Traumaplasty: When and How to Perform Acute Arthroplasty for Fractures Around the Hip in the Elderly Patient.

Acute fractures around the hip are prevalent injuries associated with potentially devastating outcomes. The growing utilization of arthroplasty for femoral neck fractures in the elderly is likely a result of improvements in reoperation rates and postoperative function. Compared to hemiarthroplasty, total hip arthroplasty is associated with a slight functional benefit that is unlikely noticeable for many patients, as well as minimal differences in complications and patient reported outcome measures. However, the evidence supporting cement use in femoral stem fixation is robust. Multiple high power randomized controlled trial-based studies indicate cement fixation brings more predictable outcomes and fewer reoperations. In the setting of acute acetabular fracture, total hip arthroplasty is a favorable approach for elderly patients and fracture patterns associated with increased risk of revision after open reduction and internal fixation. Variations in patient characteristics and fracture patterns demand careful consideration whenever selecting the optimal treatment. In fracture patient populations, comanagement is an important consideration when seeking to reduce complications and promote cost-effective quality care.

Are current rates of uncemented fixation in total hip arthroplasty supported by the literature? An update on the uncemented paradox.

The optimal fixation method in total hip arthroplasty (THA) remains controversial. Initial concerns related to the long-term performance of cement fixation as well as cement disease led to the development of cementless implants, and registry data has indicated that the use of this type of fixation has increased in recent years. However, data from these same registries has not shown any improvement in outcomes when compared to cement fixation. On the contrary, while similar outcomes are seen when comparing these fixation types in younger patients (<70 years of age), cementless fixation has shown increased implant failure and revision rates in elderly patients (>70 years of age). Given the increased projected volume of THA in the United States over the next decade, it is important to utilise available data to make clinical decisions that minimise not only individual patient harm, but also the burden on the healthcare system itself. This review provides an overview of currently available outcomes data comparing cement and cementless fixation, as well as an updated analysis of current trends in fixation use in THA. We furthermore provide a comprehensive technique guide to help surgeons optimise cement fixation of the femoral component for THA and hemiarthroplasty.

Pain-management protocol aimed at reducing opioids following total knee arthroplasty does not negatively impact patient satisfaction.

BACKGROUND: Prior research has demonstrated that the prescription of opioid medications may be associated with the desire to treat pain in order to achieve favorable patient satisfaction. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effect of decreased opioid prescribing following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) on survey-administered patient satisfaction scores. METHOD: This study is a retrospective review of prospectively collected survey data for patients who underwent primary elective TKA for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) between September 2014 and June 2019. All patients included had completed Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAPS) survey information. Patients were stratified into two cohorts based on whether their surgery took place prior to or subsequent to the implementation of an institutional-wide opioid-sparing regimen. RESULTS: Of the 613 patients included, 488 (80%) were in the pre-protocol cohort and 125 (20%) in the post-protocol cohort. Rate of opioid refills (33.6% to 11.2%; p < 0.001) as well as length of stay (LOS, 2.40 ± 1.05 to 2.13 ± 1.13 days; p = 0.014) decreased significantly after protocol change while rate of current smokers increased significantly (4.1% to 10.4%; p = 0.011). No significant difference was observed in "top box" percentages for satisfaction with pain control (Pre: 70.5% vs Post: 72.8%; p = 0.775). CONCLUSIONS: Protocols calling for reduced prescription of opioids following TKA resulted in significantly lower rates of opioid refills, and were associated with significantly shorter LOS, while causing no statistically significant deleterious changes in patient satisfaction, as measured by HCAPS survey. LOE: III. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study suggests that HCAPS scores are not negatively impacted by a reduction in postoperative opioid analgesics.

Larger operating rooms have better air quality than smaller rooms in primary total knee arthroplasty.

INTRODUCTION: Operating room air quality can be affected by several factors including temperature, humidity, and airborne particle burden. Our study examines the role of operating room (OR) size on air quality and airborne particle (ABP) count in primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed all primary, elective TKAs performed within two ORs measuring 278 sq ft. (small) and 501 sq ft. (large) at a single academic institution in the United States from April 2019 to June 2020. Intraoperative measurements of temperature, humidity, and ABP count were recorded. p values were calculated using t test for continuous variables and chi-square for categorical values. RESULTS: 91 primary TKA cases were included in the study, with 21 (23.1%) in the small OR and 70 (76.9%) in the large OR. Between-groups comparisons revealed significant differences in relative humidity (small OR 38.5% ± 7.24% vs. large OR 44.4% ± 8.01%, p = 0.002). Significant percent decreases in ABP rates for particles measuring 2.5 µm (- 43.9%, p = 0.007) and 5.0 µm (- 69.0%, p = 0.0024) were found in the large OR. Total time spent in the OR was not significantly different between the two groups (small OR 153.09 ± 22.3 vs. large OR 173 ± 44.6, p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Although total time spent in the room did not differ between the large and small OR, there were significant differences in humidity and ABP rates for particles measuring 2.5 µm and 5.0 µm, suggesting the filtration system encounters less particle burden in larger rooms. Larger studies are required to determine the impact this may have on OR sterility and infection rates.

Implementation of a relapse prevention program among smokers undergoing arthroplasty: lessons learned.

BACKGROUND: Surgery is a potent motivator to help people quit smoking to reduce the risk of complications. Many patients who smoke receive tobacco cessation counseling prior to surgery and are able to quit, but do not receive the same resources after surgery and often resume smoking. METHODS: We present a case study describing the recruitment process, study components, and lessons learned from StayQuit, a comprehensive relapse prevention program designed to prevent relapse after arthroplasty. Lessons learned were examined post hoc to determine challenges related to program implementation, using existing study procedures and information collected. RESULTS: While a comprehensive postoperative relapse prevention program may be beneficial to patients, implementation of StayQuit is unlikely to be feasible under current circumstances. The primary challenges to successful implementation of StayQuit focused on themes of lack of engagement in the preoperative Orthopedic Surgery Quit Smoking Program (OSQSP) and an environment unfavorable to in-person enrollment on the day of surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative relapse prevention programs may be beneficial for patients who quit smoking prior to elective surgery. To help guide implementation, it is important to consider surgeon behavior, the collaboration of clinical and non-clinical teams, and best practices for study enrollment in surgical settings.

Hospital Revenue, Cost, and Contribution Margin in Inpatient Versus Outpatient Primary Total Joint Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Removal of primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) from the inpatient-only list has financial implications for both patients and institutions. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare financial parameters between patients designated for inpatient versus outpatient total joint arthroplasty. METHODS: We reviewed all patients who underwent TKA or THA after these procedures were removed from the inpatient-only list. Patients were statistical significance into cohorts based on inpatient or outpatient status, procedure type, and insurance type. This included 5,284 patients, of which 4,279 were designated inpatient while 1,005 were designated outpatient. Patient demographic, perioperative, and financial data including per patient revenues, total and direct costs, and contribution margins (CMs) were collected. Data were compared using t-tests and Chi-squared tests. RESULTS: Among Medicare patients receiving THA, CM was 89.1% lower for the inpatient cohort when compared to outpatient (P < .001), although there was no statistical significance difference between cohorts for TKA (P = .501). Among patients covered by Medicaid or Government-managed plans, CM was 120.8% higher for inpatients receiving THA (P < .001) when compared to outpatients and 136.3% higher for inpatients receiving TKA (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Our analyses showed that recent costs associated with inpatient stay inconsistently match or outpace additional revenue, causing CM to vary drastically depending on insurance and procedure type. For Medicare patients receiving THA, inpatient surgery is financially disincentivized leaving this vulnerable patient population at a risk of losing access to care. LEVEL III EVIDENCE: Retrospective Cohort Study.

Impact of preoperative opioid use on patient-reported outcomes following primary total knee arthroplasty.

PURPOSE: The previous literature suggests that 25-30% of patients who undergo total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are using opioids prior to their surgery. This study aims to investigate the effect of preoperative opioid use on clinical outcomes and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) following TKA. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 329 patients who underwent primary TKA from 2019 to 2020, answered the preoperative opioid survey, and had available PROMs. Patients were stratified into two groups based on whether they were taking opioids preoperatively or not: 26 patients with preoperative opioid use (8%) and 303 patients without preoperative opioid use (92%) were identified. Demographics, clinical data, and PROMs [Forgotten Joint Score (FJS-12), Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Joint Replacement (KOOS, JR), and Veterans RAND-12 Physical and Mental components (VR-12 PCS and MCS)] were collected. Demographic differences were assessed with Chi-square and independent sample t-tests. Outcomes were compared using multilinear regression analysis, controlling for demographic differences. RESULTS: Preoperative opioid users had a significantly longer length-of-stay (2.74 vs. 2.10; p = 0.010), surgical time (124.65 vs. 105.69; p < 0.001), and were more likely to be African-American (38.5 vs. 14.2%; p = 0.010) compared to preoperative opioid-naive patients. Postoperative FJS-12 did not statistically differ between the two groups. While preoperative KOOS, JR scores were significantly lower for preoperative opioid users (41.10 vs. 46.63; p = 0.043), they did not significantly differ postoperatively. Preoperative VR-12 PCS did not statistically differ between the groups; however, both 3-month (33.87 vs. 38.41; p = 0.049) and 1-year (36.01 vs. 44.73; p = 0.043) scores were significantly lower for preoperative opioid users. Preoperative VR-12 MCS was significantly lower for preoperative opioid users (46.06 vs. 51.06; p = 0.049), though not statistically different postoperatively. CONCLUSION: At 8%, our study population had a lower percentage of opioid users than previously reported in the literature. Preoperative opioid users had longer operative times and length of stay compared to preoperatively opioid-naive patients. While both cohorts achieved similar clinical benefits following TKA, preoperative opioid users reported lower postoperative scores with respect to VR-12 PCS scores. LEVEL III EVIDENCE: Retrospective Cohort.

The Cam-Post Dislocation in Posterior-Stabilized Total Knee Arthroplasty A Case Series.

Cam-post dislocations are a unique complication of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) designs that utilize a cam-post mechanism, representing an extreme form of deep flexion instability. They are rare complications and are poorly defined in the existing literature. The purpose of this case study is to present a series of six cam-post dislocation cases to improve understanding of this complication and its mechanism, presentation, and available treatment options. All patients experienced cam-post dislocations after a deep flexion moment that were identified clinically and confirmed radiographically. Affected implants included both primary and revision components and all utilized a cam-post mecha- nism. Three patients underwent revision surgery whereas the remaining three were treated with closed reduction only. Cam-post dislocations are rare complications of posterior- stabilized TKA that should be understood and recognized by adult reconstruction surgeons. Closed reduction may be achieved with hyperflexion and anterior drawer or with hyperextension, but these patients may ultimately require a revision procedure.

Impact of Coronavirus Disease-2019 Protocols on Primary and Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is associated with increased morbidity and healthcare expenditures. During the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, our institution intensified hygiene standards, including greater glove, personal protective equipment (PPE), and mask use. We assessed the effect of these changes on SSI rates in primary total knee arthroplasty (pTKA) and revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA). Patients and Methods: A retrospective review was performed identifying TKA from January 2019 to June 2021 at a single institution. Baseline characteristics and outcomes were compared before (January 2019 to February 2020) and during (May 2020 to June 2021) the COVID-19 pandemic when no restriction on operative services was in place and were further analyzed during the first (May 2020 to November 2020) and second (December 2020 to June 2021) periods after full operative services were restored. Results: A total of 3,398 pTKA (pre-pandemic: 1,943 [57.2%]; pandemic: 1,455 [42.8%]) and 454 rTKA (pre-pandemic: 229 [50.4%]; pandemic: 225 [49.6%]) were included. For primary cases, superficial and deep SSI rates were similar before and during COVID-19; however, for revision TKA, the incidence of all (-0.32%, p = 0.035) and superficial (-0.32%, p = 0.035) SSIs decreased during COVID-19. Primary TKA had longer operative times (p < 0.001) and shorter length of stay (LOS; p < 0.001) during COVID-19. Both pTKA (p < 0.001) and rTKA (p = 0.003) were discharged to skilled nursing facilities less frequently during COVID-19 as well. Conclusions: After our hospital implemented COVID-19-motivated hygienic protocols, superficial SSI rates decreased in rTKA but not in pTKA. During COVID-19, patients were less likely to be discharged to skilled nursing facilities, and pTKA operative times increased. Although these changes occurred during intensified hygiene protocols, further research is needed to determine how these factors contributed to the observed changes.

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

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

Patient Satisfaction and Interest in Telemedicine Visits Following Total Knee and Hip Replacement Surgery.

Introduction: Telemedicine is the practice of caring for patients remotely when the patient and provider are not physically present at the same location. Within orthopedic surgery, telemedicine offers care without the typical obstacles of an in-person appointment such as difficulty ambulating following surgery and patient wait times. In this study, we evaluated patient interest and satisfaction in postoperative telemedicine visits following hip or knee arthroplasty surgery. Materials and Methods: Patients were offered either a traditional in-person or a remote telemedicine postoperative visit following surgery. Patients were asked to complete a satisfaction survey following their postoperative visit regarding their experience. Patient-survey responses as well as patient-reported outcome metrics were captured using a mobile and web-based electronic patient rehabilitation application. Results: A total of 766 patients were included in this study with 360 offered postoperative telemedicine visits and 402 offered traditional in-person visits. Two hundred fifty-nine patients reported satisfaction levels with their telemedicine visit, with 58.3% of patients characterizing their feelings with the visit as "extremely satisfied," 32.0% as "satisfied," 8.9% as "neutral," 0.3% as "dissatisfied," and 0.3% as "extremely dissatisfied." A total of 713 patients reported how the COVID-19 pandemic effected their feelings toward telemedicine with 12.9% of patients characterizing the affect as "extremely positively," 33.1% of patients as "positively," 48.9% of patients as "neutral," 3.6% of patients as "negatively," and 1.4% of patients as "extremely negatively." There were no significant differences in the change between preoperative Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Scores/Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score Joint Replacement, or Veterans RAND 12 Physical and Mental components and these values at 12 weeks follow-up and 1-year follow-up, respectively, in patients who had telemedicine visits versus those who had traditional in-person visits. Discussion: The results of this study demonstrate that the patients who decided to have a telemedicine visit during their postoperative visit were satisfied with their experience. Overall, COVID-19 had a positive influence on patient's feelings toward telemedicine visits.

Comparison of Operating Room Air Quality in Primary Versus Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Airborne biologic particles (ABPs) can be measured intraoperatively to evaluate operating room (OR) sterility. Particulate matter (PM) up to 2.5 microns can contain microbial species which may increase infection risk. Our study examines the differences in air quality and ABP count in primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and revision TKA (rTKA). METHODS: We analyzed primary and rTKAs in a single OR at an academic institution from January 2020 to December 2020. Procedures from March 15, 2020, to May 4, 2020, were excluded to avoid COVID-related confounding. Temperature, humidity, and ABP count per minute were recorded with a particle counter intraoperatively and cross-referenced with surgical data from the electronic health records using procedure start and end times. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate the differences in variables. P values were calculated using t-test and chi-square test. RESULTS: A total of 107 TKA cases were included: 79 (73.8%) primary TKAs and 28 (26.2%) rTKAs. Time spent in an OR was significantly higher for rTKAs (primary: 176 ± 46.7 minutes vs revision: 220 ± 47.1 minutes, P < .0001). Compared to primary TKAs, rTKAs had significant percent increases in ABP rates for particles measuring 0.3 µm (+70.4%, P < .001), 0.5 µm (+97.2%, P < .0001), 1.0 µm (+53.2%, P = .001), and 2.5 µm (+30.3%, P = .017) and for PM 2.5 (+108.3%, P < .001) and PM 5.0 (+105.6%, P < .001). CONCLUSION: rTKAs had significantly longer time spent in an OR and significant percent increases in ABP rates for particles measuring 0.3 µm, 0.5 µm, and 1.0 µm compared to primary TKAs. Measurements of PM 2.5 and 5.0 (which can contain large numbers of microbes) were also significantly greater in rTKAs. Further research is needed to determine whether the size and quantity of ABPs translate to higher infection rates after rTKA.

Low-Dose Aspirin is Safe and Effective for Venous Thromboembolism Prevention in Patients Undergoing Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) events are rare, but serious complications of total joint replacement affect patients and health care systems due to the morbidity, mortality, and associated cost of its complications. There is currently no established universal standard of care for prophylaxis against VTE in patients undergoing revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA). The aim of this study was to determine whether a protocol of 81-mg aspirin (ASA) bis in die (BID) is safe and/or sufficient in preventing VTE in patients undergoing rTKAs versus 325-mg ASA BID. In 2017, our institution adopted a new protocol for VTE prophylaxis for arthroplasty patients. Patients initially received 325-mg ASA BID for 1 month and then changed to a lower dose of 81-mg BID. A retrospective review from 2011 to 2019 was conducted identifying 1,438 consecutive rTKA patients and 90-day postoperative outcomes including VTE, gastrointestinal, and wound bleeding complications, acute periprosthetic joint infection, and mortality. In the 74 months prior to protocol implementation, 1,003 rTKAs were performed and nine VTE cases were diagnosed (0.90%). After 26 months of the protocol change, 435 rTKAs were performed with one VTE case identified (0.23%). There was no significant difference in rates or odds in postoperative pulmonary embolism (PE; p = 0.27), DVT (p = 0.35), and total VTE rates (p = 0.16) among patients using either protocol. There were also no differences in bleeding complications (p = 0.15) or infection rate (p = 0.36). No mortalities were observed. In the conclusion, 81-mg ASA BID is noninferior to 325-mg ASA BID in maintaining low rates of VTE and may be safe for use in patients undergoing rTKA.

Comparative Analysis of Outcomes in Medicare-Eligible Patients with a Hospital Stay Less than Two-Midnights versus Longer Length of Stay following Total Knee Arthroplasty: Implications for Inpatient-Outpatient Designation.

The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) removed primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) from the inpatient-only list in January 2018. This study aims to compare outcomes in Medicare-aged patients who underwent primary TKA and had an in-hospital stay spanning less than two-midnights to those with a length of stay greater than or equal to two-midnights. We retrospectively reviewed 4,138 patients ages ≥65 who underwent primary TKA from 2016 to 2020. Two cohorts were established based on length of stay (LOS), those with an LOS <2 midnights were labeled outpatient and those with an LOS ≥2 midnights were labeled inpatient as per CMS designation. Demographic, clinical data, knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score for joint replacement (KOOS, JR), and veterans RAND 12 physical and mental components (VR-12 PCS & MCS) were collected. Demographic differences were assessed with Chi-square and independent sample t-tests. Clinical data and KOOS, JR and VR-12 PCS and MCS scores were compared by using multilinear regression analysis, controlling for demographic differences. There were 841 (20%) patients with a LOS < 2 midnights and 3,297 (80%) patients with a LOS ≥ 2 midnights. Patients with a LOS < 2 midnights were significantly younger (71.70 vs. 73.06; p < 0.001), more likely male (42.1 vs. 25.7%; p < 0.001), Caucasian (68.8 vs. 57.7%; p <0.001), have lower BMI (30.80 vs. 31.92; p < 0.001), Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI; 4.62 vs. 4.96; p < 0.001), and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class II or higher (p < 0.001). These patients were more likely to be discharged home compared to patients with LOS ≥ 2 midnights (95.8 vs. 73.1%; p < 0.001). Patients who stayed ≥ 2 midnights reported lower patient-reported outcome scores at all time-periods (preoperatively, 3 months and 1 year), but these differences did not exceed the minimum clinically important difference. Mean improvement preoperatively to 1 year postoperatively in KOOS, JR (22.53 vs. 25.89; p < 0.001), and VR-12 PCS (12.16 vs. 11.49; p = 0.002) was statistically higher for patients who stayed < 2 midnights, though these differences were not clinically significant. All-cause ED visits (p = 0.167), 90-day all-cause readmissions (p = 0.069) and revision (p = 0.277) did not statistically differ between the two cohorts. TKA patients classified as outpatient had similar quality metrics and saw similar clinical improvement following TKA with respect to most patient reported outcome measures, although they were demographically different. Outpatient classification is more likely to be assigned to younger males with higher functional scores, lower BMI, CCI, and ASA class compared with inpatients. This Retrospective Cohort Study shows level III evidence.

Discontinuation of the liposomal delivery of bupivacaine has no effect on pain management after primary total knee arthroplasty : no effect on pain scores, opioid consumption, or functional status.

AIMS: Liposomal bupivacaine (LB) as part of a periarticular injection protocol continues to be a highly debated topic in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We evaluated the effect of discontinuing the use of LB in a periarticular protocol on immediate postoperative pain scores, opioid consumption, and objective functional outcomes. METHODS: On 1 July 2019, we discontinued the use of intraoperative LB as part of a periarticular injection protocol. A consecutive group of patients who received LB as part of the protocol (Protocol 1) and a subsequent group who did not (Protocol 2) were compared. All patients received the same opioid-sparing protocol. Verbal rating scale (VRS) pain scores were collected from our electronic data warehouse and averaged per patient per 12-hour interval. Events relating to the opiate administration were derived as morphine milligram equivalences (MMEs) per patient per 24-hour interval. The Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care (AM-PAC) tool was used to assess the immediate postoperative function. RESULTS: A total of 888 patients received Protocol 1 and while 789 received Protocol 2. The mean age of the patients was significantly higher in those who did not receive LB (66.80 vs 65.57 years, p = 0.006). The sex, BMI, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status score, race, smoking status, marital status, operating time, length of stay, and discharge disposition were similar in the two groups. Compared with the LB group, discontinuing LB showed no significant difference in postoperative VRS pain scores up to 72 hours (p > 0.05), opioid administration up to 96 hours (p > 0.05), or AM-PAC scores within the first 24 hours (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The control of pain after TKA with a multimodal management protocol is not improved by the addition of LB compared with traditional bupivacaine. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2021;103-B(6 Supple A):102-107.

Telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic : adult reconstructive surgery perspective.

AIMS: The COVID-19 pandemic led to a swift adoption of telehealth in orthopaedic surgery. This study aimed to analyze the satisfaction of patients and surgeons with the rapid expansion of telehealth at this time within the division of adult reconstructive surgery at a major urban academic tertiary hospital. METHODS: A total of 334 patients underging arthroplasty of the hip or knee who completed a telemedicine visit between 30 March and 30 April 2020 were sent a 14-question survey, scored on a five-point Likert scale. Eight adult reconstructive surgeons who used telemedicine during this time were sent a separate 14-question survey at the end of the study period. Factors influencing patient satisfaction were determined using univariate and multivariate ordinal logistic regression modelling. RESULTS: A total of 68 patients (20.4%) and 100% of the surgeons completed the surveys. Patients were "Satisfied" with their telemedicine visits (4.10/5.00 (SD 0.98)) and 19 (27.9%) would prefer telemedicine to in-person visits in the absence of COVID-19. Multivariate ordinal logistic regression modelling revealed that patients were more likely to be satisfied if their surgeon effectively responded to their questions or concerns (odds ratio (OR) 3.977; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.260 to 13.190; p = 0.019) and if their visit had a high audiovisual quality (OR 2.46; 95% CI 1.052 to 6.219; p = 0.042). Surgeons were "Satisfied" with their telemedicine experience (3.63/5.00 (SD 0.92)) and were "Fairly Confident" (4.00/5.00 (SD 0.53)) in their diagnostic accuracy despite finding the physical examinations to be only "Slightly Effective" (1.88/5.00 (SD 0.99)). Most adult reconstructive surgeons, seven of eight (87.5%) would continue to use telemedicine in the future. CONCLUSION: Telemedicine emerged as a valuable tool during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients undergoing arthroplasty and their surgeons were satisfied with telemedicine and see a role for its use after the pandemic. The audiovisual quality and the responsiveness of physicians to the concerns of patients determine their satisfaction. Future investigations should focus on improving the physical examination of patients through telemedicine and strategies for its widespread implementation. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2021;103-B(6 Supple A):196-204.

Patient Satisfaction After Total Hip Arthroplasty Is Not Influenced by Reductions in Opioid Prescribing.

BACKGROUND: Opioids have played an important part in post-operative analgesia, but concerns with associated morbidity and the fate of leftover pills have prompted the creation of opioid-sparing protocols. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of the implementation of an opioid-sparing protocol on survey-based patient satisfaction scores following total hip arthroplasty (THA). METHODS: This study is a retrospective review of prospectively collected data on patients who underwent primary THA between November 2014 and July 2019. Inclusion criteria consisted of primary elective THA with complete Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey information. Cohorts were separated based on their date of surgery relative to the start of an institutional opioid-sparing-protocol in October 2018. Discharge prescriptions and refills were recorded on chart review and converted to milligram morphine equivalents (MME) for comparison between different opioids. HCAHPS results were analyzed for percentage of "top box" ratings for comparison between the 2 groups. RESULTS: In total, 1003 patients met inclusion criteria: 804 pre-protocol and 199 post-protocol. Mean length of stay decreased from 1.74 ± 1.03 to 1.50 ± 1.11 days (P < .001). Pre-operative Visual Analog Scale pain decreased from 7.00 ± 2.30 to 6.41 ± 2.66 (P = .011) as did the rate of opioid refills (15.6%-9.1%; P = .019). Quantity of opioid medication prescribed upon discharge also decreased from 432 ± 298 to 114 ± 156 MME (P < .001). There was no change in "top box percentages" for satisfaction with pain control (79.7% pre-protocol, 82.1% post-protocol; P = .767). There was a significant increase in proportion of patients reporting top box satisfaction with their overall surgical experience after protocol implementation (88.2%-94.0%; P = .018). CONCLUSION: A reduction in opioids prescribed after THA is not associated with a decrease in patient satisfaction with regard to pain control, as measured by the HCAHPS survey, nor is it associated with an increase in post-operative opioid refills. LOE: III. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study suggests that HCAHP scores are not negatively impacted by a reduction in post-operative opioid analgesics.

The Effect of Medicare's Bundled Payments for Care Initiative on Patient Risk Factors Prior to Total Knee Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Medicare's Bundled Payments for Care Initiative (BPCI) is a risk-sharing alternative payment model. There is a concern that BPCI providers may avoid operating on obese patients and active smokers to reduce costs. We sought to understand if increased focus on these patient factors has led to a change in patient demographics in Medicare-insured patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all patients who underwent TKA at an academic orthopedic specialty hospital between 1/1/13 and 8/31/19. Surgical date, insurance provider, BMI, and smoking status were collected. Patients were categorized as a current, former, or never smoker. Patients were categorized as obese if their BMI was >30 kg/m2, morbidly obese if their BMI was >40 kg/m2, and super obese if their BMI was >50 kg/m2. RESULTS: In total, 10,979 patients with complete insurance information were analyzed. There was no statistically significant change in the proportion of Medicare patients who were active smokers (4.34% in 2013, 4.85% in 2019, Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.6092, P = .146). The proportion of Medicare patients with BMI >30 kg/m2 increased over the study period (35.84% in 2013, 55.77% in 2019, Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.8505, P = .015). When looking at patients with BMI >40 kg/m2 and >50 kg/m2, there was no significant change. CONCLUSIONS: Despite concern that reimbursement payments could alter access to care for patients with certain risk factors, this study did not find a noticeable difference in the representation of patients with obesity and smoking status undergoing TKA following the installation of BPCI. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III, retrospective observational analysis.

Inpatient Opioid Consumption Variability following Total Knee Arthroplasty: Analysis of 4,038 Procedures.

This study examined an early iteration of an inpatient opioid administration-reporting tool, which standardized patient opioid consumption as an average daily morphine milligram equivalence per surgical encounter (MME/day/encounter) among total knee arthroplasty (TKA) recipients. The objective was to assess the variability of inpatient opioid administration rates among surgeons after implementation of a multimodal opioid sparing pain protocol. We queried the electronic medical record at our institution for patients undergoing elective primary TKA between January 1, 2016 and June 30, 2018. Patient demographics, inpatient and surgical factors, and inpatient opioid administration were retrieved. Opioid consumption was converted into average MME for each postoperative day. These MME/day/encounter values were used to determine mean and variance of opioids prescribed by individual surgeons. A secondary analysis of regional inpatient opioid consumption was determined by patient zip codes. In total, 23 surgeons performed 4,038 primary TKA. The institutional average opioid dose was 46.24 ± 0.75 MME/day/encounter. Average intersurgeon (IS) opioid prescribing ranged from 17.67 to 59.15 MME/day/encounter. Intrasurgeon variability ranged between ± 1.01 and ± 7.51 MME/day/encounter. After adjusting for patient factors, the average institutional MME/day/encounter was 38.43 ± 0.42, with average IS variability ranging from 18.29 to 42.84 MME/day/encounter, and intrasurgeon variability ranging between ± 1.05 and ± 2.82 MME/day/encounter. Our results suggest that there is intrainstitutional variability in opioid administration following primary TKA even after controlling for potential patient risk factors. TKA candidates may benefit from the implementation of a more rigid standardization of multimodal pain management protocols that can control pain while minimizing the opioid burden. This is a level of evidence III, retrospective observational analysis.