Antithrombotic prophylaxis following total knee arthroplasty: a level I Bayesian network meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major concern following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The optimal pharmacological prophylaxis remains, however, controversial. The present investigation compared several non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants commonly employed as VTE prophylaxis following TKA. A Bayesian network meta-analysis was conducted to compare apixaban, aspirin, dabigatran, edoxaban, enoxaparin, fondaparinux, and rivaroxaban. The outcomes of interest were to compare the rate of deep venous thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), and major and minor haemorrhages. METHODS: This study was conducted according to the PRISMA Extension Statement for Reporting of Systematic Reviews Incorporating Network Meta-Analyses of Health Care Interventions. In March 2024, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were accessed with no time constraints. All randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing two or more drugs for the prevention of VTE following TKA were considered for inclusion. RESULTS: Data from 29,678 patients were collected. Of them, 67% (19,884 of 29,678 patients) were women. The mean age of the patients was 66.8 ± 2.8 years, and the mean BMI was 29.2 ± 1.5 kg/m2. There was comparability in age, sex, and BMI at baseline. Apixaban 5 mg, dabigatran 220 mg, and rivaroxaban 10 mg were the most effective in reducing the rate of DVT. Apixaban 5 mg, enoxaparin 60 mg, and rivaroxaban 40 mg were the most effective in reducing the rate of PE. Apixaban 5 mg, rivaroxaban 10 mg, and apixaban 10 mg were associated with the lowest rate of major haemorrhages. Apixaban 5 mg and 20 mg, and dabigatran 220 mg were associated with the lowest rate of minor haemorrhages. CONCLUSION: Administration of apixaban 5 mg demonstrated the best balance between VTE prevention and haemorrhage control following TKA. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level I, network meta-analysis of RCTs.

Antithrombotic prophylaxis following total hip arthroplasty: a level I Bayesian network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Several clinical investigations have compared different pharmacologic agents for the prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, no consensus has been reached. The present investigation compared enoxaparin, fondaparinux, aspirin and non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) commonly used as prophylaxis following total hip arthroplasty (THA). A Bayesian network meta-analysis was performed, setting as outcomes of interest the rate of deep venous thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE) and major and minor haemorrhages. METHODS: This study was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) extension statement for reporting systematic reviews incorporating network meta-analyses of healthcare interventions. All randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing two or more drugs used for the prophylaxis of VTE following THA were accessed. PubMed, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases were accessed in March 2023 with no time constraint. RESULTS: Data from 31,705 patients were extracted. Of these, 62% (19,824) were women, with age, sex ratio, and body mass index (BMI) being comparable at baseline. Apixaban 5 mg, fondaparinux, and rivaroxaban 60 mg were the most effective in reducing the rate of DVT. Dabigatran 220 mg, apixaban 5 mg, and aspirin 100 mg were the most effective in reducing the rate of PE. Apixaban 5 mg, ximelagatran 2 mg and aspirin 100 mg were associated with the lowest rate of major haemorrhages, while rivaroxaban 2.5 mg, apixaban 5 mg and enoxaparin 40 mg were associated with the lowest rate of minor haemorrhages. CONCLUSION: Administration of apixaban 5 mg demonstrated the best balance between VTE prevention and haemorrhage control following THA. Level of evidence Level I, network meta-analysis of RCTs.

Demographic characteristics influencing the stem subsidence in total hip arthroplasty: an imaging study.

INTRODUCTION: The present study evaluated whether patient demographic characteristics influence the subsidence of the stem in total hip arthroplasty (THA). The following characteristics were evaluated: age, height, weight, and sex. The association between the time elapsed from the THA implantation and the amount of stem subsidence was also investigated. METHODS: The records of patients who underwent THA in the period between 2016 and 2023 were accessed. All patients underwent two-staged bilateral THA using cementless DePuy collarless Corail (DePuy Synthes, Raynham, MA, USA) stems. The following parameters were measured and compared to assess stem subsidence: distance from the proximal femur at the stem bone interface and the medial apex of the regular triangle built within the trochanter minor (point A); distance from the medial apex of the regular triangle built within the trochanter minor and the distal portion of the femoral stem (point B). RESULTS: Overall, 294 patients were included. 62% (182 of 294 patients) were women. 45% (134 of 296 THAs) were on the right side. The mean age was 64.9 ± 10.4 years. The mean BMI was 28.3 ± 5.1 kg/m2. The mean length of the follow-up was 14.4 ± 11.0 months. The mean subsidence in point A was 2.1 mm (P < 0.0001), and that in point B was 3.1 mm (P < 0.0001). There was evidence of a weak positive association between patient weight (P < 0.0001), age (P = 0.03), follow-up (P = 0.002) and the amount of stem subsidence. Patient height did not demonstrate any association with the amount of stem subsidence (P = 0.07). There was no difference in stem subsidence between women and men (P = 0.9). CONCLUSION: Stem subsidence in THA using cementless DePuy collarless Corail implants is approximately 2.6 mm after 14.4 months. Greater patient weight, age, and longer time elapsed from THA implantation were associated with greater stem subsidence. Patient height and sex did not demonstrate any influence on the amount of stem subsidence. These results must be considered in light of the limitations of the present study.