Association of physical activity trajectories over 8 years and risk of knee replacement: data from the osteoarthritis initiative.

BACKGROUND: To identify physical activity (PA) trajectories in adults with or at risk of knee osteoarthritis and to evaluate the association of PA trajectories with incident knee replacement (KR). METHODS: This study used data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative. The Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly and the KR were assessed annually from baseline to 9 years. Individuals were included if they did not undergo KR surgery at baseline and had data on PA at ≥ 1 visit before KR. Latent class growth mixture Modeling was used to identify the optimal trajectories of PA before KR. Log-binomial regression models were used to assess the association between PA trajectories and the risk of KR. Data analyses were conducted in all individuals and those with radiographic osteoarthritis (ROA) and significant knee pain (Western Ontario and McMaster Osteoarthritis Index pain score of ≥ 5 on a 0-20 scale) at baseline, respectively. RESULTS: Of 4731 participants (mean age 61.1 years, 58.5% female), four distinct and slightly declined PA trajectories were identified. Compared to individuals with a "Low" PA trajectory, those with "Medium-low", "Medium-high", or "High" PA trajectories were not significantly associated with the risk of KR (risk ratios: 0.97-1.19, all p > 0.05). Similar PA trajectories and associations with the risk of KR were observed in the subgroups of individuals with radiographic osteoarthritis and those with significant knee pain at baseline, respectively. CONCLUSION: In participants with or at risk of knee osteoarthritis, PA slightly declines over time and may play no role in the risk of KR.

The Growing Role of Artificial Intelligence and Technology in Hip and Knee Arthroplasty.

Artificial intelligence and technology have continued to evolve over recent decades, and their utility in hip and knee arthroplasty is growing with interest and enthusiasm. A multitude of technologies are available to assist surgeons in the intraoperative execution of hip and knee arthroplasty, ranging from robotics and augmented reality to artificial intelligence-powered fluoroscopy. The purpose of this review is to provide a framework for arthroplasty surgeons to understand the concept of artificial intelligence and the advancements in technologies that impact the perioperative care of patients undergoing hip and knee arthroplasty.

Disparities in Total Knee and Total Hip Arthroplasty Rates in the Population of Alaska, 2015 to 2018.

OBJECTIVE: Racial and ethnic disparities in total joint replacements have been documented. Our objective was to determine the rates of total joint replacements for Alaska Native/American Indian (AN/AI) individuals compared with non-AN/AI individuals in Alaska and investigate the differences in characteristics and outcomes by race. METHODS: We used hospital discharge data from the Alaska Health Facilities Data Reporting Program from 2015 to 2018. We identified people with an inpatient primary or revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA) or total hip arthroplasty (THA). We determined the population proportion of each procedure, age-adjusted rates by race, age-specific rates, and multivariable adjusted rate ratios for TKA or THA. We compared the characteristics of people undergoing primary TKA and THA by race. RESULTS: In 2,195,806 person-years, there were 8,131 arthroplasty procedures (4,594 primary TKAs, 2,791 primary THAs, 378 revision TKAs, and 368 revision THAs). Primary TKAs and THAs were less likely in people of AN/AI or "Other" race compared with people of White race, with some heterogeneity in the "Other" race category. In multivariable models, the adjusted rate ratio for AN/AI compared with White race for TKA was 0.70 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.60-0.82) and for THA was 0.69 (95% CI 0.55-0.85). AN/AI individuals undergoing TKA and THA were more likely to reside in rural locations, be younger than 65 years, have longer hospital stay, and discharge to home. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed the existence of racial disparities in TKA and THA in Alaska. There may be many underlying causes, and future research should focus on improving access to care.

Trends in Venous Thromboembolism and Chemoprophylaxis Utilization in Elective Total Knee Arthroplasty From 2011 to 2020.

BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a feared complication of joint arthroplasty, leading to recent clinical practice guidelines aimed at VTE prevention and prophylaxis. However, limited studies have examined national changes in practice regarding chemoprophylaxis and the resultant changes in VTE rates. The purpose of this study was to identify: (1) the temporal trends in thrombotic complications; and (2) changes in chemoprophylaxis utilization in patients undergoing elective total knee arthroplasty (TKA). METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted using a large all-payer claims dataset. Patients who underwent osteoarthritis-indicated TKA between 2011 and 2020 were identified. Annual rates of VTE, including deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, within 90 days of TKA were determined. Utilization patterns for postoperative aspirin and anticoagulant medications were observed. Temporal trends were analyzed with linear regression and the calculation of the cumulative annual growth rate. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to account for the effects of age and comorbidities. RESULTS: A total of 1,263,351 TKA patients were identified between 2011 and 2020. There were significant reductions in VTE rates (2.9% in 2011 to 1.8% in 2020), deep vein thrombosis rates (2.0% in 2011 to 1.3% in 2020), and pulmonary embolism rates (1.1% in 2011 to 0.6% in 2020). Postoperative utilization of aspirin increased from 5.9% in 2011 to 53.2% in 2020, whereas utilization of anticoagulants decreased from 94.1% in 2011 to 46.8% in 2020. Among anticoagulants, direct factor Xa inhibitors had the greatest increase in utilization (4.6 to 69.7%). The average reimbursement associated with VTE after TKA decreased from $18,061 in 2011 to $7,835 in 2020. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence rate and economic burden of VTE after TKA have significantly declined since 2011. There has been a trend toward increased aspirin and direct oral anticoagulant utilization for postoperative chemoprophylaxis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Is It Getting More Expensive to Treat Patients Who Have a High Comorbidity Burden? Financial Trends in Total Knee Arthroplasty From 2013 to 2021.

BACKGROUND: Utilization of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) continues to rise among patients who have a high comorbidity burden (HCB). With changes in reimbursement models over the past decade, it is essential to assess the financial impact of HCB TKA on healthcare systems. This study aimed to examine trends in revenue and costs associated with TKA in HCB patients over time. METHODS: Of 14,978 TKA performed at a large, urban academic medical center between 2013 and 2021, we retrospectively analyzed HCB patients (Charlson comorbidity index ≥ 5 and American Society of Anesthesiology scores of 3 or 4). A total of 1,156 HCB TKA patients who had complete financial data were identified. Patient demographics, perioperative data, revenue, costs, and contribution margin were collected for each patient. Changes in these financial values over time, as a percentage of 2013 values, were analyzed. Linear regression was performed with a trend analysis to determine significance. RESULTS: From 2013 to 2021, the percentage of HCB TKAs per year increased from 4.2% in 2013 to 16.5% in 2021 (P < .001). The revenue of TKA in HCB patients remained steady (P = .093), while direct costs increased significantly (32.0%; P = .015), resulting in a decline of contribution margin to a low of 82.3% of 2013 margins. There was no significant change in rates of 90-day complications or home discharge following HCB TKA during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate a major rise in cost for TKA among HCB patients, without a corresponding rise in revenue. As more patients who have HCB become candidates for TKA, the negative financial impact on institutions should be considered, as payments to institutions do not adequately reflect patient complexity. A re-evaluation of institutional payments for medically complex TKA patients is warranted to maintain patient access among at-need populations.

Tendencias en la cirugía de artroplastía total de rodilla en Chile. ¿Cómo las estamos operando? / Trends in total knee replacement surgery in Chile. How are we operating them?

INTRODUCCION La artroplastía total de rodilla (ATR), que ha tenido un aumento importante en la población en las últimas décadas, presenta una gran variación en su estudio y técnica entre los distintos países. En la actualidad no hay datos nacionales registrados que evalúen la forma de su implementación. Objetivo Registrar las tendencias respecto de la ATR en distintos aspectos en Chile y compararlas con los registros de otros países. MATERIALES y METODOS Se realizó una encuesta vía email a cirujanos de rodilla en Chile considerando cuatro aspectos: generalidades, estudio preoperatorio, técnica quirúrgica y técnica de cementación. Se excluyeron las encuestas que no rellenadas por completo. Se analizaron los datos generales y separados según años de experiencia (ADE). Se compararon los datos con los obtenidos en estudios internacionales. RESULTADOS Se obtuvieron 87 encuestas completas. La mayoría de los encuestados realizaba entre 25 y 50 ATR en 1 año (44%), y el 16%, más de 75. Sólo un 20% utilizaba la modalidad ambulatoria, y un 43% creía que siempre deben ser hospitalizadas (mayor frecuencia en los cirujanos con más de 10 ADE). Un 18% utilizaba algún sistema robótico, con mayor frecuencia en cirujanos con más de 10 ADE; los sistemas más usados fueron ROSA y CORI. El 90% creía que la ATR debería ser parte del programa de Garantías Explícitas de Salud (GES), sin diferencias según ADE. El 81% usaba sistema estabilizado posterior (posterior-estabilized, PS, en inglés), 96% realizaba un abordaje parapatelar medial, 82% usaba guía extramedular tibial, 41% tendía a recambiar la patela, y un 35% no usaba torniquete (ninguna de las variables mostró diferencias según ADE). Sólo un 31% utilizaba cementación al vacío (mayor frecuencia en el grupo con menos de 10 ADE), 95% colocaba el cemento en componentes y en hueso, 75% colocaba en la quilla, y 56% utilizaba el dedo para colocarlo (sólo 22% con pistola). La secuencia más frecuente de cementación fue tibia-fémur-patela. En la mayoría de los aspectos evaluados, se observaron diferencias importantes con estudios de otros países. CONCLUSION Existe una gran variabilidad en la realización de ATR en Chile, con tendencias distintas a las de otros países. En general, en relación con los distintos ADE, no hay grandes diferencias en la técnica quirúrgica, sí habiendo diferencias en la técnica de cementación y en el uso de sistemas robóticos

INTRODUCTION Total knee replacement (TKR) significantly increased among the population in recent decades, and it shows great variation in its study and technique in different countries. There is no registered Chilean data to assess TKR implementation. Objective To record the trends in TKR in different aspects within Chile and compare them with records from other countries. MATERIALS AND METHODS We conducted an email survey among knee surgeons in Chile considering four aspects: general features, preoperative study, surgical technique, and cementation technique. We excluded surveys not completed in full. The analyses included overall data and data per years of experience (YOEs), and we compared the results with those of international studies. RESULTS We obtained 87 complete surveys. Most respondents performed 25 to 50 TKRs each year (44%), with only 16% performing over 75 TKRs. Only 20% used the ambulatory modality, while 43% believed patients always require hospitalization (especially surgeons with more than 10 YOEs). Robotic systems were used by 18% of the surgeons, especially those with more than 10 YOEs; the most used systems were ROSA and CORI. In total 90% of the respondents believed TKR should be part of the Explicit Health Guarantees (Garantías Explícitas de Salud, GES, in Spanish) program, with no differences in terms of YOEs. A total of 81% used the posterior-stabilized (PS) system, 96% performed a medial parapatellar approach, 82% used an extramedullary tibial guide, 41% tended to replace the patella, and 35% did not use a tourniquet (none of the variables showed differences according to YOEs). Only 31% used vacuum cementation (with a higher frequency in the group with fewer than 10 YOEs), 95% placed cement on components and bone, 75% placed it in the keel, and 56% used finger packing (only 22% with a gun). The most common cementation sequence was tibia femur-patella. In most aspects evaluated, we observed important differences compared with studies from other countries. CONCLUSION There is a high variability in the performance of TKR in Chile, with different trends compared with those of other countries. Overall, there are no major differences in the surgical technique concerning YOEs, although there is variation in the cementation technique and the use of robotic systems

Orthopedic Surgery Volume Trends During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Postvaccination Era: Implications for Healthcare Planning.

BACKGROUND: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic decreased surgical volumes, but prior studies have not investigated recovery through 2022, or analyzed specific procedures or cases of urgency within orthopedic surgery. The aims of this study were to (1) quantify the declines in orthopedic surgery volume during and after the pandemic peak, (2) characterize surgical volume recovery during the postvaccination period, and (3) characterize recovery in the 1-year postvaccine release period. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 27,476 orthopedic surgeries from January 2019 to December 2022 at one urban academic quaternary referral center. We reported trends over the following periods: baseline pre-COVID-19 period (1/6/2019 to 1/4/2020), COVID-19 peak (3/15/2020 to 5/16/2020), post-COVID-19 peak (5/17/2020 to 1/2/2021), postvaccine release (1/3/2021 to 1/1/2022), and 1-year postvaccine release (1/2/2022 to 12/30/2022). Comparisons were performed with 2 sample t-tests. RESULTS: Pre-COVID-19 surgical volume fell by 72% at the COVID-19 peak, especially impacting elective procedures (P < .001) and both hip and knee joint arthroplasty (P < .001) procedures. Nonurgent (P = .024) and urgent or emergency (P = .002) cases also significantly decreased. Postpeak recovery before the vaccine saw volumes rise to 92% of baseline, which further rose to 96% and 94% in 2021 and 2022, respectively. While elective procedures surpassed the baseline in 2022, nonurgent and urgent or emergency surgeries remained low. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic substantially reduced orthopedic surgical volumes, which have still not fully recovered through 2022, particularly nonelective procedures. The differential recovery within an orthopedic surgery program may result in increased morbidity and can serve to inform department-level operational recovery.

Trends in Deep Vein Thrombosis Prophylaxis After Total Knee Arthroplasty: 2016 to 2021.

BACKGROUND: In 2011, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons released a consensus recommending venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The purpose of our study was to examine (1) incidences of postoperative complications, including pulmonary embolism (PE), deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and transfusion rates; (2) trends from 2016 to 2021 in VTE prophylaxis; and (3) independent risk factors for 90-day total complications following TKA between aspirin, enoxaparin, rivaroxaban, and warfarin. METHODS: Using a national, all-payer database from 2016 to 2021, we identified all patients who underwent primary TKA. Exclusions included all patients who had prescribed anticoagulants within 1 year prior to TKA, hypercoagulable states, and cancer. Data were collected on baseline demographics, including age, sex, diabetes, and a comorbidity index, in each of the VTE prophylaxis cohorts. Postoperative outcomes included rates of PE, DVT, and transfusion. Multivariable regressions were performed to determine independent risk factors for total complications at 90 days following TKA. RESULTS: From 2016 to 2021, aspirin was the most used anticoagulant (n = 62,054), followed by rivaroxaban (n = 26,426), enoxaparin (n = 20,980), and warfarin (n = 13,305). The cohort using warfarin had the highest incidences of PE (1.8%) and DVT (5.7%), while the cohort using aspirin had the lowest incidences of PE (0.6%) and DVT (1.6%). The rates of aspirin use increased the most from 2016 to 2021 (32.1% to 70.8%), while the rates of warfarin decreased the most (19.3% to 3.0%). Enoxaparin, rivaroxaban, and warfarin were independent risk factors for total complications at 90 days. CONCLUSIONS: An epidemiological analysis of VTE prophylaxis use from 2016 to 2021 shows an increase in aspirin following TKA compared to other anticoagulant cohorts in a nationally representative population. This approach provides more insight and a better understanding of anticoagulation trends over this time period in a nationally representative sample.

Methodological Assessment of the 100 Most-Cited Articles in Total Knee Arthroplasty in the Last Decade Compared to the All-Time List.

BACKGROUND: Recent advances in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) have been driven by a growing focus on evidence-based medicine. This transition is reflected in the critical appraisal of both, the quality of work and the potential impact on the orthopedic community. The purpose of our study was to (1) identify the top 100 most-cited articles in TKA in the last decade and from all-time, and (2) compare methodological rigor of the most-cited articles in TKA in the last decade to articles all-time by level of evidence. METHODS: The top 100 cited articles were recorded for manuscripts from the last decade, January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2022, and manuscripts from all-time for TKA. We collected authors, year of publication, journal of the article, country of origin of authors, article type (basic science article, clinical research article), level of evidence, methodological index for non-randomized studies score, physiotherapy evidence database scale, and citation density (total citations/years published). RESULTS: The largest number of studies for all-time TKA (53.0%) and decade TKA (42.0%) were Level III. The average methodological index for non-randomized studies score for comparative studies was 18.7 for all-time TKA and 20.7 for decade TKA (P < .001). The average physiotherapy evidence database score was 6.1 for all-time TKA and 8.1 for decade TKA (P > .05). The highest citation density for all-time TKA was 111 and for past decade was 63. The number of level II studies in TKA increased from 19.0% from all time to 38.0% from the last decade (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings of improved methodologies over time reflect positive steps toward evidence-based practice in TKA. A continued focus on producing methodologically sound studies may guide evidence-based clinical decision-making.

Evaluation of Trends in Knee Arthroscopy from 2004 to 2019 in Ontario, Canada.

BACKGROUND: How changes in recommendations for the use of knee arthroscopy have influenced real-world practice remains unclear. We assessed temporal trends in knee arthroscopy volume, costs, and rates of progression to knee arthroplasty following arthroscopy in Ontario, Canada. METHODS: We used diagnostic codes from population-based administrative databases from Ontario, Canada, to identify patients who underwent knee arthroscopy from April 1, 2004 to March 31, 2019. We calculated arthroscopy volume, costs, and rates of progression to knee arthroplasty within 1, 2, and 5 years following arthroscopy. RESULTS: A total of 408,040 arthroscopy procedures were included. The number of procedures declined 8.9% from 24,070 in 2004/2005 to 21,930 in 2018/2019. The volume of arthroscopy for osteoarthritis declined by 77.9% between 2007/2008 and 2018/2019. For degenerative meniscus disorders, the volume increased by 57.6% between 2004/2005 and 2013/2014, and then declined by 34.6% between 2013/2014 and 2018/2019. Among patients with osteoarthritis, rates of progression to knee arthroplasty were 3.8%, 9.6%, and 16.0%, at 1, 2, and 5 years, respectively, compared with rates among patients with degenerative meniscal disorders, which were 1.6%, 4.1%, and 7.3% at 1, 2, and 5 years, respectively. Over this period, progression to knee arthroplasty rates declined across diagnosis groups. These trends remained after adjusting for patient, surgeon, and hospital characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: In Ontario, Canada, utilization of knee arthroscopy declined between 2004/2005 and 2018/2019, with a concomitant decline in the rates of progression to knee arthroplasty within 1 to 5 years. Among the possible interpretations, our data are consistent with the hypothesis that clinical practice evolved as evidence-based recommendations against the use of knee arthroscopy for degenerative diagnoses were promulgated. (Funded by the Toronto General and Western Hospital Foundation through the University Health Network­Schroeder Arthritis Institute.)

Recent trends in revision knee arthroplasty in Germany.

We aimed to answer the following questions: (1) How did numbers of revision knee arthroplasty procedures develop in Germany over the last decade compared to primary TKA? (2) How high was the percentage of septic interventions in knee prosthesis revisions? (3) Which treatment strategy was chosen for surgical treatment of knee PJI? Revision arthroplasty rates as a function of age, gender, infection and type of prosthesis were quantified based on Operation and Procedure Classification System codes using revision knee arthroplasty data from 2008 to 2018, provided by the Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis). In 2018, a total number 23,812 revision knee arthroplasties were performed in Germany, yielding an overall increase of 20.76% between 2008 and 2018. In comparison, primary TKA procedures increased by 23.8% from 152,551 performed procedures in 2008 to 188,866 procedures in 2018. Hence, 12.6% of knee arthroplasties required a revision in 2018. Septic interventions increased by 51.7% for all revisions. A trend towards higher numbers in younger patients was observed. Compared to 2008, 17.41% less DAIR procedures were performed, whereby single-stage and two- or multi-stage change increased by 38.76% and 42.76% in 2018, respectively. The increasing number of revision knee arthroplasty in Germany, especially in younger patients and due to infection, underlines the need for future efforts to improve treatment strategies to delay primary arthroplasty and avoid periprosthetic joint infection.

Temporal Trends in Revision Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty from 2008 to 2018: Gaps and Opportunities.

BACKGROUND: An overall assessment of how patient demographic characteristics and comorbidities are improving or worsening can allow better understanding of the value of revision total joint arthroplasty (TJA). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify patient demographic characteristics and comorbidities trends and episode-of-care outcome trends from 2008 to 2018 in patients undergoing revision TJA. METHODS: The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried to identify patient demographic characteristics, comorbidities, and episode-of-care outcomes in patients undergoing revision TJA from 2008 to 2018 (n = 45,706). Pairwise t tests and pairwise chi-square tests were performed on consecutive years with Bonferroni correction. Trends were assessed using the 2-tailed Mann-Kendall test of the temporal trend. RESULTS: Among patients undergoing revision TJA, there was no clinically important difference, from 2008 to 2018, in age, body mass index (BMI), percentages with >40 kg/m2 BMI, diabetes (18.8% to 19%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (4.1% to 5.4%), congestive heart failure within 30 days (0% to 1%), or acute renal failure (0% to 0.2%). However, modifiable comorbidities including smoking status (14.7% to 12.0%; p = 0.01), hypertension (66% to 26.0%; p = 0.02), anemia (34.5% to 26.3%; p < 0.001), malnutrition (10.4% to 9.3%; p = 0.004), and overall morbidity or mortality probability have improved, with a decrease in the hospital length of stay and 30-day readmission and a significant increase in home discharge (p < 0.001 for all). CONCLUSIONS: Time-difference analysis demonstrated that the overall health status of patients undergoing revision TJA improved from 2008 to 2018. However, formal time-trend analysis demonstrated improvements to a lesser degree. The multidisciplinary effort to improve value-based metrics including patient comorbidity optimization and episode-of-care outcomes for primary TJA has been shown to potentially have an impact on revision TJA. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

A projection of primary knee replacement in Denmark from 2020 to 2050.

Background and purpose - The incidence of knee replacements (KRs) has increased in the past decades. Previous studies have forecast a continuous and almost exponential rise in the use of KRs, but this rise must cease at some point. We estimated when and at what incidence the use of KRs will plateau in Denmark.Patients and methods - We retrieved 138,223 primary KRs conducted from 1997 to 2019 from the Danish Knee Arthroplasty Registry. Censuses from 1997 to 2019 as well as population projections from 2020 through 2050 were collected from Statistics Denmark. We applied logistic and Gompertz regression analysis to the data to estimate the future incidence until 2050 with root mean squared error (RMSE) as a quantitative measurement of the models' fit.Results - The Danish incidence of KRs from 1997 to 2009 increased by more than 300%, but has stalled since 2009. Logistic and Gompertz regression had an RMSE of 14 and 15 indicating that these models fitted the data well. Logistic and Gompertz regressions estimated that the maximum incidence will be reached in 2030 at 250 (95% prediction interval [PI]) 159-316) KRs per 105 or in 2035 at 260 (PI 182-336) KRs per 105, respectively.Interpretation - The Danish incidence of KRs seems set to plateau within the coming decades. Countries experiencing a current exponential rise at a lower incidence may benefit from this study's projection when forecasting their future demand for KRs.

Comparison of Patient Demographics and Utilization Trends of Robotic-Assisted and Non-Robotic-Assisted Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty.

Robotic-assisted unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (RAUKA) is an emerging area of interest. The purpose of this study was to compare (1) different patient demographic profiles; (2) annual primary and revision utilization rates; (3) risk factors for revision procedures; and (4) survivorship between RAUKA and manual UKA (MUKA). Using the PearlDiver database, patients who underwent RAUKA or MUKA between 2005 and 2014 within the Medicare database were identified, yielding a total of 35,061 patients (RAUKA = 13,617; manual = 21,444). Patient demographics (age, gender, comorbidities, Charlson-Comorbidity Index, and geographic region) were compared between cohorts. Annual primary and revision utilization rates as well as risk factors for revision procedures were also compared. Kaplan-Meier survivorship was also calculated. The Pearson χ2 test was used to test for significance in patient demographics, whereas the Welch t-test was used to compare the incidence of revisions as well as the revision burden (proportion of revisions to total sum of primary and revision procedures). Multivariate binomial logistic regression analysis was performed to compare risk factors for revision procedures. There were statistically significant differences in RAUKA versus MUKA patients with respect to age (p < 0.001), gender (p < 0.001), and region (p < 0.001). RAUKA procedures performed increased over 12-fold compared with manual, which increased only 4.5-fold. RAUKA procedures had significantly lower revision incidence (0.99 vs. 4.24%, p = 0.003) and revision burden (0.91 vs. 4.23%, p = 0.005) compared with manuals. For patients undergoing RAUKA, normal (19-24 kg/m2) and obese (30-39 kg/m2) body mass index (p < 0.05), congestive heart failure (p = 0.004), hypothyroidism (p < 0.001), opioid dependency (p = 0.002), and rheumatoid arthritis (p < 0.001) were risk factors for a revision procedure. Kaplan-Meier survival curve 3 years following the index procedure to all-cause revisions demonstrated that RAUKA patients maintained nearly 100% survivorship compared with manual patients who had 97.5% survivorship. The data demonstrate increased utilization of RAUKA in the United States. The current data indicated that RAUKA has significantly lower revision rates and improved survivorship compared with patients undergoing non-RAUKA within Medicare patients.

Postoperative Morbidity and Mortality in Diabetic Patients After Fast-Track Hip and Knee Arthroplasty: A Prospective Follow-up Cohort of 36,762 Procedures.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes increases the risk of adverse outcomes in surgical procedures, including total hip and knee arthroplasty (THA/TKA), and the prevalence of diabetic patients undergoing these procedures is high, ranging from approximately 8% to 20%. However, there is still a need to clarify the role of diabetes and antihyperglycemic treatment in a fast-track THA/TKA setting, which otherwise may decrease morbidity. Consequently, we investigated the association between diabetes and antihyperglycemic treatment on length of stay (LOS) and complications following fast-track THA/TKA within a multicenter fast-track collaboration. METHODS: We used an observational study design on data from a prospective multicenter fast-track collaboration on unselected elective primary THA/TKA from 2010 to 2017. Complete follow-up (>99%) was achieved through The Danish National Patient Registry, antihyperglycemic treatment established through the Danish National Database of Reimbursed Prescriptions and types of complications leading to LOS >4 days, 90-day readmission or mortality obtained by scrutinizing health records and discharge summaries. Patients were categorized as nondiabetic and if diabetic into insulin-, orally, and dietary-treated diabetic patients. RESULTS: A total of 36,762 procedures were included, of which 837 (2.3%) had insulin-treated diabetes, 2615 (7.1%) orally treated diabetes, and 566 (1.5%) dietary-treated diabetes. Overall median LOS was 2 (interquartile range [IQR]: 1-3) days, and mean LOS was 2.4 (standard deviation [SD], 2.5) days. The proportion of patients with LOS >4 days was 6.0% for nondiabetic patients, 14.7% for insulin-treated, 9.4% for orally treated, and 9.5% for dietary-treated diabetic patients. Pharmacologically treated diabetes (versus nondiabetes) was independently associated with increased odds of LOS >4 days (insulin-treated: odds ratio [OR], 2.2 [99.6% confidence interval {CI}, 1.3-3.7], P < .001; orally treated: OR, 1.5 [99.6% CI, 1.0-2.1]; P = .002). Insulin-treated diabetes was independently associated with increased odds of "diabetes-related" morbidity (OR, 2.3 [99.6% CI, 1.2-4.2]; P < .001). Diabetic patients had increased renal complications regardless of antihyperglycemic treatment, but only insulin-treated patients suffered significantly more cardiac complications than nondiabetic patients. There was no increase in periprosthetic joint infections or mortality associated with diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with pharmacologically treated diabetes undergoing fast-track THA/TKA were at increased odds of LOS >4 days. Although complication rates were low, patients with insulin-treated diabetes were at increased odds of postoperative complications compared to nondiabetic patients and to their orally treated counterparts. Further investigation into the pathogenesis of postoperative complications differentiated by antihyperglycemic treatment is needed.

The incidence of shoulder arthroplasty: rise and future projections compared with hip and knee arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: There remains a paucity of epidemiologic data from recent years on the incidence of shoulder arthroplasty. We aimed to examine the recent trends and predict future projections of hemiarthroplasty (HA), anatomic (aTSA), and reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA), as well as compare these predictions to those for total hip (THA) and knee arthroplasty (TKA). METHODS: The National Inpatient Sample was queried from 2011 to 2017 for HA, aTSA, and RSA, as well as TKA and THA. Linear and Poisson regression was performed to project annual procedural incidence and volume to the year 2025. RESULTS: Between 2011 and 2017, the number of primary shoulder arthroplasties increased by 103.7%. In particular, RSA increased by 191.3%, with 63,845 RSAs performed in 2017. All projection models demonstrated significant increases in shoulder arthroplasty volume and incidence from 2017 to 2025. By 2025, the linear model predicts that shoulder arthroplasty volume will increase by 67.2% to 174,810 procedures whereas the Poisson model predicts a 235.2% increase, to 350,558 procedures by 2025. These growth rate projections outpace those of THA and TKA. CONCLUSIONS: The number of shoulder arthroplasties has been increasing in recent years, largely because of the exponential increases in RSA. The overall incidence is increasing at a greater rate than TKA or THA, with projections continuing to rise over the next decade. These data and projections can be used by policy makers and hospitals to drive initiatives aimed at meeting these projected future demands.

Pre-operative optimisation for hip and knee arthroplasty: Minimise risk and maximise recovery.

BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis of the hip and knee is a common cause of pain and reduced mobility. Arthroplasty reliably improves quality of life for most patients when non-operative measures have failed. However, hip and knee arthroplasties are major operations that carry significant risks, including the need for revision surgery. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to discuss pre-operative patient optimisation prior to arthroplasty to minimise risks and maximise recovery. DISCUSSION: Recent literature has identified a number of modifiable factors that increase the risk of post-operative complications following arthroplasty. These include obesity, diabetes, tobacco use, opioid use, anaemia, malnutrition, poor dentition and vitamin D deficiency. Addressing these factors prior to arthroplasty may reduce the risk of adverse outcomes. Pre-operative education and exercise, termed prehabilitation, has an important role in optimising patient outcomes following hip and knee arthroplasty. Participation in a prehabilitation program prior to arthroplasty is recommended.

The relative analgesic value of a femoral nerve block versus adductor canal block following total knee arthroplasty: a randomized, controlled, double-blinded study.

BACKGROUND: Multiple comparative studies report that adductor canal blocks provide similar pain relief to femoral nerve blocks following total knee arthroplasty. However, adductor canal blockade fails to anesthetize several important femoral nerve branches that contribute to knee innervation. We sought to clarify this anatomic discrepancy by performing both blocks in sequence, using patients as their own controls. We hypothesized that patients would experience additional pain relief following a superimposed femoral nerve block, demonstrating that these techniques are not equivalent. METHODS: Sixteen patients received continuous adductor canal block before undergoing knee arthroplasty under general anesthesia. In the recovery room, patients reported their pain score on a numeric scale of 0-10. Once a patient reached a score of five or greater, he/she was randomized to receive an additional femoral nerve block using 2% chloroprocaine or saline sham, and pain scores recorded every 5 min for 30 min. Patients received opioid rescue as needed. Anesthesiologists performing and assessing block efficacy were blinded to group allocation. RESULTS: Patients randomized to chloroprocaine versus saline reported significantly improved median pain scores 30 min after the femoral block (2.0 vs. 5.5, P = 0.0001). Patients receiving chloroprocaine also required significantly fewer morphine equivalents during the 30 min post-femoral block (1.0 vs. 4.5 mg, P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Adductor canal block is a useful technique for postoperative pain following total knee arthroplasty, but it does not provide equivalent analgesic efficacy to femoral nerve block. Future studies comparing efficacy between various block sites along the thigh are warranted.

Evaluation of Health-related Quality of Life Improvement in Patients Undergoing Spine Versus Adult Reconstructive Surgery.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of outcomes in single-level spine and primary hip and knee arthroplasty patients. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare baseline and postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing spine surgery procedures with total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) to further define outcomes in orthopedic surgery. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Computer-adaptive Patient Reported Outcome Information System (PROMIS) allows for standardized assessment of the health-related quality of life across different disease states. METHODS: Patients who underwent spine surgery (anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, cervical disc replacement, lumbar laminectomy, microscopic lumbar discectomy, transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion or adult reconstruction surgery [THA, TKA]) were grouped. Mean Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), Baseline (BL), and 6-month PROMIS scores of physical function, pain interference, and pain intensity were determined. Paired t tests compared differences in CCI, BL, 6 months, and change in PROMIS scores for spine and adult reconstruction procedures. RESULTS: A total of 304 spine surgery patients (age = 58.1 ±â€Š15.6; 42.9% female) and 347 adult reconstruction patients (age = 62.9 ±â€Š11.8; 54.1% Female) were compared. Spine surgery groups had more disability and pain at baseline than adult reconstruction patients according to physical function ([21.0, 22.2, 9.07, 12.6, 10.4] vs. [35.8, 35.0], respectively, P < 0.01), pain interference ([80.1, 74.1, 89.6, 92.5, 90.6] vs. [64.0, 63.9], respectively, P < 0.01), and pain intensity ([53.0, 53.1, 58.3, 58.5, 56.1] vs. [53.4, 53.8], respectively, P < 0.01). At 6 months, spine surgery patients remained more disabled and had more pain compared to adult reconstruction patients. Over the 6-month timespan, spine patients experienced greater improvements than adult reconstruction patients in terms of physical function ([+8.7, +22.2, +9.7, +12.9, +12.1] vs. [+5.3, +3.9], respectively, P < 0.01) and pain interference scores ([-15.4,-28.1, -14.7, -13.1, -12.3] vs. [-8.3, -6.0], respectively, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Spinal surgery patients had lower BL and 6-month PROMIS scores, but greater relative improvement in PROMIS scores compared to adult reconstruction patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.