June 1996 AAOS Report

Board approves Advisory on use of new cell technology

In other action, the Board of Directors approved:

• an Advisory Statement on Cell Tissue Engineered Products. The Academy advises orthopaedic surgeons that "sound experimental evidence of safety and efficacy combined with clinical studies of the new technologies be developed prior to their general use." The statement also advises that "orthopaedic surgeons should avoid promoting technologies unless their scientific or clinical efficacy has been demonstrated."
• construction of a 100- to 110-seat auditorium and additional facilities in the Orthopaedic Learning Center in Rosemont at a cost up to $500,000. Academy President Kenneth E. DeHaven, MD, appointed a work group headed by James D. Heckman, MD, to develop options for further expansion of the center and to evaluate the fund-raising potential for further construction and/or maintenance, replacement and upgrading equipment, and endowment of the operations of the center. Other members of the work group are Richard D. Coutts, MD; Richard H. Gelberman, MD; George L. Lucas, MD; Robert A. Winquist, MD; Joseph D. Zuckerman, MD; and Mark W. Wieting, director, Academy educational programming.
• a Position Statement on Firearms Violence, which states the Academy is "committed to reducing death, injury and disability due to firearm violence through support of a comprehensive public health approach."
• limited-use field testing of Phase I and Phase II Low Back Pain Algorithms which were developed in collaboration with the North American Spine Society.
• the Academy's fiscal 1997 budget of $34.3 million in revenues and $33.5 million in expenses.