title: Risk of hepatitis C virus exposure in orthopedic surgery: is universal screening needed?
abstract: The aging baby boomer generation will soon start using tremendous orthopedic surgical resources. This group has also been identified as a group at high risk for having undiagnosed hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We conducted a study to assess the prevalence of HCV among orthopedic surgery patients at our institution-using their demographic data to determine whether they represent a unique cohort at high risk for having undiagnosed HCV. We estimated that we operated on as many as 233 patients with undiagnosed HCV in 2011. A cost-effective, universal preoperative HCV screening program may reduce the risk for occupational exposure in orthopedic surgery and significantly benefit public health by bringing undiagnosed patients to treatment. A robust screening program requires several ethical considerations. By offering routine screening to patients, orthopedic surgeons have an opportunity to maintain intraoperative safety and improve the health of the public.
authors.forename: Edward M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: DelSole
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Mercuri
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stachel
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.affiliation: NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York, NY. joseph.zuckerman@nyumc.org.
authors.forename: Joseph D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Zuckerman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015995:Prevalence; D012306:Risk; D055815:Young Adult