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JournalSeveral faculty and residents were featured as authors of the leading and the second article of the September 2020 issue of the Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma (JOT).

The leading article, “Thrombin Hemostatic Matrix Reduces Heterotopic Ossification in Acetabular Fractures Fixed Through the Kocher–Langenbeck Approach” was authored by graduated research fellow Tyler Montgomery, M.D., graduated resident Jeffery Pearson, M.D., as well as foot and ankle fellow Abhinav Agarwal, M.D. Faculty authors include Ellie Ghanem, M.D., Clay Spitler, M.D., and Jonathan Quade, M.D.

According to the article, the goal of the study was to determine whether an injectable thrombin product [thrombin hemostatic matrix (THM)] at closure of a Kocher–Langenbeck approach reduces the risk of heterotopic ossification (HO) formation after an acetabular fracture.

The second article in the September issue, “Do Indomethacin or Radiation for Heterotopic Ossification Prophylaxis Increase the Rates of Infection or Wound Complications After Acetabular Fracture Surgery?” was authored by PGY5 resident Adam Almaguer, M.D., as well as faculty authors Spitler, Quade and Ghanem.

The objective of the study, according to the article, is to compare the rates of infection and wound complications in patients undergoing operative fixation (ORIF) of acetabular fractures receiving heterotopic ossification (HO) prophylaxis using indomethacin or external beam radiation therapy (XRT) versus no prophylaxis.

Chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Steven Theiss, M.D., is proud of the faculty and trainees involved in the two premiere articles.

“I am proud of our faculty and trainees’ motivation to pursue cutting-edge research that has a direct impact on improving patient care and experience,” said Theiss. “It is important to us that our research is not only impactful for other orthopaedic specialists, but also has the opportunity to better the lives of our patients.”