AANA Surveys
Help your fellow colleagues with important surveys meant to gather meaningful input to advance research in the field of orthopaedics and minimally-invasive surgery!
Both AANA members and staff have peer-reviewed the survey links below. We appreciate you taking the time to participate in these surveys.
Acute vs. Chronically ACL Deficient Knee: Survey Study
Survey open until 01/30/2025
By: Shu Yang Hu, M.D.
The timing of surgery has been regarded as a key factor in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), and early vs. delayed ACLR remains a controversial topic. The question of how the timing of surgery and its effects on PROMs, concurrent pathologies and progressive degeneration remains to be answered. Even the definition of what constitutes acute vs. chronic remains unclear in the literature. Survey study of sports medicine surgeons asking 31 questions about their impression of diagnosis and treatment of the ‘acute’ vs. ‘chronic’ ACL deficient knee.
Surgeon Perceptions of a Multimodal Opioid-Sparing Postoperative Pain Protocol for Patients Undergoing Knee and Shoulder Arthroscopy (SPOKES): A Cross-Sectional Survey and Knowledge Translation Strategy
Survey open until 01/30/2025
By: Olufemi R. Ayeni, M.D., Ph.D., M.Sc.
The primary aim of this study is to determine the impact of a multi-modal knowledge translation/education strategy comprised of distribution of the No Pain manuscript, an online video and a patient brochure on changes to surgeon-reported postoperative pain management practice, using a survey. The secondary objectives are to explore surgeon perceptions and identify potential facilitators and barriers that may impact changes to their postoperative pain management practice using a survey.
Variability in Timing of Rotator Cuff Repair Postshoulder Injection: an International Observational Study of Surgeon Practices
Survey open until 02/01/2025
By: Katherine Esser, Sports Medicine Research Fellow, New York University School of Medicine.
Rotator cuff repair (RCR) is a common surgical procedure, and its outcomes can be significantly influenced by preoperative factors, including corticosteroid injections (CSIs). Recent studies highlight the impact of the timing of CSIs on postoperative outcomes such as revision surgery and infection rates. There is considerable inconsistency in clinical practice regarding the optimal waiting period between the last CSI and RCR. We hypothesize that there will be a large variation amongst practices in the surgeons surveyed, and that the variation may be influenced by factors such as geographic location, practice models, and insurance standards. To address this gap, we propose a survey-based study to examine the current practices among surgeons internationally. By surveying members of professional organizations, we aim to identify patterns and possible rationales behind different waiting periods. We hope that by surveying a wide range of professional societies that we will obtain varied responses from surgeons both nationally and internationally, though this is not guaranteed. The findings could guide evidence-based recommendations to standardize preoperative management and improve patient outcomes in rotator cuff repair surgery.
Elucidating the Utility and Practice of Knee Cycling during Reconstruction of Anterior Cruciate Ligament with Concomitant Meniscus Repair: A Physician Survey
Survey open until 02/03/2025
By: John A. Schlechter, D.O.
The purpose of this survey is to query the orthopaedic community to gain insight into the utilization of knee cycling and practice patterns and variation when treating concomitant anterior cruciate ligament and meniscal pathology. Studies have shown that ranging the knee past 120 degrees of knee flexion puts undue tension on the posterior meniscocapsular junction and necessitates further biomechanical and clinical investigation. Anecdotally, pull out of successfully deployed all-inside meniscal repair implants following meniscal repair after knee “cycling” has been observed requiring re-repair, but is sparsely documented. It is unknown whether the tissue quality, implant type, the repair configuration, the amount and range of knee “cycling” is the culprit, but hidden failures in the setting of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction may be more common than we think.
Rehabilitation Practices Following Microfracture Surgery of the Knee
Survey open until 04/01/2025
By: John R. Tuttle, M.D.
Currently, it is known that Orthopaedic Surgeons assign varying lengths of post-operative weight-bearing restrictions following knee microfractures. However, it is unknown on when and how deviations from post-operative protocols should be made with respect to weight-bearing restrictions. Additionally, there are other unknowns in the literature on knee microfractures, ranging from the frequency of unplanned microfractures to contraindications to use of biological agents intra-operatively. Our proposed survey aims to fill these gaps in the literature and to better understand the current practices of knee microfractures.
Aim 1: To compare the patient, lesion and intraoperative factors that may influence a surgeon's decision to perform an unplanned microfracture.
Aim 2: To compare the patient, lesion and intraoperative factors that may influence a surgeon's assignment of weight-bearing restrictions vs. no weightbearing restrictions onto a patient’s postoperative plan.