WHO: Orthopaedic surgeons Geoffrey S. Marecek, MD, and Michael F. Schafer, MD, co-authors of a new literature review outlining the potential limitations and necessary precautions for driving after orthopaedic surgery and procedures.
WHY: While the topic can have emotional, legal and public safety implications, there are currently no laws, or well-established insurance or medical guidelines, to help patients and physicians determine when it is definitively safe to drive again following orthopaedic procedures. As a result, many patients drive without consulting their physician, while still on narcotic pain medication, and/or while wearing splints or casts which can significantly impair their ability to drive.
WHAT: "Driving after Orthopaedic Surgery," appears in the November 2013 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons ( JAAOS ).
Highlights from the literature review include:
HOW: Contact the AAOS public relations department at 847-384-4035 to schedule an interview with Drs. Marecek or Schafer.
November 1, 2013 Full JAAOS Table of Contents
For more AAOS news, visit the News Bureau
Follow AAOS on Twitter
Follow AAOS on Facebook
Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons