Price Transparency and Consumer Perceptions of Generic and Brand-name Implants in Orthopaedic Surgery.

Background: Some have suggested the use of generic surgical implants to curb rising costs of orthopaedic care. However, there is evidence that patients are reluctant to use generic pharmaceuticals as compared to their brand name equivalents for fear of inferior quality. Public perception of the use of generic implants remains unknown. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey using Amazon MTurk to identify factors associated with a consumer preference for generic orthopaedic screws and total hip. Results: While much of the public (52%) sees the value of generic implants, fewer (26%) would prefer them in their own care. Most respondents (75%) trust their surgeon's choice, yet the vast majority (83%) want to be informed about the cost of their implant, even if it makes no difference in what they pay. The agreement that older implants are safer than newer implants (OR 1.9 for screws; 2.5 for hip arthroplasty), and that generics are a better value than brand name implants (OR 3.0 for screws; 4.3 for hip arthroplasty) were independently associated with a preference for generics. Conclusion: The observation that many people view generic implants as being a good value, yet fewer would prefer to use them in their own care indicates that concerns over quality may initially limit utilization of generic implants. More evidence is needed to reassure most consumers of the safety and effectiveness of generic implants. Additionally, our findings demonstrate a desire for more implant price transparency when undergoing orthopaedic surgery.

Orthopedic Surgeon and Care Team Perceptions and Use of Patient-Reported Outcomes in Total Joint Replacement Patients.

BACKGROUND: The recent shift toward value-based health care and bundled payments in orthopedic surgery has increased the use patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in standard clinical care. Such assessments of patient function and satisfaction are particularly important among total joint arthroplasty (TJA) patients to monitor postoperative health. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess orthopedic care team perceptions of current and future PRO usage and compare current rates and modes of PRO collection between three urban, academic health care systems. METHODS: A literature search was conducted on current PRO uses and barriers to their adoption to generate a 26-question survey. The survey was disseminated to orthopedic surgeons and care team members at three academic health care institutions (institutions A, B, and C). Responses were analyzed for qualitative and quantitative insights. RESULTS: Among institutions A, B, and C, PRO collection generally declined from baseline (60%, 90%, 89%) to 6 weeks (67%, 82%, 71%) and 3 months postoperatively (44%, 36%, 47%). However, there were large variations in reported PRO collection intervals among institutions. Respondents reported assessing patient baseline functional status as the most useful current application of PROs and cited the prediction of patient benefit from TJA as the most useful future application for PROs. Though respondents were largely optimistic about PRO utility in clinical care, a small minority remained skeptical. CONCLUSIONS: Perceptions of PRO utilization and collection intervals varied considerably among respondents. For PROs to be an accurate and useful clinical tool, standardization and thorough understanding of PRO collection among orthopedic care team members is essential.

Convenience is Key for Patient Engagement with Remote Video Visits in a Musculoskeletal Practice.

BACKGROUND: Remote video visits (aka telemedicine, virtual care) have the potential to increase access to orthopaedic specialty evaluation while decreasing the overall cost of care. Clinical implementation of remote video visits may benefit from an understanding of potential barriers to participation. METHODS: We enrolled one hundred and thirty participants from a university-based musculoskeletal clinic with a large uninsured population. We asked participants to complete a survey, including demographics and scaled perception questions about remote video visits. Data from these surveys were analyzed with multivariable logistic regression to determine factors associated with willingness to participate in video visits, as well as the situations in which patients would consider a video visit. RESULTS: Willingness to participate in video visits was associated with the perception of video visits being more convenient (OR 3.0) and a decreased perceived importance of physical exam (OR 0.36) but not age, technology comfort, or travel distance to the clinic. Additionally, those with prior video visit experience were more comfortable with technology, perceived video visits to be more convenient, and were more willing to have another video visit. Fifteen percent were willing to have a video visit for their first visit, while 78% would participate for a routine non-surgical follow-up. CONCLUSION: Musculoskeletal telemedicine programs can become established by focusing on people that prioritize convenience, place less importance on a hands-on exam, and are established patients.

PROMIS Physical Function Correlates with KOOS, JR in Patients with Knee Pain.

Using Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Physical Function (PROMIS PF) computerized adaptive test instead of the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Joint Replacement (KOOS, JR) could reduce question burden for patients with knee pain. We aimed to prospectively determine the correlation between PROMIS PF and KOOS, JR to assess whether PROMIS PF could be a useful alternative measure for both research and clinical care of patients with knee pain. This was a cross-sectional study of 88 patients. We assessed the correlation between PROMIS PF and KOOS, JR using a Pearson's correlation test. Two multivariable linear regression models were used to determine the amount of variation explained by various patient-level factors. There was a strong correlation between PROMIS PF and KOOS, JR (r = 0.74, p < 0.001). KOOS, JR was an independent predictor of PROMIS PF when controlling for patient-level factors (ß 0.26; p < 0.001). The results of this study support the idea of using PROMIS PF in place of joint-specific measures such as KOOS, JR for clinical care of patients with knee pain. The level of evidence for this study is Level III.

Short term patient outcomes after total knee arthroplasty: Does the implant matter?

BACKGROUND: Newer implants for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) often gain market share at higher cost with little patient-reported and long-term clinical data. We compared outcomes after TKA using two different implants: DePuy PFC Sigma and Attune. METHODS: Using a prospective data repository from an academic tertiary medical center, we analyzed 2116 TKAs (1603 Sigma and 513 Attune) from April 2011 through July 2016. Outcomes included length of surgery, length of stay, facility discharge, 90-day reoperation, range of motion (ROM) change, and patient-reported physical function (PCS). RESULTS: There was no difference in length of surgery (Attune -2.87 min, P = 0.143). Implant type was not associated with extended LOS (>3 days) (OR 0.80, P = 0.439). There was no difference in facility discharge (OR 0.65, P = 0.103). Unadjusted 90-day reoperations were 0.3% for Sigma and 1.0% for Attune cohorts (P = 0.158). Sigma implants were associated with more ROM improvement in unadjusted analyses (+2.1 degree improvement P = 0.031). Fifty nine percent of the Sigma cohort and 49% of the Attune cohort achieved the minimal clinically important (MCID) change for PCS improvement, although there was no adjusted difference in achieving MCID (Attune OR 0.84, P = 0.435). There was no adjusted difference in absolute PCS improvement (Attune +0.12 score, P = 0.864). CONCLUSIONS: Our data show no difference in physical function and most outcomes between Sigma and Attune. Attune implants had shorter absolute LOS, but there were no differences in extended LOS.

Mycobacterium cosmeticum Infection After Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Case Report.

CASE: A 67-year-old immunocompetent man presented with a periprosthetic infection 4 months after a left total knee arthroplasty. Repeated aspirations failed to show any organism growth. After irrigation and debridement with polyethylene exchange, there was minimal clinical improvement. Subsequently, the patient developed an arthrocutaneous fistula, which prompted a 2-stage revision arthroplasty. Mycobacterium cosmeticum grew on the culture specimens taken during this procedure, and the patient was treated with 6 months of antibiotics. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of an M. cosmeticum prosthesis-related infection. The patient recovered well following a 2-stage revision arthroplasty and treatment with a Mycobacterium species-specific antibiotic.

Are Barbed Sutures Associated With 90-day Reoperation Rates After Primary TKA?

BACKGROUND: Studies have suggested that barbed sutures for wound closure in TKAs are an acceptable alternative to standard methods. However others have observed a higher risk of wound-related complications with barbed sutures. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1) Do 90-day TKA reoperation rates differ between patients undergoing a barbed suture arthrotomy closure compared with a traditional interrupted closure? (2) Do the 90-day reoperation rates of wound-related, deep infection, and arthrotomy failure complications differ between barbed suture and traditional closures? METHODS: A retrospective analysis of a longitudinally maintained institutional primary TKA database was conducted on all TKAs performed between April 2011 and September 2015. We compared 884 primary TKAs, where the arthrotomy was closed with a barbed suture, with 1598 primary TKAs closed with the standard interrupted suture. After barbed sutures were introduced at our institution in 2012, the majority of surgeons gradually switched to barbed suture closures, with many using them exclusively by the end of the data collection period. We confirmed in-person followups and available data past 90 days for 97.4% (1556 of 1598) of the knees in patients with standard sutures and 94.8% (838 of 884) of the knees in patients with barbed sutures. Our primary endpoint was all-cause 90-day reoperation; our secondary endpoints considered: wound-related reoperation, as defined by previous studies; deep infection per Musculoskeletal Infection Society guidelines; and arthrotomy failure, defined intraoperatively as an opening or dehiscence through the previous arthrotomy closure. T tests and chi-square analyses were used to determine differences between the suture cohorts, and bivariate logistic regression was used to determine associations with our 90-day reoperation outcomes. RESULTS: With the numbers available, there was no association between suture type and 90-day all-cause reoperation (odds ratio [OR], 1.70; 95% CI, 0.82-3.53; p = 0.156). Suture type was not associated with wound-related reoperation (OR, 2.73; 95% CI, 0.97-7.69; p = 0.058). A 0.6% (five of 884) arthrotomy failure rate was observed in the barbed cohort while no (0 of 1598) arthrotomy failures were noted in the traditional group (p = 0.003). Deep infections were rare in both groups (two of 884 barbed sutures, 0 of 1598 standard sutures) and could not be compared. CONCLUSIONS: Although we saw no difference in overall and wound-related 90-day reoperation rates by suture type with the numbers available, we observed a higher frequency in our secondary question of arthrotomy failures when barbed sutures are used for arthrotomy closure during TKA. Given the widespread use of this closure technique, our preliminary pilot results warrant further investigation in larger multicenter cohorts. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, therapeutic study.

Nonelective Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty: The Effect of Discharge Destination on Postdischarge Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Medicare has enacted a mandatory bundled payment program for primary total joint arthroplasty that includes nonelective primary total hip arthroplasty (THA). Efficient postacute care management has been identified as an opportunity to improve value for patients. We aimed to identify risk factors for and compare rates of complications by discharge destination and then use those factors to risk-stratify non-elective THA patients. METHODS: Patients who underwent nonelective primary THA from 2011 to 2014 were identified in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database and categorized into those discharged to skilled nursing facility or inpatient rehabilitation facility vs home self-managed/home health (HHH). Bivariate and multivariate analyses of risk factors for postdischarge adverse events were performed using patient characteristics and intraoperative variables. RESULTS: In bivariate analysis, skilled nursing facility or inpatient rehabilitation facility patients compared with HHH patients, had lower rates of postdischarge severe adverse events (SAEs; 49% vs 58%; P < .001) and unplanned 30-day readmissions (71% vs 83%; P < .001). HHH discharged patients with 1 or more of risk factors had a 1.85-6.18 times odds of complications within the first 14 days. CONCLUSION: The most important risk factors for predicting postdischarge SAE and readmission are predischarge SAE, dependent functional status, body mass index >40 kg/m2, smoking, diabetes, chronic steroid use, and American Society of Anesthesiologists class 3/4. Nonelective THA patients without these risk factors may be safely discharged to home after THA. Orthopedic surgeons and their nonelective THA patients must agree on the most appropriate discharge destination through a shared decision-making process that takes into account these significant risk factors and other psychosocial factors.

Health Utility of Early Hemiarthroplasty vs Delayed Total Hip Arthroplasty for Displaced Femoral Neck Fracture in Elderly Patients: A Markov Model.

BACKGROUND: Treatment for femoral neck fracture among patients aged 65 years or older varies, with many surgeons preferring hemiarthroplasty (HA) over total hip arthroplasty (THA). There is evidence that THA may lead to better functional outcomes, although it also carries greater risk of mortality and dislocation rates. METHODS: We created a Markov decision model to examine the expected health utility for older patients with femoral neck fracture treated with early HA (performed within 48 hours) vs delayed THA (performed after 48 hours). Model inputs were derived from the literature. Health utilities were derived from previously fit patients aged more than 60 years. Sensitivity analyses on mortality and dislocation rates were conducted to examine the effect of uncertainty in the model parameters. RESULTS: In the base case, the average cumulative utility over 2 years was 0.895 for HA and 0.994 for THA. In sensitivity analyses, THA was preferred over HA until THA 30-day and 1-year mortality rates were increased to 1.3× the base case rates. THA was preferred over HA until the health utility for HA reached 98% that of THA. THA remained the preferred strategy when increasing the cumulative incidence of dislocation among THA patients from a base case of 4.4% up to 26.1%. CONCLUSION: We found that delayed THA provides greater health utility than early HA for older patients with femoral neck fracture, despite the increased 30-day and 1-year mortality associated with delayed surgery. Future studies should examine the cost-effectiveness of THA for femoral neck fracture.

Trends in Utilization and Outcomes of Hip Arthroscopy in the United States Between 2005 and 2013.

BACKGROUND: The utilization of hip arthroscopy continues to increase in the United States. The purpose of this study was to examine trends in hip arthroscopy procedures and outcomes. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study using Optum Labs Data Warehouse administrative claims data. The cohort comprised 10,042 privately insured enrollees aged 18-64 years who underwent a hip arthroscopy procedure between 2005 and 2013. Utilization trends were examined using age-specific, sex-specific, and calendar-year-specific hip arthroscopy rates. Outcomes were examined using the survival analysis methods and included subsequent hip arthroscopy and total hip arthroplasty (THA). RESULTS: Hip arthroscopy rates increased significantly over time from 3.6 per 100,000 in 2005 to 16.7 per 100,000 in 2013. The overall 2-year cumulative incidence of subsequent hip arthroscopy and THA was 11% and 10%, respectively. In the subset of patients in whom laterality of the subsequent procedure could be determined, about half of the subsequent hip arthroscopy procedures (46%) and almost all of the THA procedures (94%) were on the same side. Decreasing age was significantly associated with the risk of subsequent arthroscopy (P < .01), whereas increasing age was significantly associated with the subsequent risk of THA (P < .01). The 5-year cumulative incidence of THA reached as high as 35% among individuals aged 55-64 years. CONCLUSION: The utilization of hip arthroscopy procedures increased dramatically over the last decade in the 18-64-year-old privately insured population, with the largest increase in younger age-groups. Future studies are warranted to understand the determinants of the large increase in utilization of hip arthroscopy and outcomes.

Myocardial Infarction Risk in Arthroplasty vs Arthroscopy: How Much Does Procedure Type Matter?

BACKGROUND: This study aimed at assessing short-term risk of serious cardiac events after elective total joint arthroplasty (TJA) as compared to a less-invasive procedure, knee arthroscopy (KA). METHODS: Patients who underwent elective primary total hip arthroplasty (THA), total knee arthroplasty (TKA), or KA from 2011 to 2014 were identified in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. A 1:1 propensity matching was used to generate 2 control cohorts of KA patients with similar characteristics. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were assessed using perioperative variables. RESULTS: A total of 24,203 THA, 21,740 TKA, and 45,943 KA patients were included. Bivariate analysis revealed significantly higher rates of serious 30-day cardiac events (myocardial infarction or cardiac arrest) among THA (0.15% vs 0.05%, P < .001) and TKA patients (0.14% vs 0.05%, P < .03) vs KA controls. In multivariate analysis controlling for patient characteristics and comorbidities, THA and TKA were associated with a 2.61 and 1.98 times odds of serious 30-day cardiac events as compared to controls (P ≤ .03 for both). Additional independent predictors of serious 30-day cardiac events included age, smoking, cardiac disease, and American Society of Anesthesiologists class 3/4. In the THA and TKA cohorts, serious cardiac events occurred within the first 3 days postoperation compared to 4 days in controls. CONCLUSION: After controlling for patient characteristics and comorbidities, TJA increased the short-term risk of serious cardiac event compared to a less-invasive procedure. This information better quantifies the risk differential for patients considering surgery as they engage in shared decision making with their providers. In addition, our data may have an impact on perioperative management of antithrombotic medications used in patients with cardiac disease. The median time in days to serious cardiac event was 2 in THA and 3 in TKA vs 4 in KA, which may have implications in postoperative monitoring of patients after surgery.

A collaborative of leading health systems finds wide variations in total knee replacement delivery and takes steps to improve value.

Members of a consortium of leading US health care systems, known as the High Value Healthcare Collaborative, used administrative data to examine differences in their delivery of primary total knee replacement. The goal was to identify opportunities to improve health care value by increasing the quality and reducing the cost of that procedure. The study showed substantial variations across the participating health care organizations in surgery times, hospital lengths-of-stay, discharge dispositions, and in-hospital complication rates. The study also revealed that higher surgeon caseloads were associated with shorter lengths-of-stay and operating time, as well as fewer in-hospital complications. These findings led the consortium to test more coordinated management for medically complex patients, more use of dedicated teams, and a process to improve the management of patients' expectations. These innovations are now being tried by the consortium's members to evaluate whether they increase health care value.

Is early internal fixation preferred to cast treatment for well-reduced unstable distal radial fractures?

BACKGROUND: In the treatment of distal radial fractures, physicians often advocate internal fixation over cast treatment for potentially unstable fracture patterns, citing the difficulties of successful nonoperative treatment and a decrease in patient tolerance for functional deficiencies. This study was performed to evaluate whether early internal fixation or nonoperative treatment would be preferred for displaced, potentially unstable distal radial fractures that initially had an adequate reduction. METHODS: A decision analytic model was created to compare early internal fixation with use of a volar plate and nonoperative management of a displaced, potentially unstable distal radial fracture with an acceptable closed reduction. To identify the optimal treatment, quality-adjusted life expectancy was estimated for each management approach. Data from the literature were used to estimate rates of treatment complications (e.g., fracture redisplacement with nonoperative treatment) and of treatment outcomes. Mean health-state utilities for treatment outcomes of painless malunion, functional deficit, and painful malunion were derived by surveying fifty-one adult volunteers with use of the time trade-off method. Sensitivity analysis was used to determine which model parameters would change the treatment decision over a plausible range of values. RESULTS: Early internal fixation with volar plating was the preferred strategy in most scenarios over the ranges of parameters available, but the margins were small. The older patient (mean age, 57.8 years) who sustains a distal radial fracture can expect 0.08 more quality-adjusted life years (29.2 days) with internal fixation compared with nonoperative treatment. Sensitivity analysis revealed no single factor that changed the preferred option within the reported ranges in the base case. However, the group of patients sixty-five years or older, who had lower disutility for painful malunion, derived a very small benefit from operative treatment (0.01 quality-adjusted life year or 3.7 days) and would prefer cast treatment in some scenarios. CONCLUSIONS: Internal fixation with use of a volar plate for potentially unstable distal radial fractures provided a higher probability of painless union on the basis of available data in the literature. This long-term gain in quality-adjusted life years outweighed the short-term risks of surgical complications, making early internal fixation the preferred treatment in most cases. However, the difference was quite small. Patients, especially those over sixty-four years old, who have lower disutility for the malunion and painful malunion outcome states may prefer nonoperative treatment.

Does skeletal maturity predict sequential contralateral involvement after fixation of slipped capital femoral epiphysis?

BACKGROUND: The management of the uninvolved hip after fixation of unilateral slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship of sequential contralateral slip to the initial patient presentation, specifically skeletal maturity. METHODS: The medical records and radiographs for all patients who underwent fixation of unilateral SCFE between June 1996 and October 2003 were reviewed retrospectively. Data were gathered on age, sex, stability, chronicity, body mass index, modified Oxford bone age (mOBA), physeal slope angle, grade, and contralateral involvement as determined by need for fixation. RESULTS: Seventy-one children underwent fixation of unilateral SCFE. At initial presentation, the triradiate cartilage was open in 43 patients and closed in 28 patients. There was no difference in the rate of contralateral involvement based on any measured parameter. Although not statistically significant, closure of the triradiate cartilage and increased mOBA were associated with lower rates of sequential slip progression. Only 1 patient with a mOBA greater than 22 had contralateral progression. The rate of contralateral slip was 23% when the triradiate cartilage was open. When the triradiate cartilage was closed, 93% demonstrated no sequential contralateral slip. CONCLUSIONS: In this series, 23% of patients with open triradiate cartilage went on to contralateral slip, but all sequential slips were classified as mild. No studied variable proved to be a statistically significant predictor in this group of patients, including skeletal maturity. Further study to identify useful predictive factors would be beneficial to these patients, but our results question the need for prophylactic pinning in this population. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.