The True Madness of March: Betting on NCAA Tournament

 

With the Final Four happening this weekend, it’s a good time to consider the influence of ”the tournament,” particularly the less attractive aspects of competitive sports. The American Gaming Association reports that Americans are expected to legally wager around $3.1 billion on the tournaments, up from $2.7 billion in 2024. 

 

Placing a bet? It’s the digital dance of chance

 

The U.S. Supreme Court’s 2018 decision in Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), opened up legal sports gambling beyond Nevada. Over the span of seven years, total 

sports wagers skyrocketed from $4.9 billion in 2017 to $121.1 billion in 2023. Notably, 94% of total sports bets placed in 2023 were made online.

 

The dark underbelly of betting

 

Recent research by NCAA has revealed that athlete harassment related to betting is widespread across all college sports. The study found 17% of Division I men’s basketball players reported experiencing harassment from sports bettors.

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What's Obesity and Arthroplasty ... Again!

by Vince Vacketta, DPM

 

Beyond a surgeon’s experience and skill, patient selection is critical for the success of total ankle arthroplasty (TAA). While characteristics such as peripheral neuropathy or existing infections offer more objective guidance when counseling patients, the issue of obesity is more complex and increasingly significant due to the rising obesity epidemic. Two recent publications shed further light on this topic.

 

Ankle girth

 

While the body mass index (BMI) provides an objective measure of a patient’s overall size, other anthropometric variables can differ significantly among patients with similar BMI, such as the presence of “cankles.” Although large ankle circumference might be concerning when considering TAA, a recent study by Christie et al, presented at this year’s America College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) conference may silence some fears. 

 

The study, involving 100 TAA patients, showed an overall reduced risk of post-operative wound complications when using “anterior soft tissue depth” (ASTD) as a measure. Specifically, it was found that patients with an ASTD of 16 mm or less had a higher risk for post-operative wound dehiscence, which is a positive finding for patients with thicker ankles. 

 

Ethical considerations

 

The aforementioned study, as well as several studies assessing the effect of BMI on TAA, provide valuable objective data on TAA outcomes in obese patients. While there is generally an increased risk of complications and reduced TAA survivorship in obese individuals, ankle arthritis affects people of all shapes and sizes, and not everyone is an ideal candidate for arthrodesis. A recent article published by LaChance et al. in Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery offers a thought-provoking discussion, supported by literature, on the ethical considerations of nonmaleficence, beneficence, patient autonomy, and justice when considering TAA in obese patients. I encourage you to read more.

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What's the Latest Buzz in Biologics?

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Bone grafts are widely available, but finding ones backed by solid level-1 evidence is a challenge. It’s refreshing to see a company prioritizing research over revenue, especially as it now focuses on the foot and ankle market segment. 

 

MagnetOs

 

Kuros Biosciences has successfully completed a notable level-1 study on posterior lateral fusion, setting the stage for its expansion into the extremity market. Kuros' core technology, the MagnetOs bone graft platform, uses nano architecture to interact with macrophages to harness the human immune system and stimulate bone healing. The spine community has responded enthusiastically, with MagnetOs achieving an impressive revenue of $85 million in 2024. 

 

Track record of success

 

As it steps into 2025, Kuros has assembled a dedicated internal extremities team led by Jantzen Cole, former vice president of marketing at Artelon. While the team faces the challenge of increasing brand awareness and replicating its success in the spine market within the foot and ankle segment, its first time appearance at ACFAS conference created a significant impact. 

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