AANEM News Express

SPORT and Spine: Long-term Outcomes of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

    6/17/2015
Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial (SPORT) is a very large randomized trial with a concurrent observational cohort study that involved 13 spine centers in 11 US states. Part of the study compared the outcomes of surgery (decompressive laminectomy) with non-operative care for symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis. This study points out the possibility that surgical treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis may not have long-term benefit past 4 years. 

Vince Tranchitella, MD, Invites You to the AANEM 62nd Annual Meeting

    6/10/2015
It is my pleasure to invite you to the 62nd Annual Meeting of the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM), October 28-31, 2015, in Honolulu, HI. 

AANEM Foundation Partners with MDA to Fund Research

    6/2/2015
Research is the key to finding the cause of neuromuscular disease and identifying effective treatments. Through AANEM's new partnership with the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), the AANEM Foundation has the ability to identify research projects that fit within the AANEM Foundation's mission.  

AANEM Hires Medical Lobbying Firm

    6/2/2015
At its spring meeting in early May, the AANEM Board of Directors approved the hiring of the Health and Medicine Counsel of Washington (HMCW). Current AANEM President, Vince Tranchitella, MD, explained, “AANEM leaders felt that hiring a medical lobbying firm to help us navigate the political landscape will ensure that we have input in future healthcare changes.”  

Action Alert: Ask Your U.S. Senators to Join the NIH Caucus

    6/2/2015
Key Senators would like to put the National Institutes of Health (NIH) back on a path of stable, noteworthy growth. Appropriators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Richard Durbin (D-IL) have formed an NIH Caucus in the Senate to fight for both immediate and long-term funding increases. To ensure your Senators join the NIH Caucus and work to increase NIH funding, please reach out to their offices and ask for their support.

JAMA Study: Steroid Injection Not Helpful for Knee Osteoarthritis

    6/2/2015
Knee OA is a frequent cause of pain and disability, with one of the standard treatments being IA steroid injection. This JAMA study showed no clinical benefit of 40 mg methylprednisolone acetate compared to placebo of saline with lidocaine when combined with exercise, raising doubt about the standard of care and presumed benefit of steroid injection for knee OA. 

Interesting Results Found in Study on Cervical MRIs of Asymptomatic People

    5/19/2015
Ever wonder what you would find if you did cervical MRIs on asymptomatic people? The results of this study from Japan alert us to the fact that interventional decisions made by judging degenerative changes on MRI alone can be mistake-ridden and dangerous, and that clinical decisions should be prudent, correlating MRI findings with clinical signs and symptoms. 

New Mobile-Friendly Website Based on Member Feedback Launches

    5/6/2015
We launched a completely redesigned website, check it out! It is based on feedback from AANEM members and features a mobile-friendly design to meet the needs of physicians, technologists, training program directors and coordinators, the general public, and other groups seeking more information about all aspects of caring for patients with neuromuscular (NM) disorders.

AANEM Member Helps Nepal Earthquake Victims Recover

    5/6/2015
The International Rehabilitation Forum (IRF), directed by AANEM member Andrew J. Haig, MD, is helping lead medical rehabilitation efforts after the Nepal earthquake disaster. The group is advising rehabilitation responders, providing guidance in government response planning, and raising funds to support the country’s long-term disaster recovery.