Psychosocial factors affecting outcomes after shoulder arthroplasty: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Both anatomic and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty are considered successful surgeries to treat a variety of painful shoulder conditions. Although implant survivorship for both is good to excellent in the long term, a variety of factors-clinical, technical, and psychosocial-may affect patient-reported outcomes after shoulder arthroplasty. METHODS: A comprehensive review of the literature was performed systematically using keywords "shoulder arthroplasty outcomes," "psychosocial factors shoulder," "shoulder replacement outcomes," "depression shoulder arthroplasty," "satisfaction shoulder arthroplasty," "factors shoulder replacement," "expectations shoulder arthroplasty," and "predictors shoulder arthroplasty." Studies meeting the inclusion criteria were screened and analyzed. Type of surgery performed, sample size, outcome measures, and other factors influencing patient outcomes were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Six reviewed mental health disorders as predictors of postoperative outcome after shoulder arthroplasty. Of these, 4 found that disorders such a depression and anxiety were associated with increased risk of perioperative complications and lower final functional outcome scores. Two studies evaluated workers' compensation status as a possible predictor of outcomes and found that patients with claims had lower satisfaction and outcome scores at final follow-up compared with those without claims. Two studies showed that preoperative opioid use was associated with lower outcome scores and overall satisfaction rate after shoulder arthroplasty. Three studies showed that higher patient confidence and preoperative expectations were correlated with better outcomes. CONCLUSION: Our review shows that psychosocial factors may play just as important role in affecting patient outcomes after total shoulder arthroplasty as technical factors.

Medical Device Recalls in Orthopedics: Recent Trends and Areas for Improvement.

BACKGROUND: Medical device recalls have the potential to affect patient outcomes in orthopedic surgery. We assessed high-risk orthopedic medical device recalls in the recent past. METHODS: The publicly available Food and Drug Administration medical device recall database was mined for information on class 1 and class 2 recalls of orthopedic implants or medical devices related to orthopedic surgery from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2019. Recall details, including reason for recall, class of recall, and the recalling company, were recorded. The data were quantified and analyzed in Excel. RESULTS: The results of this study showed that orthopedic device recalls constitute a significant percentage of total medical device recalls, ranging from 11.8% to 21.5%. In the last 5 years, 2018 was the busiest year for all medical and orthopedic device recalls. Packaging errors were the most common reasons for orthopedic device recalls, followed by design flaws and manufacturing issues. Marketing and software issues were uncommon reasons for orthopedic device recalls. Zimmer Biomet, Johnson & Johnson (parent company of DePuy Synthes), and Stryker had the highest number of orthopedic device recalls over the last 5 years and also constitute the top 3 orthopedic companies with the largest market share of orthopedic implants. CONCLUSION: Orthopedic device recalls remain a significant concern and constitute, on average, 16.6% of all class II medical device recalls from 2015 to 2019. Manufacturing companies can reduce the number of orthopedic device recalls by improving their device design, manufacturing, and packaging stages of the production cycle. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Risk Factors for Mid-Flexion Instability After Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Mid-flexion instability after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a clinical entity that is not well studied and one that has been associated with patient dissatisfaction and inferior outcomes. We sought to provide a comprehensive review of risk factors associated with mid-flexion instability. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search of PUBMED, EMBASE, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library was performed using keywords "mid flexion," "instability," and "knee arthroplasty" in all possible combinations. All studies published from 2010 to 2020 in English were considered for inclusion. Research design, question studied, and outcomes were recorded for each study. Quantitative and qualitative analysis was performed. RESULTS: Eighteen articles meeting inclusion criteria were identified and reviewed. There were 5 computational studies, 5 cadaveric studies, and 8 clinical studies. There were 14 different risk factors investigated in relation to mid-flexion instability after TKA: 6 implant-related, 6 technique-related, and 2 patient-related factors. Of these risk factors, 5 had contradictory results published to date, resulting in an inconclusive association with mid-flexion instability. The results of this review suggest that the effects of joint line elevation and radius-of-curvature of the femoral component on mid-flexion instability are inconclusive while articular surface conformity and preoperative joint laxity may play a bigger role than previously thought. CONCLUSION: Mid-flexion instability after TKA is a clinical entity distinct from other established forms of instability. There are patient-related, implant-related, and technique-related factors associated with mid-flexion instability. The majority of the evidence on this topic is derived from computational and cadaveric studies, underscoring the need for further clinical studies.

Hook Plate Fixation of Medial Malleolar Fractures: A Comparative Study of Clinical Outcomes.

Medial malleolar fractures, occurring in isolation or in bi- or trimalleolar fractures, require surgical fixation if there is any displacement. Several techniques have been described in the literature for open reduction and internal fixation of medial malleolar fractures, but no data exist on the functional outcomes after fixation with a hook plate. The objective of this review study was to compare complication and union rates in patients who underwent hook plate fixation of medial malleolar fractures to those who underwent fixation with 2 lag screws. A total of 31 patients were included in the study. They were all followed for a minimum of 6 months from the day of surgery. There was a 18% to 35% complication rate with this technique; however, there was no statistical difference in the complication rate between medial malleolar fracture fixation with hook plate versus 2 lag screws in our study. All patients in this study went on to have a successful union. Hook plate fixation is an acceptable alternative to medial malleolar fracture fixation, especially in patients at high risk for poor bone healing.

Rapid return to function and stability with dual mobility components cemented into an acetabular reconstructive cage for large osseous defects in the setting of periacetabular metastatic disease.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Large acetabular defects secondary to metastatic disease frequently require extensive acetabular reconstruction. Techniques of acetabular reconstruction have been described, but no consensus for the management of these defects has been reached so far. We present our technique and patient outcomes for acetabular reconstruction by cementing a dual mobility cup into an acetabular cage. METHODS: We reviewed 152 total hip arthroplasties and identified 19 patients with periacetabular metastatic disease and large defects who required acetabular reconstruction utilizing a dual mobility cup cemented into an acetabular reconstructive cage. The following outcomes were evaluated: pain relief, functional improvement, postoperative complications. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 3 years, with 13 of the 19 patients eligible for 2-year follow-up. Patients reported a significant improvement in both pain and functional outcomes. There were no dislocations or signs of loosening. Two patients developed postoperative infections. One patient required hemipelvectomy 16 months postop due to recurrence of metastatic disease. CONCLUSIONS: Cementing a dual mobility cup into an acetabular cage provides a highly stable and durable option for patients with periacetabular metastatic disease and large defects. Patients are able to return to immediate full weight bearing with significant improvement in both function and pain at 2 years.

What Proportion of Women Who Received Funding to Attend a Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society Meeting Pursued a Career in Orthopaedics?

BACKGROUND: Orthopaedic surgery has the lowest percentage of women residents and faculty of any medical and surgical specialty. Diversity in medicine has been shown to improve patient outcomes and satisfaction. Although some scholarships are designed to increase the exposure of women medical students to orthopaedic surgery, the impact of those scholarships is largely unknown. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: To determine the proportion of medical students who received a scholarship to attend the Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society (RJOS) annual meeting and later pursued a career in orthopaedic surgery. METHODS: The RJOS scholarship was advertised through the RJOS website, current members, and newsletters. Any RJOS medical student member in good standing was eligible to receive the award. Eighty-one scholarship winners were selected from 2003 to 2016. From 2003 to 2010, there were two awards each year. Starting in 2011, 10 students were selected yearly, and these numbers increased annually secondary to increased industry financial support. Recipients received a check for USD 1500 and were able to attend both the RJOS and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons annual meetings. We collected the names of all RJOS medical student scholarship winners from 2003 to 2016, and one author performed an internet search to determine whether these individuals are currently in an orthopaedic residency program or are orthopaedic surgeons. Secondary confirmation was performed to ensure accuracy by the RJOS administrative staff and the other two authors, independently, after the initial results were tabulated. RESULTS: Of the 81 scholarship winners, 65 women (80%) now either practice orthopaedic surgery or are in an orthopaedic surgery residency program. Of the applicants who were not selected as scholarship recipients from 2014-2016, 44.9% went on to pursue a career in orthopaedics. CONCLUSIONS: The RJOS scholarship may have helped young women decide to pursue careers in orthopaedic surgery, although it is also possible that some scholarship winners were inclined to do so before receiving the funding. Based partly on these results, the RJOS continues to award this scholarship. Future studies evaluating the impact of such scholarships and comparing them with alternative recruitment methods such as summer camps might be useful in determining the most effective way of increasing minority representation in orthopaedics, a factor that has been shown to be clinically relevant and one that can contribute to patient satisfaction. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic study.

Treatment of Extensor Tendon Disruption After Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Patellar or quadriceps tendon ruptures after total knee arthroplasty constitute a devastating complication with historically poor outcomes. With advances in soft tissue reconstruction and repair techniques, treatment has become more nuanced. Numerous graft options for reconstruction and suture techniques for repair have been described but there is no consensus regarding optimal treatment. METHODS: A search of PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus was conducted. Articles meeting inclusion criteria were reviewed. Type of intervention performed, type of injury studied, outcome measures, and complications were recorded. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed. RESULTS: Twenty-eight articles met inclusion criteria. The complication rate after repair of patellar tendon (63.16%) was higher than the complication rate after repair of quadriceps tendon (25.37%). However, the complication rate for patellar and quadriceps tendon tears after autograft, allograft, or mesh reconstruction was similar (18.8% vs 19.2%, respectively). The most common complication after extensor mechanism repair or reconstruction was extension lag of 30° or greater (45.33%). This was followed by re-rupture and infection (25.33% and 22.67%, respectively). Early ruptures had a higher overall complication rate than late injuries. CONCLUSION: Extensor mechanism disruption after total knee arthroplasty is a complication with high morbidity. Reconstruction of patellar tendon rupture has a much lower complication rate than repair. Our findings support the recommendation of patellar tendon reconstruction in both the early and late presentation stages. Quadriceps rupture can be treated with repair in early ruptures or with reconstruction in the late rupture or in the case of revision surgery.

The Impact of Imaging Modality on the Measurement of Coronal Plane Alignment After Total Knee Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: The optimal coronal alignment after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has become an area of increased debate. Sources of variability among investigations include the radiographic technique used for both preoperative surgical planning and postoperative alignment assessments. This study's purpose was to assess the impact of the imaging modality used on the measurement of coronal plane alignment after TKA. METHODS: A consecutive series of patients undergoing TKA using the same cruciate-retaining prosthesis were included for analysis. Postoperatively, all patients received both a rotationally controlled, scout computed tomography scan and a hip-knee-ankle (HKA) image using the EOS Imaging system (EOS Inc., Paris, France). Two, independent observers measured the HKA angle, and femoral and tibial component alignment from each image. RESULTS: After classifying overall and component alignment as neutral, varus, or valgus, 40.6% (65 of 160) of knees had a discordant alignment classification for HKA, 28.1% (45 of 160) for femoral component alignment, and 26.9% (43 of 160) for tibial component alignment between their computed tomography and EOS images. Overall, 24.4% (39 of 160) of patients had a HKA difference of ≥3° between the 2 images, whereas 18.8% (30 of 160) and 20.0% (32 of 160) of patients had a femoral and tibial component alignment difference of ≥2°, respectively. CONCLUSION: Significant differences are present when comparing 2 measurement techniques of mechanical alignment after TKA. The impact of imaging modality on postoperative assessments must be accounted for and be consistent when comparing the results of different investigations.

Does Use of a Variable Distal Femur Resection Angle Improve Radiographic Alignment in Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty?

BACKGROUND: The distal femur resection in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is commonly made using a fixed angle relative to an intramedullary rod. This study's purpose was to assess if a variable distal femur resection angle technique improves femoral component alignment in TKA. METHODS: This was a review of primary TKAs performed by 2 surgeons. One surgeon used a fixed resection angle of 5° for varus and 3° for valgus knees ("fixed" cohort). The second used hip-knee-ankle (HKA) radiographs to measure the angle between the femoral anatomic axis and a line perpendicular to the femoral mechanical axis, which was used as the resection angle for each patient ("variable" cohort). Femoral component and HKA alignment were measured from standing HKA radiographs by 2, independent, blinded observers. Two hundred ninety patients were needed for power to detect a 15% difference in femoral component "outliers" (target of 0° ± 2°; significance = P < .05). RESULTS: Three hundred twenty consecutive patients were included with no differences in age, body mass index, or preoperative deformity (P = .3-.8). A 5° resection angle was used in 46.3% of the variable and 80.0% of the fixed cohort patients. A total of 80.2% of femoral components in the variable and 63.1% in the fixed cohort were within 0° ± 2° (P = .002; 84.6% of variable and 56.3% of fixed for valgus knees, P < .001). The mean HKA alignment was improved in the variable cohort (-1.4° ± 3.3° vs -2.6° ± 3.3°, P = .001). CONCLUSION: Use of a variable distal femur resection angle improves femoral component alignment after TKA.

Utility of Screening for Cerebral Vasospasm Using Digital Subtraction Angiography.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cerebral arterial vasospasm (CVS) is a common complication of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage strongly associated with neurological deterioration and delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI). The utility of screening for CVS as a surrogate for early detection of DCI, especially in patients without clinical signs of DCI, remains uncertain. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of 116 aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients who underwent screening digital subtraction angiography to determine the association of significant CVS and subsequent development of DCI. Patients were stratified into 3 groups: (1) no symptoms of DCI before screening, (2) ≥1 episodes of suspected DCI symptoms before screening, and (3) unable to detect symptoms because of poor examination. RESULTS: Patients asymptomatic before screening had significantly lower rates of CVS (18%) compared with those with transient symptoms of DCI (60%; P<0.0001). None of the 79 asymptomatic patients developed DCI after screening, regardless of digital subtraction angiography findings, compared with 56% of those with symptoms (P<0.0001). Presence of CVS was significantly associated with DCI in those with transient symptoms and in those whose examinations did not permit clear assessment (odds ratio 16.0, 95% confidence interval 2.2-118.3, P=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Patients asymptomatic before screening have low rates of CVS and seem to be at negligible risk of developing DCI. Routine screening of asymptomatic patients seems to have little utility. Screening may still be considered in patients with possible symptoms of DCI or those with examinations too poor to clinically detect symptoms because finding CVS may be useful for risk stratification and guiding management.

Trunnions and Modularity in Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Historical Review With Current Clinical Implications.

Trunnion in total hip arthroplasty refers to the interface between the neck of a femoral stem and the femoral head. Clinical complications arising from damage to this junction, whether it be due to mechanical wear, corrosion, or a combination, are referred to as mechanically assisted crevice corrosion (MACC), also commonly known as trunnionosis. With the use of modular hip prostheses, which help customize offset and leg length to an individual patient's anatomy, the incidence of MACC and revision due to MACC has increased in recent years. Although the cause of MACC is multifactorial, with patient factors and technique factors contributing to this condition, taper design and geometry, metallurgical properties of implants, and size mismatch of the bearing couple are some of the implant factors that have also been implicated in this clinical phenomenon. Understanding the history of taper design and geometry, the track record of older implants, and the rationale behind the development of current prostheses can help surgeons choose the right implants for their patients and accurately assess the pros and cons of new implants being introduced to the market each year.

The Role of Stability and Alignment in Improving Patient Outcomes After Total Knee Arthroplasty.

¼: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is an effective treatment option for many patients, but a small group of patients are dissatisfied following TKA. ¼: Alignment, in combination with balance, stability, and knee kinematics, is an important modifiable surgical factor that can affect patient outcomes. ¼: Driven by the subset of dissatisfied patients after TKA, new techniques have evolved in the search for a more anatomic reconstruction of individual knee morphology and a more accurate approximation of the individual lower-extremity alignment. ¼: There is a need to optimize 3 aspects of TKA to improve patient outcomes-mechanical tooling processes, implants that resurface the epiphysis, and techniques that respect the variable anatomy of patients.

Training the New Generations of Orthopaedic Surgery Residents: Understanding Generational Differences to Maximize Educational Benefit.

ABSTRACT: Most of the current orthopaedic residents are considered Millennials (born between 1981 and 1996) and are often trained by attending surgeons who are from Generation X (born between 1965 and 1980) or the Baby Boomer generation (born between 1946 and 1964). The Generation X orthopaedic surgeons were largely trained by Baby Boomers who were very demanding of their trainees and expected excellence. The Baby Boomers had been inspired, mentored, and trained by the Greatest Generation (born between 1901 and 1927). Baby Boomers took nothing for granted and nothing was given to them on a silver platter. Generation X was trained under these premises and was expected to abide by similar values. Regarding the next generation of residents, current faculty hope to instill the same qualities that had been instilled in them during their training. This value transference sometimes presents a challenge because of the differences in attitudes and perspectives that may exist between Millennial residents and their predecessors regarding work-life balance, teaching styles, the regulation of duty hours, and feedback assessments. These differences require an evolution in the methods of surgical education to optimize the educational benefit and ensure good will and rapport between the generations. Trainees and faculty alike have a responsibility to understand each other's differences and come together to ensure that knowledge, experience, values, and skill sets are effectively passed on to a new generation of orthopaedic surgeons.

Race, Utilization, and Outcomes in Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review on Health-Care Disparities.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that utilization and outcomes of total joint arthroplasty (TJA) are not equivalent across different patient cohorts. This systematic review was designed to evaluate the currently available evidence regarding the effect that patient race has, if any, on utilization and outcomes of lower-extremity arthroplasty in the United States. METHODS: A literature search of the MEDLINE database was performed using keywords such as "disparities," "arthroplasty," "race," "joint replacement," "hip," "knee," "inequities," "inequalities," "health," and "outcomes" in all possible combinations. All English-language studies with a level of evidence of I through IV published over the last 20 years were considered for inclusion. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed on the collected data. RESULTS: A total of 82 articles were included. There was a significantly lower utilization rate of lower-extremity TJA among Black, Hispanic, and Asian patients compared with White patients (p < 0.05). Black and Hispanic patients had lower expectations regarding postoperative outcomes and their ability to participate in various activities after surgery, and they were less likely than White patients to be familiar with the arthroplasty procedure prior to presentation to the orthopaedic surgeon (p < 0.05). Black patients had increased risks of major complications, readmissions, revisions, and discharge to institutional care after TJA compared with White patients (p < 0.05). Hispanic patients had increased risks of complications (p < 0.05) and readmissions (p < 0.0001) after TJA compared with White patients. Black and Hispanic patients reached arthroplasty with poorer preoperative functional status, and all minority patients were more likely to undergo TJA at low-quality, low-volume hospitals compared with White patients (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review shows that lower-extremity arthroplasty utilization differs by racial/ethnic group, and that some of these differences may be partly explained by patient expectations, preferences, and cultural differences. This study also shows that outcomes after lower-extremity arthroplasty differ vastly by racial/ethnic group, and that some of these differences may be driven by differences in preoperative functional status and unequal access to care. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Socioeconomic factors affecting outcomes in total knee and hip arthroplasty: a systematic review on healthcare disparities.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies showed that healthcare disparities exist in use of and outcomes after total joint arthroplasty (TJA). This systematic review was designed to evaluate the currently available evidence regarding the effect socioeconomic factors, like income, insurance type, hospital volume, and geographic location, have on utilization of and outcomes after lower extremity arthroplasty. METHODS: A comprehensive search of the literature was performed by querying the MEDLINE database using keywords such as, but not limited to, "disparities", "arthroplasty", "income", "insurance", "outcomes", and "hospital volume" in all possible combinations. Any study written in English and consisting of level of evidence I-IV published over the last 20 years was considered for inclusion. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed on the data. RESULTS: A total of 44 studies that met inclusion and quality criteria were included for analysis. Hospital volume is inversely correlated with complication rate after TJA. Insurance type may not be a surrogate for socioeconomic status and, instead, represent an independent prognosticator for outcomes after TJA. Patients in the lower-income brackets may have poorer access to TJA and higher readmission risk but have equivalent outcomes after TJA compared to patients in higher income brackets. Rural patients have higher utilization of TJA compared to urban patients. CONCLUSION: This systematic review shows that insurance type, socioeconomic status, hospital volume, and geographic location can have significant impact on patients' access to, utilization of, and outcomes after TJA. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Rapidly destructive osteoarthritis and total hip arthroplasty: A new technique for acetabular reconstruction in the setting of extensive bone loss.

We report the case of a 58-year-old woman who presented with rapidly destructive osteoarthritis (RDO) of the hip that had been causing her severe pain and disability. By the time of presentation to our institution, she had a significant leg length discrepancy resulting from extensive destruction of the posterior acetabular wall, posterior column, and femoral head with a superiorly migrated femoral shaft. She underwent structural acetabular allograft augmentation of the pelvis re-enforced with a locking plate, concomitant total hip replacement with dual mobility implants, and extensive soft tissue releases to restore length to the extremity.

Bearing failure in a mobile bearing unicompartmental knee arthroplasty: an uncommon presentation of an implant-specific complication.

BACKGROUND: We present two cases of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) bearing failure in this report-one case of bearing dislocation and one case of bearing fracture. The causes of failure in both cases are evaluated in depth and recommendations are provided regarding intraoperative technique to reduce risk of bearing failure in mobile bearing UKAs. CASE PRESENTATION: In the first case, intraoperative evidence of metallosis and chronic pain preceding the traumatic event may indicate that the patient had attenuation of her collateral ligaments that precipitated the instability event. In the second case, the relatively atraumatic nature of the bearing fracture-dislocation and intraoperative evidence of extensive poly wear suggest that the bearing fracture was likely due to a 3-mm bearing selection in the initial surgery. CONCLUSIONS: This case report shows that late bearing in mobile bearing unicompartmental knee arthroplasty can often be a multifactorial event and treatment must address all the risk factors that led to bearing dislocation. Bearing fracture is a very rare complication associated with mobile bearing UKA and patients with thin polyethylene inserts are at risk for bearing fracture even in the absence of poly wear.

Effect of native ligament versus graft reconstruction on sensitivity of clinical tests used to diagnose anterior cruciate ligament tears.

PURPOSE: Although there have been multiple clinical studies evaluating the accuracy of physical examination tests used to diagnose anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, there are no data to date evaluating the accuracy of these tests in diagnosing re-injury after prior ACL reconstruction. We compared the sensitivity of three clinical tests - Lachman, anterior drawer, and pivot shift - in diagnosing initial ACL tears versus graft re-tears following a prior ACL reconstruction. METHODS: Twenty consecutive adult patients who had undergone primary ACL reconstruction and 20 consecutive adult patients who had undergone revision ACL reconstruction by a single surgeon at a tertiary care center from November 2011 to December 2017 were included in this study. RESULTS: The sensitivity of the Lachman test was 95.0% in diagnosing ACL tears in patients with native ACL versus 85.0% in patients with prior ACL reconstruction with allograft or autograft. The sensitivity of the anterior drawer test was 80.0% in patients with native ACL compared to 77.8% in patients with prior ACL reconstructions. The sensitivity of the pivot shift test could not be accurately assessed because pain and swelling prevented the physician from performing this test in most patients on their initial presentation to the clinic. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that a clinician may need to have a lower threshold to perform advanced imaging or diagnostic arthroscopic evaluation in a patient with prior ACL reconstruction with a suspected re-injury even if the physical examination tests are not immediately positive.

Occupational hazards of orthopaedic surgery and adult reconstruction: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Occupational injuries and hazards related to orthopaedic surgery are not well studied, and what is published on this topic is largely based on in vitro or in vivo animal studies. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the self-reported prevalence of musculoskeletal (MSK) overuse disorders and other conditions among orthopaedic surgeons, especially those performing total hip (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA), and report the factors placing these surgeons at higher risk for occupational health hazards. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of 66 currently practicing orthopaedic surgeons in the Midwestern United States. An online survey was sent to the participants, and all responses were collected anonymously. The survey consisted of 18 multiple-choice questions. RESULTS: Almost 82% of surgeons surveyed had either a musculoskeletal (MSK) overuse disorder, kidney stones, cataracts, infertility, deafness, or a combination of the above. Fifty-three percent of these respondents believed their medical conditions arose due to their job demands or exposure. A majority of the orthopaedic surgeons surveyed wanted to retire at either 60-65 years of age (31.8%) or 66-70 years of age (47%). Nearly 88% of the survey respondents believed they will be able to meet the demands of their job until their intended retirement age. The prevalence of an overuse disorder was highest for those who have been in practice for 21-30 years (100%). There was a trend toward higher rate of surgery for overuse condition in Adult Reconstruction (AR) surgeons. Rotator cuff disease was the most common MSK disorder affecting AR surgeons. CONCLUSION: A majority (>80%) of orthopaedic surgeons suffer from a musculoskeletal overuse disorder, kidney stones, cataracts, infertility, deafness, or a combination of these. A significant proportion (53%) of surgeons believe one or more of their medical conditions developed due to occupational exposure.

No differences in short-term outcomes between patients with anaerobic and aerobic culture positive prosthetic joint infection.

BACKGROUND: Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a devastation complication of total joint arthroplasty that can result in poor patient outcomes. Anaerobic organisms make up a small proportion of PJI cases and are much less studied. Studies comparing patient outcomes in anaerobic PJI to outcomes in aerobic PJI are sparse. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical presentation, duration of antibiotics, type of treatment provided, and final outcome between PJI patients with anaerobic infection and those with aerobic infection. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 26 patients who underwent treatment for PJI at a tertiary referral center. Eight patients with anaerobic PJI were compared to 18 patients with aerobic PJI in terms of clinical presentation, laboratory values, treatment duration, and functional outcome. Statistical analysis was performed on continuous variables of interest. RESULTS: The results of our study showed that there are no differences in short term clinical outcomes between PJI patients with cultures positive for anaerobic vs aerobic organisms (38.9% vs 50% successfully treated). Inflammatory markers were higher in the aerobic group and patients in the anaerobic group tended to have fewer medical comorbidities. CONCLUSION: PJI caused by anaerobic organisms results in poor patient outcomes similar to infection caused by aerobic organisms. There are some differences in clinical presentation between the two groups that can be explained by the fact that anaerobic organisms are of low virulence and result in indolent infections causing longstanding symptoms.