Racial and Socioeconomic Disparities in the Utilization of TKA Among Patients with Posttraumatic Knee Osteoarthritis: Estimates from the United States National Inpatient Sample, 2011-2018.

Advanced posttraumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) of the knee is a cause of substantial disability, particularly in younger individuals, and the treatment of choice is total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Racial and socioeconomic disparities exist in the use of TKA, but, to our knowledge, there have been no studies examining these disparities among patients with PTOA. Methods: We performed chi-square and logistic regression analyses on data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS). The outcome of interest was the rate of TKA utilization, and the primary predictors were racial/ethnic group and insurance status. The regression models were adjusted for age, sex, household income, and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). Results: The odds of receiving TKA for Black patients (odds ratio [OR] = 0.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.48 to 0.62) and Hispanic patients (OR = 0.53; 95% CI, 0.46 to 0.62) were lower compared with White patients. Patients with Medicare (OR = 0.51; 95% CI, 0.46 to 0.57), those with Medicaid (OR = 0.48; 95% CI, 0.42 to 0.55), and those who self-paid (OR = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.14 to 0.25) had significantly lower odds of TKA compared with those with private insurance. Conclusions: Black and Hispanic patients are less likely than White patients to utilize TKA, and patients with private insurance are more likely to utilize TKA. Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Fluoroscopic-guided supra-scapular nerve block in the management of shoulder pain in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital: Report of five cases.

Shoulder pain complaints are common in our environment. The disorder can occur among the young active age group or in the older patients as a result of degenerative changes with its attendant limitations of the function of the affected upper limb, hindrance of the performance of activities of daily living, and reduced quality of life. The traditional oral analgesics, physiotherapy, and intra-articular corticosteroid injections are seldom ineffective at providing the desired pain relief and functional improvement at the shoulder joint. We investigated the role of fluoroscopic-guided supra-scapular nerve blocks (SSNBs) in patients with shoulder pain who failed to respond to the routine conservative management. With the patient lying prone and the C-arm fluoroscope placed in anterior-posterior position, the scapula notch was visualized and a 22G spinal needle was directed toward the nerve. The mixture of local anesthetic agent and steroid was injected as close to the nerve as possible after negative aspiration. Fluoroscopic-guided SSNB can produce substantial pain relief and improved range of movement in patients with painful shoulders. The procedure is safe, well tolerated, and can be done on a day-case basis.