AAHKS Amplified

In this very special episode of AAHKS Amplified, we have members from the AAHKS Patient and Public Relations Committee join us to discuss operative approaches to knee replacement. Our host David G. Deckey, MD curated a wonderful conversation with Cody C. Green, MD, Andrew Scott Murtha, MD and Charlie Yoo, MD around the various ways surgeons can get to the joint itself and depending on the approach taken, this may or may not dictate what the first few weeks of recovery looks like for the patient.

So, in this episode, listeners will learn to identify “surgical jargon” so that a more informed conversation can be had between surgeon and patient. They also talk in great detail about the medial parapatellar approach which happens to be the most common approach to knee replacement surgery. 

If you are someone you know is considering a knee replacement, this is a podcast you don’t want to miss. Be sure to subscribe and thanks for listening to AAHKS Amplified!



In This Episode:
David G. Deckey, MD
Cody C. Green, MD, 
Andrew Scott Murtha, MD
Charlie Yoo, MD 













The post Operative Approaches to Knee Replacement first appeared on AAHKS.

At the 2025 AAHKS Annual Meeting, our host William B. Kurtz, MD had the great opportunity to sit with Michael E. Neufeld, MD, MSc, FRCSC whose study Synovial Metal Ions in “Nickel Free” vs. Standard Cobalt-Chrome Containing Total Knee Replacement won the James A. Rand, MD Young Investigator’s Award. 

It was a case-controlled study, consisting of 22 patients with metal allergies and 19 controls with patients that underwent standard knee replacement with cobalt-chrome containing knees. What made this study so fascinating is that implants are hypoallergenic, containing no nickel in them, however Dr. Neufeld’s study found that nickel content in the hypoallergenic knee was four times higher than the standard cobalt-knee. So, our host and Dr. Neufeld discuss all possible explanations for why in this study implants had higher nickel in the synovial fluid. 

Listen and learn what their hypothesizes were for this. Be sure to subscribe and thanks for listening to AAHKS Amplified!



In This Episode:
William B. Kurtz, MD
Michael E. Neufeld, MD, MSc, FRCSC













The post The 2025 James A. Rand, MD Young Investigator’s Award Goes to Presentation on “Nickel Free” vs. Standard Cobalt-Chrome first appeared on AAHKS.

Our host, Thomas G. Myers, MD had the opportunity to sit with the 2025 AAHKS Annual Meeting Presidential Award winner Adam J. Rana, MD to discuss advocacy and health policy.  

Dr. Rana began the podcast by thanking Richard Iorio, MD AAHKS’ 2001 President for introducing him to health policy in 2012 as a resident. He quickly learned the economics surrounding hip and knee arthroplasty like implant costs and the importance of preserving the profession of arthroplasty for current surgeons, future surgeons and keeping access to care available for all patients. Dr. Rana’s passion for health policy only grew during his two-year period as a member of the AAHKS Health Policy Fellowship. He recalls his two-year time in the AAHKS Health Policy Fellowship as a very formative period for him, having the opportunity to travel to Washington D.C. to meet with congressional members. 

Dr. Myers ask Dr. Rana his thoughts on the BIG CUT that may be coming and why it’s happening. Dr. Rana shares that payment reform, value-based care and prior authorization are the three leading concerns of arthroplasty surgeons right now. Learn why and what his thoughts are concerning each topic. 

This is a recording you don’t want to miss. Be sure to subscribe and thanks for listening to AAHKS Amplified!  

In This Episode:
Thomas G. Myers, MD
Adam J. Rana, MD













The post Advocacy Discussion with AAHKS Presidential Award Winner first appeared on AAHKS.

Last year at the 2025 AAHKS Annual Meeting, our host William B. Kurtz, MD spoke with the James A. Rand, MD, Young Investigator’s Award recipient Michael E. Neufeld, MD, MSc, FRCSC about his study on Synovial Metal Ions in “Nickel Free” vs. Standard Cobalt-Chrome Containing Total Knee Replacement. 

Dr. Neufeld shared that the aim of his study was to compare intraarticular synovial fluid levels of metal ions in patients who underwent cemented primary TKA with a hypoallergenic implant vs. a matched cohort of standard cobalt-chromium (Co-Cr) containing implants at a minimum two-year follow-up. A case-controlled study was conducted using prospectively collected data from a single institution – 22 cases and 19 controls. 

Interestingly, the study uncovered that patients with hypoallergenic implants had intraarticular synovial Ni ion levels 3.6 times higher vs. standard implant controls, contesting the use of this hypoallergenic implant for Ni allergy/hypersensitivity.

Listen to the full discussion and make sure you click subscribe! Thanks for listening to AAHKS Amplified!



In This Episode:
William B. Kurtz, MD
Michael E. Neufeld, MD, MSc, FRCSC













The post Synovial Metal Ions in Nickel Free vs. Standard Cobalt-Chrome Containing Total Knee Replacement first appeared on AAHKS.

At the 2025 AAHKS Annual Meeting, our host Craig R. Mahoney, MD had the opportunity to sit with Vice President of Marketing Lauren Venekas and discuss Stryker’s award-winning product Mako SmartRobotics. The advancements made to the Mako SmartRobotics won Stryker the 2025 Industry Innovation Award. 

An award that’s truly deserved because Stryker is revolutionizing robotic hip replacements from primary to revision. The expanded application is the first-to-market robotically enabled revision hip solution in a single application. Lauren explains how Mako Total Hip now serves primary, complex primary and revision indications with advanced planning features like screw and augment planning, plus stem planning, and is now compatible with Stryker’s revision hip products, including Restoration Modular. We think you’ll enjoy this podcast and learning about the journey of the Mako SmartRobotics. 

Enjoy, and thanks for listening to AAHKS Amplified!



In This Episode:

Craig R. Mahoney, MD

Lauren Venekas   













The post Stryker’s Award-Winning Product Mako SmartRobotics first appeared on AAHKS.