Success of Same-Day Discharge Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty: Does Location Matter?

BACKGROUND: Same calendar day discharge (SCDD) following total joint arthroplasty is desirable for patients and surgeons alike. The aim of this study was to compare the success rate of SCDD in an ambulatory surgical center (ASC) versus hospital setting. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on 510 patients who underwent primary hip and knee total joint arthroplasty over a 2-year period. The final cohort was divided into 2 groups based on location of surgery: ASC (N = 255) or hospital (N = 255). Groups were matched for age, sex, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, and Charleston Comorbidity Index. Successes of SCDD, reasons for failure of SCDD, length of stay (LOS), and 90-day readmission and complication rates were recorded. RESULTS: All SCDD failures were from the hospital setting (36 [65.6%] total knee arthroplasty [TKA] and 19 [34.5%] total hip arthroplasty [THA]). There were no failures from the ASC. The main causes of failed SCDD in both THA and TKA included failed physical therapy and urinary retention. Regarding THA, the ASC group had a significantly shorter total LOS (6.8 [4.4 to 11.6] versus 12.8 [4.7 to 58.0] hours, P < .001). Similarly, TKA patients had a shorter LOS in the ASC (6.9 [4.6 to 12.9] versus 16.9 [6.1 to 57.0], P < .001). Total 90-day readmission rates were higher in the ASC group (2.75% versus 0%), where all but 1 patient underwent TKA. Similarly, complication rates were higher in the ASC group (8.2% versus 2.75%), where all but 1 patient underwent TKA. CONCLUSION: TJA performed in the ASC, compared to the hospital setting, allowed for reduced LOS and improved success of SCDD.

Incidental findings on CT scans for robot-assisted total joint arthroplasty.

INTRODUCTION: This study documented the incidence of incidental findings from preoperative computerized-tomography (CT) scans obtained for robotic-arm-assisted total joint arthroplasty (TJA) and its effect on patient management. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted for patients who underwent robotic-arm assisted primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA) from 2016 to 2020. All patients obtained preoperative CT scans which were formally read by fellowship-trained musculoskeletal radiologists. CT's were flagged with incidental findings and those requiring physician follow-up were identified as significant. RESULTS: A total of 1519 patients (mean age, 66 years ±9; 849 females) were evaluated. Seventy-three (4.81%) patients had incidental CT scan findings, and 25 (1.65%) patients had significant incidental findings. Four patients required additional imaging and two patients required intervention. CONCLUSION: This study found a 4.81% incidence of incidental findings from preoperative CT scans for robotic-arm-assisted THA and TKA. Of these findings, less than 2% required physician follow-up and less than 1% required intervention. With the increasing popularity of robotic-arm assisted total joint arthroplasty, it is important to consider the necessity of detection and management of associated incidental findings from preoperative CT scans.

Cost Disclosure of Surgeon "Scorecards": Effects on Operating Room Costs for Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty.

Background: Rising health care costs, coupled with an emphasis on cost containment, continue to gain importance. Surgeon cost scorecards developed to track case-based expenditures can help surgeons compare themselves with their peers and identify areas of potential quality improvement. Purpose: We sought to investigate what effect surgeon scorecards had on operating room (OR) costs in orthopedic surgery. Methods: Our hospital distributed OR cost scorecards to 4 adult reconstruction fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons beginning in 2012. The average direct per-case supply cost of procedures was calculated quarterly and collected over a 5-year period, and each surgeon's data were compared with that of their peers. All 4 surgeons were made aware of the costs of other surgeons at the 2-year mark. The initial 2 years of data was compared with that of the final 2 years. Results: The average direct per-case supply cost ranged from $4955 to $5271 for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and $5469 to $5898 for total hip arthroplasty (THA) during the initial 2-year period. After implementing disclosures, the costs for TKA and THA, respectively, ranged from $4266 to $4515 (14% annual cost savings) and from $5073 to $5727 (5% annual cost savings); 3 of the 4 surgeons said that cost transparency altered their practice. Conclusion: Our comparison suggests that orthopedic surgeons' participation in a program of operative cost disclosure may be useful to them; we found a possible association with reduced per-case costs for TKA and THA at our institution over a 5-year period. More rigorous study that incorporates the effects of the scorecards on patient outcomes is warranted.

Predictors of Successful Early Discharge for Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty in Octogenarians.

Background: Decreased length of stay after total joint arthroplasty (TJA) is becoming a more common way to contain healthcare costs and increase patient satisfaction. There is little evidence to support "early" discharge in elderly patients. Purpose: We sought to identify preoperative factors that correlated with early discharge (by postoperative day [POD] 1) in comparison to late discharge (after POD2) in octogenarians after TJA. Methods: In a retrospective cohort study from a single institution, we identified 482 patients ages 80 to 89 who underwent primary TJA from January 2014 to December 2017; 319 had total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and 163 had total hip arthroplasty (THA). Data collected included preoperative knee range of motion (ROM), demographics, and comorbidities; 90-day readmission and mortality rates were also evaluated. P values for continuous data were calculated using student's t test and for categorical data using χ2 testing. Results: Of octogenarian patients, 30.9% were discharged by POD1. Early discharge was associated with being male, married, and nonsmoking, as well as having an American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score of 2, independent preoperative ambulation, and a postoperative caregiver. Type of procedure (TKA vs THA), body mass index, laterality, preoperative range of motion (ROM) for TKA, and single vs multilevel home did not affect the probability of early discharge. Discharge on POD1 was not associated with increased 90-day readmission rates. There were no deaths. Conclusion: Early discharge for octogenarians can be successfully implemented in a select subset of patients without increasing 90-day readmission or death rates. There are multiple factors that predict successful early discharge.

Return to Work and Driving After Robotic Arm-Assisted Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Background: Robotic arm-assisted total knee arthroplasty (RATKA) has demonstrated improved patient-reported outcome measures. Less evidence has been reported on how frequently patients return to complex activities of daily living. Our purposes were to investigate (1) hospital lengths of stay (LOSs) (2) discharge dispositions and (3) the rates and postoperative time intervals at which patients returned to driving and working. Methods: A total of 50 RATKA patients who were employed prior to surgery were included. Outcomes included hospital LOS, discharge dispositions, return to driving, and return to work. Results: A total of 48 patients (96%) were discharged home with self-care or health aid discharge after a mean LOS of 1.2 ± 0.6 days. Twelve patients (24%) returned to driving within 3 weeks of surgery. In our study, 100% of patients who underwent RATKA returned to driving after a mean of 29 days (range, 4 to 62 days). Forty-five patients (90%) returned to their preoperative level of work after a mean of 46 days (range, 2 to 96 days). Nineteen patients (38%) returned to work within 3 weeks. Conclusions: This study showed fast recovery after RATKA, with >90% returning to driving and working at full capacity within 2 months. Many (38%) returned to work within 3 weeks. Further studies to demonstrate the value of RATKA with respect to recovery of complex activities are needed. Compared to controls from previously published literature on manual total knee arthroplasties, it appears that patients who undergo RATKA have similar or better outcomes in reference to return to driving.

The successful implementation of the Navio robotic technology required 29 cases.

Robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty (RA-TKA) has potential benefits of improved restoration of mechanical alignment, accuracy of bony resection, and balancing. The purpose of this study was to determine the number of cases necessary for a single surgeon to achieve a constant, steady-state surgical time. The secondary purpose was to identify which steps demonstrated the most time reduced. This was a prospective study assessing intraoperative time for 60 RA-TKA with the Navio surgical system. Overall arthroplasty time and duration for each step were recorded. Statistical analysis included a nonlinear regression and survival regression. Successful implementation required 29 cases to achieve a steady-state. The average time decreased from 41.8 min for the first cohort to 31.1 min for the last cohort, a 26% decrease. The step with the greatest reduction was the "Review of Intraoperative Plan" with a reduction of 2.1 min. This study demonstrates surgical times averaging below 60 min and a learning curve that is complete in 29 cases with the surgeon reporting a high level of confidence with the system at 10 cases. Though Navio assisted TKA showed a significantly slower operative time, we are hopeful that future generations of robotic technology will be more efficiently implemented by surgeons.

Improved Component Placement Accuracy with Robotic-Arm Assisted Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Component position of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has been shown to influence prosthetic survivorships and clinical outcomes. Our objective was to compare the three-dimensional accuracy to plan of robotic-arm assisted TKA (RATKA) with conventional TKA for component position. We conducted a nonrandomized, prospective study comparing 143 RATKA with 86 conventional TKA operated at four U.S. centers between July 2016 and October 2018. Computed tomography (CT) scans obtained approximately 6 weeks postoperatively were analyzed using anatomical landmarks. Absolute deviation from surgical plans were defined as the absolute value of the difference between the CT measurements and surgeons' femoral and tibial component mechanical varus/valgus alignment, tibial component posterior slope, and femoral component internal/external rotation. Differences of absolute deviations were tested using stratified Wilcoxon's tests that controlled for study center. Patient-reported outcome measures collected through 1 postoperative year were modeled using multiple regression controlling for age, sex, body mass index, study center, and the preoperative score. RATKA demonstrated greater accuracy for tibial component alignment (median [25th, 75th percentiles] absolute deviation from plan of all centers combined for conventional vs. RA, 1.7 [0.9, 2.9] vs. 0.9 [0.4, 1.9] degrees, p < 0.001), femoral component rotation (1.5 [0.9, 2.5] vs. 1.3 [0.6, 2.5] degrees, p = 0.015), and tibial slope (2.9 [1.5, 5.0] vs. 1.1 [0.6, 2.0] degrees, p < 0.001). In multivariable analyses, RATKA showed significantly greater Veterans RAND 12-item health survey (VR-12) physical component scores (adjusted mean difference [95% confidence interval (CI)]: 2.4 [0.2, 4.5] points, p = 0.034) and qualitatively greater Knee Society (KS) composite functional scores (3.5 [-1.3, 8.2] points, p = 0.159), though not statistically significant. Compared with conventional instrumentation, RATKA demonstrated greater three-dimensional accuracy to plan for various component positioning parameters and clinical improvements in physical status and function with no major safety concerns during the first postoperative year. These results may be attributed to the preoperative CT scan planning, real-time intraoperative feedback, and stereotactic-guided cutting that takes into consideration patient-specific bony anatomy. These findings support the use of RATKA for enhanced arthroplasty outcomes.

Incidence of COVID-19 After Nonelective Hip and Knee Surgery During the Peak of the Pandemic: The New Jersey Experience.

In an attempt to preserve essential equipment and health care system capacity and slow the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, Governor Murphy suspended all elective surgeries performed in New Jersey from March 27, 2020, through May 25, 2020. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of postoperative COVID-19 infection following nonelective hip and knee surgery during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Jersey during this time. A retrospective cohort of 149 patients who underwent nonelective hip and knee surgery from March 27, 2020, through May 25, 2020, at 2 institutions was identified. The cohort was divided into hip fracture and non-fracture patients to compare the postoperative experience of these patient populations. The primary outcome was the incidence of postoperative COVID-19 infection diagnosed via severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 nasopharyngeal real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Secondary outcomes included length of stay, discharge disposition, postoperative complications, and mortality rate. A total of 149 patients underwent nonelective hip and knee surgeries, including 76 hip fracture cases and 73 nonelective hip and knee arthroplasty cases. A postoperative diagnosis of COVID-19 was made for 5 (6.6%) of 76 hip fracture patients, and 2 of the 5 died secondary to COVID-19. There were no infections in the arthroplasty cohort. This study describes a low incidence of COVID-19 infection after nonelective hip and knee surgery during the surge of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Jersey. Patients who underwent hip fracture surgery had an increased incidence of postoperative COVID-19 infection. [Orthopedics. 2021;44(3):180-186.].

A Role for Modern Primary Cementless Femoral Stems in Revision Hip Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: In revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) cases with preserved femoral metaphyseal bone, tapered proximally porous-coated "primary" femoral stems may be an option. The objective of this study was to compare outcomes of patients with Paprosky I or II femoral bone loss undergoing revision THA with either a primary metaphyseal-engaging cementless stem or a revision diaphyseal-engaging stem. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of 70 patients with Paprosky I or II femoral bone loss who underwent femoral revision. 35 patients who were revised using a primary cementless femoral stem were compared with 35 patients who underwent femoral revision using a revision diaphyseal-engaging stem. The groups were similar regarding age, gender, body mass index, and American Society of Anesthesiologists. Clinical and radiographic outcomes and complications were compared over an average follow-up of 2.9 years (SD 1.4). RESULTS: Revision THA was most commonly performed for periprosthetic joint infection (N = 27, 38.6%). The groups were similar with regards to Paprosky femoral classification (P = .56), length of stay (P = .68), discharge disposition (P = .461), operative time (P = .20), and complications (P = .164). There were no significant differences between primary and revision femoral stem subsidence (0.12 vs. 0.75 mm, P = .18), leg length discrepancy (2.3 vs. 4.05 mm, P = .37), and Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score Jr (73.1 [SD 21.1] vs. 62.8 [SD 21.7], P = .088). No patient underwent additional revision surgery involving the femoral component. CONCLUSION: Use of modern primary cementless femoral stems is a viable option for revision hip arthroplasty in the setting of preserved proximal femoral metaphyseal bone. Outcomes are not inferior to those of revision stems and offer potential benefits.

The Effects of Patient Occupation, Hobbies, and Body Mass Index on Kneeling after Total Knee Arthroplasty.

A common patient concern after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is the ability to kneel. Kneeling may have a substantial impact on the patients' ability to perform many activities of daily living, occupations, and hobbies. The purpose of this study was to quantify the percentage of patients able to kneel after TKA after 2 years and to evaluate preoperative patient characteristics that influence the patient's perceived ability to kneel after TKA such as obesity, occupation, and hobbies. We retrospectively assessed a cohort of 404 patients who underwent primary TKA with patellar resurfacing. We assessed the impact of patient hobbies, occupation, employment status, and body mass index (BMI) on the kneeling capacity and patient-reported satisfaction. Univariate analysis was performed using Fisher's exact test, and multivariate analysis was performed using logistic regression with multiple imputations. A total of 404 patients were included. Sixty percent of patients were unable to kneel after TKA. Males (p < 0.001) and patients with occupations or hobbies requiring kneeling (p < 0.05) were more likely to kneel after surgery. We identified an inverse relationship between BMI and the ability to kneel. No correlation was found between duration and frequency of kneeling relative to patient-reported ease or difficulty with kneeling. Patient-reported factors that prevented patients from kneeling were pain, physical inability, and fear of damaging the prosthesis. Patient education may be helpful in improving patient expectations about kneeling after surgery. A small but significant difference in subjective patient satisfaction was observed when comparing patients able to kneel with those unable to kneel.

Short-Term Follow-Up of Patellar Component Revision in Patients With Isolated Patellar Component Loosening.

BACKGROUND: The etiology of patellar component loosening can be multifactorial, including component malposition, trauma, infection, and poor implant design. These cases may be managed with isolated patellar component revision or simultaneous patellar component with femoral and/or tibial component revision. Isolated patellar revision in the setting of aseptic loosening historically has had limited success with high rates of repeat revision. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of 75 cases diagnosed with patellar component loosening that underwent revision. Patients were followed for a minimum of 2 years. Cases were categorized as either isolated patellar (IP) revision or patellar with femoral and/or tibial component (P + O) revisions. Survivorship and re-revision causes were compared between groups. Secondary outcomes included surgical time, estimated blood loss, range of motion, and length of stay. RESULTS: Fifty patients underwent IP revision, and 25 patients had P + O revision. Overall survivorship at the 2-year follow-up interval was 94.6%. Survivorship of IP revision undertaken for aseptic loosening was 94%. Survivorship of P + O revision was 96%. Eight percent of patients required reoperation from the P + O revision group, while 12% of patients in the IP revision group underwent a reoperation. Patients undergoing IP revision had better postoperative range of motion, lower surgical times, lower estimated blood loss, and decreased length of stay. CONCLUSION: IP revision demonstrates excellent survivorship and clinical outcomes comparable to P + O revision. When appropriate, IP revision should be considered as a potential treatment option. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective cohort study.

Efficacy of adductor canal block protocol implementation in a multimodal pain management protocol for total knee arthroplasty.

OBJECTIVE: Postoperative pain relief for total knee arthroplasty is an important concern for clinicians who seek to decrease pain, side effects associated with narcotics, increase mobility, and decrease hospital length of stay for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients. In today's day in age where patients and clinicians are looking to decrease length of stay and desire to take total knee replacement to the ambulatory surgery setting, appropriate and safe analgesia is paramount. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the analgesic efficacy of implementing a single shot adductor canal block (ACB) protocol in patients undergoing primary TKA by a single surgeon already using a multimodal analgesia protocol at a high volume community hospital. METHODS: 75 patients who received a single shot ACB were compared to 75 patients that did not receive an ACB with respect to post-operative NRS pain scores and narcotic consumption. RESULTS: After addition of an ACB there was a 90% reduction in NRS pain scores in the PACU and a 38% reduction at 12 and 24-h post-operatively which were all statistically significant. Total post-operative morphine milligram equivalent (MME) decreased by 51%, after addition of an ACB, which was also statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The administration of an ACB as an adjunct to a multimodal pain protocol for primary TKA patients is effective at minimizing post-operative pain and narcotic consumption, and plays a critical role in facilitating fast track and same day discharge in our practice.

Predictors of Perioperative Vancouver B Periprosthetic Femoral Fractures Associated With the Direct Anterior Approach to Total Hip Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: There is an association between intraoperative and postoperative femoral fractures and the direct anterior approach (DAA) to total hip arthroplasty (THA). The purpose of our study is to identify risk factors for Vancouver B fractures and to establish a predictable timeline for when these occur. METHODS: We retrospectively identified patients with Vancouver B periprosthetic femoral fractures (n = 49) after 11,509 elective primary cementless THA procedures through the DAA between 2012 and 2018 at a single institution. Fracture patients were matched to nonfracture patients (n = 267) by date of surgery and surgeon. Clinical and radiographic factors were collected for multivariable analysis to identify predictors of fracture. RESULTS: Periprosthetic Vancouver B femoral fracture incidence was 0.4%. 48 (98%) fractures were postoperative. Fractures occurred at an average of 44 days after surgery (range: 1 to 653 days) with >85% of fractures occurring in the first 6 weeks postoperatively. Significant variables predictive of fracture included >3 degrees valgus and >5 degrees varus coronal stem malalignment, Dorr B and C femoral geometry, lower canal flare index (2.75 vs 3.20), advanced age, increased comorbidities, greater stem canal fill, and right-sided procedures. CONCLUSION: Despite an overall low rate of Vancouver B perioperative periprosthetic femoral fractures, it is a devastating complication that typically presents within the first 6 weeks after DAA THA surgery. The risk is increased in patients with unfavorable proximal femoral geometry, coronal stem malalignment, advanced age, increased comorbidities, and right-sided procedures.

Impact of Resident Training Level on Radiation Exposure During Fixation of Proximal Femur Fractures.

OBJECTIVE: To identify whether residents are at greater risk of radiation exposure from intraoperative fluoroscopy while earlier in their training and during more complex procedures. METHODS: We analyzed 852 extracapsular proximal femur fracture fixation cases. We compared fluoroscopy times by various levels of resident training, fracture type, and implant used. Attending-only cases were used as a control group. RESULTS: Fluoroscopy times during subtrochanteric fracture fixation (176.1 ± 11.27 seconds) were longer than intertrochanteric (111.4 ± 2.44 seconds) and basicervical fractures (91.49 ± 5.77 seconds). Long nail (150.2 ± 3.75 seconds) times were longer than short (92.3 ± 3.15 seconds) and intermediate (76.45 ± 3.01 seconds) nails. Significantly, more fluoroscopy was used in junior (115.9 ± 4.24 seconds), senior (123.0 ± 6.08 seconds), junior combo (130.6 ± 7.74 seconds), and senior combo cases (131.8 ± 6.11 seconds) compared with the control (94.91 ± 3.91). CONCLUSION: Orthopaedic surgery residents and attendings must remain aware of radiation exposure secondary to intraoperative fluoroscopy. Appropriate personal protective equipment should be worn, and more experienced surgeons should take a more active role in the complex cases to decrease exposure risk. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Patient-Reported Functional and Satisfaction Outcomes after Robotic-Arm-Assisted Total Knee Arthroplasty: Early Results of a Prospective Multicenter Investigation.

The purpose of this study was to perform a 3-month interim comparative analysis on outcomes between robotic-arm-assisted total knee arthroplasty (RATKA) and manual TKA patients. Specifically, we evaluated (1) patient self-reported symptoms, (2) expectations and satisfaction, and (3) functional activities, based on the 2011 Knee Society Scoring System. Between June 1, 2016, and March 31, 2018, 252 patients (102 manual and 150 robotic) were enrolled into a prospective, nonrandomized, open-label, multicenter comparative cohort study. Functional activity scores, patient-reported symptoms, as well as satisfaction and expectation scores were obtained from the 2011 Knee Society Scoring System preoperatively, at 4 to 6 weeks, and at 3 months postoperatively. Student's t-tests, Wilcoxon rank-sum tests, and chi-square tests with α set at 0.05 were used to compare between-group mean improvements from baseline. At 4 to 6 weeks postoperatively, RATKA patients were found to have significantly larger improvements in walking and standing (1.4 vs. -1.2 points; p = 0.019). RATKA patients were also found to have larger improvements in advanced activities (1.3 vs. 2.3 points), pain with walking (3.3 vs. 3.2 points), satisfaction score (12.4 vs. 12 points), and expectations score (5.1 vs. 4.4 points) when compared with manual TKA patients. At 3 months, RATKA patients were also found to have larger improvements in walking and standing (6.0 vs. 4.8 points), standard activities (11.4 vs. 10.1 points), advanced activities (6.2 vs. 4.6 points), functional activities total score (22.8 vs. 21.2 points), pain with walking (4.3 vs. 4.1 points), total symptoms score (10.5 vs. 10.3 points), satisfaction score (17.0 vs. 15.5 points), expectations score (4.8 vs. 4.0 points) when compared with manual TKA patients. The data indicate RATKA patients to have equal or greater improvements in 9 out of 10 of the Knee Society Scoring System components assessed at 3 months postoperatively, though not all findings were statistically significant. Since this is an early results report, this study will be continued for a longer follow-up, but we are encouraged by these interim results.

The association of mental health disease with perioperative outcomes following femoral neck fractures.

INTRODUCTION: Mental illness in the United States is a growing problem, leading to significant implications for those effected as well as direct and indirect costs to the health care system. The association between psychiatric comorbidity and increased risk of perioperative adverse events has previously been described following elective orthopedic surgery, however, there is a paucity of literature evaluating the correlation between mental health disease and outcomes in patients in an orthopedic trauma setting. METHODS: Utilizing data from the US National Hospital Discharge Survey, all patients undergoing surgery for femoral neck fracture were identified between the years 1990 and 2007. The association of depression, anxiety, dementia and schizophrenia on surgical outcomes were then analyzed using univariate regression analysis. RESULTS: A cohort of 2,432,931 patients was identified. All psychiatric comorbidities were associated with a lower rate of routine discharge home following surgery (p < 0.001). Schizophrenia was associated with increased odds of any adverse event (p < 0.001), acute post-operative mechanical complications (p < 0.001) and increased length of stay (p < 0.001). DISCUSSION: Patients undergoing surgery for femoral neck fracture with comorbid psychiatric illness are at increased risk for non-routine discharge. Schizophrenia is independently associated with an increased risk for post-operative complications. An awareness of these risks should optimize preoperative multidisciplinary patient care planning so as to maximize patient outcome and minimize resource utilization.

Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty Implants as Functional Prosthetic Spacers for Definitive Management of Periprosthetic Joint Infection: A Multicenter Study.

BACKGROUND: There are limited data on the utility of a standard primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) femoral component with an all polyethylene tibia as a functional prosthetic spacer in place of a conventional all cement spacer for the management of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). The aim of this multicenter study was to retrospectively review (1) ultimate treatment success; (2) reimplantation rates; (3) reoperation rates; and (4) change in knee range of motion in patients managed with functional prosthetic spacers following TKA PJI. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed for patients at 2 tertiary care centers who underwent a functional prosthetic spacer implantation as part of a functional single-stage (n = 57) or all cement spacer conventional two-stage (n = 137) revision arthroplasty protocol over a 5-year period. Outcomes including reinfection, reimplantation, and reoperation rates, success rate as defined by the Delphi criteria, and final range of motion were compared between the 2 cohorts at a minimum of 2-year follow-up. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in reinfection (14.0 vs 24.1%), reoperation (19.3 vs 27.7%), or success rates (78.9 vs 70.8%; P > .05 for all) between the one-stage and two-stage revision TKA cohorts. Mean final total arc of motion was also similar between the 2 groups (105.8 vs 101.8 degrees, respectively). CONCLUSION: Functional prosthetic spacers offer the advantage of a single procedure with decreased overall hospitalization and improved cost-effectiveness with analogous success rates (78.9%) compared with two-stage exchange (70.8%) at mid-term follow-up. Although long-term data are required to determine its longevity and efficacy, the outcomes in this study are encouraging. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

Robotic-Arm Assisted Total Knee Arthroplasty More Accurately Restored the Posterior Condylar Offset Ratio and the Insall-Salvati Index Compared to the Manual Technique; A Cohort-Matched Study.

INTRODUCTION: Despite the demonstrated success of modern total knee arthroplasty (TKA), it remains a procedure that involves sophisticated preoperative planning and meticulous technique to reconstruct the mechanical axis, achieve ideal joint balance, and restore maximal range-of-motion (ROM). Recently, robotic-arm assisted TKAs have emerged as a promising new technology offering several technical advantages, and it is achieving excellent radiological results, including establishing the posterior condylar offset ratio (PCOR) and the Insall-Salvati Index (ISI). Studies have demonstrated that these parameters are surgically modifiable, and their accurate restoration (fewer mean differences) correlate with improved final joint range-of-motion. However, there is a paucity of studies that evaluate these parameters in light of performing robotic-arm assisted TKA. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to compare: 1) PCOR and 2) ISI restoration in a cohort of patients who underwent robotic-arm assisted versus manual TKA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated a series of 43 consecutive robotic-arm assisted (mean age 67 years; range, 46 to 79 years) and 39 manual total knee arthroplasties (mean age 66 years; range, 48 to 78 years) performed by seven fellowship-trained joint reconstructive surgeons. All surgeries were performed using medial para-patellar approaches by high-volume surgeons. Using the Knee Society Radiographic Evaluation System, preoperative and four-to six-week postoperative radiographs were analyzed to determine the PCOR and patella height based on the ISI. RESULTS: The mean postoperative PCOR was larger in manual TKA when compared to the robotic-assisted cohort (0.53 vs. 0.49; p=0.024). The absolute mean difference between pre- and postoperative PCOR was larger in manual when compared to robotic-arm assisted TKA (0.03 vs. 0.004; p=0.01). In addition, the number of patients who had postoperative ISI outside of the normal range (0.8 to 0.12) was higher in the manual cohort (12 vs. 4). CONCLUSION: Patients who underwent TKA using robotic-arm assisted technology had smaller mean differences in PCOR which has been previously shown to correlate with better joint ROM at one year following surgery. In addition, these patients were less likely to have values outside of normal ISI, which means they are less likely to develop patella baja, a condition in which the patella would impinge onto the patellar component, leading to restricted flexion and overall decreased ROM.

A Simple Protocol to Stratify Pulmonary Risk Reduces Complications After Total Joint Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary complications after total joint arthroplasty are a burden to patients and the healthcare system. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the effectiveness of a pulmonary screening questionnaire and intervention protocol developed at our institution to prevent pulmonary complications. METHODS: Between 2010 and 2015, 7658 consecutive total joint arthroplasty patients at our institution were reviewed. Based on our pre-operative pulmonary risk assessment tool, 1625 patients were flagged as high pulmonary risk. Patients were determined to be high risk if they were a current or former heavy smoker with an abnormal spirometry, had a positive obstructive sleep apnea screening, required continuous positive airway pressure/bi-level positive airway pressure use, had a history of significant pulmonary disease, had an oxygen saturation <90%, or had body mass index >40. A standardized monitoring protocol and interventions including smoking cessation, treatment and optimization of primary pulmonary conditions, peri-operative inhaler use, spinal anesthesia, aspiration precautions, elevated head of bed >20° resting and >45° while eating, maintaining oxygen saturation ≥92%, early use of incentive spirometer, avoidance of narcotics and early respiratory therapy consult were initiated for all high risk patients. RESULTS: Only 7 of 7658 (0.091%) patients suffered pulmonary complications after initiating our intervention protocol. These included 3 aspiration pneumonias, 1 asthma exacerbation, 1 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation, 1 continuous positive airway pressure intolerance in a patient with obstructive sleep apnea, and 1 requirement of bi-level positive airway pressure. The pulmonary risk questionnaire accurately identified all patients who had pulmonary complications. The overall pulmonary complication rate at our institution decreased from 5.7% to 0.09% after implementing our screening questionnaire and intervention protocol (P < .0001). CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate a more than 63-fold reduction in pulmonary complications at our institution. Our screening questionnaire and intervention protocol is an effective way of identifying and preventing pulmonary complications.

Operative Field Debris Often Rises to the Level of the Surgeon's Face Shield During Spine Surgery: Are Orthopedic Space Suits a Reasonable Solution?

BACKGROUND: The present study intended to identify debris in the spine surgical field that frequently rises to the level of the surgeon's face during several different elective spine procedures. Unlike other areas of orthopedic surgery where infection risk is of high concern, in spine surgery the surgical team usually uses a nonsterile face mask instead of a protective space suit with a sterile face shield. It is possible that blood or bone burr particles striking the surgeon's face mask represent a potential source of infection if they ricochet back into the operative field. METHODS: We reviewed 46 consecutive, elective spine surgeries between May 2015 and August 2015 from a single-surgeon practice. For each surgery, every member of the surgical team wore sterile (space suit) personal protective equipment. After each procedure, the face shield was carefully inspected by 2 members of the surgical team to identify patient blood, tissue, or bone burr dust present on the face shield. RESULTS: The rate of surgeon face shield debris inspected for each case overall was 38/46 (83%). The rate of first assistant face shield debris inspected per case was 16/46 (35%). The scrub technician had a 0% rate of face mask debris on inspection. The highest debris exposure rates occurred with transforaminal lumbar interbody fusions (100%), open laminectomy and fusions (100%), and anterior cervical discectomy and fusions 43/46 (93%). CONCLUSIONS: There is a high rate of blood and tissue debris contact that occurs during spine surgery, and it is procedure dependent. Spine surgeons may consider using sterile shields particularly in high-risk cases to protect themselves and their patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.