Reliability and validity of the Paprosky classification for acetabular bone loss based on level of orthopedic training.

BACKGROUND: Reliability and validity of the Paprosky classification for acetabular bone loss have been debated. Additionally, the relationship between surgeon training level and Paprosky classification accuracy/treatment selection is poorly defined. This study aimed to: (1) evaluate the validity of preoperative Paprosky classification/treatment selection compared to intraoperative classification/treatment selection and (2) evaluate the relationship between training level and intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of preoperative classification and treatment choice. METHODS: Seventy-four patients with intraoperative Paprosky types [I (N = 24), II (N = 27), III (N = 23)] were selected. Six raters (Residents (N = 2), Fellows (N = 2), Attendings (N = 2)) independently provided Paprosky classification and treatment using preoperative radiographs. Graders reviewed images twice, 14 days apart. Cohen's Kappa was calculated for (1) inter-rater agreement of Paprosky classification/treatment by training level (2), intra-rater reliability, (3) preoperative and intraoperative classification agreement, and (4) preoperative treatment selection and actual treatment performed. RESULTS: Inter-rater agreement between raters of the same training level was moderate (K range = 0.42-0.50), and mostly poor for treatment selection (K range = 0.02-0.44). Intra-rater agreement ranged from fair to good (K range = 0.40-0.73). Agreement between preoperative and intraoperative classifications was fair (K range = 0.25-0.36). Agreement between preoperative treatment selections and actual treatments was fair (K range = 0.21-0.39). CONCLUSION: Inter-rater reliability of Paprosky classification was poor to moderate for all training levels. Preoperative Paprosky classification showed fair agreement with intraoperative Paprosky grading. Treatment selections based on preoperative radiographs had fair agreement with actual treatments. Further research should investigate the role of advanced imaging and alternative classifications in evaluation of acetabular bone loss.

Sufficient MRI graft structural integrity at 9 months after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with hamstring tendon autograft.

PURPOSE: To assess the MRI-measured structural integrity of hamstring autograft at 9 months after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) surgery. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted including 34 patients (mean age 36.8 ± 11.8 years; 73.5% males) who underwent ACLR with hamstring autograft. In addition, 36 patients (mean age 39.2 ± 10.5 years; 69.4% males) without any ACL injury were also reviewed and served as control group. The primary outcome used for examining graft maturity at 9 months after ACLR was the MRI-based signal-to-noise quotient (SNQ) of reconstructed ACL. SNQ values were stratified into 3 different categories: excellent: < 0.1; good: ≥ 0.1 and ≤ 0.19; fair: ≥ 0.2. The KT-1000 knee arthrometer was used to measure the side-to-side difference in the anterior tibial translation between the ACLR knee and the contralateral healthy knee in the ACLR group. RESULTS: Reconstructed ACLs were found with a mean SNQ of 0.078 ± 0.061, while almost all ACL-reconstructed patients (97%; 33 out of 34) were found with excellent or good SNQ values (< 0.019). The mean KT-1000 in the ACLR group was 0.071 mm ± 0.926 mm, while there were no patients in the ACLR cohort with a KT-1000 value > 3 mm. The mean 9-months MRI-based SNQ of ACLR group was significantly higher compared to the mean MRI-based SNQ of the control group (p < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis showed no correlation between SNQ and age, gender, time from injury to ACLR, graft size, or simultaneous treatment of additional intra-articular knee lesions. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort of 34 ACL-reconstructed patients, 97% of hamstring tendon autografts demonstrated excellent/good MRI signal intensity and excellent functional results (KT-1000 < 3 mm) at 9 months after surgery. Based on this finding, it is suggested that return to sports after ACLR with hamstring autograft can be considered safe at 9 months post surgery. Furthermore, while structural integrity of the graft has been achieved at this time point, statistical differences found in SNQ values of ACL-reconstructed patients compared to ACLs of healthy individuals highlight the continuing process of graft maturation and remodelling. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Monobloc Dual Mobility With a Minimum 5-Year Follow-Up: A Safe and Effective Solution in Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Instability constitutes over 20% of revisions after total hip arthroplasty (THA). Dual mobility (DM) designs were introduced as a solution to this problem. However, the few publications that have reported promising results for monobloc DM constructs have been limited by sample size or length of follow-up. The purpose of this study is to evaluate mid-term outcomes (minimum 5-year follow-up) of a single-surgeon series utilizing a monobloc DM acetabular component in patients with high risk for dislocation. METHODS: This is a single-surgeon consecutive series of 207 primary THAs implanted with a monobloc DM component in patients who were considered at high risk for dislocation. Patient demographics and case-specific data were collected retrospectively. All patients had a minimum of 5-year follow-up. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to assess continuous variables, whereas categorical variables were analyzed using the chi-square test. Survival probability was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Radiographic analysis did not reveal acetabular radiolucency in any patients, and there were no revisions for aseptic loosening. In addition, there were no dislocations. Seven of 205 patients (3.4%) were revised, 5 on the femoral side due to periprosthetic fracture and the remaining two for infection. Survivorship of the acetabular component from revision was 99%. The mean Veteran RAND (VR-12) physical score improved from 7 (standard deviation [SD]: 13.7) preoperatively to 9.5 (SD: 17.6) at the final follow-up. Similarly, the hip disability osteoarthritis score improved from 8 (SD: 17.9) preoperatively to 21.2 (SD: 37). CONCLUSION: Monobloc DM components reliably prevent dislocation after primary THA in high-risk patients. At mid-term follow-up, this DM monobloc component demonstrates excellent implant survivorship, radiographic fixation, and improved functional outcomes.

Extended Trochanteric Osteotomy Closure Performed Before or After Canal Preparation and Stem Impaction Does Not Affect Axial Stability.

BACKGROUND: An extended trochanteric osteotomy (ETO) safely addresses femoral component removal during challenging revision total hip arthroplasty. However, no prior study has evaluated whether a difference in axial stability exists between ETO closure performed before (reconstitution) or after (scaffolding) canal preparation and stem impaction. We hypothesized that given the absence of clinical reports of outcome differences despite the wide use of both practices, no significant difference in the initial axial stability would exist between the 2 fixation techniques. METHODS: ETOs were performed and repaired using the reconstitution technique for the 6 right-sided femora and the scaffolding technique for the six left-sided femora. The 195-mm long, 3.5°-tapered splined titanium monobloc stems were impacted into 6 matched pairs of human fresh cadaveric femora. Three beaded cables were placed in a standardized fashion on each specimen, 1 for prophylaxis against osteotomy propagation during reaming/impaction and 2 to close the ETO. Stepwise axial loading was performed to 2600 N or until failure, which was defined as subsidence >5 mm or femoral/cable fracture. RESULTS: All specimens successfully resisted axial testing, with no stem in either ETO repair group subsiding >2 mm. The mean subsidence for the reconstitution group was 0.9 ± 0.4 mm, compared to 1.2 ± 0.5 mm for the scaffolding group (P = .2). CONCLUSION: In this cadaveric model with satisfactory proximal bone stock, no difference existed between the reconstitution and scaffolding ETO repair techniques, and both provide sufficient immediate axial stability in a simulated revision total hip arthroplasty setting under physiologic loads.

Highly cross-linked polyethylene in primary total knee arthroplasty is associated with a lower rate of revision for aseptic loosening: a meta-analysis of 962,467 cases.

BACKGROUND: The evolution in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) includes the highly cross-linked polyethylene (HXLPE) which has been reported as an effective manner to reduce the wear of the polyethylene and the osteolysis. The purpose of the present study is to synthesize the results of comparative studies between HXLPE and conventional polyethylenes and determine their effect in primary TKA. METHODS: The US National Library of Medicine (PubMed/MEDLINE) and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were queried for publications utilizing the following keywords: "cross-linked", "polyethylene", "HXLPE", "conventional", "total knee arthroplasty", "TKA", "total knee replacement" and "TKR" combined with Boolean operators AND and OR. RESULTS: Ten studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the present meta-analysis with 962,467 patients. No significant difference was found regarding the revision rate for any reason between the patients who received HXLPE and those with conventional liner (OR 0.67; 95% CI 0.39-1.18; I2: 97.7%). In addition, there was no difference regarding the radiolucent lines between the two types of liners (OR 0.54; 95% CI 0.20-1.49; I2: 69.4%). However, with data coming from seven studies enrolling a total of 411,543 patients, it was demonstrated that patients who received HXLPE were less likely to be revised due to aseptic loosening compared to the patients with conventional liners (OR 0.35; 95% CI 0.31-0.39; I2: 0.0%). CONCLUSION: The present meta-analysis showed that regarding the overall revision rate and radiographic outcomes there was no significant difference between the two types of liners. On the other hand, the significantly less revision rate due to loosening supports the routine continued use of HXLPE in primary TKA.

Use of elevated liners in primary total hip arthroplasty: a systematic review of the literature.

PURPOSE: Instability remains one of the most frequent complications requiring revision surgery after primary total hip arthroplasty (THA). Elevated liners are often utilized to reduce the risk of dislocation; however, the literature is inconclusive, with no systematic reviews summarizing the data. Thus, this systematic review aimed to establish a consensus for the efficacy of elevated liners in primary THA by determining rates of overall revision and revision specifically for recurrent dislocation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Eligible randomized-controlled trials and observational studies reporting on the use of elevated liners in primary total hip arthroplasty were identified through May 2020. A random effects model meta-analysis was conducted, and the I2 statistic was used to assess for heterogeneity. RESULTS: Eight studies met inclusion criteria, and overall, 26,507 patients undergoing primary THA with use of an elevated liner were included. In aggregate, the most common cause of revision was recurrent hip dislocation (1.3%, N = 82/6,267) followed by joint infection (1.2%, N = 45/3,772) and acetabular loosening (0.3%, N = 10/3,772). Notably, elevated liners were associated with a lower risk of revision for recurrent dislocation compared to neutral liners (HR: 0.74; 95% CI: 0.55-1.00; p = 0.048). CONCLUSION: This review found that after primary THA with the use of elevated liners, hip dislocation and prosthetic joint infection continued to be the most frequent reasons for revision surgery. However, elevated liners had a lower risk of revision for recurrent dislocation compared to neutral liners.

Polyethylene liner cementation into a well-fixed metal acetabular shell for the management of periacetabular osteolysis: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: Although various papers have reported on the clinical performance of cup retention with cementation of a new liner and bone grafting in the management of well-fixed cups with polyethylene wear and periacetabular osteolysis after total hip arthroplasty (THA), no systematic review of this topic has been published to date. METHODS: Medline, EMBASE and Cochrane Library were searched for articles published from January 1999 to January 2019 using "osteolysis" AND "well-fixed", "osteolysis" AND "retro-acetabular", "bone graft" AND ("retention" OR "retained" OR "stable") AND "cup", and "cemented liner" AND "well-fixed". RESULTS: Nine articles were selected for review (186 cases, 76.1 months mean follow-up). The overall revision rate was 11.3% (21 hips) most commonly due to aseptic loosening (9/186 hips), dislocation (8/186 hips), and liner wear progression (2/186 cases). The reported square size of osteolytic lesions ranged from a mean of 465.84 mm2 to a max of 4,770 mm2. Almost all reported lesions treated with bone grafts resolved or did not progress 97% (72/74). All studies indicated improved pain and functional scores at follow-up. CONCLUSION: Cementation of a new liner with periacetabular bone grafting provides an alternative option to isolated liner exchange and cup revision for the management of periacetabular osteolysis in well-fixed cups with a disrupted locking mechanism or unavailable exchange liner. Further higher quality studies are required in order to examine if the use of highly cross-linked polyethylene, highly porous-coated cups, hydroxyapatite-coated cups, and small-diameter cups influence the clinical outcome of liner cementation in well-fixed cups with periacetabular osteolysis.

Preoperative Opioid Use Is Associated With Higher Revision Rates in Total Joint Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Although preoperative opioid use has been associated with poor postoperative patient-reported outcome measures and delayed return to work in patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty, direct surgery-related complications in patients on chronic opioids are still not clear. Thus, we sought to perform a systematic review of the literature to evaluate the influence of preoperative opioid use on postoperative complications and revision following primary total joint arthroplasty. METHODS: Following the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement, we queried PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and the ISI Web of Science for studies investigating the influence of preoperative opioid use on postoperative complications following total hip arthroplasty and total knee arthroplasty up to May 2020. RESULTS: After applying exclusion criteria, 10 studies were included in the analysis which represented 87,165 opioid users (OU) and 5,214,010 nonopioid users (NOU). The overall revision rate in the OU group was 4.79% (3846 of 80,303 patients) compared to 1.21% in the NOU group (43,719 of 3,613,211 patients). There was a higher risk of aseptic loosening (odds ratio [OR] 1.30, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11-1.53, P = .002), periprosthetic fractures (OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.53-2.34, P < .00001), and dislocations (OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.14-1.39, P < .00001) in the OU group compared to the NOU group. Overall, 5 of 6 studies reporting on periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) rates showed statistically significant correlation between preoperative opioid use and higher PJI rates. CONCLUSION: There is strong evidence that preoperative opioid use is associated with a higher overall revision rate for aseptic loosening, periprosthetic fractures, and dislocation, and an increased risk for PJI. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, systematic review.

How Does Contact Length Impact Titanium Tapered Splined Stem Stability: A Biomechanical Matched Pair Cadaveric Study.

BACKGROUND: Titanium tapered stems (TTS) achieve fixation in the femoral diaphysis and are commonly used in revision total hip arthroplasty. The initial stability of a TTS is critical, but the minimum contact length needed and impact of implant-specific taper angles on axial stability are unknown. This biomechanical study was performed to better guide operative decision-making by addressing these clinical questions. METHODS: Two TTS with varying conical taper angles (2° spline taper vs 3.5° spline taper) were implanted in 9 right and left matched fresh human femora. The proximal femur was removed, and the remaining femoral diaphysis was prepared to allow for either a 2 cm (n = 6), 3 cm (n = 6), or 4 cm (n = 6) cortical contact length with each implanted stem. Stepwise axial load was then applied to a maximum of 2600N or until the femur fractured. Failure was defined as either subsidence >5 mm or femur fracture. RESULTS: All 6 femora with 2 cm of stem-cortical contact length failed axial testing, a significantly higher failure rate (P < .02) than the 4 out of 6 femora and all 6 femora that passed testing at 3 cm and 4 cm, respectively, which were not statistically different from each other (P = .12). Taper angle did not influence success rates, as each matched pair either succeeded or failed at the tested contact length. CONCLUSION: 4 cm of cortical contact length with a TTS demonstrates reliable initial axial stability, while 2 cm is insufficient regardless of taper angle. For 3 cm of cortical contact, successful initial fixation can be achieved in most cases with both taper angle designs.

Diabetes mellitus effect on rates of perioperative complications after operative treatment of distal radius fractures.

PURPOSE: This study focuses on distal radius fractures that require surgical treatment. Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) are at increased risk of bone fracture despite normal areal bone mineral density. The aim of this study is to identify the impact of DM on perioperative complications for patients undergoing operative treatment of distal radius fracture. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data collected through the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. All patients who underwent operative treatments for distal radius fractures from 2007 through 2018 were identified. Data collected include demographic information, comorbidities, and complications occurring within 30 days of initial surgical intervention. The incidence of adverse events following surgery was evaluated with univariate and multivariate analyses where appropriate. RESULTS: Patients with DM were found to have a low rate of complications postsurgical repair of distal radius fractures. Preoperative comorbidity analysis showed that the diabetic group had significantly higher rates of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, congestive heart failure, renal failure, steroid use, bleeding disorders, dyspnea, and poorer functional status. Diabetes was found to be an independent predictor for unplanned intubation, sepsis, and septic shock. Diabetes was not found to be an independent predictor of other postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: Complications after surgical repair of distal radius fracture are low except when it comes to reintubation, sepsis, and septic shock. While the risks of independent complications remain relatively low, diabetes remains an important factor to consider when selecting surgical candidates and to ensure appropriate pre-operative risk assessment.

Cervical spine degenerative disease is an independent risk factor for increased revision rate following total knee arthroplasty.

INTRODUCTION: The relationship between cervical degenerative pathology and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) revision rates is not well understood. The aim of the study was to determine whether cervical spine degenerative diseases have a role in complications following TKA within 2 years. METHODS: Data were collected from the Humana insurance database using the PearlDiver Patient Records Database from 2007-2017. Patients who had a primary TKA were identified using Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code 27,447, and patients with degenerative cervical disease were identified using CPT and International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes. Data on patients' demographics, comorbidities and postoperative complications were recorded and analyzed with univariate and multivariate analysis with significance set at p < 0.05. A Kaplan-Meier analysis was conducted to estimate the 1- and 2-year rates of survival free from revision. RESULTS: A total of 81,873 patients were included in this study. Following multivariate analysis, cervical spine degenerative disease patients were at increased risk of all-cause revision surgery following 1 year (OR: 1.342 95% CI: 1.149-1.569; p < 0.001) and 2 year (OR: 1.338; 95% CI: 1.184-1.512; p < 0.001). At 2 years, patients with cervical spine degenerative disease had a survival rate of 97.7%, while the survival rate was 99.2% among the non-cervical degenerative cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these results, patients with cervical spine degenerative pathology should be counseled that their spinal pathology may impair outcomes following TKA.

Sustained benefit of autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis for hip cartilage repair in a recreational athletic population.

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical outcome of autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis (AMIC) implementation for mid-sized chondral lesions of the acetabulum in young active patients, and assess their potential to resume an active lifestyle including return to recreational athletic activities. METHODS: Sixty-two patients with full-thickness mid-sized acetabular chondral lesions were studied. All patients who underwent an arthroscopic AMIC procedure for reconstruction of chondral defects were assessed pre-operatively and at least 2 years post-operatively using the Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS), modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain. RESULTS: A significant improvement in all three scores at the time of follow-up was found. The mean HOOS improved from 58.8 ± 7.4 pre-operatively to 90.6 ± 7.1 at follow-up (p < 0.001) while the mean mHHS improved from 53.4 ± 6.6 to 82.4 ± 8.2 (p < 0.001). There was a significant decrease from 4.9 ± 1.1 pre-operatively to 1.1 ± 0.8 post-operatively (p < 0.001) in the VAS pain evaluation, indicating that the patients were satisfied with their relief of pain. CONCLUSIONS: The AMIC procedure is an effective single-stage technique for the reconstruction of mid-size chondral defects of acetabulum in amateur athletes. This intervention enhanced the potential for patients to resume recreational athletic activities and the 2-year clinical outcome as evaluated by the HOOS, mHHS and VAS showed significant improvement over the pre-operative evaluations.

Determining the Validity, Reliability, and Utility of the Forgotten Joint Score: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: With improving patient outcome after total hip and total knee arthroplasty, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) have seen a parallel rise in average scores and ceiling effects. The Forgotten Joint Score (FJS) is a PROM that has been previously proposed to reduce this observed ceiling effect. However, the validity and reliability of the FJS has not been well analyzed. METHODS: The US National Library of Medicine (PubMed/MEDLINE), EMBASE, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were queried using keywords pertinent to FJS, validity, reliability, measurement properties, and PROM. The methodological quality of measurement properties was evaluated using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist. RESULTS: In total, 13 articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in this analysis. Internal consistency was consistently high (Cronbach alpha >0.9). Test-retest reliability was good or excellent (interclass correlation coefficient ≥0.8) in all studies. As for construct validity, all the articles reported a positive rating. Floor and ceiling effects overall were low (<15%). Conflicting results were found for responsiveness and measurement error. CONCLUSION: There is a strong evidence of good construct validity and test-retest reliability regarding the FJS, with moderate evidence of good internal consistency. Ceiling and floor effects were very low, showing a very promising discriminatory power between patients with a good outcome and patients with an excellent outcome. Therefore, especially in patients expected to achieve high levels of function after total joint replacement, we highly recommend the use of FJS for the long-term assessment of their treatment.

Highly Porous Titanium Acetabular Components in Primary and Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: A number of papers have been published reporting on the clinical performance of highly porous coated titanium acetabular cups in primary and revision total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, no systematic review of the literature has been published to date. METHODS: The US National Library of Medicine (PubMed/MEDLINE), Embase, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were queried for publications utilizing the following keywords: "tritanium" OR "highly-porous" AND "titanium" OR "acetabular" AND "trabecular" AND "titanium". RESULTS: Overall, 16 studies were included in this review (11,366 cases; 60% females, 2-7 years mean follow-up). The overall survival rate of highly porous titanium acetabular components in primary cases was 99.3% (10,811 of 10,886 cases), whereas the rate of aseptic loosening was 0.1%. The overall survival rate of the highly porous titanium acetabular components in revision THA cases was 93.5% (449 of 480 cases), whereas the rate of aseptic loosening was 2.1%. CONCLUSION: There was moderate quality evidence to show that the use of highly porous titanium acetabular components in primary and revision THA cases is associated with satisfactory clinical outcomes in the short- and medium-term, without showing any evidence of cup migration or radiolucency. Taking into consideration that there is no evidence yet regarding the long-term survivorship of these components, we feel that further research of higher quality is required to generate more evidence-based conclusions regarding the longevity of highly porous titanium acetabular implants compared with conventional titanium counterparts.

Prior Knee Arthroscopy Is Associated With Increased Risk of Revision After Total Knee Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Knee arthroscopy (KA) is frequently performed to provide improved joint function and pain relief. However, outcomes following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) after prior KA are not fully understood. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between prior KA within 2 years of TKA on revision rates after TKA. METHODS: Data were collected from the Humana insurance database using the PearlDiver Patient Records Database from 2006 to 2017. Subjects were identified using Current Procedural Terminology and International Classification of Diseases procedure codes to identify primary TKA. Patients were stratified into 2 groups based upon a history of prior KA. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to determine association between KA and outcomes at 2-year postoperative period. RESULTS: In total, 138,019 patients were included in this study, with 3357 (2.4%) patients receiving a KA before TKA and 134,662 (97.6%) patients who did not. The most common reason for KA was osteoarthritis (40.0%), followed by medial tear of the meniscus (26.0%) and chondromalacia (21%.0). After adjustment, prior KA was associated with increased revision rate (odds ratio [OR], 1.392; P = .003), postoperative stiffness (OR, 1.251; P = .012), periprosthetic joint infection (OR, 1.326; P < .001), and aseptic loosening (OR, 1.401; P = .048). CONCLUSION: Prior KA is significantly associated with increased 2-year TKA revision rate. The most common etiology for arthroscopy was osteoarthritis. The results of the study, showing that arthroscopy before TKA substantially increases the rates of revision, PJI, aseptic loosening, and stiffness, lend further credence to the idea that patients may be better served by nonsurgical management of their degenerative pathology until they become candidates for TKA. Subjecting this population to arthroscopy appears to offer limited benefit at the cost of poorer outcomes when they require arthroplasty in the future. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III therapeutic study.

Hospital Discharge Within a Day After Total Hip Arthroplasty Does Not Compromise 1-Year Outcomes Compared With Rapid Discharge: An Analysis of an Insurance Claims Database.

BACKGROUND: As health care costs continue to rise, same-day and rapid discharge have become popular options for total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, it remains unclear if there is a difference between within-a-day discharge and early discharge for 1-year clinical outcomes. METHODS: Data were collected from the Humana insurance database using the PearlDiver Patient Records Database from 2007 to 2017, identifying patients receiving a primary THA. Patients were then stratified into three groups: (1) discharge within a day (length of stay [LOS] <24 hours), (2) rapid discharge (LOS: 1-2 days), and (3) traditional discharge (LOS: 3-4 days). The outcomes assessed were all-cause revision surgery, periprosthetic joint infection, prosthetic loosening, prosthetic dislocation, and periprosthetic fracture at 1 year postoperatively. RESULTS: In total, 40,038 patients met inclusion criteria. Among those, 754 (1.88%) patients were discharged within a day, 13,670 (34.14%) patients were in the rapid discharge cohort, and 25,614 (63.97%) patients were in the traditional discharge cohort. After multivariate analysis, no significant differences were observed between the within-a-day discharge group and either the rapid discharge or the traditional discharge group. Rapid discharge patients were at decreased risk of periprosthetic joint infection (odds ratios: 0.747, 95% confidence interval: 0.623-0.896) and readmission (odds ratios: 0.778; 95% confidence interval: 0.735-0.824, P < .001) compared with traditional discharge patients. CONCLUSIONS: No significant differences were observed in the one-year outcomes of primary THA between within-a-day discharge patients, rapid discharge, and traditional discharge. For those that qualify after careful selection, outpatient THA might be a feasible alternative to the traditional inpatient THA.

Outcomes of Acetabular Reconstructions for the Management of Chronic Pelvic Discontinuity: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: A number of articles have been published reporting on the clinical outcomes of various acetabular reconstructions for the management of chronic pelvic discontinuity (PD). However, no systematic review of the literature has been published to date comparing the outcome and complications of different approaches to reconstruction. METHODS: The US National Library of Medicine (PubMed/MEDLINE) and EMBASE were queried for publications from January 1980 to January 2019 using keywords pertinent to total hip arthroplasty, PD, acetabular dissociation, clinical or functional outcomes, and revision total hip arthroplasty or postoperative complications. RESULTS: Overall, 18 articles were included in this analysis (569 cases with chronic PD). The overall survival rate of the acetabular components used for the treatment of chronic PD was 84.7% (482 of 569 cases) at mid-term follow-up, whereas the most common reasons for revision were aseptic loosening (54 of 569 hips; 9.5%), dislocations (45 of 569 hips; 7.9%), periprosthetic joint infection (30 of 569 hips; 5.3%), and periprosthetic fractures (11 of 569 hips; 1.9%). Both pelvic distraction technique (combined with highly porous shells) and custom triflanges resulted in less than 5% failure rates (96.2% and 95.8%, respectively) at final follow-up. Also, highly effective in the treatment of PD were cup-cages and highly porous shells with and/or without augments with 92% survivorship free of revision for aseptic loosening for both reconstruction methods. Inferior outcomes were reported for conventional cementless shells combined with acetabular plates (72.7%) as well as ilioischial cages and reconstruction rings (66.7% and 60.6% survivorship, respectively). CONCLUSION: The current literature contains moderate quality evidence in support of the use of custom triflange implants and pelvic distraction techniques for the treatment of chronic PD, with a less than 5% all-cause revision rate and low complication rates at mean mid-term follow-up. Cup-cages and highly porous shells with or without augments could also be considered for the treatment of PD because both resulted in greater than 90% survival rates. Finally, there is still no consensus regarding the impact of different types of acetabular reconstruction methods on optimizing the healing potential of PD, and further studies are required in this area to better understand the influence of PD healing on construct survivorship and functional outcomes with each reconstruction method.

The Role of Long-Term Antibiotic Suppression in the Management of Peri-Prosthetic Joint Infections Treated With Debridement, Antibiotics, and Implant Retention: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: A number of clinical trials have been conducted, assessing the role of long-term (>1 year) suppressive antibiotic treatment (SAT) combined with Debridement, Antibiotics, and Implant Retention (DAIR) for the management of peri-prosthetic joint infection (PJI). However, no systematic review of the literature has been published to date to evaluate complications associated with long-term antibiotic treatment and overall survivorship free from re-operation and revision for infection after DAIR for total hip and total knee PJI. METHODS: The US National Library of Medicine (PubMed/MEDLINE), EMBASE, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were queried for publications from January 1980 to December 2018 utilizing keywords pertinent to total knee arthroplasty, total hip arthroplasty, PJI, and antibiotic suppression. RESULTS: Overall, 7 articles of low quality (level III or IV) were included in this analysis. The studies included in this systematic review included 437 cases of PJI treated surgically with DAIR and then with SAT. The overall mean infection-free rate of SAT following DAIR was 75% (318/424 patients), while the all-cause re-operation rate was 6.7%. Overall, the mean rate of adverse effects associated with long-term antibiotic use was 15.4% and the mean rate of adverse effects leading to discontinuation of SAT was 4.3%. There was no study to show significant differences between acute (either post-operative or hematogenous, with onset of symptoms ≤4 weeks) and chronic (onset of symptoms >4 weeks) infections and failure rates of DAIR with SAT. The literature is inconclusive on the influence of anatomic location (hip vs knee) as well as microorganism on the success rate of DAIR with SAT. CONCLUSION: The results of this systematic review demonstrate that there is still only low-quality evidence regarding the therapeutic effect of DAIR combined with SAT, which is not enough to draw definitive conclusions. Furthermore, high-quality prospective studies are needed to better understand SAT's efficacy and safety in a controlled fashion. Although discontinuation of antibiotic treatment due to side effects was found to be low, the high rates of adverse effects noted after DAIR with SAT demonstrate the underlying frailty and complexity of many patients with PJI, and the imperfect therapies available. Although Staphylococcus aureus appears to be a risk factor for increased risk of SAT failure, there are not enough data to establish which patients would benefit most from DAIR with post-operative SAT.

Outcomes and Risk Factors of Extended Trochanteric Osteotomy in Aseptic Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Although extended trochanteric osteotomy (ETO) is an effective technique for femoral stem removal and for the concomitant management of proximal femoral deformities, complications including persistent pain, trochanteric nonunion, and painful hardware can occur. METHODS: The US National Library of Medicine (PubMed/MEDLINE) and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were queried for publications utilizing the following keywords: "extended" AND "trochanteric" AND "osteotomy." RESULTS: Nineteen articles were included in the present study with 1478 ETOs. The mean overall union rate of the ETO was 93.1% (1377 of 1478 cases), while the overall rate of radiographic femoral stem subsidence >5 mm was 7.1% (25 of 350 cases). ETO union rates and femoral stem subsidence rates were similar between patients with periprosthetic fractures treated with total hip arthroplasty (THA) revision and ETO and patients treated with THA revision and ETO for reasons other than fractures. There was limited evidence that prior femoral cementation and older age might negatively influence ETO union rates. CONCLUSION: There was moderate quality evidence to show that the use of ETO in aseptic patients undergoing single-stage revision THA is safe and effective, with a 7% rate of ETO nonunion and subsidence >5 mm in 7%. ETO can be safely used in cases with periprosthetic fractures in which stem fixation is jeopardized and a reimplantation is required. A well-conducted ETO should be preferred in selective THA revision cases to prevent intraoperative femoral fractures which are associated with deteriorated clinical outcomes. The use of trochanteric plate with cables should be considered as the first choice for ETO fixation.

Postoperative Serum Cytokine Levels Are Associated With Early Stiffness After Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory cytokines have been implicated in organ fibrosis; however, their role in the development of arthrofibrosis after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has not been well explored. The purpose of this study is to assess whether perioperative synovial fluid or blood plasma cytokine levels are associated with reduced early post-TKA range of motion. METHODS: A total of 179 patients with end-stage idiopathic osteoarthritis undergoing TKA were enrolled in this prospective cohort study. Synovial fluid and blood plasma were collected prearthrotomy and plasma was collected longitudinally in the postacute care unit and on postoperative days (PODs) 1 and 2. Stiffness was defined as ≤95° range of motion measured with a goniometer at 6 weeks (±2 weeks). RESULTS: Thirty-two of 162 (19.8%) patients analyzed were stiff at 6 weeks postoperatively. Postoperative plasma levels of 9 cytokines (Eotaxin3, IL-5, IL12_23p40, IP10, VEGF, IL-7, IL-12p70, IL-16, IL-17a) were significantly different between stiff and nonstiff patients on POD1 and/or POD2. An association between preoperative plasma and synovial fluid cytokine levels and the development of postoperative stiffness was not detected. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that there is a distinct acute postoperative cytokine response profile in patients who develop stiffness 6 weeks after TKA. This profile was characterized by significant differences in levels of 9 cytokines over the first 2 postoperative days. These results identify cytokines that are potential biomarkers for risk of early stiffness after TKA and may play a role in the pathophysiology of this outcome.