Previous Extensor Mechanism Repair Is Associated With Increased Rates of Surgical Complications Following Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Propensity-matched Analysis.

Background: Although extensor mechanism failure following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a devastating complication and has been heavily studied in the literature, the impact of extensor mechanism rupture and concomitant repair prior to TKA has not previously been evaluated. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate how quadriceps and/or patellar tendon repairs prior to TKA would impact medical and surgery-related complications following TKA. Methods: The PearlDiver database was retrospectively reviewed to identify all primary TKA patients from 2010 to 2019. Patients who underwent quadriceps or patellar tendon repair prior to TKA were matched using a propensity score algorithm to a control cohort. We compared medical and surgical complication rates, emergency room visits, readmissions, and 90-day cost of care between the groups. Results: A total of 1197 patients underwent extensor mechanism repair prior to TKA and were matched to 11,970 patients who did not undergo repair prior to TKA. Patients who underwent extensor mechanism repair had higher rates of 90-day medical complications, as well as 1-year surgery-related complications including revision TKA (odds ratio [OR] 6.06; P < .001), lysis of adhesions (OR 2.18; P = .026), aseptic loosening (OR 2.21; P = .018), infection (OR 7.58; P < .001), and fracture (OR 8.53; P < .001). Patients with prior extensor mechanism repair were more likely to return to the emergency department (OR 1.66; P < .001) and become readmitted (OR 4.15; P < .001) within 90 days. Conclusions: Patients with previous extensor mechanism repair exhibited higher medical and surgery-related complications, including lysis of adhesions, following TKA than a control cohort. These findings may suggest that patients may require additional surveillance in the early postoperative period to avoid these disastrous complications following primary TKA.

Scoliosis Without Fusion and Increased Risk of Early Medical and Surgery-Related Complications After Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Propensity-score Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: There is a paucity of literature that examines how the abnormal spinopelvic alignment of scoliosis affects outcomes after total hip arthroplasty (THA) in the absence of a lumbar fusion. METHODS: Patients with a history of scoliosis (idiopathic, adolescent, degenerative, or juvenile) without fusion and those without a history of scoliosis who underwent primary THA were identified using a large national database. Ninety-day incidence of various medical complications, emergency department (ED) visit, and readmission and 1-year incidence of surgery-related complications and cost of care were evaluated in both the scoliosis and control cohorts. Propensity score matching was used to control for patient demographic factors and comorbidities as covariates. RESULTS: After propensity matching, 21,992 and 219,920 patients were identified in the scoliosis and control cohorts, respectively. Patients with scoliosis were at increased risk of several 90-day medical complications, including pulmonary embolism (odds ratio [OR] 1.96; P < 0.001), deep vein thrombosis (1.49; P < 0.001), transfusion (OR, 1.13; P < 0.001), pneumonia (OR, 1.37; P < 0.001), myocardial infarction (OR, 1.38; P = 0.008), sepsis (OR, 1.59; P < 0.001), acute anemia (OR, 1.21; P < 0.001), and urinary tract infection (OR, 1.1; P = 0.001). Patients with a history of scoliosis were at increased 1-year risk of revision (OR, 1.31; P < 0.001), periprosthetic joint infection (OR, 1.16; P = 0.0089), dislocation (OR, 1.581; P < 0.001), and aseptic loosening (OR, 1.39; P < 0.001) after THA. Patients with scoliosis without a history of fusion were more likely to return to the emergency department (OR, 1.26; P < 0.001) and be readmitted (OR, 1.78; P < 0.001) within 90 days of THA. DISCUSSION: Patients with even a remote history of scoliosis without fusion are at increased risk of 90-day medical and surgery-related complications after hip arthroplasty. Hip and spine surgeons should collaborate in future studies to best understand how to optimize these patients for their adult reconstructive procedures.

Cemented Versus Cementless Femoral Fixation for Total Hip Arthroplasty Following Femoral Neck Fracture in Patients Aged 65 and Older.

BACKGROUND: Femoral neck fractures are common in individuals over 65, necessitating quick mobilization for the best outcomes. There's ongoing debate about the optimal femoral component fixation method in total hip arthroplasty (THA) for these fractures. Recent U.S. data shows a preference for cementless techniques in over 93% of primary THAs. Nonetheless, cemented fixation might offer advantages like fewer revisions, reduced periprosthetic fractures, lesser thigh pain, and enhanced long-term implant survival for those above 65. This study compares cementless and cemented fixation methods in THA, focusing on postoperative complications in patients aged 65 and older. METHODS: We analyzed a national database to identify patients aged 65+ who underwent primary THA for femoral neck fractures between 2016 and 2021, using either cementless (n = 2,842) or cemented (n = 1,124) techniques. A 1:1 propensity-matched analysis was conducted to balance variables such as age, sex, and comorbidities, resulting in two equally sized groups (n = 1,124 each). We evaluated outcomes like infection, venous thromboembolism (VTE), wound issues, dislocation, periprosthetic fracture, etc., at 90 days, 1 year, and 2 years post-surgery. A P-value < 05 indicated statistical significance. RESULTS: The cemented group initially consisted of older individuals, more females, and higher comorbidity rates. Both groups had similar infection and wound complication rates, and aseptic loosening. The cemented group, however, had lower periprosthetic fracture rates (2.5 versus 4.4%, P = .02) and higher VTE rates (2.9 versus 1.2%, P = .01) at 90 days. After 1 and 2 years, the cementless group experienced more aseptic revision surgeries. CONCLUSIONS: This study, using a large, national database and propensity-matched cohorts, indicates that cemented femoral component fixation in THA leads to fewer periprosthetic fractures and aseptic revisions, but a higher VTE risk. Fixation type choice should consider various factors, including age, sex, comorbidities, bone quality, and surgical expertise. This data can inform surgeons in their decision-making process.

Decreased Risk of Periprosthetic Joint Infection with Concurrent Hardware Removal During Conversion Total Hip Arthroplasty Compared to Staged Removal: A Matched Cohort Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Hardware removal before conversion total hip arthroplasty (cTHA) is a challenging task for the orthopaedic surgeon, although there is little consensus on the timing of hardware removal to mitigate risk of surgery-related complication following cTHA. METHODS: Using a national insurance database, we evaluated patients who underwent hardware removal either on the same day or within 1 year before cTHA, resulting in a total of 7,756 patients. After matching based on demographic factors and comorbidities, both staged and concurrent groups consisted of 2,752 patients. The 90-day and 1-year risk of revision surgery, periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), periprosthetic fracture, and aseptic loosening were calculated and compared. Demographic factors and comorbidities were further evaluated as risk factors for PJI. RESULTS: The rates of infection were 1.85% and 3.05% at 90 days postoperatively and 2.94% and 4.14% at 1 year postoperatively for concurrent versus staged cohorts, respectively (P = 0.004 and P = 0.02). No difference was observed at 90 days or 1 year between the two cohorts in risk of fracture, revision surgery, or aseptic loosening. Diabetes (P = 0.002 and P < 0.001), tobacco use (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001), and obesity (P = 0.026 and P = 0.025) were identified as risk factors for PJI at both 90 days and 1 year postoperatively. DISCUSSION: The timing of hardware removal is associated with an increased risk of PJI, although no difference was observed in revision surgery, fracture, or loosening among staged versus concurrent cohorts. These findings are important to consider when surgeons are evaluating patients with periarticular implants surrounding their hip.

Barriers and facilitators to deprescribing before surgery: A qualitative study of providers and older adults.

INTRODUCTION: Deprescribing, the collaborative process between providers and patients to streamline medication regimen, may reduce the risk of adverse events following surgery among older adults with multimorbidity. However, barriers and facilitators to deprescribing for surgery has not been explored. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative study of Primary Care Providers (PCP) and patients aged 65 and older who were scheduled for surgery. We used the Theoretical Domains Framework, which informed the interview guide and analysis. RESULTS: A total of 16 participants (n=8 providers, n=8 patients) were included. Themes were regarding: 1) attitudes towards deprescribing before surgery, 2) perceived benefits of deprescribing before surgery, 3) patient-provider relationship and shared decision-making, 4) hope for surgery, 5) barriers to deprescribing before surgery, and 6) preferences for deprescribing follow-up. CONCLUSION: Our study findings regarding provider- and patient-related barriers and facilitators for deprescribing and desired processes before surgery may inform future deprescribing intervention targets before surgery.

Robotic-assisted technology does not influence functional outcomes among obese and morbidly obese total knee arthroplasty patients.

PURPOSE: Despite benefits of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) on function and quality of life, obese patients have less improved functional outcomes following TKA compared to their normal weight counterparts. Furthermore, obesity is a risk factor for aseptic loosening and revision surgery following TKA. With known benefits of robotic-assisted TKA (RaTKA) in precision and patient satisfaction, we aimed to evaluate the differences in patient reported outcome and early complication rates for patients undergoing RaTKA versus conventional TKA among patients of varying BMI groups. METHODS: This study was a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent conventional versus RaTKA. Patients were grouped by BMI range (< 30 kg/m2, 30-40 kg/m2, and > 40 kg/m2). Patient-reported outcomes were measured by Oxford Knee Scores and 12-Item Short Form Survey scores preoperatively, 6-month, 1-year, and 2-year postoperatively. Mixed-effects linear models were built for each patient-reported outcome to assess the interaction between type of surgery and BMI while adjusting for known confounders such as demographic variables. RESULTS: A total of 350 patients (n = 186 RaTKA, n = 164 conventional TKA) met inclusion criteria. SF-12 physical scores were significantly higher at 2-year follow-up among non-obese patients compared to obese and morbidly obese patients (p = 0.047). There was no statistically significant interaction between the type of surgery performed (RaTKA versus conventional TKA) and obesity regarding their effects on patient reported outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates no differences in functional outcomes among patients undergoing RaTKA compared to conventional TKA. Furthermore, obesity had no significant effect on this association. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Symptomatic Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Is Not Associated With a Higher Risk of Periprosthetic Joint Infections and Periprosthetic Joint Infection-related Revisions After Primary THA.

BACKGROUND: Symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (sBPH) is a potential risk factor for periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), a leading cause of implant failure and revision THA. However, the available evidence is mixed on whether this is the case. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1) What is the prevalence of sBPH in male recipients of primary THA by age group? (2) Do patients with sBPH compared with those without sBPH have higher 30-day, 90-day, and 2-year odds of PJI and higher 30-day and 90-day odds of urinary catheterization, urinary tract infection (UTI), and sepsis after primary THA? (3) Do patients with sBPH compared with those without sBPH have lower survivorship free from PJI-related revision at 5 years after THA? METHODS: The PearlDiver database was used as it provided the largest sample of patients across all payer types to perform longitudinal research. Between January 2010 and April 2021, 1,056,119 patients who underwent primary THA were identified. After applying the inclusion criteria (that is, male sex, minimum age of 18, and diagnosis of hip osteoarthritis) and exclusion criteria (that is, history of asymptomatic BPH or any other joint arthroplasty), 16% (172,866) of patients remained. A further 6% (59,500) of patients were excluded as they did not meet the minimum study follow-up of 2 years, leaving 11% (113,366) for analysis. Of those, patients with sBPH were matched to those without in a 1:4 ratio by age and comorbidities, including alcohol abuse, anemia, cardiovascular disorders, chronic pulmonary disease, diabetes mellitus, depression, obesity, peripheral vascular disorders, renal failure, and rheumatoid arthritis. Age and comorbidities of the two groups postmatch were balanced. Logistic regression was performed to analyze the odds for 30-day, 90-day, and 2-year postoperative complications. Survivorship free from PJI-related revision at 5 years after THA was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared with the log-rank test. RESULTS: Among male recipients of primary THA ages 65 or older, 24% (11,319 of 47,426) had a medical history of sBPH. We found no difference in the odds of PJI at 30 days, 90 days, and 2 years after primary THA between the two groups. PJI occurred in 0.5% (62 of 11,819), 0.8% (97 of 11,819), and 1.3% (150 of 11,819) of patients with sBPH versus in 0.5% (227 of 47,103), 0.8% (360 of 47,103), and 1.2% (570 of 47,103) of those without sBPH within 30 days (OR 1.09 [95% CI 0.82 to 1.43]), 90 days (OR 1.07 [95% CI 0.85 to 1.34]), and 2 years (OR 1.05 [95% CI 0.87 to 1.25]) after THA, respectively. Patients with sBPH compared with those without had higher odds of 30-day and 90-day urinary catheterization (OR 5.00 [95% CI 3.64 to 6.88] and OR 5.36 [95% CI 4.04 to 7.13], respectively), 30-day and 90-day UTI (OR 2.18 [95% CI 1.88 to 2.54] and OR 2.55 [95% CI 2.26 to 2.87], respectively), and 30-day and 90-day sepsis (OR 1.55 [95% CI 1.11 to 2.13] and OR 1.43 [95% CI 1.10 to 1.83], respectively). We found no difference in survival free from PJI-related revision at 5 years after THA between patients with and without sBPH (98.3% [95% CI 98.1% to 98.6%] versus 98.1% [95% CI 98.1% to 98.2%]; p = 0.10). CONCLUSION: sBPH is common among THA recipients, and surgeons should be aware of the added risk of postoperative urinary complications and sepsis in this subset that could lead to additional postoperative care requirements. Surgeons may consider perioperative measures such as preoperative use of short-form questionnaires to assess urinary symptoms, urology clearance or referral, and closer follow-up to improve care of sBPH patients undergoing THA. As currently available tools for assessing sBPH are limited and lack sensitivity as well as specificity, future studies may develop validated tools that can be used to quickly assess risk in sBPH patients before surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, therapeutic study.

Hormone replacement therapy does not increase thrombosis risk following THA: a national database study.

PURPOSE: Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) causes a significant increase in the risk of venous thrombosis. The risk of medical and surgery-related complications among women taking HRT following total hip arthroplasty (THA) is poorly understood, and there are currently no guidelines in place regarding venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in this patient population. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency of early medical and surgery-related complications following THA among women taking HRT. METHODS: Women aged > 40 years of age who underwent primary THA were identified from a retrospective database review. A control group of non-HRT users was matched using propensity scoring to HRT users. Rates of 90-day medical complications and 1-year surgery-related complications were compared between cohorts using odds ratios. Postoperative anticoagulation regimens were also compared. RESULTS: There were 3,936 patients in the HRT cohort who were matched to 39,360 patients not taking HRT. There were no significant differences in rates of DVT (OR 0.94, p = 0.6601) or PE (OR 0.80, p = 0.4102) between cohorts. Patients on HRT were more likely to sustain a dislocation (OR 1.35, p = 0.0269) or undergo revision surgery (OR 1.23, p = 0.0105). HRT patients were more likely to be prescribed warfarin (OR 1.21, p = 0.0001) or enoxaparin (OR 1.18, p = 0.0022) and less likely to be prescribed rivaroxaban (OR 0.62, p < 0.0001) compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS: HRT was not found to be an independent risk factor for thromboembolism following THA. Further research is warranted to better delineate the ideal perioperative medical management of HRT users undergoing THA.

Cushing's Syndrome Is Associated With Early Medical- and Surgical-Related Complications Following Total Joint Arthroplasty: A National Database Study.

BACKGROUND: Cushing's syndrome (CS) is a disorder characterized by exposure to supraphysiologic levels of glucocorticoids. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between CS and postoperative complication rates following total joint arthroplasty (TJA). METHODS: Patients diagnosed with CS undergoing TJA for degenerative etiologies were identified from a large national database and matched 1:5 to a control cohort using propensity scoring. Propensity score matching resulted in 1,059 total hip arthroplasty (THA) patients with CS matched to 5,295 control THA patients and 1,561 total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients with CS matched to 7,805 control TKA patients. Rates of medical complications occurring within 90 days of TJA and surgical-related complications occurring within 1 year of TJA were compared using odds ratios (ORs). RESULTS: The THA patients with CS had higher incidences of pulmonary embolism (OR 2.21, P = .0026), urinary tract infection (UTI) (OR 1.29, P = .0417), pneumonia (OR 1.58, P = .0071), sepsis (OR 1.89, P = .0134), periprosthetic joint infection (OR 1.45, P = .0109), and all-cause revision surgery (OR 1.54, P = .0036). The TKA patients with CS had significantly higher incidences of UTI (OR 1.34, P = .0044), pneumonia (OR 1.62, P = .0042), and dislocation (OR 2.43, P = .0049) and a lower incidence of manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) (OR 0.63, P = .0027). CONCLUSION: CS is associated with early medical- and surgical-related complications following TJA and a reduced incidence of MUA following TKA.

The Effect of Preoperative Bisphosphonate Use on Total Hip Arthroplasty Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) commonly have osteoporosis for which bisphosphonates (BPs) are Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved for treatment. Bisphosphonate use post-THA is associated with decreased periprosthetic bone loss or revisions, and increased longevity of implants. However, evidence is lacking for preoperative bisphosphonate use in THA recipients. This study investigated the association between bisphosphonate use pre-THA and outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective review of a national administrative claims database was conducted. Among THA recipients who had a prior diagnosis of hip osteoarthritis and osteoporosis/osteopenia, the treatment group (BP-exposed) consisted of patients who had a history of bisphosphonate use at least 1 year before THA; controls (BP-naive) comprised patients who did not have preoperative bisphosphonate use. The BP-exposed were matched to BP-naive in a 1:4 ratio by age, sex, and comorbidities. Logistic regressions were used to calculate the odds ratio for intraoperative and 1-year postoperative complications. RESULTS: The BP-exposed group had significantly higher rates of intraoperative and 1-year postoperative periprosthetic fractures (odds ratio (OR): 1.39, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.23, 1.57) and revisions (OR: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.25) compared with the BP-naive controls. BP-exposed also experienced higher rates of aseptic loosening, dislocation, periprosthetic osteolysis, and stress fracture of the femur or hip/pelvis compared to the BP-naive controls, but these values were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The use of bisphosphonates in THA patients preoperatively is associated with higher rates of intraoperative and 1-year postoperative complications. These findings may impact the management of patients undergoing THA who have a prior diagnosis of osteoporosis/osteopenia and use of bisphosphonates. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Retrospective Cohort Study (Level 3).

Payor Type is Associated With Increased Rates of Reoperation and Health-care Utilization Following Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty: A National Database Study.

Background: Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) is a common orthopedic procedure with overall good clinical outcomes; however, more recent literature has identified disparities in treatment access and outcomes based on sociodemographic factors. There is a paucity of literature examining whether payor type, including Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurance types, impacts early medical complications and rates of reoperation following a UKA. Methods: Patients with Medicare, Medicaid, or commercial payor type who underwent primary medial or lateral UKA between 2010 and 2019 were identified using a large national database. Ninety-day incidence of emergency department visit and 1-year incidence of revision, revision to arthroplasty, reimbursement, and cost of care were evaluated. Propensity score matching was used to control for patient demographic factors and comorbidities as covariates. Results: Medicaid insurance was associated with an increased risk of emergency room visit (odds ratio [OR] 2.77; P < .001), revision surgery (OR 1.85; P < .001), and conversion to total knee arthroplasty (OR 1.50; P = .0292) compared to commercially insured patients. Medicaid insurance was associated with an increased risk of emergency room visit (OR 3.58; P < .001), revision surgery (OR 1.97; P < .001), and conversion to total knee arthroplasty (OR 1.80; P = .003). Medicaid patients were associated with a higher overall cost of care and lower reimbursement than commercial and Medicare patients (P < .001 and P < .001, respectively). Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that payor type is associated with increased rates of reoperation and health-care utilization following UKA despite controlling for covariates. Additional work is required to understand the complex relationship between socioeconomic status and outcomes to ensure appropriate health-care access for all patients and pursue appropriate risk stratification. Level of Evidence: III, retrospective chart review.

The Use of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure for Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea is Associated With Early Medical and Surgery-Related Complications Following Total Knee Arthroplasty: A National Database Study.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been shown to increase the risk of complications following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) although prior studies were limited by their ability to stratify OSA patients by disease severity. The objective of this study was to determine the effect size of the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on early medical and surgery-related complications following TKA among patients with OSA. Methods: Patients with OSA who underwent primary TKA were identified using the PearlDiver Mariner database. Ninety-day incidences of medical complications and 1-year incidences of surgery-related complications as well as hospital utilization were evaluated for OSA patients who had used CPAP prior to TKA compared to those who did not. Results: CPAP patients were at increased 90-day risk of emergency department presentation (odds ratio [OR] 1.61; P < .0001), hospital admission (OR 1.33; P < .001), ICU admission (OR 1.45, P < .0001), pulmonary embolism (OR 1.68, P < .0001), deep vein thrombosis (OR 1.31, P < .0001), transfusion (OR 1.89, P < .0001), pneumonia (OR 1.63, P < .0001), cerebrovascular accident (OR 1.92, P < .0001), myocardial infarction (OR 1.57, P = .0015), sepsis (OR 1.35, P = .0025), blood loss anemia (OR 1.67, P < .0001), acute kidney injury (OR 1.65, P < .0001), and urinary tract infection (OR 1.99, P < .0001), as well as increased 1-year risk of undergoing revision surgery (OR 1.14, P = .0028), compared to OSA patients not using CPAP. Conclusions: OSA patients on CPAP undergoing TKA have significantly increased complication rates compared to OSA patients not using CPAP. Level of Evidence: III, Retrospective review.

Heart Failure is Associated with Early Medical and Surgery-Related Complications Following Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Propensity-Scored Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: There is a paucity of literature that examines how heart failure (HF) impacts surgery-related complications following total hip arthroplasty (THA). We hypothesized that patients who had HF will be at increased risk of early medical- and surgery-related complications following THA. METHODS: Patients who had HF and underwent primary THA between 2010 and 2019 were identified using a large national insurance database. Ninety-day incidence of various medical complications, surgery-related complications, and hospital utilizations were evaluated for patients who did and did not have HF, as well as subgroup analyses were performed on patients who were prescribed mortality-benefitting medications for HF 1 year prior to THA. Propensity score matching resulted in 34,000 HF patients who underwent primary THA and 340,000 matching patients. RESULTS: The HF cohort was associated with a higher 90-day incidence of pulmonary embolism (PE), deep vein thrombosis (DVT), transfusion, pneumonia, cerebrovascular accident (CVA), myocardial infarction (MI), sepsis, acute post hemorrhagic anemia, acute renal failure (ARF), and urinary tract infection (UTI), as well as 1-year risk of revision THA, periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), aseptic loosening, and dislocation compared to controls. The HF cohort was associated with a higher 90-day incidence of emergency department visits, readmissions, lengths of stay (LOS), and 1-year costs of care. The medication cohort was at decreased risk of PE, DVT, CVA, return to ED, readmission and MI within 90 days of surgery, and 1-year risk of revision THA and aseptic loosening. DISCUSSION: These findings may help to better risk-stratify patients who have HF and are scheduled to undergo THA, as well as call for additional surveillance of these patients in the immediate and early postoperative period. This study also helps surgeons and internists understand how chronic medications used to treat HF can impact medical- and surgery-related outcomes following THA.

Short-Term Outcomes Following Cemented Versus Cementless Robotic-Assisted Total Knee Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Cemented fixation during total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has long been the gold standard due to excellent survivorship and clinical outcomes. With recent biomaterial advancements, cementless fixation has gained renewed interest. Most studies demonstrate similar clinical outcomes and survivorship between these two fixation methods, without consensus regarding the optimal method of fixation during TKA. Outcomes following TKA also depend upon the proper alignment and positioning of components. Robotic-assisted TKA has been shown to improve outcomes related to component positioning, overall lower limb alignment, and soft tissue balancing. No study to date has investigated the role of robotic-assisted surgery on postoperative outcomes following cementless versus cemented TKA. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of patients 18 years of age and older who underwent primary robotic-assisted TKA performed by a single fellowship-trained arthroplasty surgeon. Oxford Knee Scores and Short Form Health Survey scores were obtained preoperatively and at a two-year follow-up. Complications such as DVT, infection, arthrofibrosis requiring manipulation, and revision surgery were collected. RESULTS: Three hundred eighty knees in the cementless cohort and 72 cemented knees were included for analysis. There were no statistically significant differences between the two cohorts in terms of SF-12, Oxford Knee Scores, complications, or revision surgery rates. CONCLUSION: Cementless fixation during TKA offers an alternative to cemented fixation with similar short-term results in terms of patient-reported outcomes, complication rates, and revision surgery rates. Further research is warranted to better understand long-term outcomes and survivorship following cementless versus cemented fixation during robotic-assisted TKA.

Reinstating Elective Surgeries in MedStar Health: A Roadmap for Healthcare Organizations.

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections have strained hospital resources worldwide. As a result, many facilities have suspended elective operations and ambulatory procedures. As the incidence of new cases of COVID-19 decreases, hospitals will need policies and algorithms to facilitate safe and orderly return of normal activities. We describe the recommendations of a task force established in a multi-institutional healthcare system for resumption of elective operative and ambulatory procedures applicable to all hospitals and service lines. Methods: MedStar Health created a multidisciplinary task force to develop guidelines for resumption of elective surgeries/procedures. The primary focus areas included the establishment of a governance structure at each healthcare facility, prioritization of elective cases, preoperative severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 testing, and an assessment of the needs and availability of staff, personal protective equipment, and other essential resources. Results: Each hospital president was tasked with establishing a local perioperative leadership team answering directly to them and granted the authority to prioritize elective surgery and ambulatory procedures. An elective surgery algorithm was established using a simplified Medically Necessary Time Sensitive score, with multiple steps requiring a "go/no-go" assessment based on local resources. In addition, mandatory preoperative COVID testing policies were developed and operationalized. Conclusions: Even when the COVID pandemic has passed, hospitals and surgical centers will require COVID screening and testing, case prioritization, and supply chain management to provide care essential to the surgical patient while protecting their safety and that of staff. Our guidelines consider these factors and are applicable to both tertiary academic medical centers and smaller community facilities.

Intramedullary rod fixation compared with blade-plate-and-screw fixation for tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis: a biomechanical investigation.

BACKGROUND: Achieving stable fixation when performing tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis can be challenging, especially in osteopenic bone. The purpose of the current investigation was to compare the stiffness and fatigue endurance of blade-plate-and-screw fixation with intramedullary rod fixation in a cadaveric model. METHODS: In ten matched pairs of fresh-frozen cadaveric legs, a tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis was performed with use of a blade-plate and a 6.5-mm sagittal screw in one leg and with use of an intramedullary rod in the contralateral leg. After an initial load-deformation curve was obtained, each specimen was loaded to 270 N through 250,000 cycles at a rate of 3 Hz. RESULTS: Blade-plate-and-screw fixation resulted in significantly higher mean initial and final stiffness and decreased plastic deformation than did intramedullary rod fixation. In addition, there was an inverse correlation between bone-mineral density and the difference in plastic deformation noted between the specimens of each pair. CONCLUSIONS: Blade-plate fixation is biomechanically superior to intramedullary fixation for tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis.

Dislocation after polyethylene liner exchange in total hip arthroplasty.

Little has been published on the outcomes of polyethylene liner exchanges for wear or osteolysis. We assessed 24 patients from our clinic who had an isolated polyethylene liner exchange for wear or osteolysis with retention of the acetabular shell and femoral stem. At a mean 56-month follow-up time, 6 hips (25%) had dislocated. Of these, 2 underwent repeat surgery for recurrent dislocation; 1 had 3 dislocations; 1 had 2 dislocations; and 2 had single dislocations. Seventeen of the remaining patients answered our questionnaire: 13 recovered faster from the polyethylene liner exchange than from the primary arthroplasty; 4 believed that their hips were not as stable, 4 believed the hip did not function as well; and 1 underwent revision for cup loosening. We conclude that polyethylene liner exchanges, with or without femoral head exchange for wear or osteolysis, are associated with a high risk of dislocation and possible decrease in function.