The John N. Insall Award: Does Melatonin Improve Subjective Sleep Quality After Total Knee Arthroplasty? A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Sleep disturbance is a common problem following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The objective of this study was to determine if exogenous melatonin improves sleep quality following primary TKA. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted. A total of 172 patients undergoing unilateral TKA for primary knee osteoarthritis were randomized to receive either 5 mg melatonin (n = 86) or 125 mg vitamin C placebo (n = 86) nightly for 6 weeks. The primary outcome was the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) at 6 weeks and 90 days postoperatively. Secondary outcomes included 6-week and 90-day patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), morphine milligram equivalents prescribed, medication compliance, adverse events, and 90-day readmissions. RESULTS: Mean PSQI scores worsened at 6 weeks before returning to the preoperative baseline at 90 days in both groups. There were no differences in PSQI scores between melatonin and placebo groups at 6 weeks (10.2 ± 4.2 versus 10.5 ± 4.4, P = .66) or 90 days (8.1 ± 4.1 versus 7.5 ± 4.0, P = .43). Melatonin did not improve the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Joint Replacement, Lower Extremity Activity Scale, Visual Analog Scale for pain, or Veterans Rand 12 Physical Component Score or Mental Component Score at 6 weeks or 90 days. Poor sleep quality was associated with worse PROMs at 6 weeks and 90 days on univariate and multivariable analyses, but melatonin did not modify these associations. There were no differences in morphine milligram equivalents prescribed, medication compliances, adverse events, or 90-day readmissions between both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Exogenous melatonin did not improve subjective sleep quality or PROMs at 6 weeks or 90 days following TKA. Poor sleep quality was associated with worse patient-reported function and pain. Our results do not support the routine use of melatonin after TKA.

Geographic Variation in Knee Phenotypes Based on the Coronal Plane Alignment of the Knee Classification: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: The extent of geographic variation in knee phenotypes remains unclear. The Coronal Plane Alignment of the Knee (CPAK) Classification proposes 9 coronal plane phenotypes based on constitutional limb alignment and joint line obliquity. This systematic review aims to examine differences in the distributions of CPAK types across geographic regions. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was performed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Studies reporting distributions of knee phenotypes according to the CPAK classification for healthy and/or arthritic knees were included. RESULTS: There were 7 studies included, accounting for 5,964 knees in 3,917 subjects. Among healthy knees (n = 1,214), CPAK type II was the most common type in Belgium (39.2%), Taiwan (39.3%), and India (25.6%). Among arthritic knees (n = 2,804), CPAK type I was the most common in France (33.4%), India (58.8%), and Japan (53.8%), whereas CPAK type II was the most common in Australia (32.8%). The proportion of CPAK type I and II knees varied significantly across geographic regions among healthy (P < .01) and arthritic knees (P < .01). CONCLUSION: Significant variation in CPAK distributions exists between countries. Further work is needed to delineate racial and sexual differences in CPAK types, which were not explored in this article. A better understanding of population-level variability in knee phenotypes may enable orthopaedic surgeons to offer a more personalized approach to knee arthroplasty.

Reasons and Risk Factors for Failed Same-Day Discharge After Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: As ambulatory total knee arthroplasty (TKA) becomes increasingly common, unplanned admission after surgery presents a challenge for the health care system. Studies evaluating the reasons and risk factors for this occurrence are limited. We sought to evaluate the reasons for unplanned admission after surgery and identify risk factors associated with this occurrence. METHODS: Patients registered in an institutional ambulatory joint arthroplasty program who underwent a TKA from 2017-2020 were retrospectively reviewed. The criteria for enrollment include candidates for unilateral TKA between the ages of 18 and 70 years, with a body mass index (BMI) of less than 35, and appropriate social and material support at home. Patients who had certain comorbidities including coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, and opioid dependence were not eligible. A total of 274 patients who underwent TKA with planned same-day discharge (SDD) were identified in the medical record and reviewed. In this cohort, 140 patients (51.1%) were discharged on the day of surgery and 134 patients (48.9%) required a minimum 1-night admission. Demographics, comorbidities, and perioperative data were collected. Factors associated with failed SDD were identified using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: The most common reasons for failed SDD were failure to meet ambulation goals (25%) and logistical issues related to a late-day case (19%). Risk factors for failed SDD include general anesthesia (odds ratio (OR) 12.60, P = .047), procedure start time after 11:00 am (OR 5.16, P < .001), highest postoperative pain score >8 (visual analogue scale, OR 5.78, P = .001). Willingness to accept a higher pain threshold before discharge (visual analogue scale 4 to 10) was associated with successful SDD (OR 3.0, P < .001). Age and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification were not associated with failed SDD. CONCLUSIONS: The most common reasons for failed SDD were related to logistical issues and postoperative mobilization. Risk factors for failed SDD involve case timing and pain control. Modifiable perioperative factors may play an important role in successful SDD after TKA.

The Risk Assessment and Prediction Tool (RAPT) Score Predicts Discharge Destination, Length of Stay, and Postoperative Mobility After Total Joint Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Predicting an arthroplasty patient's discharge disposition, length of stay (LOS), and physical function is helpful because it allows for preoperative patient optimization, expectation management, and discharge planning. The goal of this study was to evaluate the ability of the Risk Assessment and Prediction Tool (RAPT) score to predict discharge destination, LOS, and postoperative mobility in patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA). METHODS: Primary unilateral TKAs (n = 9,064) and THAs (n = 8,649) performed for primary osteoarthritis at our institution from 2018 to 2021 (excluding March to June 2020) were identified using a prospectively maintained institutional registry. We evaluated the associations between preoperative RAPT score and (1) discharge destination, (2) LOS, and postoperative mobility as measured by (3) successful ambulation on the day of surgery and (4) Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care (AM-PAC) "6-Clicks" score. RESULTS: On multivariable analyses adjusting for multiple covariates, every one-point increase in RAPT score among TKA patients was associated with a 1.82-fold increased odds of home discharge (P < .001), 0.22 days shorter LOS (P < .001), 1.13-fold increased odds of ambulating on postoperative day 0 (P < .001), and 0.25-point higher Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care score (P < .001). Similar findings were seen among THAs. A RAPT score of 8 or higher was the most sensitive and specific cutoff to predict home discharge. CONCLUSION: Among nearly 18,000 TKA and THA patients, RAPT score was predictive of discharge disposition, LOS, and postoperative mobility. A RAPT score of 8 or higher was the most sensitive and specific cutoff to predict discharge to home. In contrast to prior studies of the RAPT score which have grouped TKAs and THAs together, this study ran separate analyses for TKAs and THAs and found that THA patients seemed to perform better than TKA patients with equal RAPT scores, suggesting that RAPT may behave differently between TKAs and THAs, particularly in the intermediate risk RAPT range.

Variability of pre-operative functional pelvic tilt in total hip arthroplasty patients.

PURPOSE: Pelvic tilt (PT) is important to consider when planning total hip arthroplasty (THA) due to its dynamic impact on acetabular orientation. The degree of sagittal pelvic rotation varies during functional activities and can be difficult to measure without proper imaging. The purpose of this study was to evaluate PT variation in the supine, standing, and seated positions. METHODS: A multi-centre cross-sectional study was performed that included 358 THA patients who had preo-perative PT measured from supine CT scan and standing and upright seated lateral radiographs. Supine, standing, and seated PT and associated changes between functional positions were evaluated. Anterior PT was assigned a positive value. RESULTS: In the supine position, mean PT was 4° (range, -35° to 20°), where 23% had posterior PT and 69% anterior PT. In the standing position, mean PT was 1° (range, -23° to 29°), where 40% had posterior PT and 54% anterior PT. In the seated position, mean PT was -18° (range, -43° to 47°), where 95% had posterior PT and 4% anterior PT. From standing to seated, the pelvis rotated posteriorly in 97% of cases (maximum 60°) with 16% of cases considered stiff (change ≤ 10°) and 18% of cases considered hypermobile (change ≥ 30°). CONCLUSION: Patients undergoing THA have marked PT variation in the supine, standing, and seated positions. There was wide variability in PT change from standing to seated, with 16% of patients considered stiff and 18% considered hypermobile. Functional imaging should be performed on patients prior to THA to allow for more accurate planning.

Particulated Juvenile Articular Cartilage and Matrix-Induced Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation Are Cost-Effective for Patellar Chondral Lesions.

PURPOSE: To compare the cost-effectiveness of nonoperative management, particulated juvenile allograft cartilage (PJAC), and matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte implantation (MACI) in the management of patellar chondral lesions. METHODS: A Markov model was used to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of three strategies for symptomatic patellar chondral lesions: 1) nonoperative management, 2) PJAC, and 3) MACI. Model inputs (transition probabilities, utilities, and costs) were derived from literature review and an institutional cohort of 67 patients treated with PJAC for patellar chondral defects (mean age 26 years, mean lesion size 2.7 cm2). Societal and payer perspectives over a 15-year time horizon were evaluated. The principal outcome measure was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) using a $100,000/quality-adjusted life year (QALY) willingness-to-pay threshold. Sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the robustness of the model and the relative effects of variable estimates on base case conclusions. RESULTS: From a societal perspective, nonoperative management, PJAC, and MACI cost $4,140, $52,683, and $83,073 and were associated with 5.28, 7.22, and 6.92 QALYs gained, respectively. PJAC and MACI were cost-effective relative to nonoperative management (ICERs $25,010/QALY and $48,344/QALY, respectively). PJAC dominated MACI in the base case analysis by being cheaper and more effective, but this was sensitive to the estimated effectiveness of both strategies. PJAC remained cost-effective if PJAC and MACI were considered equally effective. CONCLUSIONS: In the management of symptomatic patellar cartilage defects, PJAC and MACI were both cost-effective compared to nonoperative management. Because of the need for one surgery instead of two, and less costly graft material, PJAC was cheaper than MACI. Consequently, when PJAC and MACI were considered equally effective, PJAC was more cost-effective than MACI. Sensitivity analyses accounting for the lack of robust long-term data for PJAC or MACI demonstrated that the cost-effectiveness of PJAC versus MACI depended heavily on the relative probabilities of yielding similar clinical results. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III, economic and decision analysis.

Telerehabilitation has similar clinical and patient-reported outcomes compared to traditional rehabilitation following total knee arthroplasty.

PURPOSE: Telehealth rehabilitation (telerehab) is an increasingly popular cost-saving alternative to traditional rehabilitation after total joint arthroplasty. We compared the safety and efficacy of an institutional telerehab program to conventional "face-to-face" rehabilitation in a sample of patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). METHODS: A retrospective matched cohort study was performed. Medicare patients who utilized telerehab following unilateral TKA were matched in a 1:3 ratio to those utilizing conventional rehabilitation. Patients were matched on sex, body mass index (BMI, ± 5 kg/m2), preoperative extension (± 10 degrees), preoperative flexion (± 10 degrees), and Risk Assessment and Prediction Tool (RAPT) score (± 2 points). Ninety-day unplanned healthcare encounters, 120-day manipulations under anesthesia (MUAs), and 6-week and 3-month changes in the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Joint Replacement (KOOS-JR), pain visual analog scale (VAS), Veterans RAND 12 (VR-12), and Lower-Extremity Activity Scale (LEAS) were compared between groups. RESULTS: Eighty-two telerehab patients and 244 conventional rehab patients were included. After matching, there were no differences in 90-day unplanned healthcare encounters or 120-day MUA rates between groups. There were no differences in 6-week or 3-month changes in KOOS-JR, VAS pain, or VR-12 mental or physical sub-scores between groups. Telerehab patients had a greater improvement in LEAS score at 3 months compared to the conventional group (mean difference 1.9, P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: In a matched cohort study of 326 TKA patients, telerehab patients had similar rates of unplanned healthcare encounters and MUAs and similar patient-reported outcomes compared to conventional PT patients, suggesting that telerehab can be an equally effective alternative to conventional PT following TKA. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Predicting Total Knee Arthroplasty Outpatient Discharge: Surgeons versus Insurance Companies.

BACKGROUND: Insurance companies are increasingly making unilateral determinations of admission status for primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). These determinations may differ from those based on surgeon-derived criteria for outpatient knee replacement. The goal of this study is to determine if insurance company determinations of outpatient status are as reliable as surgeon-derived criteria in predicting outpatient discharge after TKA. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 709 patients who were preoperatively authorized for outpatient TKA. Patients were stratified into 2 groups: "outpatient per surgeon" (appropriate for outpatient surgery per institutional protocols) or "outpatient per insurance" (appropriate for inpatient surgery per institutional protocols but denied inpatient status by insurance). The primary endpoint of this study was the conversion rate of outpatient to inpatient stay. Univariate logistic regression was performed to compare the odds of conversion to inpatient stay between outpatient per surgeon and outpatient per insurance procedures and other covariates. RESULTS: The cohort included 434 outpatient per insurance (61.2%) and 275 outpatient per surgeon (38.8%) patients. Surgeons accurately predicted outpatients' discharge 92.0% of the time, while insurance companies did so 81.3% of time (P < .001). Outpatient per insurance procedures (odds ratio [OR] 2.20, P = .003) and body mass index >35 kg/m2 (OR 1.82, P = .026) had higher odds of being converted to inpatient. Males had higher odds (OR 1.52, P < .001) of being discharged as outpatient. CONCLUSION: Determining inpatient versus outpatient status is a complex decision involving both clinical and social factors. Surgeons accurately predicted outpatient discharge 92% of the time. Moreover, outpatient per insurance procedures were twice as likely to be converted to inpatient status. Therefore, insurance companies should leave deciding admission status up to both the patient and surgeon.

The Effect of Preoperative Tramadol Use on Postoperative Opioid Prescriptions After Primary Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty: An Institutional Experience of 11,000 Patients.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative opioid use increases opioid consumption postoperatively, but the effect of tramadol is poorly understood. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 11,667 patients undergoing primary unilateral THA and TKA at a single institution. Preoperatively, there were 8,201 opioid-naïve patients (70.3%), 1,315 on tramadol (11.3%), 1,408 on narcotics (12.1%) and 743 on narcotics and tramadol (6.3%). We compared morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) used during hospitalization, prescribed at discharge, and refilled during the first 90 days. We used multivariate analysis to assess whether preoperative tramadol use was associated with increased number of refills and total refilled MMEs. RESULTS: Total in-hospital MMEs and daily MMEs was lowest for the opioid naïve patients and significantly increased for the remaining three groups (total in-hospital use: 119, 152, 211, and 196 MMEs, respectively-P < .001) (daily in-hospital use: 66, 74, 100, and 86 MMEs, respectively-P < .001). Opioid refill rate was significantly higher for all patients who were not opioid naïve (32%, 42%, 41%, and 52%, respectively-P < .001). Total MMEs prescribed after discharge was lowest for opioid naïve patients (477, 528, 590 and 658, respectively-P < .001). Logistic and linear regression controlling for age, sex, history of anxiety/depression revealed that THA patients taking tramadol preoperatively were 2.5 times more likely to require post-discharge refills and refilled 80 additional MMEs than opioid naïve patients (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Tramadol is not recommended for pain beforeTKA or THA, and surgeons and patients should be aware that it is associated with a substantial increase in postoperative opioid use.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Nonoperative Management Versus Early Drilling for Stable Osteochondritis Dissecans Lesions of the Knee in Skeletally Immature Patients.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a trial of nonoperative management versus early drilling in the treatment of skeletally immature patients with stable osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the knee. METHODS: A decision tree model was used to compare the cost-effectiveness of a trial of nonoperative management versus early drilling (within 6 weeks of the first office visit) from payer and societal perspectives over a 3-year time horizon. Relevant transition probabilities, costs (in 2019 US dollars based on Medicare reimbursement), health state utilities, and times to healing were derived from the literature. The principal outcome measure was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). One- and 2-way sensitivity analyses were performed on pertinent model parameters to validate the robustness of the base-case results using a conservative willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold of $50,000 per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY). The Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards checklist for reporting economic evaluations was used. RESULTS: In the base-case analysis from a payer perspective, early drilling was more effective (2.51 versus 2.27 QALYs), more costly ($4,655 versus $3,212), and overall more cost-effective (ICER $5,839/QALY) relative to nonoperative management. In the base-case analysis from a societal perspective, early drilling dominated nonoperative management owing to its increased effectiveness (2.51 versus 2.27 QALYs) and decreased cost ($13,098 versus $18,149). These results were stable across broad ranges on sensitivity analysis. Based on 1-way threshold analyses from a payer perspective, early drilling remained cost-effective as long it cost less than $19,840, the disutility of surgery was greater than -0.40, or the probability of successful early drilling was greater than 0.62. CONCLUSIONS: Although the traditional approach to stable OCD lesions of the knee in skeletally immature patients has been a trial of nonoperative management, our data suggest that early drilling may be cost-effective from both payer and societal perspectives. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III, economic and decision analysis.

Surgical Treatment of Iatrogenic Nerve Injury Following Arthroscopic Capsulolabral Repair.

PURPOSE: Case reports of nerve injuries following arthroscopic capsulolabral repair emphasize the proximity of major nerves to the glenoid. This study describes preoperative localization using nerve-sensitive magnetic resonance imaging in a small cohort of patients with iatrogenic nerve injuries following arthroscopic capsulolabral repair and the outcomes of nerve repair in these patients. METHODS: Cases of iatrogenic nerve injury following arthroscopic capsulolabral repair referred to 2 surgeons from January 2017 to December 2019 were identified. Clinical charts, electrodiagnostic testing, magnetic resonance imaging studies, and operative reports were reviewed. RESULTS: Four cases of iatrogenic nerve injury were identified. The time to presentation to our institution ranged from 2 weeks to 8 years. The axillary nerves in 3 cases were tethered by a suture at the inferior glenoid, whereas 1 case had a suture tied around the radial and median nerves inferior to the glenohumeral joint capsule. One case underwent excision and nerve transfer, 1 underwent excision and nerve repair, and 2 underwent suture removal and neurolysis. Open and arthroscopic approaches, including a recently described approach to the axillary nerve in the "blind zone," were used. Three cases demonstrated good recovery of all affected motor and sensory functions after surgery. At the 10-month follow-up, 1 case had persistent weakness, but there was evidence of axonal regeneration on electrodiagnostic testing. CONCLUSIONS: Arthroscopic capsulolabral repair places regional nerves, particularly the axillary nerve, at risk owing to their proximity to the joint capsule and inferior glenoid. Patients with neuropathic pain in the distribution of affected nerves with corresponding sensorimotor loss following arthroscopic capsulolabral surgery should undergo focused magnetic resonance imaging with nerve-sensitive sequences and electrodiagnostic testing to localize the injury. The use of multiple surgical windows to the axillary nerve in the "blind zone" enables full visualization for neurolysis, suture removal, and nerve repair or transfer. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic V.

Analysis of Hip and Knee Reconstruction Questions on the Orthopedic In-Training Examination.

BACKGROUND: It is vital for orthopedic residents and residency programs to have a current understanding of the materials and resources utilized on the Orthopedic In-Training Examination (OITE) to tailor resident educational curricula accordingly. This study presents an updated analysis of the hip and knee section of the OITE. METHODS: All OITE questions related to hip and knee reconstruction over six examinations between 2014 and 2019 were analyzed for topic, subtopic, taxonomy, imaging modalities, resident performance, and references. RESULTS: There were 166 hip and knee reconstruction questions of 1600 OITE questions (10.4%) over a six-year period. The most commonly tested topics include mechanical properties of total knee and hip implants (10.8%), instability after THA (10.8%), periprosthetic fracture (10.2%), and prosthetic joint infection (10.2%). A total of 362 references were cited from 68 different sources. The most common sources were JOA, JBJS, JAAOS, and CORR, which were collectively responsible for 68% of all citations. There was an average publication lag of 7.1 years, with 75% of all citations falling within 10 years of the question date. Compared with a prior analysis from 2005 and 2009, there were significantly more complex multistep questions regarding treatment and fewer one-step knowledge recall questions (P = .003). Similarly, recent tests had significantly more questions involving interpretation of radiographs (55%, P < .001) and advanced imaging (9.6%, P < .001), compared with a decade ago. CONCLUSIONS: The OITE continues to evolve over time, incorporating recent literature and topics. The current analysis identifies high-yield topics and resources that can guide resident preparation for the OITE hip and knee section.

The Majority of Patient-reported Outcome Measures in Pediatric Orthopaedic Research Are Used Without Validation.

BACKGROUND: Given that patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are increasingly used to inform clinical decision-making, it is vital that they are validated, reliable, responsive, and appropriate for the population under study. The purpose of this systematic review was to assess the rate of PROM use in the pediatric orthopaedic literature, characterize whether each use was in the PROM-validated demographic, and analyze the association between bibliometric factors and the use of PROMs with incomplete validation. METHODS: The Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) Web of Science database was queried for all clinical pediatric orthopaedic studies from 2014 to 2017. All PROMs were recorded for each study independently by 2 reviewers and cross-referenced with the published orthopaedic literature as of 2017 to determine if the PROM had been validated for the study population. PROMs that had not been validated, had been shown to be invalid, or had conflicting validity studies for use in the population of interest were designated as incompletely validated or used without complete validation. The following covariates were recorded for each study: subspecialty, inclusion of a statistician coauthor, sample size, journal, and the journal impact factor. χ analysis was used to evaluate the association between categorical variables and the use of at least 1 incompletely validated PROM. RESULTS: In total, 1000 articles were screened, yielding 653 studies that met our inclusion criteria. A total of 104/653 (16%) publications-reported PROMs. PROMs were used without complete validation 120/165 (73%) times, and 77/104 (74%) studies used at least 1 PROM without complete validation. The most frequent reasons for incomplete validation were (1) using PROMs that had been validated in adults, but not pediatrics (n=47; 28.5%), and (2) using PROMs that had been designated in the literature as invalid for pediatrics (n=27; 16.4%). The incomplete validation of at least 1 PROM was associated with smaller sample size (P=0.01) and subspecialty (P<0.01). Overall rates of PROM use and the proportion of PROMs used without complete validation were both found to be higher than those previously reported. CONCLUSION: The majority of pediatric orthopaedic studies reporting PROMs used at least 1 PROM without complete validation for their study population. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV-systematic review of level I, II, III, and IV studies.

Anesthesia Infrastructure and Resources in Bangladesh.

BACKGROUND: Monitoring improvements in nationwide anesthesia capacity over time is critical to ensuring that population anesthesia needs are being met and identifying areas for targeted health systems interventions. Anesthesia resources in Bangladesh were previously measured using a cross-sectional nationwide hospital-based survey in 2012. No follow-up studies have been conducted since then. METHODS: A follow-up cross-sectional study was performed in 16 public hospitals; 8 of which are public district hospitals, and 8 are medical college (tertiary) hospitals in Bangladesh. A survey tool assessing hospital anesthesia capacity, developed by Vanderbilt University Medical Center, was utilized. Nationwide data were obtained from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and from the Bangladesh Society of Anaesthesiologists. Institutional Review Board approvals were obtained in the United States and Bangladesh, and informed consent was waived. RESULTS: Bangladesh has 952 anesthesiologists (0.58 anesthesiologists per 100,000 people), which represents a modest increase from 850 anesthesiologists in 2012. Significant improvements in electricity and clean water availability have occurred since the 2012 survey. Severe deficiencies in patient safety and monitoring equipment (eg, pulse oximetry, electrocardiography, blood pressure, anesthesia machines, and intubation materials) were noted, primarily at the district hospital level. CONCLUSIONS: Despite modest improvements in certain anesthesia metrics over the past several years, the public health care system in Bangladesh still suffers from substantial deficiencies in anesthesia care.

How Often Are Study Design and Level of Evidence Misreported in the Pediatric Orthopaedic Literature?

BACKGROUND: Observational studies are the most commonly used study designs in the pediatric orthopaedic literature. The differences between observational study designs are important but not widely understood, leading to potential discrepancies between the reported and actual study design. Study design misclassification is associated with a potential for misreporting level of evidence (LOE). The purpose of this study was to determine the degree of study design and LOE misclassification in the pediatric orthopaedic literature. METHODS: The Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) Web of Science was queried to identify all pediatric orthopaedic observational studies published from 2014 to 2017. Reported study design and LOE were recorded for each study. The actual study design and LOE were determined on the basis of established clinical epidemiological criteria by reviewers with advanced epidemiological training. Studies with a discrepancy between reported versus actual study design and LOE were identified. The following covariates were recorded for each study: subspecialty, inclusion of a statistician coauthor, sample size, journal, and journal impact factor. χ test was used to identify factors associated with study design and LOE misreporting. RESULTS: In total, 1000 articles were screened, yielding 647 observational studies. A total of 335 publications (52%) did not clearly report a study design in the abstract or manuscript text. Of those that did, 59/312 (19%) reported the incorrect study design. The largest discrepancy was in the 109 studies that were reported to be case series, among which 30 (27.5%) were actually retrospective cohort studies. In total, 313 publications (48%) did not report a LOE. Of those that did, 95/334 (28%) reported the incorrect LOE. In total, 33 studies (19%) reported a LOE that was higher than the actual LOE and 62 (35%) under-reported the LOE. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of observational pediatric orthopaedic studies did not report a study design or reported the wrong study design. Similarly, the majority of studies did not report or misreported their LOE. Greater epidemiological rigor in evaluating observational studies is required on the part of investigators, reviewers, and editors. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II.

An Updated Analysis of the Pediatric Section of the Orthopaedic In-Training Examination.

BACKGROUND: An updated analysis of the pediatrics section of the Orthopaedic In-Training Examination (OITE) is helpful for resident education and preparation for the OITE. The purpose of this study is to provide an updated evaluation of the pediatric category of the OITE, and to explore trends in question topics and taxonomy compared with the previously published analysis from 2011 to 2014. METHODS: Five years (2015-2019) of OITE questions, answers, and references were reviewed. The number of pediatric questions per year was recorded, and questions were subcategorized based on topic tested. The presence or absence of imaging or a clinical photograph was noted. Each question was also assigned a cognitive taxonomy level, based on a previously published classification system. RESULTS: The percentage of pediatric questions on the 2015-2019 OITEs averaged 11.4% compared with 12.6% from 2011 to 2014 (P=0.349). The 3 most commonly tested pediatric topics were general trauma (17.8%), elbow trauma (13.2%), and genetic disorders/syndromes (11.2%). There was a significant increase in questions that required diagnosis and interpretation (27.6% vs. 8%, P<0.001) and a slight but not significant decrease in the questions requiring simple knowledge recall (26.3% vs. 35.5%, P=0.120) and decisions about management (46.1% vs. 56.5%, P=0.077). Overall, 65% of questions utilized clinical photographs or imaging studies compared with 62% from 2011 to 2014 (P=0.621). The most common references were the Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics, Journal of American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. Textbooks were cited less frequently than in the past. CONCLUSIONS: While the percentage of pediatric questions on the OITE has remained consistent over time, the percentage of questions requiring diagnosis and interpretation has increased. In addition, questions testing genetic disorders/syndromes have become more prevalent in recent years. The most commonly cited resources were high-impact journal articles, with textbooks cited less frequently than in previous years. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Knowledge of the most frequently tested topics and resources cited may assist orthopaedic residents in preparing for the OITE and orthopaedic faculty to focus didactic sessions on the most commonly tested topics.

Bariatric Surgery Prior to Total Hip Arthroplasty Is Cost-Effective in Morbidly Obese Patients.

BACKGROUND: The cost-effectiveness of bariatric surgery to achieve weight loss prior to total hip arthroplasty (THA), and decrease the complications and costs associated with THA in the morbidly obese, is unknown. This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of bariatric surgery prior to THA for morbidly obese patients with end-stage hip osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: A state-transition Markov model was constructed to compare the cost-utility of 2 treatment protocols for patients with morbid obesity and end-stage hip OA: (1) immediate THA and (2) bariatric surgery 2 years prior to THA (combined protocol). The analysis was performed from both a payer and a societal perspective using direct and indirect costs over a 40-year time horizon. Utilities, associated costs, and probabilities for health state transitions were derived from the literature. One-way, 2-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed to validate the robustness of the base case results, using the standard willingness-to-pay threshold of $100,000/quality-adjusted life years. RESULTS: From the societal perspective, the combined protocol was more effective (13.16 vs 12.26) with less cost ($91,717 vs $92,684) and thus was the dominant strategy over immediate THA. These results were stable across broad ranges for independent model variables. Monte Carlo simulation with 100,000 samples demonstrated that bariatric surgery prior to THA was the preferred cost-effective strategy over 95% of the time from both a societal and payer perspective. CONCLUSION: In the morbidly obese patient with end-stage hip OA, bariatric surgery prior to THA is a cost-effective strategy for improving quality of life and decreasing societal and payer costs. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

How Often Do Orthopaedic Matched Case-Control Studies Use Matched Methods? A Review of Methodological Quality.

BACKGROUND: Case-control studies are a common method of analyzing associations between clinical outcomes and potential risk factors. Matching cases to controls based on known confounding variables can decrease bias and allow investigators to assess the association of interest with increased precision. However, the analysis of matched data generally requires matched statistical methods, and failure to use these methods can lead to imprecise or biased results. The appropriate use of matched statistical methods in orthopaedic case-control studies has not been documented. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1) What proportion of matched orthopaedic case-control studies use the appropriate matched statistical analyses? (2) What study factors are associated with the use of appropriate matched statistical tests? METHODS: All matched case-control studies published in the top 10 orthopaedic journals according to impact factor from 2007 to 2016 were identified by literature review. Studies using appropriate statistical techniques were identified by two independent evaluators; discrepancies were settled by a third evaluator, all with advanced training in biostatistics. The number of studies using appropriate matched statistical methods was compared with the number of studies reviewed. Logistic regression was used to identify key study factors (including journal, publication year, rank according to impact factor, number of matching factors, number of controls per case, and the inclusion of a biostatistician coauthor) associated with the use of appropriate statistical methods. Three hundred nineteen articles that were initially classified as case-control studies were screened, yielding 83 matched case-control studies. One hundred two of the excluded articles were cohort or cross-sectional studies that were misclassified as case-control studies. The median number of matching factors was 3.0 (range, 1-10) and the median number of controls per case was 1.0 (range, 0.5-6.0). Thirty studies (36%) had a statistician coauthor. RESULTS: Thirty of the 83 included studies (36%) used appropriately matched methods throughout, 11 (13%) used matched methods for multivariable but not univariable analyses, and 42 (51%) used only unmatched methods, which we considered inappropriate. After controlling for the number of controls per case and publication year, we found that the inclusion of a statistician coauthor (70% versus 38%; odds ratio, 3.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-20.3; p = 0.01) and journal were associated with the use of appropriate methods. CONCLUSIONS: Although matched case-control studies can be statistically more efficient study designs, in that they are capable of generating more precise effect size estimates than other kinds of retrospective research, most orthopaedic case-control studies use inappropriate statistical methods in their analyses. Additionally, the high degree of study misclassification indicates a need to more rigorously define differences among case-control, cohort, and cross-sectional study designs. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Failing to use matched statistical tests may lead to imprecise and/or biased effect estimates, which may lead to a tendency to overestimate or underestimate associations between possible risk factors and clinically relevant outcomes. Orthopaedic researchers should be cognizant of the risks and benefits of matching and should consult individuals with biostatistical expertise as needed to ensure that their statistical methods are appropriate and methodologically rigorous.

Socioeconomic Status Influences Functional Severity of Untreated Cerebral Palsy in Nepal: A Prospective Analysis and Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral palsy (CP) comprises a heterogeneous group of disorders whose clinical manifestations and epidemiologic characteristics vary across socioeconomic and geographic contexts. The functional severity of untreated CP in low-income countries has been insufficiently studied; a better understanding of how these children present for care in resource-constrained environments is important because it will better characterize the natural history of CP, guide clinical decision-making, and aid in the prognostication of children with untreated CP. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: The purposes of this study were (1) to determine the etiologies, motor subtypes, topographic distributions, and functional classifications of a large cohort of Nepali children with untreated CP presenting to a large pediatric rehabilitation center in Nepal; and (2) to compare the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), the Manual Ability Classification System (MACS), and the Communication Function Classification System (CFCS) scores of a subset of patients with spastic CP in the Nepali cohort with control subjects from high-income countries. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre for Disabled Children in Nepal. Two hundred six consecutive Nepali children (76 girls; median age 4.0 years [interquartile range {IQR}, 2.5-9.0 years]) were evaluated to determine the demographic, clinical, and functional characteristics of a cohort of Nepali children with untreated CP. A systematic review of the Medline and Cochrane databases was then performed to obtain reference classification scores from high-income countries. Cross-sectional, noninterventional studies reporting at least one functional classification system with a sample size of at least 50 participants were included. Only studies of patients with spastic CP were included to allow for compatible comparisons with a subset of our study sample with spastic CP. A random-effects analysis was used to pool functional scores from participants in the included studies. Among the 206 children in our sample, 102 had spastic CP (35 girls; median age 5.5 years [IQR, 3.5-9.0 years]). Functional scores from these children were compared with pooled scores obtained from the systematic review by assessing the proportions of children in each sample with GMFCS, MACS, and CFCS score categories of I or II versus III to V. RESULTS: Children with spastic hemiplegia from high-income countries were more likely to have a GMFCS score of I or II (96% [95% confidence interval {CI}, 92%-99%] versus 78% [95% CI, 62%-89%]) and a MACS score of I or II (83% [95% CI, 77%-88%] versus 50% [95% CI, 32%-68%]) relative to those from Nepal, but they were less likely to have a CFCS score of I or II (67% [95% CI, 51%-80%] versus 97% [95% CI, 87%-99%]). No differences were seen in children with spastic diplegia or quadriplegia. CONCLUSIONS: Children in Nepal with hemiplegic CP display less difficulty in communicating and social engagement (CFCS) despite more-severe upper- and lower-extremity impairments in gross motor function (GMFCS) and manual ability (MACS) than do children with hemiplegic CP from high-income countries. Targeted interventions, including perhaps simple orthopaedic interventions to treat soft-tissue contractures, may therefore provide more-substantial improvements in function and quality of life to Nepali children than could be achieved for the same deployment of resources in more-affluent settings. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II, prognostic study.