Newswise — What does the withdrawal mean for adults and children suffering from orthopedic and rheumatic conditions, sports injuries or joint replacement surgery?
Merck's voluntary withdrawal of Vioxx® is causing concern among patients afflicted by a variety of orthopedic and rheumatic conditions. Whether patients are recovering from joint replacement surgery or sports injuries, or suffering from arthritis, osteoarthritis or lupus, they are looking to their healthcare practitioners for advice on alternative medications that will them relieve their pain.
The following Hospital for Special Surgery's doctors are available to comment on the Vioxx® withdrawal and its implications for patients:
Theodore R. Fields, MD, FACPAssociate Attending PhysicianAvailable to discuss: Medication alternatives to Vioxx®, reasons for withdrawal of Vioxx, non-medication approaches to arthritis, the COX-2 selective vs non-selective anti-inflammatory agents.
Joseph A. Markenson, MDAttending PhysicianAvailable to discuss: Current drug studies involving patients with rheumatic disease (rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and lupus), medication alternatives to Vioxx®, reasons for withdrawal of Vioxx®, non-medication approaches to arthritis, the COX-2 selective vs non-selective anti-inflammatory agents.
Thomas J.A. Lehman, MDChief, Division of Pediatric RheumatologyAvailable to discuss: Implications for children with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis Lehman, author of author of It's Not Just Growing Pains, published by Oxford University Press, devotes a section of the book to the various medications available to children with rheumatic diseases and the reasons for taking medications even if they pose potential risks to children.
Scott A. Rodeo, MDClinician-scientist, Department of Orthopedic Surgery (Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service) and the Research Department (Laboratory for Soft Tissue Research) and Associate team physician for New York GiantsAvailable to discuss: Implications for athletes and sports injuries
Michael D Lockshin, MDAttending Rheumatologist Director, Barbara Volcker Center for Women and Rheumatic DiseaseAvailable to discuss: Alternatives for patients suffering from rheumatic diseases
For more information on the Vioxx® voluntary withdrawal, please visit: http://www.hss.edu/Departments/Rheumatology/Conditions-and-Treatments/vioxx http://www.hss.edu/Departments/Rheumatology/Conditions-and-Treatments/Vioxx-Lockshin
For a discussion of how to reduce the side effects of COX-2 inhibitors " the group of drugs in which Vioxx® belongs " please visit: http://www.hss.edu/Conditions/Arthritis/Reduce-Side-Effects-Of-Cox-2
For information on the Vioxx® withdrawal and its implications for the management of osteoarthritis for patients, please visit: http://www.hss.edu/Conditions/Osteoarthritis/Osteoarthritis-Overview
About HSSFounded in 1863, the Hospital for Special Surgery is a world leader in orthopedics, rheumatology and rehabilitation. Ranked No.1 in the Northeast in its specialties by U.S. News and World Report, HSS was awarded Magnet Recognition for Excellence in Nursing Service from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. A member of the New York-Presbyterian Healthcare System and an affiliate of Weill Medical College of Cornell University, HSS provides orthopedic and rheumatologic patient care at New York-Presbyterian Hospital at New York Weill Cornell Medical Center. All HSS medical staff are on the faculty of Weill Medical College of Cornell University. Its Research Institute is internationally recognized as a leader in the investigation of musculoskeletal and autoimmune diseases. The hospital is located in New York City, www.hss.edu.
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