Houston Methodist Showcases Joint Reconstruction Advances at AAOS 2026

From award-winning infection prevention research to data-driven transitional care redesign, Houston Methodist Hospital's Orthopedics & Sports Medicine team will arrive at AAOS 2026 armed with evidence that innovation in joint reconstruction extends far beyond the operating room.

The Houston Methodist physicians and researchers will present new findings in adult joint reconstruction — including advances in total hip and total knee arthroplasty — at the 2026 American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) annual meeting March 2–6 in New Orleans.

One of the largest gatherings in musculoskeletal medicine, AAOS brings together global leaders for expert-led education, bioskills workshops, technology demonstrations and specialty sessions across every orthopedic discipline.

This year, Houston Methodist’s presence reflects a defining focus of the program: translating practical surgical innovation into measurable improvements in patient outcomes.

Leading the conversation on infection prevention

A central theme of Houston Methodist’s featured research is the use of intraosseous (IO) vancomycin in joint replacement surgery — a technique Houston Methodist physicians helped bring into orthopedic practice in recent years.

Dr. Jennifer Liu will present “Reduced Reinfection Rate with Intraosseous Vancomycin Administration for Reimplantation in Two-Stage Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty” during Case Chats: Adult Knee Reconstruction – Infection session on March 5.

Her findings demonstrate that IO vancomycin administered during reimplantation in two-stage revision TKA was associated with lower rates of recurrent periprosthetic joint infection at one-, two- and three-year follow-up compared with intravenous prophylaxis.

The work has earned national recognition, including the John Insall Award, and will also be featured at Knee Society specialty day during AAOS 2026.

Expanding on that body of work, Dr. Kevin Park will speak on “Intraosseous Vancomycin Without a Tourniquet: Knees and Hips” as part of the symposium Should I Be Using Intraosseous Vancomycin in My Knee Practice on March 3.

The session will review the biologic rationale for IO administration, demonstrate surgical technique and examine published clinical outcomes — including Houston Methodist’s contributions to the growing evidence base.

Further strengthening the data, Dr. Austin Wininger will present findings showing that IO vancomycin in primary TKA was associated with a significantly lower rate of postoperative acute kidney injury compared with intravenous vancomycin. The research will be featured in the Adult Reconstruction Knee poster session on March 2.

The presentations reinforce Houston Methodist’s leadership in refining infection prevention strategies in joint arthroplasty, where even incremental risk reduction can translate into substantial gains in implant longevity, complication avoidance and patient quality of life.

Improving outcomes beyond the operating room

Houston Methodist’s presence at AAOS 2026 also highlights efforts to improve outcomes across the full episode of care.

Dr. Mackenzie Neumaier will present “Impact of a Transitional Care Program Following Inpatient Admission after Total Hip Arthroplasty” during the Adult Reconstruction Hip Poster Session on March 4.

Despite serving patients with higher area deprivation index rankings, lower average income and more revision procedures, the transitional care cohort experienced lower 90-day readmission rates compared with patients who were not enrolled in the program.

The findings underscore Houston Methodist’s commitment to redesigning perioperative care models — addressing social determinants of health and post-discharge vulnerability to reduce avoidable complications and hospital returns.

Additional Houston Methodist presenters at AAOS 2026 include physicians Drs. Justin Aflatooni, Timothy Brown, Terry Clyburn, Stephen Incavo and Colin McNamara and researchers Sade Kelly, Katie Schriner and Thomas Sullivan.

For more information, and a complete schedule of events, visit the AAOS 2026 website.