Editorial Commentary: Utility of Patient-Reported Outcome Threshold Scores to Estimate Patient Satisfaction: 'Let's Ask the Patient!'

The reporting and analysis of patient-reported outcome measures have come a long way. Since the concept of the minimally clinically important difference was first introduced in 1989, threshold scores have grown to include substantial clinical benefit and patient acceptable symptomatic state (PASS). The initial motivation for developing these thresholds was rooted in separating clinical significance from statistical. These thresholds provide insight into the relationship between scores on patient-reported outcome measures (PROM) and patient-reported improvement and satisfaction. It follows that in order to evaluate PROM scores, the best method for deriving the threshold typically uses an anchor-based methodology, i.e., "ask the patient." Specifically, patients are asked how much change they've experienced and whether they consider their current state to be satisfactory. The responses to these questions are compared with the scores on PROMs to find outcome thresholds that best separate patients who reported no improvement from those who reported minimal improvement, substantial improvement, and satisfaction with their current state of health (PASS). The PASS is of particular importance as it speaks to what arguably matters most to patients-a satisfactory state of health. Finally, viewing the PASS from the perspective of variation from study to study rather than as a uniform classifier is needed to make use of the growing number of papers reporting these thresholds. Examining differences in PASS values across papers can provide insight into how well PROM scores reflect patient satisfaction in different settings.

Academic Faculty Demonstrate Weak Agreement in Evaluating Orthopaedic Surgery Residents.

Background: As objective metrics fade, subjective elements of orthopaedic surgery applicants carry increasing importance during recruitment. Academic orthopaedic surgeons believe they can select for high-performing orthopaedic residents. However, can they agree? The purpose of this study was (1) to analyze an academic orthopaedic surgery department to determine whether they agree on which residents performed best during residency and; (2) to correlate preresidency and intraresidency factors with postresidency evaluations of resident performance. Methods: With Institutional Review Board [IRB] approval, an orthopaedic surgery department completed surveys to evaluate residency performance for 10 years of graduated residents (2012-2022). Faculty determined (1) Post-Residency Class Rank (PRCR)-ranked from the highest (1) to lowest performing resident (5) relative to their class based on faculty perspective of performance-and (2) Rank List Score (RLS)-ranked based off the 5-point AOA SLOR used during recruitment interviews. RLS assessed how likely the department would have graduates in the program again based on residency performance. Free marginal Cohen's kappa statistics assessed faculty inter-rater agreement. Preresidency metrics (United States Medical Licensing Exam [USMLE] 1 and 2 scores, research publications, etc) were correlated with Orthopaedic In-Training Exam (OITE) scores, research productivity, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) scores, and faculty-derived rankings. Linear regressions with forward variable entry (p < 0.05) were used to determine factors associated with excellent resident performance. Results: Eighteen of 25 faculty members (72%) provided survey responses evaluating 46 residents. Faculty agreed 37% and 38% of the time for PRCR (kappa 0.26) and RLS (kappa 0.23), respectively. Step 2 score was the only preresidency factor significantly associated with PRCR (p = 0.03, r2 = 0.15) and RLS (p = 0.02, r2 = 0.3). The only intraresidency factor significantly correlated with PRCR (p = 0.002, r2 = 0.50) and RLS (p = 0.01, r2 = 0.39) was PGY-4 OITE score. Conclusions: An academic orthopaedic surgery department is able to come to a consensus on evaluations of residency performance relative to peers in the same year of training (PRCR) and an objective standard (RLS). Step 2 and Post-Graduate Year (PGY)-4 OITE scores were the only preresidency and intraresidency factors with significant association to higher postresidency, faculty-derived performance scores. Level of Evidence: III.

Prevalence and Predictors of Postoperative Depression and Anxiety After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

PURPOSE: Preoperative mood disorders influence postoperative outcomes after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR), but the prevalence and risk factors associated with postoperative depression/anxiety development remain unknown. The purposes of this study were to quantify the prevalence of postoperative diagnoses of depression or anxiety following ACLR in patients under the age of 25 and assess the interplay between patient sex and ACL reoperation on the prevalence of a depression or anxiety diagnosis following ACLR. METHODS: ACLR patients under the age of 25 years old were identified in the Truven Healthcare Marketscan database. Patients with incomplete coverage +/- one year of the index surgical procedure were excluded. Patients were categorized by the presence of preoperative, postoperative, or no depression/anxiety using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes. We compared patient demographics and reoperation rates following the index ACLR between the depression and anxiety categories. Additionally, logistic regression was fit to assess the interaction between sex and either ipsilateral or contralateral ACL surgery on postoperative depression/anxiety diagnosis. RESULTS: Of the 42,174 patients, 10.7% had a new depression/anxiety diagnosis after ACLR. Postoperative depression/anxiety was nearly twice as prevalent for females (F: 14.4%, M: 7.6%) despite having similar rates of secondary ACLR (F: 15.5%, M: 13.0%). Those with postoperative depression/anxiety had a considerably greater prevalence of reoperation (18.8%) than those without depression/anxiety (13.7%) and those with pre-existing preoperative depression/anxiety (12.9%). Sex and reoperation were independently associated with postoperative depression/anxiety diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Female sex and secondary ACL surgery are independently associated with an increased prevalence of postoperative depression/anxiety. Nearly one in seven young females are diagnosed with depression/anxiety after ACLR. Similarly, a greater proportion of patients who suffer a secondary ACL surgery are subsequently diagnosed with depression/anxiety. The orthopedic community must be cognizant of the increased risk of postoperative depression/anxiety for females and those who suffer a secondary ACL surgery, and screening for depression/anxiety in these at-risk populations with referrals to mental health professionals may be warranted.

Nutritional Laboratory Studies Prior to Total Knee Arthroplasty: Practice Versus Publication.

BACKGROUND: Recent emphasis has been placed on nutritional status assessment prior to total knee arthroplasty (TKA), including multiple American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons publications recommending specific laboratory studies; however, the frequency with which surgeons obtain these laboratory studies remains unclear. We sought to assess the incidence of ordering nutritional laboratory studies in the 90 days prior to TKA, utilizing data from a large administrative claims database. METHODS: With use of the PearlDiver database, we identified 557,670 patients undergoing primary TKA from 2011 to 2020 with a metabolic panel or blood cell count claim within 90 days prior to TKA. We then determined the incidence of prealbumin, transferrin, vitamin D, and zinc laboratory tests claimed 90 days prior to TKA. Associations between claims and the year of surgery, patient demographics, and clinical characteristics were assessed by comparing proportions and chi-square testing. RESULTS: Nutritional laboratory studies were infrequently claimed within 90 days prior to TKA, with studies for prealbumin being performed in 2.2% of patients; transferrin, 1.9%; vitamin D, 10.2%; and zinc, 0.2%. From 2011 to 2020, there was a moderate but steady increase in the proportion of patients with claims for prealbumin (change from 0.8% in 2011 to 3.4% in 2020; p < 0.001), transferrin (0.8% to 2.7%; p < 0.001), and vitamin D (7.6% to 9.4%; p < 0.001) laboratory tests but there was less of a change for zinc (0.1% to 0.2%; p < 0.001). There were weak-to-absent associations of age, gender, obesity, diabetes, and anemia with laboratory claims. CONCLUSIONS: Despite multiple publications and recommendations, nutritional laboratory studies are infrequently ordered prior to TKA. Although there has been a slight increase in the use of nutritional laboratory studies over the past decade, patient factors such as gender and obesity were not associated with this increase. Understanding current practice patterns may help target future areas for improvement. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic Level III . See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Factors Associated With Long-Term Quadriceps Muscle Function After Surgical Fixation of Lower Extremity Fractures.

OBJECTIVE: The long-term performance of the quadriceps femoris muscle and physical function following surgical repair of a lower extremity fracture remains largely undefined. The purpose of this study was to investigate between-limb differences in quadriceps performance 12 months after surgical fixation of a lower extremity fracture. It was hypothesized that the injured limb would be significantly weaker, have a lower rate of torque development (RTD), and that there would be a reduced step-down performance compared to the uninjured limb 12 months after surgery. Additionally, this study sought to identify demographic, surgical, and psychological factors associated with poor quadriceps function 12 months after surgery. METHODS: Quadriceps performance was measured bilaterally in 95 participants (49 female), aged 42 (SD = 14.5) years, 12 months after surgical fixation of a lower extremity fracture. Isometric quadriceps strength and RTD were quantified using isometric dynamometry, and a timed step-down test was used to evaluate quadriceps performance. Independent predictor variables from the time of surgery were extracted from participants' medical records. Kinesiophobia was screened at the time of testing. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests and linear regression analyses were used to assess between-limb differences in quadriceps performance and to determine factors associated with quadriceps performance 12 months after surgery. RESULTS: Significant between-limb differences in each measure of quadriceps performance were identified (peak torque involved: 1.37 [0.71] Nm × kg-1; uninvolved: 1.87 [0.74] Nm × kg-1; RTD involved: 4.16 [2.75] Nm × kg-1 × s-1; uninvolved: 6.10 [3.02] Nm × kg-1 × × -1; and single-leg step-downs involved: 12.6 [5.0]; uninvolved: 21.7 [14.8]). Female biological sex, external fixation, and kinesiophobia at 12 months were associated with reduced after-surgery quadriceps performance outcomes. CONCLUSION: Quadriceps performance is impaired 12 months after surgical repair of a lower extremity fracture, particularly in female participants, in cases requiring external fixation, and in those with higher kinesiophobia 12 months after surgery. IMPACT: Because long-term quadriceps weakness negatively impacts functional mobility, targeted strengthening should be emphasized after surgical repair of lower extremity fracture.

Development and Validation of a Short-Form Version of the Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Scale (Short-WOSI).

BACKGROUND: Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) have transitioned from primarily being used as research instruments to becoming increasingly used in the clinical setting to assess recovery and inform shared decision-making. However, there is a need to develop validated short-form PROM instruments to decrease patient burden and ease incorporation into clinical practice. PURPOSE: To assess the validity and responsiveness of a shortened version of the Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (Short-WOSI) when compared with the full WOSI and other shoulder-related PROM instruments. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2. METHODS: This study was a secondary analysis of data collected as part of an institutional review board-approved, multicenter cohort of 1160 patients undergoing surgical stabilization for shoulder instability. The following PROMs were captured preoperatively and 2 years after surgery: WOSI, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, the Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE), and 36-Item Health Survey (RAND-36). The cohort was split into 2 data sets: a training set to be used in the development of the Short-WOSI (n = 580) and a test set to be used to assess the validity and responsiveness of the Short-WOSI relative to the full WOSI, ASES, SANE, and RAND-36. RESULTS: The Short-WOSI demonstrated excellent internal consistency before surgery (Cronbach α = .83) and excellent internal consistency at the 2-year follow-up (Cronbach α = .93). The baseline, 2-year, and pre- to postoperative changes in Short-WOSI and WOSI were closely correlated (r > 0.90), with both demonstrating large effect sizes (Short-WOSI = 1.92, WOSI = 1.81). Neither the Short-WOSI nor the WOSI correlated well with the other PROM instruments before (r = 0.21-0.33) or after (r = 0.25-0.38) surgery. The Short-WOSI, WOSI, and SANE scores were more responsive than ASES and RAND-36 scores. CONCLUSION: The 7-item Short-WOSI demonstrated excellent internal consistency and a lack of floor or ceiling effects. The Short-WOSI demonstrated excellent cross-sectional and longitudinal construct validity and was similarly responsive over time as the full WOSI. Neither the Short-WOSI nor WOSI correlated with more general shoulder PROMs, underscoring the advantage of using instability-specific instruments for this population.

Comparison of Physical Therapy Utilization and Motion-Related Re-operations Between Isolated Anterior Cruciate Ligament and Multi-Ligament Knee Injuries.

The increased prevalence of postoperative arthrofibrosis after multi-ligament knee injuries (MLKI) compared to isolated anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries has been proposed to be due, in part, to patient factors limiting physical therapy utilization. The purpose of this study was to compare demographic factors, pre- and postoperative physical therapy utilization, and the need for motion-restoring surgery between MLKI and ACL-injured patients. Using the PearlDiver Mariner 151 database, two cohorts matched by age and sex were identified using current procedural terminology (CPT) codes and included those age 16 or greater that underwent isolated ACL (n=3801) vs. MLKI reconstruction (n=3801). The number of pre- and postoperative physical therapy visits was recorded, as was the need for motion-restoring surgery (arthroscopic lysis of adhesions or manipulation under anesthesia). Demographic factors, physical therapy utilization, and the prevalence of motion-restoring surgery were compared between the MLKI and ACL groups using t-tests or chi-square tests, as appropriate. A significantly greater proportion of those with MLKI underwent subsequent motion-restoring surgery (MLKI=412/3081 (13.4%) vs. ACL=84/3081 (2.7%), p<0.001; odds ratio = 5.5 (95% CI: 4.3, 7.0), p<0.0001). Following surgery, less than half of those with MLKI that underwent subsequent motion-restoring surgery attended physical therapy, which was significantly lower than those who did not require motion-restoring surgery (p<0.0001). The prevalence of motion-restoring surgery was significantly greater after MLKI when compared to an isolated ACL injury. While the etiology of arthrofibrosis after MLKI is likely complex, the current results suggest that demographic factors and physical therapy utilization are not solely responsible for the increased risk of arthrofibrosis after MLKI.

Patients With Depression and/or Anxiety Having Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair Show Decreased Number of Prescriptions and Number of Psychotherapy Sessions in the Year After Surgery.

PURPOSE: To determine whether the utilization of psychological treatments changes after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (RCR) for patients with preoperative depression and/or anxiety. METHODS: The Truven Healthcare Marketscan database was used to identify patients who underwent arthroscopic RCR between January 2009 and December 2016. We included all patients with diagnosis codes associated with either depression or anxiety before RCR. Patients were excluded if they did not have complete insurance coverage for 1 year before or after surgery, or if they had arthroscopic RCR in the year before the index surgical procedure. We compared the proportion of patients with preoperative depression or anxiety who filled a prescription and had psychotherapy procedural codes in the year before and the year after arthroscopic RCR. RESULTS: A total of 170,406 patients who underwent RCR were identified, of which depression and/or anxiety was found in 46,737 patients (43.7% male). Of the 46,737 patients, 19.6% filled a prescription for a depression/anxiety medication at least once in the year before surgery. Of this subset of patients, 41.5% did not fill a prescription for depression or anxiety medication after surgery, whereas 32.6% continued medication use but demonstrated a median 30-day reduction in the number of days' worth of medication. Similarly, 13.1% of patients were attending psychotherapy sessions preoperatively, but 76.6% of those patients either stopped or reduced the amount of psychotherapy sessions in the year following RCR. CONCLUSIONS: The number of prescriptions and psychotherapy sessions decreased in the year after RCR for patients with preoperative diagnoses of depression and/or anxiety. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, case series.

Leveraging Insurance Claims Data to Identify Risk Factors for Posttraumatic Osteoarthritis After Multiligament Knee Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of subsequent posttraumatic osteoarthritis (OA) diagnosis after surgery and the associated risk factors have been well reported after single-ligament anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction; however, to date, the incidence of posttraumatic OA for those who have experienced multiligament knee injury (MLKI) has been reported only in relatively small, single-center studies. PURPOSE: To compare the incidence of OA diagnoses between patients with ACL injury versus patients with MLKI and to identify risk factors for OA diagnosis after MLKI. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: This study used the PearlDiver Mariner database, which contains insurance claims information on >151 million orthopaedic patients. We identified 2 cohorts for this study by using Current Procedural Terminology codes. The cohorts included patients between the ages of 16 and 60 who underwent either isolated ACL reconstruction (n = 114,282) or MLKI reconstruction (n = 3325) between July 1, 2010, and August 30, 2016. MLKI reconstruction was operationally defined as ACL reconstruction plus concurrent surgical treatment of ≥1 additional ligaments. Demographic factors, concomitant meniscal and cartilage procedures, and subsequent reoperation to restore motion were recorded, as was the incidence of knee OA diagnosis within 5 years of the index surgical procedure. OA incidence and demographic and surgical factors were compared (1) between ACL and MLKI groups and (2) between patients with MLKI either with or without OA diagnosis. RESULTS: A significantly greater proportion of patients with MLKI were diagnosed with knee OA within 5 years of surgery (MLKI = 299/3325 [9.0%] vs ACL = 6955/114,282 [6.1%]; P < .0001) (odds ratio [OR], 1.52; 95% CI, 1.35-1.72; P < .001). Factors associated with increased odds of OA diagnosis after MLKI included age ≥30 years (OR, 5.90), reoperation to restore motion (OR, 2.54), obesity (OR, 1.96), mood disorder diagnoses (OR, 1.85), partial meniscectomy (OR, 1.85), and tobacco use (OR, 1.72). Concomitant meniscal repair was protective against OA diagnosis (OR, 0.06). CONCLUSION: OA incidence was greater after MLKI reconstruction than after isolated ACL reconstruction. Potentially modifiable risk factors for OA after MLKI were identified and include obesity, tobacco use, depression, and the need for motion-restoring surgery.

Penalty for Switching Implants? Assessing the Learning Curve With a Collarless, Tapered Wedge Cementless Femoral Component.

Background: Surgeon learning curve associated with a tapered wedge femoral implant as measured by early femoral component subsidence and 90-day risk of reoperation was evaluated. Methods: The first 451 patients undergoing primary, cementless total hip arthroplasty by a single, fellowship-trained arthroplasty surgeon with a tapered wedge stem design were retrospectively reviewed. Early radiographic femoral component subsidence during the first 6 weeks postoperatively and 90-day reoperations was recorded. Results: When stratified by approach, there was no association between date of surgery and femoral component subsidence in the posterior approach (P-value for linear trend over time = 0.44). In the direct anterior approach, there was a significant association between date of surgery and early femoral component subsidence (P-value for linear trend over time = 0.01). For both approaches, there was an increase in implanted stem size relative to templated stem size over time (P < .01 and P = .03, respectively). There was no association between the date of surgery and risk of 90-day reoperation (P = .45). Conclusions: In a single surgeon's initial use of a tapered cementless wedge stem, early femoral component subsidence was not impacted by the surgeon's learning curve when the posterior approach was utilized. Although subsidence was associated with date of surgery in the direct anterior cohort, this was not associated with increased risk of 90-day reoperation. Should a surgeon adopt a new tapered-wedge stem, these findings suggest that the stem is forgiving both in relation to subsidence and 90-day reoperation risk when appropriate surgical technique is utilized.

Hemoglobinopathy is Associated With Total Hip Arthroplasty Indication Even Beyond Sickle Cell Anemia.

Background: The extent to which hemoglobinopathies other than sickle anemia (HbSS) are associated with hip osteonecrosis is unknown. Sickle cell trait (HbS), hemoglobin SC (HbSC), and sickle/ß-thalassemia (HbSßTh) may also predispose to osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). We sought to compare the distributions of indications for a total hip arthroplasty (THA) in patients with and without specific hemoglobinopathies. Methods: PearlDiver, an administrative claims database, was used to identify 384,401 patients aged 18 years or older undergoing a THA not for fracture from 2010 to 2020, with patients grouped by diagnosis code (HbSS N = 210, HbSC N = 196, HbSßTh N = 129, HbS N = 356). ß-Thalassemia minor (N = 142) acted as a negative control, and patients without hemoglobinopathy as a comparison group (N = 383,368). The proportion of patients with ONFH was compared to patients without it by hemoglobinopathy groups using chi-squared tests before and after matching on age, sex, Elixhauser Comorbidity Index, and tobacco use. Results: The proportion of patients with ONFH as the indication for THA was higher among those with HbSS (59%, P < .001), HbSC (80%, P < .001), HbSßTh (77%, P < .001), and HbS (19%, P < .001) but not with ß-thalassemia minor (9%, P = .6) than the proportion of patients without hemoglobinopathy (8%). After matching, the proportion of patients with ONFH remained higher among those with HbSS (59% vs 21%, P < .001), HbSC (80% vs 34%, P < .001), HbSßTh (77% vs 26%, P < .001), and HbS (19% vs 12%, P < .001). Conclusions: Hemoglobinopathies beyond sickle cell anemia were strongly associated with having osteonecrosis as the indication for THA. Further research is needed to confirm whether this modifies THA outcomes.

Synovial Fluid Inflammatory Profiles did not Differ between Isolated Anterior Cruciate Ligament and Multi-ligament Knee Injuries.

Objective and design: The purpose of this study was to compare synovial concentrations of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines between multiple-ligament knee injured (MLKI) and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-injured patients. Subjects: 14 patients with MLKI and 10 patients with isolated ACL injury. Methods: Synovial fluid was aspirated from the operative knee at the time of surgery and the concentrations of pro- and anti-inflammatory markers in the synovial fluid were determined. Structures injured, the time between injury and surgery, and demographic factors were collected. Linear regressions were used to determine the association between injury pattern and synovial inflammatory markers when controlling for age, BMI, and time between injury and surgery. Results: When adjusting for group differences in age, BMI and the time between injury and surgery, no group differences were detected (interferon gamma (p = 0.11), interleukin-1beta (IL-1b, p = 0.35), IL-2 (p = 0.28), IL-4 (p = 0.64), IL-6 (p = 0.37), IL-8 (p = 0.54), IL-10 (p = 0.25), IL-12p70 (p = 0.81), IL-13 (p = 0.31), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (p = 0.90)). Conclusion: Synovial fluid inflammatory markers did not differ between MLKI and isolated ACL injuries. MLKIs have a greater prevalence of postoperative arthrofibrosis when compared to isolated ACL injuries; however, this may be due in part to factors other than the inflammatory status of the joint.

Pain Early After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction is Associated With 6-Month Loading Mechanics During Running.

BACKGROUND: Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) results in persistent altered knee biomechanics, but contributing factors such as pain or patient function, leading to the altered loading, are unknown. HYPOTHESIS: Individuals with worse self-reported pain after ACLR would have poorer biomechanics during running, and poor loading mechanics would be present in the ACLR limb compared with contralateral and control limbs. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort pilot study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3. METHODS: A total of 20 patients after ACLR (age, 18.4 ± 2.7 years; height, 1.7 ± 0.1 m; mass, 84.2 ± 19.4 kg) completed visual analog scale and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcomes Score (KOOS) at 1 and 6 months postsurgery. At 6 months postsurgery, patients underwent biomechanical testing during running. A total of 20 control individuals also completed running biomechanical analyses. Associations between patient outcomes and biomechanics were conducted, and differences in running biomechanics between groups were analyzed. RESULTS: KOOS pain score 1 month after surgery was associated with peak ACLR knee abduction moment (R2 = 0.35;P = 0.01). At 6-months, KOOS sport score was related to peak abduction moment in the ACLR limb (R2 = 0.23; P = 0.05). For change scores, the improvement in pain scores related to ACLR limb peak knee abduction moment (R2 = 0.55; P = 0.001). The ACLR limb had lower knee excursion, extension moments, and ground-reaction forces compared with the uninvolved and control limb. The uninvolved limb also had higher ground-reaction forces compared with the ACLR limb and control limb. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that patient-reported outcomes 1 and 6 months after surgery are associated with running mechanics 6 months after ACLR. Further, the underloading present in the ACLR limb and overloading in the uninvolved limb indicates greater need for running rehabilitation after ACLR. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Understanding pain and how it may be linked to movement dysfunction is important for improving long-term outcomes.

Human synovial fluid interleukin-6, but not type II collagen breakdown, positively correlated with pain after anterior cruciate ligament injury and reconstruction.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury initiates a biochemical cascade thought to contribute to the onset and progression of posttraumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). Interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), IL-6, and C-telopeptide fragments of type II collagen (CTX-II) are implicated in joint inflammation and cartilage degradation following ACL injury; however, their association with pain is still being explored. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the associations between synovial fluid concentrations of IL-1ß, IL-6, and CTX-II with pain following ACL injury and reconstruction. We hypothesized that greater IL-1ß, IL-6, and CTX-II would correlate with greater Pain Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores. This was a secondary analysis of 23 patients (mean age = 18.4 years, BMI = 27.4, 13 females/10 males) with acute ACL tears who participated in a pilot randomized trial. Synovial fluid and VAS scores were collected on the day of initial presentation, at ACL reconstruction, and 1 and 4 weeks after surgery. Synovial fluid concentrations of IL-1ß, IL-6, and CTX-II were assessed using enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assays, and repeated measures correlations were used to assess the relationships between pain and synovial IL-1ß, IL-6, or CTX-II after ACL injury and reconstruction. Pain was positively correlated with synovial fluid IL-6 concentrations (r = 0.52, p < 0.001); however, pain was inversely correlated with CTX-II (r = -0.39, p = 0.002). IL-1ß had no significant correlation with pain. Statement of clinical relevance: PTOA has been described as a "silent killer" and these results suggest that early PTOA may have pro-inflammatory pathways that are not primarily associated with pain but still lead to progressive cartilage loss.

Psychosocial factors play a greater role in preoperative symptoms for patients with atraumatic shoulder instability: data from the MOON-Shoulder Instability group.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated that psychosocial factors and comorbid depression are associated with worse preoperative baseline measures, clinical outcomes, and recovery in patients undergoing shoulder surgery. It is unknown whether this potential link would differ between those with traumatic vs. atraumatic shoulder instability, as symptoms may persist longer in atraumatic instability prior to surgical intervention. The purpose of this study was to determine if psychosocial factors and/or comorbid depression more heavily influence preoperative symptoms for patients with traumatic vs. atraumatic shoulder instability. METHODS: Prospective baseline data from 1552 patients in the Multicenter Orthopaedic Outcomes Network (MOON) Shoulder Instability cohort were analyzed based on mechanism of injury while controlling for age, sex, and direction of instability. Multivariable linear regressions were performed to determine whether psychological factors (RAND 36 Mental Component Score [MCS], depression diagnosis, Personality Assessment Screener-22) were predictive of preoperative American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment Form (ASES) and Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (WOSI) scores in the atraumatic group. The same model was repeated for the traumatic instability group, and the model fit was compared between groups, with P < .05 considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Female sex and lower MCS were significantly associated with worse preoperative ASES and WOSI scores for the group with atraumatic instability (ASES R2 = 0.15, P < .001; WOSI R2 = 0.17, P < .001). The same model performed significantly worse (P < .05) for both ASES and WOSI scores in the group with traumatic instability (ASES R2 = 0.07, WOSI R2 = 0.08). CONCLUSIONS: Worse preoperative psychosocial factors were found to be more strongly associated with shoulder-related pain and function for patients with atraumatic instability. Across multiple orthopedic conditions, depression and emotional well-being have been associated with worse preoperative symptoms and inferior postoperative patient-reported outcomes. Despite the stronger and significant association in atraumatic patients, worse psychosocial factors did not have as large an impact as has been seen in other, more chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis or rotator cuff tears. In addition to medically optimizing patients prior to surgery, the current findings identify a subset of shoulder instability patients that may benefit from a behavioral health intervention either prior to surgery or early in the postoperative period to potentially improve postoperative outcomes.

Complement system dysregulation in synovial fluid from patients with persistent inflammation following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery.

Introduction: Patients with anterior cruciate ligament injury are at high risk of posttraumatic osteoarthritis and their response to reconstructive surgery and rehabilitation vary. Proteins identified in the orchestration of the acute inflammatory response may be predictive of patient outcomes. Objective: An unbiased, bottom-up proteomics approach was used to discover novel targets for therapeutics in relation to dysregulation in the orchestration of inflammatory pathways implicated in persistent joint inflammation subsequent to joint trauma. Methods: Synovial fluid was aspirated from patients at 1 week and 4 weeks after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) concentrations were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Patients were segregated into IL-6low and IL-6high groups based on IL-6 concentrations in synovial fluid at 4-weeks postoperation and proteins in synovial fluid were analyzed using qualitative, bottom-up proteomics. Abundance ratios were calculated for IL-6high and IL-6low groups as 4 weeks postoperation:1 week postoperation. Results: A total of 291 proteins were detected in synovial fluid, 34 of which were significantly (P < .05) differentially regulated between groups. Proteins associated with the classical and alternative complement cascade pathways were increased in the IL-6high compared to IL-6low group. Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 6 (IGFBP-6) was increased by nearly 60-fold in the IL-6low group. Conclusions: Patients segregated by IL-6 concentration in synovial fluid at 4 weeks post-ACLR demonstrated differential regulation of multiple pathways, providing opportunities to investigate novel targets, such as IGFBP-6, and to take advantage of therapeutics already approved for clinical use in other diseases that target inflammatory pathways, including the complement system.

Self-Reported Health of Severely Obese US Adults With Osteoarthritis.

BACKGROUND: Severe obesity is associated with complications following arthroplasty, leading surgeons to increasingly counsel patients regarding weight loss. For patients seeking arthroplasty, learning that severe obesity may be a relative contraindication to surgery can create a challenging clinical interaction. We sought to describe the self-reported health of United States (US) adults who had severe obesity and osteoarthritis (OA) to better understand patient perspectives. METHODS: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a nationally representative sample of the US population, was used to identify adult participants who had a body mass index (BMI) over 35 and an OA diagnosis. In total, 889 participants representing a US population of 9,604,722 were included. Self-reported health was dichotomized as poor to fair versus good to excellent. Analyses were weighted to produce national estimates. Associations between obesity severity and patient characteristics with self-reported health were assessed. RESULTS: Of US adults with a BMI over 35 and OA diagnosis, 64% rated their health as good or better. For adults who had a BMI over 45, 55% still reported their health as good or better. The strongest predictors of self-reported health were measures of physical functioning. Only 37% of participants who had much difficulty walking a quarter mile rated their health as good or better compared to 86% without difficulty (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Approximately two-thirds of patients who have severe obesity and OA do not perceive their health as compromised and consider decreased physical function as the primary driver of decreased health. This suggests that counseling about the association between obesity and overall health may improve shared decision making and that patient satisfaction metrics may be difficult to interpret in these clinical situations.

MOntelukast as a potential CHondroprotective treatment following Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (MOCHA Trial): study protocol for a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: After anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, patient-reported outcomes are improved 10 years post-surgery; however, cytokine concentrations remain elevated years after surgery with over 80% of those with combined ACL and meniscus injuries having posttraumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) within 10-15 years. The purpose of this multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled trial is to assess whether a 6-month course of oral montelukast after ACL reconstruction reduces systemic markers of inflammation and biochemical and imaging biomarkers of cartilage degradation. METHODS: We will enroll 30 individuals undergoing primary ACL reconstruction to participate in this IRB-approved multicenter clinical trial. This trial will target those at greatest risk of a more rapid PTOA onset (age range 25-50 with concomitant meniscus injury). Patients will be randomly assigned to a group instructed to take 10 mg of montelukast daily for 6 months following ACL reconstruction or placebo. Patients will be assessed prior to surgery and 1, 6, and 12 months following surgery. To determine if montelukast alters systemic inflammation following surgery, we will compare systemic concentrations of prostaglandin E2, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and pro-inflammatory cytokines between groups. We will also compare degradative changes on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) collected 1 and 12 months following surgery between groups with reductions in early biomarkers of cartilage degradation assessed with urinary biomarkers of type II collagen breakdown and bony remodeling. DISCUSSION: There is a complex interplay between the pro-inflammatory intra-articular environment, underlying bone remodeling, and progressive cartilage degradation. PTOA affects multiple tissues and appears to be more similar to rheumatoid arthritis than osteoarthritis with respect to inflammation. There is currently no treatment to delay or prevent PTOA after ACL injury. Since there is a larger and more persistent inflammatory response after ACL reconstruction than the initial insult of injury, treatment may need to be initiated after surgery, sustained over a period of time, and target multiple mechanisms in order to successfully alter the disease process. This study will assess whether a 6-month postoperative course of oral montelukast affects multiple PTOA mechanisms. Because montelukast administration can be safely sustained for long durations and offers a low-cost treatment option, should it be proven effective in the current trial, these results can be immediately incorporated into clinical practice. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04572256 . Registered on October 1, 2020.

Patient-reported outcome scores following patellar instability surgery-high prevalence does not equal high responsiveness: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the utilization and responsiveness of common patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in patients undergoing surgery for patellar instability. METHODS: Using PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review of studies reporting outcomes following surgical intervention for patellar instability was conducted using Pubmed, Cochrane, OVID Medline, and Google Scholar. Subgroup analysis of articles reporting at least two PROs with baseline and follow-up data were used to evaluate responsiveness of instruments using relative efficiency and effect size. RESULTS: From the search, 2,848 unique articles were found, of which 178 were included in final analysis (7,122 patients, mean age 22.6, 63.6% female). The most commonly used PRO was the Kujala score (79.2%), followed by the Lysholm (34.8%), and Tegner (30.9%). Seventy-nine articles were eligible for subgroup analysis. The Kujala had a higher relative efficiency than ten of the 14 instruments to which it was compared but had lower relative efficiency compared to the IKDC and Lysholm scores. The Banff Patella Instability Instrument (BPII) and the Norwich score, condition-specific tools, were unable to be fully assessed due to rarity of use and lack of comparisons. CONCLUSION: The hypothesis that the Kujala score is the most commonly used PRO for patellar instability, although other instruments offer greater efficiency was supported by our results. The IKDC and Lysholm scores had similar effect sizes but higher relative efficiencies than the Kujala, thus suggesting better responsiveness. This analysis adds useful information for surgeons on the effectiveness of the most common PRO's for evaluating patellofemoral instability outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Psychological Healthcare Burden Lessens After Hip Arthroscopy for Those With Comorbid Depression or Anxiety.

PURPOSE: In this study, we investigated whether patients undergoing arthroscopic treatment of femoral acetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) seek health care for treatment of comorbid depression and anxiety in the year following hip arthroscopy. METHODS: Using the Truven Health Marketscan database, FAIS patients who underwent hip arthroscopy between January 2009 and December 2016 were identified. Claims related to depression or anxiety filed during the year before surgery were required for inclusion. Using claims for pharmaceutical and psychological therapy treatments for mental health disorders, four groups of patients were analyzed on the basis of preoperative anxiety/depression treatment: medication only, therapy only, medication + therapy, and no treatment. Number of opioid pain prescriptions within 180 days prior to surgery and >90 days after hip arthroscopy were also compared. RESULTS: Depression and anxiety claims were identified in 5,208/14,830 (35.1%) patients. Preoperative treatment for depression and anxiety included medication only (n = 648, 12.4%), therapy only (n = 899, 17.3%), medication + therapy (n = 252, 4.8%), and no treatment (n = 3,409, 65.5%). Of the 900 patients who filled an anxiety/depression-related prescription prior to surgery, 422 (46.9%) patients did not fill a similar prescription in the postoperative year. Of the 1,151 patients receiving anxiety/depression-related therapy prior to surgery, 549 (47.7%) did not receive therapy in the postoperative year. Preoperative opioid prescriptions were filled for 393 patients (60.6%) in medication-only group, 275 (30.6%) in therapy-only group, 156 (61.9%) in medication + therapy group, and 1,059 (31.1%) in the group receiving no treatment. Opioid prescriptions >90 days postoperatively were filled for 330 (50.9%), 225 (25.0%), 120 (47.6%), and 861 (25.3%) patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: Hip arthroscopy for FAIS is associated with a decreased postoperative use of health care resources for the treatment of depression and anxiety. Clinicians should also be aware of the potential interplay between preoperative psychotropic medication use and prolonged opioid use when counseling patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, therapeutic case series.