challenging health care environment for home healthcare workers who perform patient movement and handling activities, such as lifting, transferring,…
Selecting lifts for patients with special needs
Learn how to keep four types of special-needs patients mobile and keep yourself injury-free.
Six more hot drugs for today and beyond
These six drug profiles, along with the six in the March issue of American Nurse Today, bring you up to date on significant advances…
Spotting trouble after spinal surgery
The rapid response team makes all the right moves when a patient experiences neck swelling and difficulty swallowing after an anterior cervical discectomy and…
Stopping the silent progression of osteoporosis
Osteoporosis and low bone mass affect about 44 million Americans. Women account for 80% of that number. And each year, more than 1.5 million…
Stopping the silent progression of osteoporosis
An update on risk factors, prevention, and treatment.
Study: Cost analysis of ACL reconstruction surgery
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is less costly and more effective than rehabilitation, according to a cost-utility analysis published in the Journal of Bone…
Study: Even minor increases in physical activity benefits bone health in premenopausal women
A study to be published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism found that physical activity, even minor increases, in premenopausal women is…
Study: Handshake can indicate speed of aging
Handgrip strength corresponds to other markers of aging such as people’s future mortality, disability, cognitive decline and ability to recover from hospital, according to…
Study: Incidence of mental disorders in mid-life, older adulthood may be underestimated
A study published in JAMA Psychiatry has found that common methods of assessing mental or physical disorders may consistently underestimate the prevalence of mental…
Study: Light activity can reduce disability in patients with knee arthritis
Light physical activity, such as pushing a shopping cart or vacuum, can help people with or at risk of knee arthritis avoid developing disabilities…
Study: Low vitamin B12 increases fracture risk in older men
A study published in Osteoporosis International reports that older men who have low levels of vitamin B12 have a higher risk of fractures. Read…
Take Note – August 2007
Good news for younger women taking estrogen Estrogen therapy may have cardioprotective effects for women who start taking it in their 50s. A study…
Take Note – January 2007
Controversy over new Lyme disease guidelines The new guidelines released by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (ISDA) have run into some criticism. In…
Take Note – October 2006
CDC recommends annual flu shots for children ages 2 to 4 For the first time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is…
Understanding pain in patients with intellectual disabilities
Learn how to detect and manage pain in patients who may not respond to pain in expected ways.
Updated guidelines for managing occupational HIV exposure released
Infection Control and Epidemiology has published “Updated US Public Health Service guidelines for the management of occupational exposures to human immunodeficiency virus and recommendations…
Use of bone morhphogenetic proteins not associated less reoperation for lumbar stenosis
A study in February’s Spine reports that use of bone morhphogenetic proteins (BMP) in spinal fusion surgery for older adults with lumbar stenosis reports…
When cancer spreads to the bone
Bone metastases causes significant pain and raises the risk of fractures and spinal-cord compression. Learn how to help patients cope.