OrthoDigest

Joint Venture Orthopaedics

OrthoDigest is a fully AI-generated daily podcast by Joint Venture Orthopaedics — from automated research discovery and manuscript selection to script writing, voice production, and multilingual translation. Every step of the pipeline is powered by artificial intelligence, making it one of the first fully autonomous medical podcasts. Each episode covers six open-access, peer-reviewed manuscripts on a rotating subspecialty schedule — hip, knee, shoulder & elbow, hand & wrist, foot & ankle, spine, trauma, sports medicine, pediatrics, and oncology. Every study discussed is freely available, with links in the episode notes. Whether you're a surgeon, resident, researcher, or allied health professional, OrthoDigest keeps you current in about 20 minutes a day.

  1. 17 APR

    Episode 103: Hand Edition — Vol. 1, Issue 15 (2026-04-17)

    Today's hand surgery edition covers four diverse topics affecting daily practice. We examine biomechanical data on multiple K-wire passes in fifth metacarpal fractures, revealing that additional drilling attempts may be less detrimental than previously thought. A systematic review highlights the underrecognized association between scaphoid fractures and scapholunate ligament injuries, with detection rates varying dramatically by diagnostic method. A large national cohort study exposes significant racial disparities in carpal tunnel syndrome management within the VA system, showing lower surgical rates and longer wait times for minoritized veterans despite universal healthcare access. Finally, a case report describes the first reported digital artery pseudoaneurysm following collagenase injection for Dupuytren contracture, expanding our awareness of potential vascular complications. "The Swiss Cheese Effect: A Biomechanical Study of Fifth Metacarpal Structural Integrity After Multiple Kirschner Wire Passes" — Bickley R et al., J Hand Surg Glob Online — https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhsg.2026.100962 "Scapholunate Injuries in the Context of Acute Scaphoid Fractures: A Systematic Literature Review" — Glévarec L et al., Hand (N Y) — https://doi.org/10.1177/15589447261430936 "Racial and Ethnic Differences in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Management: Analysis of a National Single-payer System" — Benítez TM et al., Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open — https://doi.org/10.1097/GOX.0000000000007545 "Digital Artery Pseudoaneurysm After Collagenase Injection for Dupuytren Contracture: A Case Report" — Schwarz N et al., Hand (N Y) — https://doi.org/10.1177/15589447261430938

    15 min
  2. 15 APR

    Episode 101: Shoulder & Elbow Edition — Vol. 1, Issue 15 (2026-04-15)

    Today's shoulder and elbow edition examines economic justification for robotic assistance in reverse shoulder arthroplasty, histological predictors of rotator cuff repair failure, machine learning approaches to tear prediction, and geographic differences in total shoulder arthroplasty outcomes. Key findings include the economic challenges of routine robotic adoption, the limited predictive value of muscle histology for repair failure, promising but moderate performance of AI-based tear prediction, and surprisingly favorable outcomes at rural centers with experienced surgeons. "Is Robotic-Assisted Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty Economically Justified? A Break-Even Analysis." — Menendez ME et al., J Shoulder Elbow Surg — https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2026.03.010 "Characterizing histological fatty accumulation, muscle atrophy, and fibrosis in relation to re-tear and revision after primary rotator cuff repair: a mean 3-year follow-up study." — Ruderman LV et al., JSES Rev Rep Tech — https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xrrt.2026.100702 "Machine learning-based prediction of rotator cuff tears using anatomical parameters: a retrospective cohort study." — Hou Z et al., BMC Musculoskelet Disord — https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-026-09765-2 "Revision rates following total shoulder arthroplasty in rural and urban hospitals : an Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry analysis of high-volume surgeons." — Dragan Z et al., Bone Jt Open — https://doi.org/10.1302/2633-1462.73.BJO-2025-0299.R1

    14 min
  3. 13 APR

    Episode 99: Hip Edition — Vol. 1, Issue 15 (2026-04-13)

    Today's hip edition covers four diverse studies examining complex arthroplasty scenarios, surgical approach optimization, pharmaceutical interventions, and fracture fixation biomechanics. We explore outcomes in the challenging population of LVAD recipients undergoing joint replacement, compare thirteen different surgical approaches for total hip arthroplasty, examine five-year follow-up data on denosumab efficacy, and review optimal screw placement strategies for femoral neck fractures. "Perioperative management and outcomes of hip and knee arthroplasty among heartmate 3 left ventricular assist device recipients" — Turan O et al., Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol — https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-026-04692-3 "Early clinical efficacy and safety of different surgical approaches in total hip arthroplasty: a systematic review and network meta-analysis" — Wang X et al., BMC Musculoskelet Disord — https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-026-09683-3 "Denosumab and bone loss in uncemented total hip arthroplasty: a secondary 5-year follow-up of a randomized controlled trial" — Sköld C et al., Acta Orthop — https://doi.org/10.2340/17453674.2026.45695 "Does the distal screw location in the Biplane double-supported screw fixation technique affect the risk of subtrochanteric fractures after femoral neck fixation? A finite element analysis" — Wang Z et al., BMC Musculoskelet Disord — https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-026-09770-5

    12 min

About

OrthoDigest is a fully AI-generated daily podcast by Joint Venture Orthopaedics — from automated research discovery and manuscript selection to script writing, voice production, and multilingual translation. Every step of the pipeline is powered by artificial intelligence, making it one of the first fully autonomous medical podcasts. Each episode covers six open-access, peer-reviewed manuscripts on a rotating subspecialty schedule — hip, knee, shoulder & elbow, hand & wrist, foot & ankle, spine, trauma, sports medicine, pediatrics, and oncology. Every study discussed is freely available, with links in the episode notes. Whether you're a surgeon, resident, researcher, or allied health professional, OrthoDigest keeps you current in about 20 minutes a day.