Past and projected temporal trends in arthroscopic hip surgery in Spain between 1998 and 2018. / Tendencias temporales pasadas y proyectadas en la cirugía artroscópica de cadera en España entre 1998 y 2018.

OBJECTIVE: Describe the population incidence of hip arthroscopy from 1998 to 2018 and to project the trends for the year 2030, as well as to describe the variations in the population incidence between the autonomous communities. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective review of the minimum basic data set from 1998 to 2018 was carried out. Temporal evolution was analyzed and the variables associated with the indication (age, sex, regions) were identified. For each region, the crude rate per 100,000 inhabitants was calculated. The 2019-2030 projection was made using linear regression. RESULTS: In Spain between 1998 and 2018 a total of 10,663 arthroscopic hip surgeries were carried out. The population incidence in 1998 was 0.14 CAC per 100,000 inhabitants, while in 2018 it was 4.09. For the year 2030 an increase of 156.9% in the number of arthroscopic hip surgeries is expected (P<.001). On average, 57.7% of all procedures (95% CI 55.2-60.2) were done in men and the highest incidence was found in ages ≤44 years. The geographical variation was 81%, being up to 15.4 times the difference in incidence per 100,000 inhabitants between some regions. CONCLUSIONS: The number of hip arthroscopies in Spain has been increasing in the 1998-2018 period and this growing trend is expected to continue until 2030. In Spain, hip arthroscopic procedures are performed more frequently in male patients and in under 45 years old. The variability of the population incidence between the autonomous communities is high.

[Translated article] Past and projected temporal trends in arthroscopic hip surgery in Spain between 1998 and 2018.

OBJECTIVE: Describe the population incidence of hip arthroscopy from 1998 to 2018 and to project the trends for the year 2030, as well as to describe the variations in the population incidence between the autonomous communities. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective review of the minimum basic data set from 1998 to 2018 was carried out. Temporal evolution was analysed and the variables associated with the indication (age, sex, regions) were identified. For each region, the crude rate per 100,000 inhabitants was calculated. The 2019-2030 projection was made using linear regression. RESULTS: In Spain between 1998 and 2018 a total of 10,663 arthroscopic hip surgeries were carried out. The population incidence in 1998 was 0.14 CAC per 100,000 inhabitants, while in 2018 it was 4.09. For the year 2030 an increase of 156.9% in the number of arthroscopic hip surgeries is expected (p<.001). On average, 57.7% of all procedures (95% CI 55.2-60.2) were done in men and the highest incidence was found in ages≤44 years. The geographical variation was 81%, being up to 15.4 times the difference in incidence per 100,000 inhabitants between some regions. CONCLUSIONS: The number of hip arthroscopies in Spain has been increasing in the 1998-2018 period and this growing trend is expected to continue until 2030. In Spain, hip arthroscopic procedures are performed more frequently in male patients and in under 45 years old. The variability of the population incidence between the autonomous communities is high.

Importance of the gender and preoperative knee sagittal alignment to avoid unnecessary tibial resection in TKR.

BACKGROUND: Standard resections according to the TKR manufacturers can lead to unnecessary bone resections in some patients. The objective of this study was to determine in which patients is recommended to perform a minimal tibial resection (MTR) that could restore the joint line height (JLH). METHODS: Navigation records of 108 consecutive posterior cruciate-substituting TKR performed by one surgeon were analyzed. Optimal tibial resection depth to restore the JLH (0 mm) was calculated by an algorithm. Postoperatively, the knees were distributed in two groups: those in which a MTR (depth ≤ 8 mm) would have been enough to restore the JLH and those in which a standard resection depth would have been necessary. ROC curves and Youden index were used to determine the cutoff point of the coronal and sagittal mechanical axis that predicted a MTR restoring the JLH. Multivariate analysis was used to identify independent factors associated with requiring an MTR. RESULTS: A MTR could be required in 20 (18.5%) knees. In the ROC curve analyses, the cutoff points that best discriminated between minimal and standard tibial resection was ≤ 3° of varus and < 2° of flexion preoperative deformity. Multivariate analysis showed that female gender and preoperative flexion < 2° were significant predictors of requiring a MTR to restore JLH. CONCLUSION: A MTR with the JLH restoration could be possible in female patients with a preoperative sagittal deformity less than 2° of flexion. Preoperative coronal alignment had no influence to discriminate when a MTR is required.

Complications of computer-assisted navigation in total knee replacement: retrospective cohort of eight hundred and seventy eight consecutive knees.

PURPOSE: The main objective was to analyze the computer-assisted navigation (CAN)-specific complications that forced to switch to conventional procedure in primary total knee replacement (TKR). The secondary objective was to determine the influence of those complications on TKR short-term survival. METHODS: Retrospective study of 878 primary TKR in 753 patients. Two consecutive versions of the OrthoPilot navigation system (Braun Aesculap, Germany) were used during the study time. Specific complications of CAN were defined as those due to the instrumentation (hardware or software failures), which were classified in one of two categories according to whether they occurred during the registration or tracking process. RESULTS: There were 20 (2.3%) complications related to the navigation system use that forced to switch to conventional surgery: in 11 (1.2%) knees due to loosening of the tracking pins, and in the other nine (1.0%) there were information system failures. There was a trend for a higher conversion rate to conventional surgery with the use of the first version of the software. There were no fractures, infections, or nerve injuries at the pin site. We found no differences in the distribution of baseline variables among those with or without conversion to conventional surgery. There was no significant difference (p = 0.488) in the two year survival between patients with or without conversion. CONCLUSION: CAN for primary TKR is a safe method with few specific complications that forced to switch from the navigated to the conventional procedure. Conversion to conventional surgery did not affect the short-term survival of TKR.

Using WhatsApp® in our clinical practice: a pilot study. / El uso del WhatsApp® en nuestra práctica clínica: estudio piloto.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of WhatsApp as a clinical tool and determine the perception of orthopaedic surgeons of its usefulness. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Orthopaedic surgeons attending a scientific meeting were invited to complete an anonymous and structured survey on the use of the application in the clinical setting. RESULTS: A total of 41 (38%) surveys were correctly completed. Of the respondents, 100% had been either senders or receivers of clinical information via the application. Ninety-three percent had used the application to consult in relation to a clinical case. Of the respondents, 78% belonged to a WhatsApp group in which clinical information is shared: 71% agreed that communication between clinicians through WhatsApp is a useful tool for making therapeutic decisions. CONCLUSION: The use of WhatsApp for clinical purposes by orthopaedic surgeons is widespread. Most consider it a useful tool in therapeutic decision making.

Internet searches by the Spanish population for unqualified information on the treatment of osteoarthritis. / Búsqueda en Internet de información no cualificada sobre el tratamiento de la artrosis por la población española.

OBJECTIVE: There is a current trend in the population to search the Internet for unqualified medical information that may affect the recommendations given in specialist consultation. The aim of this study was to analyse the tendency of the Spanish population to search the Internet for unqualified information on current treatments for osteoarthritis. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Google Trends was used analyse the information gathered from the Internet, combining potential key search terms related to the current treatment of osteoarthritis. For each term the relative search volume was calculated, and its trend between 2009 and 2019. Spearman's correlation was used to study the direction of the trend. RESULTS: All the infiltration methods had increasing trends and no statistically significant differences were found between them (P=.769). The term that showed the best correlation over time was «prp¼ with Spearman's correlation =.90, and the term with the highest relative search volume was «growth factors¼. Prosthetic treatment generated more interest than conservative treatments, where there was more interest in knee replacement than hip replacement (P<.001). CONCLUSION: In Spain, the search for unqualified information on the treatment of osteoarthritis has increased over the past 10 years. There is more interest in prosthetic treatment than the more conservative treatments. There is more interest in knee replacement than hip replacement. There are no differences with regard to the different methods of joint injections.