Preoperative high-dose Steroids in Total Knee and Hip Arthroplasty - Protocols for three randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA)/ total hip arthroplasty (THA) still experience moderate-severe postoperative pain despite optimized pain management regimes. The patients already on opioid treatment and pain catastrophizers (PCs) have a higher risk of postoperative pain. The use of preoperative intravenous high-dose glucocorticoids decreases postoperative pain after TKA and THA, but optimal dose is yet to be found, and the effect on subpopulations at high pain risk is unknown. AIM: To investigate the effect of a higher than previously used dose of glucocorticoids (dexamethasone (DXM)), administered intravenously before surgery, as part of standardized fast-track regimen, on postoperative pain in TKA/THA subgroups. METHOD: Three separate randomized, double-blinded, controlled trials were planned to compare a new higher dose DXM (1 mg/kg) to the earlier used high-dose DXM (0.3 mg/kg). Study 1: predicted Low Pain TKA; study 2: predicted High Pain Responder (HPR) TKA; study 3: predicted HPR THA. Predicted HPR groups consist of either PCs with PCS-score of ≥ 21 and/or history of ongoing opioid-treatment of 30 mg/day of morphine or equivalents > 30 days. In total, 408 patients were planned for inclusion (160 Low Pain TKA, 88 HPR TKA, 160 HPR THA). PRIMARY OUTCOME: Pain upon ambulation in a 5-meter walk test 24 hours after surgery. Secondary outcomes include use of analgesics, rescue-opioids, antiemetics, cumulated pain, CRP, OR-SDS, QoR-15, quality of sleep, length of stay (LOS), reasons for hospitalization, readmission, morbidity, and mortality. Patients completed follow-up on day 90. Recruiting commenced February 2019 and is expected to finish in September 2020.

Safety Aspects of Postanesthesia Care Unit Discharge without Motor Function Assessment after Spinal Anesthesia: A Randomized, Multicenter, Semiblinded, Noninferiority, Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Postanesthesia care unit (PACU) discharge without observation of lower limb motor function after spinal anesthesia has been suggested to significantly reduce PACU stay and enhance resource optimization and early rehabilitation but without enough data to allow clinical recommendations. METHODS: A multicenter, semiblinded, noninferiority randomized controlled trial of discharge from the PACU with or without assessment of lower limb motor function after elective total hip or knee arthroplasty under spinal anesthesia was undertaken. The primary outcome was frequency of a successful fast-track course (length of stay 4 days or less and no 30-day readmission). Noninferiority would be declared if the odds ratio (OR) for a successful fast-track course was no worse for those patients receiving no motor function assessment versus those patients receiving motor function assessment by OR = 0.68. RESULTS: A total of 1,359 patients (98.8% follow-up) were available for analysis (93% American Society of Anesthesiologists class 1 to 2). The primary outcome occurred in 92.2% and 92.0%, corresponding to no motor function assessment being noninferior to motor function assessment with OR 0.97 (95% CI, 0.70 to 1.35). Adverse events in the ward during the first 24 h occurred in 5.8% versus 7.4% with or without motor function assessment, respectively (OR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.5 to 1.19, P = 0.24). CONCLUSIONS: PACU discharge without assessment of lower limb motor function after spinal anesthesia for total hip or knee arthroplasty was noninferior to motor function assessment in achieving length of stay 4 days or less or 30-day readmissions. Because a nonsignificant tendency toward increased adverse events during the first 24 h in the ward was discovered, further safety data are needed in patients without assessment of lower limb motor function before PACU discharge.

No evidence of a clinically important effect of adding local infusion analgesia administrated through a catheter in pain treatment after total hip arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Postoperative analgesia after primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) using opioids is associated with troublesome side effects such as nausea and dizziness, and epidural analgesic means delayed mobilization. Thus, local infiltration analgesia (LIA) during surgery prolonged with local infusion analgesia (LINFA) into the soft tissue in the hip region through a catheter in the first postoperative days has gained major interest in THA fast-track settings within a short period of time. LIA at the time of surgery is a validated treatment. We investigated the additional effect of giving postoperative LINFA after THA in patients already having LIA during surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 60 consecutive patients undergoing non-cemented THA were randomized into two groups in a double-blind and controlled study. During surgery, all patients received standardized pain treatment with LIA. Postoperatively, they were treated either with a solution of Ropivacain, Ketorolac, and Adrenaline (LINFA group) or placebo (placebo group) administered through a catheter to the hip 10 and 22 h after surgery. Pain score, opioid consumption, and length of stay (LOS) were evaluated. RESULTS: After adjustment for multiple testing, there was no statistically significant postoperative difference between the LINFA group and the placebo group regarding pain and tiredness. We found some evidence of a short-term effect on nausea and vomiting. Opioid consumption and length of stay were similar in the two groups. INTERPRETATION: We found some evidence of a short-term effect of LINFA on nausea and vomiting, but no evidence of an effect on postoperative pain and tiredness. Thus, LINFA cannot be recommended as a standard pain treatment in patients with THA.

Epidural steroid following discectomy for herniated lumbar disc reduces neurological impairment and enhances recovery: a randomized study with two-year follow-up.

STUDY DESIGN: We randomized 200 patients after lumbar discectomy to receive epidural steroid or none with a 2-year follow-up. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcome, neurologic impairment and safety of epidural steroid following lumbar discectomy for herniated disc disease. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Convalescence after discectomy for herniated disc disease is dependent on pain and the inflammatory response. Previous studies in arthroscopic and abdominal surgery demonstrate steroids, which reduce the inflammatory response and enhance recovery. Here we report a 2-year follow-up of a randomized trial of epidural steroid following lumbar discectomy. METHODS: Through 2001 and 2003 200 patients undergoing discectomy for herniated disc disease were randomly allocated to receive epidural methylprednisolone 40 mg or none. In the control group (62 males and 38 females, median age 41 years, 18-66) 48 L5, 50 L4, and 6 L3 discectomies were performed and in the intervention group (60 males and 40 females, median age 45 years, 15-53) 56 L5, 46 L4, and 3 L3 discectomies. Contemporary with randomization to epidural steroid or none both groups received preoperative prophylactic antibiotics and the same multimodal pain treatment. RESULTS: Hospital stay was reduced from 8 to 6 days (P = 0.0001) and the number of patients with neurologic signs were reduced more (70% vs. 44%, P = 0.0004) by epidural steroid. Incidence of reoperation at 1 year was 6% in both groups and 8% in the control group and 7% in the intervention group after 2 years. No infections were registered. CONCLUSION: Epidural methylprednisolone enhances recovery after discectomy for herniated disc disease without apparent side effects.

[Integrated clinical educational project]. / Integreret klinisk uddannelse.

This paper describes a two-year postgraduate educational project involving three different clinical departments. The educational climate was enhanced through different interventions, such as training tutors, more effective supervision, improved daily routines, and repeated educational seminars. Evaluation was made by questionnaires involving all physicians once a year. In addition to the repetition of interventions, the importance of support from leaders and general engagement in the process of changing the educational climate is underlined.