The impact of total hip arthroplasty on sexual satisfaction in female patients: a prospective before-and-after cohort study.

PURPOSE: Despite the high rate of sexual limitation in female patients with hip osteoarthritis, evidence reporting sexual satisfaction after hip arthroplasty in women is limited. This study aimed to assess the impact of surgery on sexual satisfaction in women who undergo elective total hip arthroplasty (THA). As a secondary objective, we measured the effect of THA on different factors that could be related to sexual limitation and satisfaction. METHODS: We designed a prospective before-and-after cohort study in which all consecutive women undergoing THA were screened for inclusion. Patients answered a ten question specifically designed questionnaire before and after surgery. An independent analysis was performed for each question through a McNemar-Bowker test for paired proportions. RESULTS: Fifty-six patients completed the protocol and were available for analysis at the end of the study. Sexual satisfaction increased from 29% before surgery to 93% after the procedure (p < 0.001). All questions related to physical limitations demonstrated significant improvement after surgery. In addition, psychological aspects of limitation including fear of pain and injury, or perception of attractiveness, showed significant recovery as well. CONCLUSION: There is a high rate of patients reporting limitations and disabilities during sexual activities among women with osteoarthritis. THA represents a positive impact on sexual functioning both in its physical and psychological aspects, thus increasing satisfaction rates in female patients. Surgeons should include these elements in the conversation with patients before and after surgery.

Extended thromboprophylaxis for hip or knee arthroplasty. Does the administration route and dosage regimen affect adherence? A cohort study.

PURPOSE: Prevention of thromboembolic disease requires patients' adherence to the extended thromboprophylaxis scheme. Oral anticoagulants are expected to improve adherence as a result of their route of administration; however, this assumption is yet to be confirmed. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of the route of administration and dosage regimen on the compliance to the prescription. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective cohort study included hip and knee arthroplasty patients who received pharmacological extended thromboprophylaxis with one daily injection, one daily oral tablet, or two daily oral tablets. A telephonic questionnaire was applied 35 days after the day of the surgery. Patients who omitted one or more doses of medication during the follow-up period were classified as "non-adherent." Differences of adherence rates were assessed. RESULTS: Five hundred and twenty patients were included: 153 received Apixaban (oral, twice a day), 155 Enoxaparin (injectable, once a day), and 212 Rivaroxaban (oral, once a day). Patients receiving oral once a day medication was more compliant compared with those who received an oral medication twice a day. Non-adherence rates were 3.2 and 9.2%, respectively (p = 0.033). No significant differences (p = 0.360) were found between oral once a day and injectable once a day medication. CONCLUSIONS: The number of daily doses prescribed was related to adherence to extended chemical prophylaxis, while the route of administration did not seem to have a significant impact. Strategies to promote outpatient compliance must be implemented, especially when regimes including more than one daily dose are prescribed.

Perceived skills for sports performance after primary hip arthroplasty: a cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: Recommendations arising from existing literature regarding restrictions and benefits of sporting activities after joint replacement surgery vary widely. As hip arthroplasty patients are becoming increasingly active, their expectations about post-operative function are constantly evolving. The aim of this study is to identify the perception of patients regarding their performance in sports activities after hip arthroplasty. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included all patients undergoing primary hip arthroplasty, for any diagnosis, between January 2009 and January 2016. By applying a telephone survey, practice of sports before surgery, resumption after surgery, level of performance, and causes of non-resumption of sports activities were assessed. RESULTS: Data of 531 patients were obtained. Of these, 13% were engaged in sports before surgery. The most frequently practiced sports were golf (27.5%) and tennis (22%). Of the 72 patients that practiced sports, only 44.4% (30 patients) returned to this activity after surgery. Nonetheless, 71% of these patients reported to have an equal or better athletic performance than before surgery. The main causes reported by patients not to return to sports were the fear of injury and recommendation of the surgeon. CONCLUSIONS: A significant number of patients return to sports after hip arthroplasty and most of them perceive a good athletic performance after surgery. These findings should enrich the pre-operative assessment of patient's expectations, particularly for those who wish to resume physical activity.

Thromboprophylaxis for Hip Revision Arthroplasty: Can We Use the Recommendations for Primary Hip Surgery? A Cohort Study.

The risk of thromboembolic events after hip revision arthroplasty might be higher than in primary hip arthroplasty. However, evidence regarding the use of thromboprophylaxis in revisions is scarce. The purpose of this study is to determine whether thromboprophylaxis recommendations for primary arthroplasty produce similar results in hip revision arthroplasty. This comparative cohort study retrospectively analyzed consecutive patients undergoing primary hip arthroplasty and hip revision surgery between March 2004 and December 2015, who received thromboprophylaxis according to local clinical practice guidelines for primary hip arthroplasty. The prevalence of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism and the presence of major bleeding events were assessed during hospitalization and at 3 months after discharge and compared between groups. The overall prevalence of thromboembolic events in the hip revision surgery cohort and in the primary hip cohort was 1.62% and 1.35%, respectively ( P = .801). The 38.4% of hip revision patients and 20.3% of primary hip patients presented major bleeding events. Thromboembolic disease outcomes with the use of a standardized thromboprophylaxis regimen were similar in both cohorts, regardless of the high variability of hip revision surgery and the increased risk of complications. Implementation of this regimen is recommended in patients requiring joint replacement revision surgery.

A multimodal approach prevents instability after total hip arthroplasty: A 1 year follow-up prospective study.

INTRODUCTION: Joint dislocation is one of the most frequent complications after hip arthroplasty. Multiple strategies have demonstrated ability to prevent instability when used in isolation, but the effect when more than one intervention is implemented has not been measured. The purpose of this study is to assess the rate of dislocation after implementation of a protocol of combined strategies for prevention of instability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing primary total hip replacement for hip osteoarthritis between February 2012 and June 2014 were included. A multimodal protocol including patient education, use of large femoral heads, posterior soft-tissue repair, and intraoperative adjustment of limb length and hip offset was applied. Dislocation episodes were documented trough medical records review and a telephonic follow-up at 3 and 12 months after surgery. RESULTS: During the period of study 331 patients were included, mean age was 66 years and 68.8% were females. Only 0.91% of patients were lost to follow-up. Eighty-nine percent of patients received all interventions. Cumulative dislocation rate at 3 months was 0.60% and 0.90% at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of a multimodal protocol for prevention of prosthesis instability produces a low rate of dislocation, which compares favorably with benchmarks. We recommend the use of a combination of multiple interventions to prevent this complication.

Bilateral Hip Arthroplasty: When Is It Safe to Operate the Second Hip? A Systematic Review.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with degenerative hip disease frequently present with bilateral involvement that requires surgical management. The main goal when treating these patients is to achieve the maximum efficiency without increasing risk of perioperative complications; therefore, the decision regarding the best moment to operate the second hip becomes relevant. Although studies have addressed this topic, whether a simultaneous or staged surgery should be performed remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to determine, based on available evidence, the optimum strategy in terms of safety to operate the second hip in patients with bilateral involvement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A meta-analysis was planned. A systematic review of the literature was performed including clinical trials or observational analytical studies comparing the safety of bilateral arthroplasty performed simultaneously or staged by measuring major and minor complications. The appropriateness of a meta-analysis was evaluated through the detailed analysis of the risk of bias and clinical heterogeneity of the included studies. RESULTS: Thirteen studies were selected after the systematic review. A wide variability in the methodological designs was found with a critical risk of bias in most of them. Considerable heterogeneity was detected in defining staged surgery in the cointerventions and how the outcomes were defined and measured. In response to these findings, a meta-analysis was considered not appropriate. The results showed no differences in the risk of mortality or systemic complications in young and healthy patients between simultaneous or staged surgeries. However, increased risk of complications for staged surgeries performed during the same hospitalization was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Available evidence is very heterogeneous and the quality of evidence is low. The available evidence supports the performance of simultaneous hip arthroplasty in selected patients (not older than 65 years, ASA 1-2, without cardiovascular comorbidities) and suggests the avoidance of staged surgeries within the same hospitalization.

Peri-articular injection of an analgesic mixture in primary total hip arthroplasty: an effective strategy for pain control during the first post-operative day.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies of soft tissue infiltration in hip arthroplasty present variable results. The purpose of this study is to identify whether injection of an analgesic mixture improves pain management during the immediate post-operative period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cohort study compared 129 patients that received peri-articular soft tissue injection with 20 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine and 2 ml of ketorolac (30 mg/1 ml) in 28 ml of saline solution, with 71 patients who did not received injections. Pain intensity in the Verbal Analog Scale (VAS), opioid titration, and consumption (mg morphine equivalents) in the post-anaesthetic care unit (PACU) and during the first post-operative day were assessed for both groups. All patients received the same analgesia protocol. RESULTS: Median VAS score in the PACU was 4 (IQR 2-7) in the injection group and 7 (IQR 4-8) in the non-injection group (p = 0.001). Median opioid titration was 0 mg for the injection group and 2.6 mg for the non-injection group (p = 0.011). In the first post-operative day, the difference in VAS scores between groups was statistically significant (p = 0.009), but there was no difference in opioid consumption. CONCLUSION: Soft tissue injection with local anesthetics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs allows adequate pain control in the immediate post-operative period and reduces the requirement for opioid consumption. We recommend the implementation of this safe and effective strategy in post-operative pain management after primary hip arthroplasty. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II, cohort study.

A retrospective study on the relationship between altered native acetabular angle and vertical implant malpositioning.

PURPOSE: Acetabular cup positioning in extreme angles of vertical position affects both stability and long-term survivorship of total hip arthroplasty. The purpose of this study is to determine whether native Sharp's angle is associated with an increased abduction angle of the acetabular component. METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent primary total hip replacement between February 2012 and August 2015 were included. Vertical positioning of acetabular implant in the antero-posterior post-operative radiographs were measured. The proportion of implants positioned outside the safe zone (40° ± 10°) was calculated and through a multivariate analysis, Sharp's angle and other factors possibly associated with cup malpositioning were evaluated. RESULTS: Five hundred twenty-eight hip arthroplasties were analyzed. Prevalence of cup malpositioning was 7.6% and 25 patients had an altered native acetabular angle. An altered pre-operative Sharp's angle was associated with a higher risk of vertical malpositioning of the acetabular component (OR 2.51 IC 95%: 1.17-5.39) (p = 0.02). Body mass index, surgeon's volume, size of the implant, gender, pre-operative diagnose and age, were not associated with the position of the cup. CONCLUSIONS: The alteration of the Sharp's angle as an indicator of hip dysplasia in native hips increases the odds of acetabular cup malpositioning. Other factors explored did not correlate with the position of the acetabular prosthesis. Systematic assessment of Sharp's angle should be included in the pre-operative planning of primary hip arthroplasty.

Screening for Infection Before Revision Hip Arthroplasty: A Meta-analysis of Likelihood Ratios of Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate and Serum C-reactive Protein Levels.

INTRODUCTION: Diagnosing periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) before revision hip arthroplasty is critical to ensure effective treatment of patients undergoing surgery for reasons other than infection. The main objective of our study is to determine whether the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and the serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level are sufficient to use for testing to rule out infection in patients undergoing revision hip surgery. METHODS: We performed a systematic review of the literature in the MEDLINE, Ovid, and Embase databases. We included studies in which the investigators used the ESR (>30 mm/h) and serum CRP level (>10 mg/L) for the diagnosis of PJI of the hip. We obtained meta-estimates of sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (LR+), and negative likelihood ratio (LR-). RESULTS: From 511 articles, we analyzed 12 studies in which the investigators reported data on 2,736 patients. Sensitivity and specificity for the ESR were 0.860 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.825 to 0.890) and 0.723 (95% CI, 0.704 to 0.742), respectively, and for the CRP level were 0.869 (95% CI, 0.835 to 0.899) and 0.786 (95% CI, 0.769 to 0.803), respectively. For the ESR, LR+ was 3.42 (95% CI, 2.55 to 4.59) and LR- was 0.22 (95% CI, 0.12 to 0.41). For the CRP level, LR+ was 4.18 (95% CI, 3.42 to 5.11) and LR- was 0.20 (95% CI, 0.12 to 0.32). DISCUSSION: With a low pretest probability of PJI, a negative test result for either the ESR or CRP level is enough to rule out infection before revision hip arthroplasty. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

A case of rapidly destructive osteoarthritis of the hip with onset of less than six weeks.

INTRODUCTION: Rapidly destructive osteoarthritis is characterized by a severe destruction of the hip joint developing over short periods of time. However, to date, there is no agreement on the biological process that triggers this condition. The aim of this report is to present a case of rapidly destructive osteoarthritis. CASE REPORT: We report a case of a 76 year-old female who presented with hip pain of sudden onset and normal X-rays. Six weeks later she presented with increased pain intensity, functional limitation and evidence of a collapse of the femoral head in the X-rays. DISCUSSION: Rapidly destructive osteoarthritis of the hip is a complex entity that might be more frequent than previously described and which clinical course could vary between few weeks and several months. In order to make an accurate diagnosis, other causes of massive destruction of the joint should be excluded.

Data Quality in Institutional Arthroplasty Registries: Description of a Model of Validation and Report of Preliminary Results.

BACKGROUND: Arthroplasty registries are a relevant source of information for research and quality improvement in patient care and its value depends on the quality of the recorded data. The purpose of this study is to describe a model of validation and present the findings of validation of an Institutional Arthroplasty Registry (IAR). METHODS: Information from 209 primary arthroplasties and revision surgeries of the hip, knee, and shoulder recorded in the IAR between March and September 2015 were analyzed in the following domains. Adherence is defined as the proportion of patients included in the registry, completeness is defined as the proportion of data effectively recorded, and accuracy is defined as the proportion of data consistent with medical records. A random sample of 53 patients (25.4%) was selected to assess the latest 2 domains. A direct comparison between the registry's database and medical records was performed. RESULTS: In total, 324 variables containing information on demographic data, surgical procedure, clinical outcomes, and key performance indicators were analyzed. Two hundred nine of 212 patients who underwent surgery during the study period were included in the registry, accounting for an adherence of 98.6%. Completeness was 91.7% and accuracy was 85.8%. Most errors were found in the preoperative range of motion and timely administration of prophylactic antibiotics and thromboprophylaxis. CONCLUSION: This model provides useful information regarding the quality of the recorded data since it identified deficient areas within the IAR. We recommend that institutional arthroplasty registries be constantly monitored for data quality before using their information for research or quality improvement purposes.