Geriatric Distal Femur Fractures Treated with Arthroplasty Are Associated with Lower Mortality but Greater Costs Compared with Open Reduction and Internal Fixation at 30 Days.

Distal femur fractures (DFFs) are common injuries with significant morbidity. Surgical options include open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) with plates and/or intramedullary devices or a distal femur endoprosthesis (distal femur replacement [DFR]). A paucity of studies exist that compare the two modalities. The present study utilized a 1:2 propensity score match to compare 30-day outcomes of geriatric patients with DFFs who underwent an ORIF or DFR. The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program data from 2008 to 2019 were utilized to identify all patients who sustained a DFF and underwent either ORIF or DFR. This yielded 3,197 patients who underwent an ORIF versus 121 patients who underwent a DFR. A final sample of 363 patients (242 patients with ORIF vs. 121 with DFR) was obtained after a 1:2 propensity score match. Costs were obtained from the National Inpatient Sample database using multiple regression analysis and validated with a 7:3 train-test algorithm. Independent samples t-tests and chi-square analysis were conducted to assess cost and outcome differences, respectively. Patients who received a DFR had higher transfusion rates than ORIF (p = 0.021) and higher mean inpatient hospital costs (p = 0.001). Subgroup analysis for patients 80 years of age or older revealed higher 30-day unplanned readmission (0 vs. 18.2%; p < 0.001) and 30-day mortality (0 vs. 18.2%; p < 0.001) rates for patients undergoing ORIF compared with DFR. The total number of DFR cases needed to prevent one ORIF-related 30-day mortality for DFR for patients 80 years of age was 6 (95% confidence interval: 3.02-19.9). The mean hospital costs associated with preventing one case of death within 30 days from operation by undergoing DFR compared with ORIF was $176,021.39. Our results demonstrate higher rates of transfusion and increased inpatient costs among the DFR cohort compared with ORIF. However, we demonstrate lower rates of mortality for patients 80 years and older who underwent DFR versus ORIF. Future studies randomized controlled trials are necessary to validate the results of this study.

Shared and unique risk factors for readmission exist following upper and lower extremity arthroplasty in the 30-day postoperative period.

PURPOSE: Joint arthroplasty has become increasingly more common in the United States, and it is important to examine the patient-based risk factors and surgical variables associated with hospital readmissions. The purpose of this study was to identify stratified rates and risk factors for readmission after upper extremity (shoulder, elbow, and wrist) and lower extremity (hip, knee, and ankle) arthroplasty. METHODS: All patients undergoing upper and lower extremity arthroplasty from 2008-2018 were identified using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program dataset. Patient demographics, medical comorbidities and surgical characteristics were examined utilizing uni- and multi-variate analysis for significant predictors of 30-days hospital readmission. RESULTS: A total of 523,523 lower and 25,215 upper extremity arthroplasty patients were included in this study. A number of 22,183 (4.2%) lower and 1072 (4.4%) upper extremity arthroplasty patients were readmitted within 30 days of discharge. Significant risk factors for 30-days readmission after lower extremity arthroplasty included age, Body Mass Index (BMI), operative time, dependent functional status, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score ≥3, increased length of stay, and various medical comorbidities such as diabetes, tobacco dependency, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). An overweight BMI was associated with a lower odds of 30-days readmission when compared to a normal BMI for lower extremity arthroplasty. Analysis for upper extremity arthroplasty revealed similar findings of significant risk factors for 30-days hospital readmission, although diabetes mellitus was not found to be a significant risk factor. CONCLUSION: Nearly one in 25 patients undergoing upper and lower extremity arthroplasty experiences hospital readmission within 30-days of index surgery. There are several modifiable risk factors for 30-days hospital readmission shared by both lower and upper extremity arthroplasty, including tobacco smoking, COPD, and hypertension. Optimization of these medical comorbidities may mitigate the risk short-term readmission following joint arthroplasty procedures and improve overall cost effectiveness of perioperative surgical care.

Pain Intensity: How Press Ganey Survey Domains Correlate in Total Knee Arthroplasty Patients.

Decreasing postoperative pain for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients has been an area of continued effort for healthcare providers. These efforts have been incentivized by legislative reform, which ties reimbursement for hospitals and providers to patient perception of care. Press Ganey (PG) surveys quantify patient satisfaction, and the "pain management" domain is thought to be the best metric for assessing pain intensity. Therefore, these responses are important, as they are used to guide further improvements in healthcare delivery. This study analyzes which PG survey domains are truly associated with pain intensity in the immediate postoperative period following TKA. We queried our PG database for all primary TKA patients between November 2012 and January 2015, yielding a total of 214 patients. Multivariate regression analysis was performed utilizing pain intensity as the dependent variable. Predictor variables included body mass index (BMI), Charlson's comorbidity index, opioid consumption, and PG survey domains. Patient ratings of "communication with doctors" (B = 58.147; p = 0.001), "responsiveness of hospital staff" (B = - 62.663; p = 0.041), "communication about medicines" (B= -45.037; p < 0.001), and "hospital environment" (B = 69.342; p = 0.017) were associated with patient pain intensity. We found survey domains, other than "pain management," were associated with pain intensity. Efforts to improve outcomes and satisfaction should focus on staff education and communication. The current method for measuring patient satisfaction and reimbursement should be critically assessed and redesigned to better reflect true patient experiences.

Dialysis Is Not Associated with Increased Risk of Perioperative Complications in TKA Patients after Adjusting for Pertinent Confounders.

With a growing prevalence for chronic renal failure, arthroplasty surgeons will find it more likely to have dialysis dependent patients present for knee replacement. Previous retrospective studies using a matched cohort of patients have reported worse perioperative outcomes for dialysis-dependent patients. However, many of these studies failed to control for pertinent confounders. This study aims to fill in that void. The present study compares lengths of stay, discharge status, and 30-day outcomes between dialysis-dependent TKA recipients and a matched cohort of nondialysis dependent TKA recipients. The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was used to identify the study cohorts. Patients were propensity score matched based on patient-specific demographic variables, preoperative functional status, and preoperative laboratory values. Generalized regression models were conducted to assess the effects of dialysis dependency on perioperative outcomes. Dialysis dependent patients demonstrated longer mean lengths of stay (+1.14) and a lower likelihood for home discharge (odds ratio [OR] = 0.503). There was no increased risk of 30-day complications in dialysis dependent TKA patients. Our findings demonstrate no increased risk of 30-day complications after TKA when adjusting for pertinent confounders. This suggests TKA is safe for well optimized dialysis dependent patients prior to surgery.

Changes in Total Knee Arthroplasty Utilization since the Implementation of ACA: An Analysis of Patient-Hospital Demographics, Costs, and Charges.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) formed the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation Center which has implemented experimental reimbursement models targeted at high-demand procedures to improve care quality. However, the effect of health care reform on total knee arthroplasty (TKA) procedures has not been explored. This study explores patient-hospital level demographics, inpatient costs, and charges related to TKA procedures between 2009 and 2015. The National Inpatient Sample database was utilized to identify patients who received primary TKA between January 2009 and October 2015 (4,283,387 cases). Categorical, continuous, and ordinal data were analyzed using chi-square/Fisher's exact test, t-test/analysis of variance, or Kruskal-Wallis' test, respectively. There was an increase in proportion of TKA recipients belonging to minority groups and the lowest quartile of median income (p < 0.05). There was a 1.9% increase in recipients using Medicaid as a primary payor and volume shifts from urban nonteaching toward urban teaching hospitals. There was a reduction in mean length of stay and mean inpatient costs. There were increases in hospital charges, but reductions in rates of inpatient mortality, and other postoperative complications. TKA procedures remain the most common surgical procedure; therefore, our study assessed national trends to capture the effect of PPACA. We found an increasing proportion of TKA recipients belonging to minority and low-income groups, volume shifts to urban teaching hospitals, and lower costs of care. These findings may be useful in objectively critiquing the effects of PPACA on TKA-related care.

Are There Gender Differences Among Leaders of Regional Orthopaedic Societies of the United States?

BACKGROUND: Great efforts are currently being made toward improving gender and racial equity in orthopaedic surgery in the United States. Nonetheless, no research has reported on whether these efforts have increased representation of women and underrepresented minorities in leadership roles in orthopaedic surgery societies. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: Are women proportionally represented in the leadership of regional orthopaedic societies in the United States? METHODS: The latest version of the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons census data was evaluated to determine the numbers (and percentages) of women and men practicing orthopaedic surgery in the United States. We also queried data for regional orthopaedic societies members who held a position of leadership (four societies; n = 53) between 2012 and 2017. Collected data included gender, years of experience, and practice setting. A chi-square analysis was conducted to compare the percentage of women in leadership with the percentage of women in practice in each of four geographic regions (Western Orthopaedic Association [WOA]; Southern Orthopaedic Association [SOA]; Eastern Orthopaedic Association [EOA]; Mid-America Orthopaedic Association [MAOA]) to see if the representation of women was proportional to that of men. RESULTS: With the numbers available, there was no difference in the observed-to-expected proportions between men and women in leadership in any of the regional societies we studied For the eastern region, there were 6% (392 of 6514) versus 0% (0 of 12; p = 0.591) of practicing women orthopaedic surgeons versus women orthopaedic surgeons holding positions in EOA leadership. For the Western region, there were 5% (304 of 5744) versus 7% (1 of 14; p = 0.836) practicing women orthopaedic surgeons versus women orthopaedic surgeons holding positions in WOA leadership. For the Midwest United States region, there were 6% (443 of 6937) versus 0% (0 of 15; p = 0.509) of practicing women orthopaedic surgeons versus women orthopaedic surgeons holding positions in MAOA leadership. For the Southern United States region, there were 4% (443 of 9601) versus 0% (0 of 13; p = 0.662) of practicing women orthopaedic surgeons versus women orthopaedic surgeons holding positions in SOA leadership. CONCLUSIONS: We found that women were represented in leadership roles in the regional societies in the United States in proportion to their overall numbers. However, that overall number was small, and so the percentages of regional society leaders who were women were correspondingly small. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The low number of women orthopaedic surgeons holding leadership positions in regional societies are most likely a function of the low overall number of women orthopaedic surgeons, but focused efforts to change the status quo may increase the diversity of leadership in these societies.

Biologic Therapies for the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis.

BACKGROUND: The use of biologic therapies for the management of knee osteoarthritis has increased, despite insufficient evidence of efficacy. Our aim was to complete a systematic review and analysis of reports utilizing the highest level-of-evidence evaluating: (1) platelet-rich plasma injections (PRPs); (2) bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs); (3) adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs); and (4) amnion-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AMSCs). METHODS: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were queried for studies evaluating PRP injections, BMSCs, ADSCs, and AMSCs in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Of 1009 studies identified within the last 5 years, 123 met inclusion criteria. A comprehensive analysis of all levels-of-evidence was performed, as well as separate analysis on level-of-evidence I studies. Level-of-evidence was determined by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons classification system. RESULTS: Although the majority of PRP reports demonstrated improvements in pain and/or function, others revealed no substantial improvements. Similar findings were noted for BMSCs, ADSCs, and AMSCs. Assessments of BMSC studies yielded majority with positive clinical results, although short-lived. Studies on ADSCs revealed improved clinical outcomes, but equivocal radiographic outcomes. Studies evaluating AMSCs demonstrated improvements in pain and function, and decreased radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis. CONCLUSION: Despite some promising early results for PRP, BMSC, ADSC, and AMSC therapies, the majority of level-of-evidence I studies have multiple problems: small sample sizes, potentially inappropriate control cohorts, short-term follow-up, and so on. Despite the limitations, there still appears to be evidence justifying their use for knee osteoarthritis management. More high-level, larger human studies utilizing standardized protocols are needed.

Intravenous Acetaminophen May Be Associated with Reduced Odds of 30-Day Readmission after Total Knee Arthroplasty.

The purpose of this study was (1) to evaluate 30-day readmission rates in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients who either received intravenous (IV) or oral (PO) acetaminophen (APAP) perioperatively and (2) to extrapolate the potential annual cost savings on the national level. This was a review of 190,691 TKA recipients between the years 2012 and 2015 who received either IV (n = 56,475) or PO APAP (n = 134,216). All-cause readmissions that occurred between patient discharge and 30 days postdischarge were recorded. Continuous and categorical variables were evaluated using t-test and chi-square test, respectively. A logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the effect of IV APAP on 30-day readmission. We also performed a literature review on 30-day readmission rates and risk prediction tools for TKA and correlated these with our findings. In addition, we extrapolated potential cost savings on the national level. The readmission rate was 0.04% in the IV and 0.14% in the PO APAP cohort (69% decreased risk; odds ratio = 0.31; 95% confidence interval = 0.20-0.47; p < 0.001). The readmission rate in this patient population appears to be markedly lower, when compared with previous reports. This reduction in readmissions may potentially result in $160 million savings per year. The use of IV APAP in TKA patients resulted in lower readmission rates, which may be valuable in clinical decision making by surgeons and health care administrators looking to lower costs of care.

Clostridium difficile infection in the USA: incidence and associated factors in revision total knee arthroplasty patients.

INTRODUCTION: Revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA) procedures performed secondary to periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. These poor outcomes may be further complicated by postoperative infection requiring antibiotics. However, antibiotic overuse may suppress patients' bacterial flora, leading to Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). Therefore, we aimed to study the: (1) incidence; (2) costs; and (3) risk factors associated with CDI in revision TKA patients. METHODS: The National Inpatient Sample database was queried for individuals diagnosed with PJI who underwent revision TKA between 2009 and 2013 (n = 83,806). Patients who developed CDI during their inpatient stay were identified (n = 799). Logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the association between hospital- and patient-specific characteristics and the development of CDI. RESULTS: The incidence of CDI after revision TKA was 1.0%. These patients were older (mean age 69.05 vs. 65.52 years), had greater LOS (median 11 vs. 5 days) and greater costs ($30,612.93 vs. 18,873.75), and experienced higher in-hospital mortality (3.6 vs. 0.5%; p < 0.001 for all) compared to those without infection. Patients with CDI were more likely to be treated in urban, not-for-profit, medium/large hospitals in the Northeast or Midwest (p < 0.05 for all) and to have underlying depression (OR 4.267; p = 0.007) or fluid/electrolyte disorders (OR 3.48; p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Although CDI is rare following revision TKA, it can have detrimental consequences. We demonstrate that CDI is associated with longer LOS, higher costs, and greater in-hospital mortality. With increased legislative pressure to lower healthcare expenditures, it is crucial to identify means of preventing costly complications.

Cementless versus Cemented Fixation in Total Knee Arthroplasty: Usage, Costs, and Complications during the Inpatient Period.

Cemented fixation has been the gold standard in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, with younger and more active patients requiring TKA, cementless (press-fit) fixation has sparked renewed interest. Therefore, we investigated differences in (1) patient demographics, (2) inpatient costs, (3) short-term complications, and (4) discharge disposition between patients who underwent TKA with cemented and cementless fixation. The National Inpatient Sample database was queried for TKA patients with cement or cementless fixation between October 1 and December 31, 2015. Primary outcomes of interest included complications, length of stay (LOS), discharge disposition, and inpatient costs. Student's t-test and chi-square analysis were used to assess continuous and categorical data, respectively. Multivariable analysis evaluated the effects of fixation type on the continuous and categorical dependent variables. Patients who received cementless fixation were more often younger (63.5 vs. 65.9 years), male (47.4 vs. 40.3%), Black (10.7 vs. 7.7%), from the Northeast census region (29.1 vs. 17.1%), and under private insurance (49.2 vs. 40.3%; p < 0.001 for all). Cementless fixation involved higher inpatient hospital costs (US$17,357 vs. US$16,888) and charges (US$67,366 vs. US$64,190; p < 0.001 for both), lower mean LOS (2.63 vs. 2.71 days; p < 0.001), and higher odds of being discharged to home (odds ratio = 1.99; p = 0.002). This study revisited the outcomes of TKA with cementless fixation and demonstrated higher inpatient charges and costs, shorter mean LOS, and higher odds of being discharged home. Future studies should investigate patient outcomes and complications past the inpatient period, evaluate long-term survivorship and failure rates, and implement a prospective study design.

How Accurate is the Multiplier Method in Predicting the Timing of Angular Correction After Hemiepiphysiodesis?

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to validate the accuracy of the Multiplier Method (MM) in predicting the timing of angular correction after hemiepiphysiodesis and to determine the role of using skeletal age when calculating those predictions. METHODS: This retrospective study included 131 physes in 77 patients treated with hemiepiphysiodesis to gradually correct a coronal plane deformity before skeletal maturity. To compare the MM's predictions to the actual treatment duration, the "desired angular correction" was considered the actual achieved angular correction determined from the "endpoint x-ray" (last x-ray before implant removal). We measured the bone length and width of the growth plate from the preoperative x-ray and calculated the MM's prediction of the duration of treatment based on the MM formula. We compared the predicted duration to the observed duration of treatment for each case. The difference was calculated by subtracting the observed duration from the predicted duration. The result was the "absolute difference," which is the number of months over or under predicted by the MM. RESULTS: The mean absolute difference between the MM's predicted duration and the observed duration was 2.31 months, which was highly significant (P≤0.001). The MM's prediction agreed with the observed duration of treatment (ie, zero absolute difference) in 15% of the predictions, 69% were under predicted, and 16% were over predicted. Sixty-eight percent of the absolute differences were within 3 months regardless of the direction of error. The mean difference was relatively less in genu varum cases and was statistically significant (P=0.047). Comparing the mean difference using chronological age and skeletal age in the formula showed no statistically significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: The MM has a tendency to under predict. Therefore, doing a guided growth right before skeletal maturity should be started 2 to 4 months earlier than suggested by the MM. Moreover, our data did not show that the bone age gave more accurate predictions than chronological age. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

Opiate Pain Medication Consumption in Cigarette Smokers following Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Purpose The purpose of the present study was to assess perception of pain and pain management in smokers versus nonsmokers who received a total hip arthroplasty (THA). Methods Patients who underwent THA from 2010 to 2016 were propensity score matched 1:1 based on race, body mass index, age, and sex. This yielded 124 smokers and 124 nonsmokers. Pain intensity was quantified using area under the curve for visual analog scale pain scores. Opioid consumption was determined using a morphine milliequivalent (mEq) conversion algorithm. An independent samples t -test and Chi-square analysis was conducted to assess continuous and categorical variables respectively. Results Smokers experienced a nonsignificantly increased pain intensity (198.1 vs. 185.7; p = 0.063). Smokers demonstrated significantly higher opioid consumption in both immediate postoperative (65.9 vs. 59.3 mEq; p = 0.045) and 90 days postoperative periods (619.9 vs. 458.9 mEq; p = 0.029). Conclusion Our study demonstrated a nonsignificantly increased pain intensity, and (in both the immediate and 90 days postoperative periods) a significantly higher opioid consumption following THA in patients who smoke cigarettes. This may be due to a relatively small effect size, warranting the need for larger prospective studies. Nevertheless, arthroplasty surgeons should encourage preoperative smoking cessation and alternative nonopioid analgesics to smoking patients receiving THA. Level of Evidence This is a level III, retrospective cohort study.

Impact factors of orthopaedic journals between 2010 and 2016: trends and comparisons with other surgical specialties.

BACKGROUND: With increased legislative efforts to utilize evidence-based medicine as a guide for clinical practice, orthopaedists feel increasing pressure to publish research in higher-quality journals that reach a larger audience. Impact factor (IF) is used to quantify and rank journal apparent quality, and is the most standardized method for journal appraisal. In this study, we assessed the trends for IF among orthopaedic journals and compared these trends to those of medicine and general surgery journals. METHODS: Journal IFs from Journal Citation Reports (JCR) between the years 2010 to 2016 were obtained and analyzed for trends. Only journals that were considered primarily orthopaedic journals were included. The top 10 journals by IF in both internal medicine and surgery were also included for comparison. Each journal was analyzed by IF, and trends across time were noted. The differences in mean IF between orthopaedic specialty groups were analyzed using an independent samples t-test. RESULTS: The mean IF of orthopaedic increased from 1.4 (range, 0.0-3.9) in 2010 to 1.9 (range, 0.5-5.7) in 2016. In 2016, the percentage of English journals increased to 87.3% (n=48), while the percentage of journals published in the United States was 47.3% (n=26). There was a significant difference between the IF of journals published in English and those published in other languages (P=0.004). The mean IF of both general and specialized orthopaedic journals increased from 2010 to 2016, but the difference was nonsignificant. The mean IF of the top 10 journals in both surgery and internal medicine also increased from 2010 to 2016, but the increase was also nonsignificant. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the mean IF for peer-reviewed orthopaedic journals has increased in the past years, as has the number of journals. English journals from the United States continue to have the largest impact when compared to non-English journals and journals from outside the United States. Future studies should aim to better qualify journal impact, while limiting confounders such as self-citation.

Emerging and Established Models of Bone Metastasis.

Metastasis is the leading cause of cancer-related death and drives patient morbidity as well as healthcare costs. Bone is the primary site of metastasis for several cancers-breast and prostate cancers in particular. Efforts to treat bone metastases have been stymied by a lack of models to study the progression, cellular players, and signaling pathways driving bone metastasis. In this review, we examine newly described and classic models of bone metastasis. Through the use of current in vivo, microfluidic, and in silico computational bone metastasis models we may eventually understand how cells escape the primary tumor and how these circulating tumor cells then home to and colonize the bone marrow. Further, future models may uncover how cells enter and then escape dormancy to develop into overt metastases. Recreating the metastatic process will lead to the discovery of therapeutic targets for disrupting and treating bone metastasis.

Decreased Time to Return to Work Using Robotic-Assisted Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty Compared to Conventional Techniques.

INTRODUCTION: Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) is a commonly used procedure for patients suffering from debilitating unicompartmental knee arthritis. For UKA recipients, robotic-assisted surgery has served as an aid in improving surgical accuracy and precision. While studies exist detailing outcomes of robotic UKA, to our knowledge, there are no studies assessing time to return to work using robotic-assisted UKA. Thus, the purpose of this study was to prospectively assess the time to return to work and to achieve the level of work activity following robotic-assisted UKA to create recommendations for patients preoperatively. We hypothesized that the return to work time would be shorter for robotic-assisted UKAs compared with TKAs and manual UKAs, due to more accurate ligament balancing and precise implementation of the operative plan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty consecutive patients scheduled to undergo a robotic-assisted UKA at an academic teaching hospital were prospectively enrolled in the study. Inclusion criteria included employment at the time of surgery, with the intent on returning to the same occupation following surgery and having end-stage knee degenerative joint disease (DJD) limited to the medial compartment. Patients were contacted via email, letter, or phone at two, four, six, and 12 weeks following surgery until they returned to work. The Baecke physical activity questionnaire (BQ) was administered to assess patients' level of activity at work pre- and postoperatively. Statistical analysis was performed using SAS Enterprise Guide (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, North Carolina) and Excel® (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Washington). Descriptive statistics were calculated to assess the demographics of the patient population. Boxplots were generated using an Excel® spreadsheet to visualize the BQ scores and a two-tailed t-test was used to assess for differences between pre- and postoperative scores with alpha 0.05. RESULTS: The mean time to return to work was 6.4 weeks (SD=3.4, range 2-12 weeks), with a median time of six weeks. There was no difference seen in the mean pre- and postoperative BQ scores (2.70 vs. 2.69, respectively; p=0.87). CONCLUSION: The findings of the current study suggest that most patients can return to work six weeks following robotic-assisted UKA which appears to be shorter than conventional UKA and TKA. Future level I studies are needed to verify our study findings.

Are Allogeneic Transfusions Decreasing in Total Knee Arthroplasty Patients? National Inpatient Sample 2009-2013.

BACKGROUND: Allogeneic transfusions are commonly used for substantial blood loss in total knee arthroplasty (TKA), but have been associated with adverse effects and increased costs. The purpose of this study is to provide a detailed description of (1) trends of allogeneic blood transfusion; (2) risk factors and adverse events; and (3) discharge disposition, length-of-stay (LOS), and cost/charge analysis for primary TKA patients who received an allogeneic blood transfusion from 2009-2013. METHODS: A cohort of 3,217,056 primary TKA patients was identified from the National Inpatient Sample database from 2009-2013. Demographic, clinical, economic, and discharge data were analyzed for patients who received allogeneic blood products, and for those who did not receive any type of blood transfusion. Other parameters analyzed include risk factors, adverse events, discharge disposition, and costs/charges. RESULTS: There was a significant decline in use of allogeneic transfusion from 2009-2013 incidence (13.9%-7.3%; P < .001). All comorbidities examined were associated with significantly increased risk of receiving allogeneic transfusion with exception of patients with AIDS, metastatic cancer, and peptic ulcer disease. Allogeneic transfusion was associated with worse outcomes during hospitalization. Patients also had a greater likelihood of discharge to short-term care, greater LOS, and greater median costs/charges. Among TKA patients who received an allogeneic transfusion, costs varied based on hospital ownership and characteristics, primary-payer, region, and bed-size. CONCLUSION: Given the poor outcomes and higher costs associated with allogeneic transfusions, efforts must be undertaken to minimize this risky practice. With the projected increase in demand for TKAs, orthopedists must understand effective blood management strategies.

Does Addition of Adductor Canal Blockade to Multimodal Periarticular Analgesia Improve Discharge Status, Pain Levels, Opioid Use, and Length of Stay after Total Knee Arthroplasty?

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) can be associated with substantial postoperative pain that may affect satisfaction and return to function. Various forms of pain control have been used; however, multimodal periarticular analgesia (MPA) and adductor canal block (ACB) have recently gained popularity. The purpose of this study was to compare (1) discharge status, (2) pain levels, (3) postoperative opioid consumption, and (4) length of stay (LOS) between TKA patients who received MPA only and those who received both MPA and ACB. A single surgeon database was reviewed for TKA patients who received MPA with or without ACB between January 2015 and April 2016. This yielded 110 patients who had a mean age of 62 years. Forty-five patients received MPA alone, while 65 patients received both modalities. Patient records were reviewed to obtain demographic and end-point data (discharge status, pain scores, opioid consumption, and LOS). Student's t-test and chi-squared test were used to compare continuous and categorical variables, respectively. There was no significant difference in discharge status (p = 0.304), pain levels (p = 0.343), and postoperative opioid consumption (p = 0.729) between the two cohorts. When compared with MPA patients, TKA patients who received both MPA and ACB demonstrated shorter LOS (2.44 vs. 1.98 days), a value that trended toward significance (p = 0.061). When comparing TKA patients who received MPA with those who received a combination of MPA and ACB, we were unable to elucidate a significant difference in any of the end points of interest. Therefore, MPA alone is comparable to combined MPA and ACB in managing postoperative pain in TKA patients. However, larger studies may be necessary to verify these findings.

Risk Factors and Costs Associated With Clostridium difficile Colitis in Patients With Prosthetic Joint Infection Undergoing Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: With the increased demand for primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) and corresponding rise in revision procedures, it is imperative to understand the factors contributing to the development of Clostridium difficile colitis. We aimed to provide a detailed analysis of: (1) the incidence of; (2) the demographics, lengths of stay, and total costs for; and (3) the risk factors and mortality associated with the development of C. difficile colitis after revision THA. METHODS: The National Inpatient Sample database was queried for all individuals diagnosed with a periprosthetic joint infection and who underwent all-component revision THA between 2009 and 2013 (n = 40,876). Patients who developed C. difficile colitis during their inpatient hospital stay were identified. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the association between hospital- and patient-specific characteristics and the development of C. difficile colitis. RESULTS: The overall incidence of C. difficile colitis after revision THA was 1.7%. These patients were significantly older (74 vs 65 years), had greater lengths of hospital stay (19 vs 9 days), accumulated greater costs ($51,641 vs $28,282), and were more often treated in an urban hospital compared to their counterparts who did not develop C. difficile colitis (P < .001 for all). Patients with colitis also had a significantly higher in-hospital mortality compared to those without (5.6% vs 1.4%; P < .001). CONCLUSION: While C. difficile colitis infection is an uncommon event following revision THA, it can have potentially devastating consequences. Our analysis demonstrates that this infection is associated with a longer hospital stay, higher costs, and greater in-hospital mortality.

No Correlation Between Press Ganey Survey Responses and Outcomes in Post-Total Hip Arthroplasty Patients.

BACKGROUND: In the era of the online orthopedic market, patients tend to equate publicly available online satisfaction surveys with what they presume their ultimate surgical outcome will be. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess whether there is a correlation between Press Ganey (PG) scores and (1) Hip Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index and Harris Hip Score; (2) Short Form-12 and Short Form-36 scores; (3) University of California Los Angeles and Visual Analog Scale scores assessed at a mean of 3 years (range, 1 to 6 years) after surgery. In addition, we assessed whether (4) these correlations persist in patients who were evaluated under 2 years and 3 or more years after surgery. METHODS: Six-hundred ninety-two patients from November 2009 to January 2015 were identified from our institutional PG database. One-hundred ninety (27%) responded to the survey. One-hundred forty-nine (78%) patients were given the total hip arthroplasty assessment tools at a minimum of 2-year follow-up, and 33 patients (17%) completed their survey before 2 years after surgery. We assessed whether overall hospital rating scores correlated with the above assessment tools. RESULTS: Pearson correlation analysis revealed no correlation between the PG survey score and the assessment tools. HHS had the highest correlation coefficient (r = .120; P = .316); however, this was not significant. After removing the patients who had their follow-up survey administered under 2 years after surgery (33 patients), there was still no statistically significant correlation between the above-mentioned outcome scores and PG overall hospital rating (P > .05). CONCLUSION: No statistically significant relationship was found between commonly used total hip arthroplasty assessment tools and the PG overall hospital rating. Based on these results, PG surveys may not be a suitable implementation of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid services. A set of measures that can be widely collected and reported by hospitals for patients to use in order to evaluate hip arthroplasty outcomes needs to be developed. These results are of paramount importance, indicating a necessary reevaluation of PG surveys as a major determinant for reimbursements rendered by orthopedists and their use by patients.