Mechanical hyperalgesia and neuropathic pain qualities impart risk for chronic postoperative pain after total knee replacement.

Total knee replacement (TKR) is the gold-standard treatment for end-stage chronic osteoarthritis pain, yet many patients report chronic postoperative pain after TKR. The search for preoperative predictors for chronic postoperative pain following TKR has been studied with inconsistent findings. This study investigates the predictive value of quantitative sensory testing (QST) and PainDETECT for postoperative pain 3, 6, and 12 months post-TKR. We assessed baseline and postoperative (3- and 6-months) QST measures in 77 patients with knee OA (KOA) and 41 healthy controls, along with neuropathic pain scores in patients (PainDETECT). QST parameters included pressure pain pressure threshold (PPT), pain tolerance threshold (PTT), conditioned pain modulation (CPM), and temporal summation (TS) using cuff algometry, alongside mechanical hyperalgesia, and mechanical temporal summation to repeated pinprick stimulation. Compared to healthy controls, KOA patients at baseline demonstrated hyperalgesia to pinprick stimulation at the medial OA-affected knee and cuff pressure on the ipsilateral calf. Lower cuff algometry PTT and mechanical pinprick hyperalgesia were associated with baseline KOA pain intensity. Moreover, baseline pinprick pain hyperalgesia explained 25% of variance in pain intensity 12 months post-TKR and preoperative neuropathic pain scores also captured 30% and 20% of the variance in postoperative pain at 6- and 12-months, respectively. A decrease in mechanical pinprick hyperalgesia from before surgery to 3 months after TKR was associated with lower postoperative pain at the 12 months post-TKR follow-up, and vice-versa. Our findings suggest that preoperative pinprick hyperalgesia and PainDETECT neuropathic-like pain symptoms show predictive value for the development of chronic post-TKR pain.

Closed Suction Drainage after Total Knee Arthroplasty with Concomitant Intravenous Tranexamic Acid Administration.

Drain use in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) remains controversial. Use has been associated with increased complications, particularly postoperative transfusion, infection, increased cost, and longer hospital stays. However, studies examining drain use were performed before widespread adoption of tranexamic acid (TXA), which markedly reduces transfusion without increasing venous thromboembolism events. We aim to investigate incidence of postoperative transfusion and 90-day return to the operating room (ROR) for hemarthrosis in TKA with use of drains and concomitant intravenous (IV) TXA. Primary TKAs from a single institution were identified from August 2012 to December 2018. Inclusion criteria were primary TKA, age 18 years and over where use of TXA, drains, anticoagulant, and pre- and postsurgical hemoglobin (Hb) were documented during the patient's admission. Primary outcomes were 90-day ROR specifically for hemarthrosis and rate of postoperative transfusion. A total of 2,008 patients were included. Sixteen patients required ROR, three of which were due to hemarthrosis. Drain output was statistically higher in the ROR group (269.3 vs. 152.4 mL, p = 0.05). Five patients required transfusion within 14 days (0.25%). Patients requiring transfusion had significantly lower presurgical Hb (10.2 g/dL, p = 0.01) and 24-hour postoperative Hb (7.7 g/dL, p < 0.001). Drain output between the transfusion and no transfusion groups varied significantly (p = 0.03), with transfusion patients having higher postoperative day 1 drain output of 362.6 mL and total drain output of 376.6 mL. In this series, postoperative drain use with concomitant weight-based IV TXA is shown to be safe and efficacious. We observed exceedingly low risk of postoperative transfusion compared with prior reports of drain use alone as well as preserved low rate of hemarthrosis that has previously been positively linked to drain use.

Multicenter Effectiveness and Disease Stability Through 3 Years After iStentTrabecular Micro-Bypass with Phacoemulsification in Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension.

Purpose: To evaluate 3-year safety and efficacy of two second-generation trabecular micro-bypass stents. (iStent inject ®) with phacoemulsification. Materials and Methods: This multicenter retrospective study of iStent inject implantation with phacoemulsification included data from eight surgeons across Australia. Eyes with cataract and mild to advanced glaucoma [predominantly primary open-angle (POAG), primary angle closure (PAC), or normal-tension (NTG) glaucoma] or ocular hypertension (OHT) were included. Study assessments included intraocular pressure (IOP); number of ocular hypotensive medications; proportions of eyes with 0, 1, 2, or ≥3 IOP-lowering medications; IOP ≤15 mmHg or ≤18 mmHg; visual fields (VF); retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFL); central corneal thickness (CCT); intraoperative complications; adverse events; and secondary surgeries. Results: A total of 273 eyes underwent surgery and had 36-month follow-up. At 36 months versus preoperative, mean IOP decreased by 15.5% (16.4±4.6 mmHg to 13.9±3.5 mmHg; p<0.001), and 70.3% of eyes achieved IOP of ≤15 mmHg (versus 49.1% preoperatively; p<0.001). The mean medication burden decreased by 68.5% (from 1.51±1.17 to 0.48±0.89 medications; p<0.001); 71.4% of eyes were medication-free (versus 21.6% preoperatively; p<0.001), while 6.2% of eyes were on ≥3 medications (versus 22.3% preoperatively; p<0.001); 96.3% of eyes maintained or reduced medications vs preoperative. Significant IOP and medication reductions occurred across glaucoma subtypes (POAG, PAC, NTG, OHT): 13-22% for IOP (p<0.05 for all) and 42-94% for medication (p<0.05 for all). Favorable safety included few adverse events; stable VF, RNFL, and CCT; and filtering surgery in only 8 eyes (2.9%) over 3 years. Conclusion: In this multicenter cohort from 8 surgeons across Australia, significant IOP and medication reductions were sustained through 3 years after iStent inject implantation with phacoemulsification. Results were favorable across different glaucoma subtypes (including POAG, PAC, NTG, OHT), severities, and surgeons, thereby underscoring the real-world relevance and efficacy of iStent inject implantation for glaucoma treatment.

Efficacy and Safety of iStent Inject Implantation in Manual and Femtosecond Laser-assisted Cataract Surgery before Lens Extraction.

Aim: To describe the efficacy and safety of iStent implantation prior to phacoemulsification in manual as well as femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS), and highlight this approach as a reasonable, if not necessary, step to advance one's ability and confidence in the use of microinvasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) technology in phakic patients. Methods: A retrospective consecutive case series of patients with open angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension who underwent iStent inject implantation followed by cataract surgery (manual or FLACS). All cases underwent postoperative video review and were assessed and classified for intraoperative lens injury and hyphaema. Postoperative data included intraocular pressure (IOP), medication usage and adverse events. Results: Sixty-three eyes (n = 40 manual, n = 23 FLACS) were analyzed. Preoperatively, the mean IOP was 19.2 ± 4.9 mm Hg on 1.4 ± 0.96 mean medications, with 100% of eyes treated with medication. Intraoperatively, no lens injury was identified, and no significant hyphaema that impeded surgery occurred. At 6 months postoperative, mean IOP was 14.2 ± 1.8 mm Hg (38% reduction: p < 0.001), and >90% of eyes had IOP ≤ 16 mm Hg. The mean number of medications reduced to 0.11 ± 0.3 (92% reduction: p < 0.001), with 89% of eyes medication free. Safety was excellent for both manual and FLACS, with two iStents implanted in all eyes, and no cases of significant hyphaema or lens injury. Conclusion: Early implantation is safe, maximizes corneal clarity and angle visualization, avoids the risk of non-implantation due to surgical complications, and has a high success rate in both manual cataract surgery and the setting of FLACS. Clinical significance: The conventional recommended approach of iStent implantation following cataract extraction has been adopted by many, however, with the advent of stand-alone procedures and concern about potential lens injury, there is an opportunity to gain experience with minimal risk in patients undergoing MIGS procedures combined with cataract surgery by implanting iStents at the start of the procedure. There is currently little emphasis or data published in the literature on an early approach to implantation to guide surgeons. How to cite this article: Manning DK, Haider A, Clement C, et al. Efficacy and Safety of iStent Inject Implantation in Manual and Femtosecond Laser-assisted Cataract Surgery before Lens Extraction. J Curr Glaucoma Pract 2022;16(2):105-110.

The Potential Value of Performing Preoperative Urinalysis Prior to Total Knee Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Although the practice of checking a urinalysis prior to elective total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is relatively common, very little has been reported on the association between a preoperative urinary tract infection (UTI) and adverse events in primary TKA. The goal of this study is to investigate the risk of postoperative complication following TKA as it relates to preoperative UTI. METHODS: Patients undergoing TKA were queried in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. Morbid events were classified as minor (transfusion, pneumonia, wound dehiscence, UTI, and renal insufficiency) and serious (wound infection, thromboembolic event, renal failure, myocardial infarction, prolonged ventilation, unplanned intubation, sepsis, and death). Risk factors for adverse events were analyzed in both univariate and multivariate fashion. RESULTS: A total of 203,851 patients undergoing TKA met inclusion criteria and 507 patients had a UTI present at time of surgery (UTI PATOS). A propensity matched analysis controlling for age, gender, body mass index, operative year, and American Society of Anesthesiologists score identified 507 patients without a UTI PATOS to serve as the control group. Following adjustment for baseline characteristics, operative year, and American Society of Anesthesiologists score, UTI PATOS was associated with increased risk for serious adverse events (odds ratio [OR] 2.746, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.546-4.878, P = .0006), occurrence of any morbid event (OR 1.894, 95% CI 1.299-2.761, P = .0009), and reoperation (OR 4, 95% CI 2.592-6.169, P < .0001). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that a UTI present at time of TKA increases the risk of multiple postoperative complications and reoperation.

Two-Year Multicenter Outcomes of iStent inject Trabecular Micro-Bypass Stents Combined with Phacoemulsification in Various Types of Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension.

PURPOSE: This multicenter study evaluated 2-year effectiveness and safety following implantation of two second-generation trabecular micro-bypass stents (iStent inject ®) with phacoemulsification. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study of iStent inject implantation with phacoemulsification by nine surgeons across Australia. Eyes had mild to advanced glaucoma (predominantly primary open-angle/POAG, appositional angle-closure/ACG, or normal-tension/NTG) or ocular hypertension (OHT), and cataract. Evaluations included intraocular pressure (IOP); medications; proportions of eyes with 0 or ≥2 medications, reduced/stable medications versus preoperative, and IOP ≤15 mmHg; visual acuity; cup-to-disc ratio (CDR); visual fields (VF); adverse events; and secondary surgery. RESULTS: A total of 340 eyes underwent surgery and had 24-month follow-up data. At 24 months, mean IOP decreased by 16% from 16.4±4.7 mmHg preoperatively to 13.7±3.1 mmHg (p<0.001), and 77% of eyes achieved IOP of ≤15 mmHg versus 49% preoperatively (p<0.001). Mean number of medications decreased by 67% to 0.49±0.95 versus 1.49±1.20 preoperatively (p<0.001), with 74% of eyes medication-free versus 25% preoperatively (p<0.001), and 14% of eyes on ≥2 medications versus 46% preoperatively (p<0.001). Medication burden was reduced or stable in 98% of eyes versus preoperative. Stratified analyses showed significant IOP and medication reductions across glaucoma subtypes (POAG, ACG, NTG, OHT): 13-22% for IOP (p<0.01 for all) and 62-100% for medication (p<0.001 for all). Favorable safety included few adverse events; stable CDR, VF, and visual acuity; and filtering surgery in only 8 eyes (2.4%) over 2 years. CONCLUSION: This 340-eye multicenter dataset provides robust evidence of the safety and efficacy of iStent inject implantation with phacoemulsification, with significant and sustained IOP and medication reductions through 2 years. Results were similarly favorable across glaucoma subtypes (including POAG, ACG, NTG, OHT) and were attained across various glaucoma severities, clinical sites, and surgeons, highlighting the real-world versatility and utility of this treatment modality.

CSTI-300 (SMP-100); a Novel 5-HT3 Receptor Partial Agonist with Potential to Treat Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome or Carcinoid Syndrome.

The 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) (serotonin) 5-HT3 receptor represents a clinical target for antagonists to deliver symptomatic relief to patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-d) or carcinoid syndrome. Unfortunately, this pharmacological strategy can present side effects (e.g., severe constipation). The present study investigates the potential of a novel 5-HT3 receptor partial agonist, CSTI-300, to treat patients with IBS-d and other conditions associated with discomfort from colonic distension, with a predicted reduced side-effect profile. The in vitro and in vivo preclinical pharmacology of the drug CSTI-300 was investigated to explore the potential to treat patients with IBS-d. CSTI-300 displayed selective high affinity for the human and rat 5-HT3 receptor (Ki approximately 2.0 nM) and acted as a partial agonist (approximately 30%-50% intrinsic efficacy) in vitro. In an in vivo model of IBS-d, the rat colon distension model, CSTI-300 displayed dose-dependent efficacy. In addition, oral administration of CSTI-300 to dogs that achieved plasma levels of the drug exceeding the Ki value for the 5-HT3 receptor failed to either evoke emesis or alter the state of feces. Pharmacokinetics for CSTI-300 in rat and dog identified high levels of oral availability with t 1/2 range of 1.6-4.4 hours. The preclinical pharmacology of the lead candidate drug, CSTI-300, supports the potential of this novel drug to offer symptomatic relief to patients with irritable bowel syndrome and carcinoid syndrome with a rationale for a reduced "on-target" side-effect profile relative to 5-HT3 receptor antagonists, such as alosetron. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: There is a lack of effective current treatment for diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome and carcinoid syndrome, and in both conditions, overactivity of the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) 5-HT3 receptor is thought to be implicated in the pathophysiology. Because 5-HT3 receptor blockade with antagonists results in significant side effects, we present evidence that treatment with a suitable 5-HT3 receptor partial agonist will alleviate some symptoms associated with these conditions yet, without fully inhibiting the receptor, predict a less pronounced side-effect profile associated with this therapeutic strategy.

Integration of Patient-reported Outcomes in a Total Joint Arthroplasty Program at a High-volume Academic Medical Center.

INTRODUCTION: Despite widely appreciated barriers to successful clinical implementation, the literature regarding how to operationalize electronic health record-integrated patient-reported outcomes (PROs) remains sparse. We offer a detailed summary of the implementation of PROs into the standard of care at a major tertiary academic medical center. METHODS: Collection of four Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System computer adaptive tests was piloted in a large academic orthopaedic surgery ambulatory clinic starting in October 2016. The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System computer adaptive tests (Physical Function, Pain Intensity, Pain Interference, and Ability to Return to Social Roles and Activities) were initially implemented as manual order sets to be administered before surgery through 2 years after surgery. Completion rate over time, mean time to completion for all PRO domains, and the overall distribution of symptom severity were used to evaluate the success of the pilot. A subsequent optimization and redesign of the pilot was conducted using tablets, automation of questionnaire deployment, and improved results review to address obstacles encountered during the pilot phase. RESULTS: Two thousand nine distinct joint arthroplasty patients (mean age = 65) completed at least one set of PRO assessments, with overall completion rates reaching 68% and mean completion time of 3 minutes. Focal points during the implementation process included engagement and training of staff, selection of an appropriate patient population and outcome measures, and user friendly data displays for patients and providers. CONCLUSION: Our pilot program successfully demonstrated that PROs can be administered, scored, and made immediately available within the electronic health record to patients and their providers with minimal disruption of clinical workflows. Although considerable operational and technological challenges remain, we found that the implementation of PROs in clinical care within an ambulatory practice at an academic medical center can be achieved through a constellation of several key factors.

The Effect of Implant Design on Sagittal Plane Stability: A Randomized Trial of Medial- versus Posterior-Stabilized Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Up to 20% of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients report dissatisfaction with their outcome, especially with weight-bearing in flexion (WBiF) activities. Sagittal plane instability may contribute to dissatisfaction following TKA. We assessed the impact of implant design on TKA sagittal plane stability and clinical satisfaction. We randomized patients to receive one of two TKA implant designs: medial-stabilized (MS) or posterior-stabilized (PS). Sagittal stability was assessed using a KT-1000 arthrometer. Patient-reported outcome measures, including a custom bank of questions targeting patient satisfaction (0-100%) with WBiF activities, were administered to patients 2 years following surgery. The final analysis included 50 patients (25 MS, 25 PS). The MS group had greater sagittal plane stability than the PS group at 30-degree flexion (5.6 ± 1.9 vs. 10.2 ± 2.7 mm; p < 0.0001) but not at 90-degree flexion (4.1 ± 2 vs. 5.3 ± 3 mm; p = 0.14). Range of motion was not different (111.3 ± 10.4 vs. 114.7 ± 10.7 degrees; p = 0.31). There were no differences in the PROMIS (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System) score, Oxford Knee Score, Knee Society Score, Forgotten Joint Score, or Veterans Rand. The MS group had no difference in satisfaction for WBiF activities versus non-WBiF activities (80.5 ± 18 vs. 88.3% ± 16.4%; p = 0.13), whereas the PS group had significantly worse satisfaction for WBiF versus non-WBiF activities (71.6 ± 24.6 vs. 87.8% ± 16.6%; p = 0.019). An MS prosthetic design was more stable in the sagittal plane in midflexion compared with a PS design. There was no difference in patient-reported outcomes, although custom survey data suggest improved satisfaction with MS design during WBiF activities.

Do Hospital Rankings Mislead Patients? Variability Among National Rating Systems for Orthopaedic Surgery.

INTRODUCTION: A growing number of online hospital rating systems for orthopaedic surgery are found. Although the accuracy and consistency of these systems have been questioned in other fields of medicine, no formal analysis of these systems in orthopaedics has been found. METHODS: Five hospital rating systems (US News, HealthGrades, CareChex, Women's Choice, and Hospital Compare) were examined which designate "high-performing" and "low-performing" hospitals for orthopaedic surgery. Descriptive analysis was conducted for all hospitals defined as high- or low-performing in any of the five rating systems, and assessment for agreement/disagreement between ratings was done. A subsample of hospitals ranked by all systems was then created, and agreement between rating systems was investigated using a Cohen's kappa. Each hospital was included in a multinomial logistic regression model investigating which hospital characteristics increased the odds of being favorably/unfavorably rated by each system. RESULTS: One thousand six hundred forty hospitals were evaluated by every rating system. Six hundred thirty-eight unique hospitals were identified as high-performing by at least 1 rating system; however, no hospital was ranked as high-performing by all five rating systems. Four hundred fifty-two unique hospitals were identified as low-performing; however, no hospital was ranked as low-performing by all the three rating systems which define low-performing hospitals. Within the study subsample of hospitals evaluated by each system, little agreement between any combination of rating systems (κ < 0.10) regarding top-tier or bottom-tier performance was found. It was more likely for a hospital to be considered high-performing by one system and low-performing by another (10.66%) than for the majority of the five rating systems to consider a hospital high-performing (3.76%). CONCLUSION: Little agreement between hospital quality rating systems for orthopaedic surgery is found. Publicly available hospital ratings for performance in orthopaedic surgery offer conflicting results and provide little guidance to patients, providers, or payers when selecting a hospital for orthopaedic surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 1 economic study.

Relationship of the Posterior Condylar Line and the Transepicondylar Axis: A CT-Based Evaluation.

Posterior condylar referencing, a common method for determining femoral axial orientation during total knee arthroplasty (TKA), relies upon an assumed consistent relationship between the posterior condylar line (PCL) and the transepicondylar axis (TEA) of 3 degrees rotation. A total of 3,010 computed tomography (CT) scans and three-dimension (3D)-reconstructions for presurgical creation of patient-matched TKA instrumentation were analyzed. Demographic data and five anthropometric measurements (hip-knee angle [HKA], distal femoral angle [DFA], proximal tibial angle [PTA], tibial slope [TS], and PCL-TEA relationship) were recorded for each scan. A logistic regression model was fit to assess interaction between the PCL-TEA relationship and demographic and radiological variables. The mean (standard deviation [SD]) PCL-TEA was +2.9 degrees (0.8 degree). The range varied between +0.5 and +16.5 degrees. In 2,758 knees (91.6%), the PCL-TEA was within 3 ± 1 degrees, whereas 252 knees (8.4%) fell outside this range. There were no significant demographic or anthropometric differences between those knees with PCL-TEA relationship between 3 ± 1 degrees and those falling outside that range. The posterior condyles of diseased knees undergoing TKA can be reliably used to indirectly reference the TEA of the distal femur with an error of only 1 degree in 92% of patients.

Intraoperative evaluation of acetabular cup position during anterior approach total hip arthroplasty: are we accurately interpreting?

INTRODUCTION: Intraoperative radiographic evaluation during total hip arthroplasty (THA) has shown to improve the accuracy of acetabular component placement, however, differences in interpretation based on radiographic technique has not been established. This study aims to determine if differences exist in the interpretation of acetabular component abduction and anteversion between different radiographic projections. METHODS: 55 consecutive direct anterior THAs in 49 patients were prospectively enrolled. Target anteversion and abduction was defined by the Lewinnek zone. Fluoroscopy was used to direct acetabular component placement intraoperatively. After final cup implantation, fluoroscopic posterior-anterior hip and pelvis images were obtained for analysis. After completion of the procedure, an anterior-posterior plain pelvis radiograph was obtained in the operating room. Acetabulum component abduction and anteversion were postoperatively determined using specialised software on each of the 3 image acquisition methods. RESULTS: Average acetabular cup abduction for intraoperative fluoroscopic posterior-anterior hip (FH), intraoperative fluoroscopic posterior-anterior pelvis (FP), and postoperative, standard, anteroposterior pelvis radiographs (PP) was 40.95° ± 2.87°, 38.87° ± 3.82° and 41.73° ± 2.96° respectively. The fluoroscopic hip and fluoroscopic pelvis tended to underestimate acetabular cup abduction compared to the postoperative pelvis (p < 0.001). Average acetabular cup anteversion for FH, FP, and PP was 19.89° ± 4.87°, 24.38° ± 5.31° and 13.36° ± 3.52° respectively. Both the fluoroscopic hip and fluoroscopic pelvis overestimated anteversion compared to the AP pelvis, with a 6.38° greater mean value measurement for FH (p < 0.001), and an 11° greater mean value measurement for FP (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Fluoroscopic technique and differences between radiographic projections may result in discrepancies in component position interpretation. Our results support the use of the fluoroscopic posterior-anterior hip as the choice fluoroscopic imaging technique.

Characterising the biophysical, economic and social impacts of soil carbon sequestration as a greenhouse gas removal technology.

To limit warming to well below 2°C, most scenario projections rely on greenhouse gas removal technologies (GGRTs); one such GGRT uses soil carbon sequestration (SCS) in agricultural land. In addition to their role in mitigating climate change, SCS practices play a role in delivering agroecosystem resilience, climate change adaptability and food security. Environmental heterogeneity and differences in agricultural practices challenge the practical implementation of SCS, and our analysis addresses the associated knowledge gap. Previous assessments have focused on global potentials, but there is a need among policymakers to operationalise SCS. Here, we assess a range of practices already proposed to deliver SCS, and distil these into a subset of specific measures. We provide a multidisciplinary summary of the barriers and potential incentives towards practical implementation of these measures. First, we identify specific practices with potential for both a positive impact on SCS at farm level and an uptake rate compatible with global impact. These focus on: (a) optimising crop primary productivity (e.g. nutrient optimisation, pH management, irrigation); (b) reducing soil disturbance and managing soil physical properties (e.g. improved rotations, minimum till); (c) minimising deliberate removal of C or lateral transport via erosion processes (e.g. support measures, bare fallow reduction); (d) addition of C produced outside the system (e.g. organic manure amendments, biochar addition); (e) provision of additional C inputs within the cropping system (e.g. agroforestry, cover cropping). We then consider economic and non-cost barriers and incentives for land managers implementing these measures, along with the potential externalised impacts of implementation. This offers a framework and reference point for holistic assessment of the impacts of SCS. Finally, we summarise and discuss the ability of extant scientific approaches to quantify the technical potential and externalities of SCS measures, and the barriers and incentives to their implementation in global agricultural systems.

Risk Factors for Greater Than 24-Hour Length of Stay After Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Recently, the Center for Medicare Services removed total knee arthroplasty (TKA) from the inpatient-only procedure list. The purpose of this study is to assess the role of demographics, medical comorbidities, and postsurgical complications in predicting safe discharge to home within 24 hours after TKA. METHODS: Patients undergoing primary TKA between 2011 and 2016 were identified in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. Patients were grouped into those whose length of stay (LOS) was less than 24 hours after surgery vs those greater than 24 hours. Demographics, preoperative comorbidities, operative variables, and postoperative adverse events were studied as risk factors for LOS greater than 24 hours. RESULTS: A total of 210,075 patients undergoing primary TKA met the inclusion criteria, and of those, 18,134 (8.6%) patients were discharged within 24 hours postoperatively. In a risk-adjusted multivariate analysis, patients with increasing age, obesity, preoperative comorbidities of smoking, diabetes, dyspnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, bleeding disorder, corticosteroid use preoperatively, and dependent functional status conferred a greater risk for discharge greater than 24 hours. Male gender, spinal anesthesia, and monitored anesthesia care were protective against LOS greater than 24 hours. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that dependent functional status, preoperative comorbidities, and postoperative complications are all associated with a LOS greater than 24 hours after TKA. Surgeons and patients should be aware of the clinical and demographic variables associated with risk for LOS greater than 24 hours when considering outpatient status for patients undergoing TKA.

Real-world Case Series of iStent or iStent inject Trabecular Micro-Bypass Stents Combined with Cataract Surgery.

INTRODUCTION: This real-world retrospective case series assessed 12-month effectiveness and safety following implantation of iStent® or iStent inject® trabecular micro-bypass with cataract surgery. METHODS: Consecutive patients were implanted with either iStent (comprising 1 stent) or iStent inject (comprising 2 stents), together with cataract surgery. Most patients had primary open-angle glaucoma. Effectiveness outcomes through 12 months included intraocular pressure (IOP) and glaucoma medications. Proportional analyses were completed for eyes achieving IOP ≤ 18 mmHg, IOP ≤ 15 mmHg, or IOP reduction ≥ 20% from preoperative; and eyes on 0 medications or ≥ 2 medications. Safety outcomes included adverse events, secondary surgeries, visual acuity, and visual fields. RESULTS: This analysis included 137 eyes (67 iStent, 70 iStent inject) with cataract and mild to moderate glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Over 73% of eyes in both groups had early disease, and ~ 22% had prior glaucoma surgery. At 12 months postoperatively, mean IOP decreased from 18.4 ± 4.2 mmHg to 14.2 ± 2.5 mmHg in iStent eyes (p < 0.0001), and from 20.4 ± 5.6 mmHg to 14.4 ± 2.1 mmHg in iStent inject eyes (p < 0.0001). The IOP reduction was significantly greater for iStent inject eyes than iStent eyes (6.0 mmHg versus 4.2 mmHg reduction, p = 0.034). Both groups had high proportions of patients achieving the 12-month IOP endpoints, although consistently greater proportions reached these endpoints after iStent inject than iStent: 95.7% versus 92.5% had IOP ≤ 18 mmHg, respectively; 74.3% versus 71.6% had IOP ≤ 15 mmHg, respectively; and 68.6% versus 62.7% had IOP reduction ≥ 20% from baseline, respectively. Mean medication burden at 12 months decreased from 1.8 ± 0.7 to 0.3 ± 0.5 medications in iStent eyes (84.0% reduction, p < 0.0001), and from 1.3 ± 0.9 to 0.1 ± 0.3 medications in iStent inject eyes (94.7% reduction, p < 0.0001). Significantly more iStent inject eyes were medication-free at 12 months than iStent eyes (92.9% versus 76.1% medication-free, respectively; p = 0.0068). Favorable safety included few adverse events, no secondary glaucoma surgeries, and stable visual acuity and visual fields in both groups. CONCLUSION: Significant and safe IOP and medication reductions were achieved through 12 months after iStent or iStent inject implantation with cataract surgery. iStent inject eyes had greater absolute IOP reduction and more eyes medication-free versus iStent eyes. FUNDING: Glaukos Corporation.

Single-Use Custom Instrumentation in Total Knee Arthroplasty: Effect on In-Hospital Complications, Length of Stay, and Discharge Disposition.

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a quality surgical intervention with rapidly increasing use. This growth has brought with it a host of new technologies, including custom instrumentation (CI). With the current emphasis on value-based health care, the clinical benefit of CI TKA must be evaluated. The goal of this study was to compare CI and conventional TKA regarding multiple quality metrics, in-hospital complications, length of stay, and discharge destination. The authors propensity score matched 231 conventional TKAs to 231 consecutive CI TKAs for age, sex, and body mass index. Preoperative risk factors analyzed were age, sex, body mass index, and preoperative hemoglobin. Perioperative factors included transfusion rate, hemoglobin drop, hemovac output, operative time, length of stay, discharge disposition, deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism rates, and in-hospital vital sign data. There were no differences in preoperative demographics between groups. Postoperatively, there was no difference between conventional and CI TKA in operative time, transfusion rate, discharge hemoglobin, length of stay, discharge disposition, or in-hospital venous thromboembolism rates. In the conventional and CI groups, length of stay was 2.6 and 2.5 days (P=.43) and discharge disposition was 82% home and 83% home (P=.90), respectively. Although CI TKA is commonly implemented, in this analysis, compared with conventional TKA, it was not associated with any difference in length of stay, discharge disposition, operative time, transfusion rate, or in-hospital complications. [Orthopedics. 2019; 42(5):299-303.].

Radiofrequency ablation of genicular nerves prior to total knee replacement has no effect on postoperative pain outcomes: a prospective randomized sham-controlled trial with 6-month follow-up.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Refractory chronic knee pain from osteoarthritis (OA) is commonly treated with total knee arthroplasty (TKA). TKA can be associated with severe postoperative pain and persistent postsurgical knee pain. Poorly controlled postoperative pain can negatively effect functional outcomes following TKA, and effective opioid-sparing analgesia is key to the ideal recovery. Genicular nerve radiofrequency ablation (GN-RFA) has been shown in several trials to be clinically effective in patients with severe refractory knee pain from OA. We aimed to assess if preoperative GN-RFA would improve postoperative pain outcomes following TKA. METHODS: This was a sham-control prospective clinical trial in which blinded participants were randomized to image-guided GN-RFA or a simulated sham procedure 2-6 weeks prior to elective TKA. Outcomes were assessed at 48 hours and 1, 3 and 6 months following TKA. RESULTS: Seventy participants enrolled in this study. As compared with sham controls, GN-RFA had no treatment effect on postoperative opioid consumption, pain or functional measures at any time point. CONCLUSIONS: Cooled RFA of the superior lateral, superior medial and inferomedial genicular nerves, when performed 2-6 weeks prior to elective TKA as part of a multimodal postoperative pain management regime, had no measurable effect on postoperative opioid use, analgesia use or function in the 48 hours following surgery. In addition, we found no longer term effect on outcome measures 1, 3 and 6 months after TKA. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02746874.

One-year outcomes following implantation of second-generation trabecular micro-bypass stents in conjunction with cataract surgery for various types of glaucoma or ocular hypertension: multicenter, multi-surgeon study.

PURPOSE: To assess the utility and safety of implanting two second-generation trabecular micro-bypass stents following cataract surgery in eyes with mild to advanced glaucoma or ocular hypertension (OHT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective study of iStent®inject trabecular micro-bypass implantation with cataract surgery by five surgeons at five sites in Australia. Eyes had mild to advanced glaucoma (predominantly primary open-angle, appositional angle-closure, or pseudoexfoliative glaucoma) or OHT and cataract requiring surgery. Effectiveness measures included intraocular pressure (IOP); medication burden; and proportions of eyes with no medications, ≥2 medications, stable or decreased medications vs preoperative, and IOP ≤18 mmHg. Safety measures included visual acuity, cup-to-disc ratio (CDR), visual field (VF), complications, adverse events, and secondary surgical interventions. Patients have been followed for 12 months, and follow-up is ongoing. RESULTS: Of the 290 total eyes that underwent surgery, 165 eyes had 12-month outcomes at the time of data collection and are included in this report. In these eyes, mean Month 12 IOP reduced by 23.2% from 18.27±5.41 mmHg preoperatively to 14.04±2.98 mmHg (P<0.001), with 95.8% of eyes achieving Month 12 IOP of ≤18 mmHg vs 60.6% preoperatively. Mean number of medications at 12 months decreased by 71.5%, 0.47±0.95 vs 1.65±1.28 preoperatively; 76.4% of eyes were on zero medications vs 17.6% preoperatively (P<0.001); 14.5% of eyes were on ≥2 medications vs 46.7% preoperatively (P<0.001); and 98.2% of eyes maintained or reduced medications vs their preoperative regimen. Favorable safety included no stent-related intraoperative complications; limited and transient postoperative adverse events; and stable CDR, VF, and visual acuity. Three eyes with more advanced disease underwent additional glaucoma surgeries. CONCLUSION: iStent inject implantation with cataract surgery significantly and safely reduced medications and IOP in eyes with various types and severities of glaucoma within a multicenter, multi-provider, real-life setting.

Medially-stabilized total knee arthroplasty does not alter knee laxity and balance in cadaveric knees.

Instability after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) can lead to suboptimal outcomes and revision surgery. Medially-stabilized implants aim to more closely replicate normal knee motion than other implants following TKA, but no study has investigated knee laxity (motion under applied loads) and balance (i.e., difference in varus/valgus motion under load) following medially-stabilized TKA. The primary purposes of this study were to investigate how medially-stabilized implants change knee laxity in non-arthritic, cadaveric knees, and if it produces a balanced knee after TKA. Force-displacement data were collected on 18 non-arthritic cadaveric knees before and after arthroplasty using medially-stabilized implants. Varus-valgus and anterior-posterior laxity and varus-valgus balance were compared between native and medially-stabilized knees at 0°, 20°, 60°, and 90° under three different loading conditions. Varus-valgus and anterior-posterior laxities were not different between native and medially-stabilized knees under most testing conditions (p ≥ 0.068), but differences of approximately 2° less varus-valgus laxity at 20° of flexion and 4 mm more anterior-posterior laxity at 90° were present from native laxities (p < 0.017) Medially-stabilized implant balance had ≤1.5° varus bias at all flexion angles. Future studies should confirm if the consistent laxity afforded by the medially-stabilized implant is associated with better and more predictable postoperative outcomes. © 2018 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 37:335-349, 2019.

Time-to-Surgery for Definitive Fixation of Hip Fractures: A Look at Outcomes Based Upon Delay.

The morbidity and mortality after hip fracture in the elderly are influenced by non-modifiable comorbidities. Time-to-surgery is a modifiable factor that may play a role in postoperative morbidity. This study investigates the outcomes and complications in the elderly hip fracture surgery as a function of time-to-surgery. Using the American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Program data from 2011 to 2012, a study population was generated using the Current Procedural Terminology codes for percutaneous or open treatment of femoral neck fractures (27235, 27236) and fixation with a screw and side plate or intramedullary fixation (27244, 27245) for peritrochanteric fractures. Three time-to-surgery groups (<24 hours to surgical intervention, 24-48 hours, and >48 hours) were created and matched for surgery type, sex, age, and American Society of Anesthesiologists class. Time-to-surgery was then studied for its effect on the post-surgical outcomes using the adjusted regression modeling. A study population of 6036 hip fractures was created, and 2012 patients were assigned to each matched time-to-surgery group. The unadjusted models showed that the earlier surgical intervention groups (<24 hours and 24-48 hours) exhibited a lower overall complication rate (P = .034) compared with the group waiting for surgery >48 hours. The unadjusted mortality rates increased with delay to surgical intervention (P = .039). Time-to-surgery caused no effect on the return to the operating room rate (P = .554) nor readmission rate (P = .285). Compared with other time-to-surgeries, the time-to-surgery of >48 hours was associated with prolonged total hospital length of stay (10.9 days) (P < .001) and a longer surgery-to-discharge time (hazard ratio, 95% confidence interval: 0.74, 0.69-0.79) (P < .001). Adjusted analyses showed no time-to-surgery related difference in complications (P = .143) but presented an increase in the total length of stay (P < .001) and surgery-to-discharge time (P < .001). Timeliness of surgical intervention in a comorbidity-adjusted population of elderly hip fracture patients causes no effect on the overall complications, readmissions, nor 30-day mortality. However, time-to-surgery of >48 hours is associated with costly increase in the total length of stay, including an increased post-surgery-to-discharge time.