How good are surgeons at disclosing periprosthetic joint infection at the time of revision, based on pre- and intra-operative assessment? A study on 16,922 primary total hip arthroplasties reported to the Norwegian Arthroplasty Register.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Revision due to infection, as reported to the Norwegian Arthroplasty Register (NAR), is a surrogate endpoint to periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). We aimed to find the accuracy of the reported causes of revision after primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) compared with PJI to see how good surgeons were at disclosing infection, based on pre- and intraoperative assessment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We investigated the reasons for revision potentially caused by PJI following primary THA: infection, aseptic loosening, prolonged wound drainage, and pain only, reported to the NAR from surgeons in the region of Western Norway during the period 2010-2020. The electronic patient charts were investigated for information on clinical assessment, treatment, biochemistry, and microbiological findings. PJI was defined in accordance with the Musculoskeletal Infection Society (MSIS) definition. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were calculated. RESULTS: 363 revisions in the NAR were eligible for analyses. Causes of revision were (reported/validated): infection (153/177), aseptic loosening (139/133), prolonged wound drainage (37/13), and pain only (34/40). The sensitivity for reported revision due to infection compared with PJI was 80%, specificity was 94%, and accuracy-the surgeons' ability to disclose PJI or non-septic revision at time of revision-was 87%. The accuracy for the specific revision causes was highest for revision due to aseptic loosening (95%) and pain only (95%), and lowest for revision due to prolonged wound drainage (86%). CONCLUSION: The accuracy of surgeon-reported revisions due to infection as representing PJI was 87% in the NAR. Our study shows the importance of systematic correction of the reported cause of revision in arthroplasty registers, after results from adequately taken bacterial samples.

Demographics and Early Outcomes of Commercial Antibiotic Cement Usage for Infection Prophylaxis During Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty in Patients Older Than 65 Years: An American Joint Replacement Registry Study.

INTRODUCTION: The use of antibiotic-laden bone cement (ALBC) for infection prophylaxis in the setting of primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) remains controversial. Using data from the American Joint Replacement Registry (AJRR), (1) we examined the demographics of ALBC usage in the United States and (2) identified the effect of prophylactic commercially available ALBC on early revision and readmission for prosthetic joint infection (PJI) after primary TKA. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of the AJRR from 2017 to 2020. Patients older than 65 years undergoing primary cemented TKA with or without the use of commercially available antibiotic cement were eligible for inclusion (N = 251,506 patients). Data were linked to available Medicare claims to maximize revision outcomes. Demographics including age, sex, race/ethnicity, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), preoperative inflammatory arthritis, region, and body mass index (BMI) class were recorded. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between the two outcome measures and ALBC usage. RESULTS: Patients undergoing cemented TKA with ALBC were more likely to be Non-Hispanic Black ( P < 0.001), have a CCI of 2 or 3 ( P < 0.001), reside in the South ( P < 0.001), and had a higher mean BMI ( P < 0.001). In the regression models, ALBC usage was associated with increased risk of 90-day revision for PJI (hazards ratio 2.175 [95% confidence interval] 1.698 to 2.787) ( P < 0.001) and was not associated with 90-day all-cause readmissions. Male sex, higher CCI, and BMI >35 were all independently associated with 90-day revision for PJI. DISCUSSION: The use of commercial ALBC in patients older than 65 years for primary TKA in the AJRR was not closely associated with underlying comorbidities suggesting that hospital-level and surgeon-level factors influence its use. In addition, ALBC use did not decrease the risk of 90-day revision for PJI and was not associated with 90-day readmission rates.

Patient Frailty is Correlated With Increased Adverse Events and Costs After Revision Knee Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Frailty can predict adverse outcomes after various orthopaedic procedures, but is not well-studied in revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA). We investigated the correlation between the Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS) and post-rTKA outcomes. METHODS: Using the Nationwide Readmissions Database, we identified rTKA patients discharged from January 2017 to November 2019 for the most common diagnoses (mechanical loosening, infection, and instability). Using HFRS, we compared 30-day readmission rate, length of stay, and hospitalization cost between frail and nonfrail patients with multivariate and binomial regressions. The 30-day complication and reoperation rates were compared using univariate analyses. We identified 25,177 mechanical loosening patients, 12,712 infection patients, and 9,458 instability patients. RESULTS: Frail patients had higher rates of 30-day readmission (7.8 versus 3.7% for loosening, 13.5 versus 8.1% for infection, 8.7 versus 3.9% for instability; P < .01), longer length of stay (4.1 versus 2.4 days for loosening, 8.1 versus 4.4 days for infection, 4.9 versus 2.4 days for instability; P < .01), and greater cost ($32,082 versus $27,582 for loosening, $32,898 versus $28,115 for infection, $29,790 versus $24,164 for instability; P < .01). Frail loosening patients had higher 30-day complication (6.8 versus 2.9%, P < .01) and reoperation rates (1.8 versus 1.2%, P = .01). Frail infection patients had higher 30-day complication rates (14.0 versus 8.3%, P < .01). Frail instability patients had higher 30-day complication (8.0 versus 3.5%, P < .01) and reoperation rates (3.2 versus 1.6%, P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: The HFRS may identify patients at risk for adverse events and increased costs after rTKA. Further research is needed to determine causation and mitigate complications and costs.

Patient Frailty is Correlated With Increased Adverse Events and Costs After Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Frailty has been associated with poor outcomes and higher costs after primary total hip arthroplasty. However, frailty has not been studied in relation to outcomes after revision total hip arthroplasty (rTHA). This study examined the relationship between the Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS), postoperative outcomes, and cost profiles following rTHA. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, we identified patients who underwent rTHA from January 2017 to November 2019 in the Nationwide Readmission Database. The 3 most frequently reported diagnosis codes for rTHA were then selected: dislocation; mechanical loosening; and infection. We calculated the HFRS for each patient to determine frailty status. We compared 30-day readmission rate, length of stay, and hospitalization cost between frail and nonfrail patients, using multivariate logistic and negative binomial regressions to adjust for covariates. We identified 36,243 total patients who underwent rTHA. Overall, 15,448 patients had a revision for dislocation, 11,062 for mechanical loosening, and 9,733 for infection. RESULTS: Compared to nonfrail patients, frail patients had higher rates of 30-day readmission, longer length of stay, and higher hospitalization cost. Frail patients had significantly higher rates of 30-day complication and 30-day reoperation. CONCLUSIONS: Frailty, measured using HFRS, is associated with increased postoperative complications and costs after rTHA. The HFRS has the ability to efficiently identify frail patients at-risk for perioperative complications enabling care teams to better focus optimization interventions on this patient cohort.

Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio as an Indicator of Periprosthetic Joint Infection: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION: Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) after total joint arthroplasty (TJA) is a serious complication posing notable clinical implications for patients and substantial economic burdens. Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is an emerging biomarker of inflammation, which may better predict PJI. The objective of this review was to evaluate NLR changes in patients with confirmed PJI, to compare NLR between an aseptic revision and a revision for PJI, and to establish whether an NLR of 2.45 is an appropriate cutoff for predicting infection. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients who underwent revision TJA for PJI at a single center between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2018, was performed and compared with an aseptic cohort who underwent aseptic revision TJA. NLR was calculated from complete blood counts performed at index surgery and at the time of revision surgery. Receiver operating characteristic curves were analyzed, along with sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratios. RESULTS: There were 89 patients included in each cohort. Mean NLR in patients who underwent revision for PJI was 2.85 (± 1.27) at the time of index surgery and 6.89 (± 6.64) at the time of revision surgery ( P = 0.017). Mean NLR in patients undergoing revision for PJI (6.89) was significantly higher than aseptic revisions (3.17; P < 0.001). DISCUSSION: In patients who underwent revision surgery for PJI, NLR was markedly elevated at time of revision compared with the time of index surgery. Because it is a cost-effective and readily available test, these findings suggest that NLR may be a useful triage test in the diagnosis of PJI. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III Diagnostic Study.

Adult Spinal Deformity Correction in Patients with Parkinson Disease: Assessment of Surgical Complications, Reoperation, and Cost.

BACKGROUND: Parkinson disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that manifests with postural instability and gait imbalance. Correction of spinal deformity in patients with PD presents unique challenges. METHODS: The PearlDiver database was queried between 2010 and 2020 to identify adult patients with spinal deformity before undergoing deformity correction with posterior spinal fusion. Two cohorts were created representing patients with and without a preoperative diagnosis of PD. Outcome measures included reoperation rates, surgical technique, cost, surgical complications, and medical complications. Multivariable logistic regression adjusting for Charlson Comorbidity Index, age, gender, 3-column osteotomy, pelvic fixation, and number of levels fused was used to assess rates of reoperation and complications. RESULTS: In total, 26,984 patients met the inclusion criteria and were retained for analysis. Of these patients, 725 had a diagnosis of PD before deformity correction. Patients with PD underwent higher rates of pelvic fixation (odds ratio [OR], 1.33; P < 0.001) and 3-column osteotomies (OR, 1.53; P < 0.001). On adjusted regression, patients with PD showed increased rates of reoperation at 1 year (OR, 1.37; P < 0.001), 5 years (OR, 1.32; P < 0.001), and overall (OR, 1.33; P < 0.001). Patients with PD also experienced an increased rate of medical complications within 30 days after deformity correction including deep venous thrombosis (OR, 1.60; P = 0.021), pneumonia (OR, 1.44; P = 0.039), and urinary tract infections (OR, 1.54; P < 0.001). Deformity correction in patients with PD was associated with higher 90-day cost (P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with PD undergoing long fusion for deformity correction are at significantly increased risk of 30-day medical complications and revision procedures after 1 year, controlling for comorbidities, age, and invasiveness. Surgeons should consider the risk of complications, subsequent revision procedures, and increased cost.

Incidence of Instability Following Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty Continues to Decline in the Medicare Population.

BACKGROUND: Instability has been the primary cause of failure following primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) leading to revision hip surgery. The purpose of this study was to determine if instability rates have further declined following advances in primary THA, including dual mobility articulations, direct anterior approaches, advanced technologies, and improved knowledge of the hip-spine relationships. METHODS: Using the 5% Medicare Part B claims data from 1999 to 2019, we identified 81,573 patients who underwent primary THA for osteoarthritis. Patients who experienced instability at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years were identified. Multivariate cox regression analyses evaluated the effect of patient and procedure characteristics on the risk of instability. RESULTS: Instability at 1 year following primary THA declined from approximately 4% in 2000 to 2.3% in 2010 and 1.6% in 2018. The leading cause of revision surgery was infection (18.6%), followed by periprosthetic fracture (14%), mechanical loosening (11.5%), and instability (9.4%). High-risk groups for instability continue to include increased age, higher Charlson index, obesity, lumbar spine pathology, and neurocognitive disorders. CONCLUSION: Instability is no longer the leading etiology of failure following primary THA with a decline of approximately 40% over the past decade. Infection, periprosthetic fracture, mechanical loosening, and then instability are now the leading causes of failure. Multiple factors may play a role in the decline of instability, including increased use of dual mobility articulations, direct anterior approaches, improved knowledge of the hip-spine relationships, and use of advanced technologies.

Cemented Femoral Fixation in Total Hip Arthroplasty Reduces the Risk of Periprosthetic Femur Fracture in Patients 65 Years and Older: An Analysis From the American Joint Replacement Registry.

BACKGROUND: Periprosthetic femur fracture (PPFx) is a devastating complication after total hip arthroplasty (THA). Despite concerns for increased PPFx, cementless fixation predominates in the United States. This study used the American Joint Replacement Registry to compare PPFx risk between cemented and cementless femoral fixation for THA. METHODS: An analysis of primary THA cases in patients aged 65 years and more was performed with the American Joint Replacement Registry data linked to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services data from 2012 to 2020. Analyses compared cemented to cementless femoral fixation. We identified 279,052 primary THAs, 266,040 (95.3%) with cementless and 13,012 (4.7%) with cemented femoral fixation. Cox proportional hazard regression analyses evaluated the association of fixation and PPFx risk, while adjusting for sex, age, and competing risk of mortality. Cumulative incidence function survival curves evaluated time to PPFx. RESULTS: Age ≥ 80 years (P < .0001) and women (P < .0001) were associated with PPFx. Compared to cemented stems, cementless stems had an elevated risk of PPFx (Hazards Ratio 7.70, 95% Confidence interval 3.2-18.6, P < .0001). The cumulative incidence function curves demonstrated an increased risk for PPFx across all time points for cementless stems, with equal magnitude of risk to 8 years.` CONCLUSION: Cementless femoral fixation in THA continues to predominate in the United States, with cementless femoral fixation demonstrating increased risk of PPFx in patients aged 65 years or more. Surgeons should consider greater use of cemented femoral fixation in this population to decrease the risk of PPFx.

A Protocol for Reducing Intensive Care Utilization After Craniotomy: A 3-Year Assessment.

BACKGROUND: Craniotomy patients have traditionally received intensive care unit (ICU) care postoperatively. Our institution developed the "Non-Intensive CarE" (NICE) protocol to identify craniotomy patients who did not require postoperative ICU care. OBJECTIVE: To determine the longitudinal impact of the NICE protocol on postoperative length of stay (LOS), ICU utilization, readmissions, and complications. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, our institution's electronic medical record was queried to identify craniotomies before protocol deployment (May 2014-May 2018) and after deployment (May 2018-December 2021). The primary end points were average postoperative LOS and ICU utilization; secondary end points included readmissions, reoperation, and postoperative complications rate. End points were compared between pre- and postintervention cohorts. RESULTS: Four thousand eight hundred thirty-seven craniotomies were performed from May 2014 to December 2021 (2302 preprotocol and 2535 postprotocol). Twenty-one percent of postprotocol craniotomies were enrolled in the NICE protocol. After protocol deployment, the overall postoperative LOS decreased from 4.0 to 3.5 days ( P = .0031), which was driven by deceased postoperative LOS among protocol patients (average 2.4 days). ICU utilization decreased from 57% of patients to 42% ( P < .0001), generating ∼$760 000 in savings. Return to the ICU and complications decreased after protocol deployment. 5.8% of protocol patients had a readmission within 30 days; none could have been prevented through ICU stay. CONCLUSION: The NICE protocol is an effective, sustainable method to increase ICU bed availability and decrease costs without changing outcomes. To our knowledge, this study features the largest series of patients enrolling in an ICU utilization reduction protocol. Careful patient selection is a requirement for the success of this approach.

Three-Column Osteotomy for Frail Versus Nonfrail Patients with Adult Spinal Deformity: Assessment of Medical and Surgical Complications, Revision Surgery Rates, and Cost.

BACKGROUND: Three-column osteotomy (3-CO) is a powerful tool for spinal deformity correction but has been associated with substantial risk and surgical invasiveness. It is incompletely understood how frailty might affect patients undergoing 3-CO. METHODS: The PearlDiver database was used to examine spinal deformity patients with a diagnosis of frailty who had undergone 3-CO. Frail and nonfrail patients were matched, and the revision surgery rates, complications, and hospitalization costs were calculated. Logistic regression was used to account for possible confounding variables. Of the 2871 included patients, 1460 had had frailty and 1411 had had no frailty. RESULTS: The frail patients were older, had had more comorbidities (P < 0.001), and were more likely to have undergone posterior interbody fusion (P < 0.05), without differences in the anterior interbody fusion rates. No differences were found in the reoperation rates for ≤5 years. At 30 days, the frail patients were more likely to have experienced acute kidney injury (P = 0.018), bowel/bladder dysfunction (P = 0.014), cardiac complications (P = 0.006), and pneumonia (P = 0.039). At 2 years, the frail patients were also more likely to have experienced bowel/bladder dysfunction (P = 0.028), cardiac complications (P < 0.001), deep vein thrombosis (P = 0.027), and sepsis (P = 0.033). The cost for the procedures was also higher for the frail patients than for the nonfrail patients ($24,544.79 vs. $21,565.63; P = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS: We found that frail patients undergoing 3-CO were more likely to experience certain medical complications and had had higher associated costs but similar reoperation rates compared with nonfrail patients. Careful patient selection and surgical strategy modification might alter the risks of medical and surgical complications after 3-CO for frail patients.

Cost Drivers in Two-Stage Treatment of Hip Periprosthetic Joint Infection With an Antibiotic Coated Cement Hip Spacer.

BACKGROUND: The current gold standard for treating chronic Periprosthetic Joint Infection (PJI) is a 2-stage revision arthroplasty. There has been little investigation into what specific patient and operative factors may be able to predict higher costs of this treatment. METHODS: An institutional electronic health record database was retrospectively queried for patients who developed a PJI after a total hip arthroplasty, and underwent removal of the prosthesis and implantation of an antibiotic-impregnated articulating hip cement spacer. Patient demographics, surgical variables, hospital readmissions, emergency department visits, and post-operative complications were collected. Total costs were captured through an internal accounting database through 2 years post-operatively. Negative binomial regressions were utilized for multivariable analyses. A total of 55 hips with PJI were available for cost analyses. RESULTS: A comorbidity index score was associated with a 70% increase (Odds Ratio (OR): 1.7 [1.18-2.5], P = .003) in total costs at 2-years. Illicit drug use was associated with a 70% increase in costs at 1-year post-operatively (OR 1.7 [1.18-2.5], P = .003). Metal-on-poly liners were associated with a 22% decrease in cost at 2-years post-operatively when compared to Cement-on-Bone articulating spacers, and Metal-on-poly -constrained liners accounted for 38% lower costs at 1-year (OR 0.62 [0.44-0.87], P = .004). Use of an intraoperative extended trochanteric osteotomy was associated with a 46 and 61% increase in cost at 1-year (OR 1.46 [1.14-1.89]) and 2-years (OR 1.61 [1.26-2.07], P < .001) post-operatively. CONCLUSION: Age, comorbidity index score, drug use, and extended trochanteric osteotomy were associated with increased costs of PJI treatment. This may be used to improve reimbursement models and target areas of cost savings.

Economic and educational disparities are associated with an increased risk of revision surgery following shoulder arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: There is limited literature exploring how nonmedical factors such as social determinants of health (SDOHs) are associated with postoperative outcomes following shoulder arthroplasty. METHODS: A retrospective cohort review of the Pearl Diver Database was used to capture patients undergoing either primary anatomic total or reverse shoulder arthroplasty from the fourth quarter of 2015 to the third quarter of 2019 with at least 1 year of active longitudinal follow-up. Patients with proximal humeral fractures, stress fractures, or septic arthritis were excluded. The included patients were then divided into 2 cohorts based on the presence of current SDOHs or a history of SDOHs. The SDOH cohort comprised 4 non-mutually exclusive categories: economic, educational, social, and environmental disparities. Subsequently, a control cohort was matched at a 1:1 ratio to the SDOH cohort. Primary outcome measures were assessed using a logistic regression and consisted of the following 90-day postoperative complications: minor and major medical complications and infection. Emergency department (ED) visits and readmissions for any cause were also assessed. Additionally, the following 1-year outcomes were assessed: aseptic loosening, instability, and revision arthroplasty. Surgical costs and 90-day postoperative costs were collected using averaged insurance reimbursements for both the control and SDOH cohorts. RESULTS: There were 5190 patients in each cohort. Economic disparities made up the largest portion of the SDOH cohort (n = 4631, 89.2%), followed by social (n = 741, 14.3%), environmental (n = 417, 8.0%), and educational (n = 99, 1.9%) disparities. Compared with the control cohort, SDOHs were associated with an increased risk of major complications (2.3% vs. 1.4%; odds ratio [OR], 1.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.29-1.87; P < .001), minor complications (5.7% vs. 3.8%; OR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.21-1.95; P = .001), readmissions (4.3% vs. 2.8%; OR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.26-1.84; P < .001), and ED visits (15.2% vs. 11.0%; OR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.29-1.63; P < .001) within 90 days following surgery. Additionally, SDOHs were associated with an increased risk of aseptic loosening (1.1% vs. 0.6%; OR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.20-2.65; P = .006), instability (4.0% vs. 2.2%; OR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.43-2.28; P < .001), and ipsilateral revision (9.2% vs. 7.6%; OR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.08-1.43; P < .001) at 1 year postoperatively compared with the control cohort. CONCLUSION: SDOHs are associated with increased rates of adverse outcomes following shoulder arthroplasty including revision surgery, ED visits, length of stay, and overall cost compared with matched controls without SDOHs. Specifically, economic and educational disparities are associated with increased rates of adverse outcomes following surgery including revision surgery, ED visits, length of stay, and overall cost.

Adhesions in abdomino-pelvic surgeries: A real economic impact?

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the epidemiologic and economic burden related to adhesions and their complications for the French healthcare system. DESIGN: A descriptive and economic retrospective analysis. SETTING: Medicalized information system program (PMSI), national scale of costs. PATIENTS: Female patients operated on to treat adhesions related complications in 2019. INTERVENTIONS: All patients with coded adhesiolysis acts were selected in order to identify the characteristics of Diagnosis related groups (DRG) and compare them with the general DRGs. Then, a sub-analysis on surgery types (laparoscopy or open procedures) was performed to evaluate impact adhesions development and Length of Stay. Lastly, direct costs of adhesions for the healthcare system were quantified based upon adhesiolysis acts coded as main diagnosis. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: 26.387 adhesiolysis procedures were listed in France in 2019 through 8 adhesiolysis acts regrouping open surgeries and laparoscopic procedures. Adhesiolysis was coded in up to 34% in some DRGs for laparoscopic procedures. 1551 (1461 studied in our study) surgeries have been realized in 2019 with main procedure: adhesiolysis. These surgeries were associated with an expense of €4 million for the healthcare system for rehospitalizations and reoperations only. Social costs such as sick leaves, drugs and other cares haven't been taken in consideration. CONCLUSION: Adhesions related complications represent a massive burden for patients and an expensive problem for society. These difficulties may likely to be reduced by a broader use of antiadhesion barriers, at least in some targeted procedures.

Early Bleeding After Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: Incidence, Risk Factors, and Management - a 21-Year Experience.

PURPOSE: Morbidity and mortality associated with bariatric surgery are considered low. The aim of this study is to assess the incidence, clinical presentation, risk factors, and management of early postoperative bleeding (POB) after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric by-pass (RYGB). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of consecutive patients who underwent RYGB in 2 expert bariatric centers between January 1999 and April 2020, with a common bariatric surgeon. RESULTS: A total of 2639 patients underwent RYGB and were included in the study. POB occurred in 72 patients (2.7%). Intraluminal bleeding (ILB) was present in 52 (72%) patients and extra-luminal bleeding (ELB) in 20 (28%) patients. POB took place within the first 3 postoperative days in 79% of patients. The most frequent symptom was tachycardia (63%). Abdominal pain was more regularly seen with ILB, compared to ELB (50% vs. 20%, respectively, p = 0.02). Male sex was an independent risk factor of POB on multivariate analysis (p < 0.01). LOS was significantly longer in patients who developed POB (8.3 vs. 3.8 days, p < 0.01). Management was conservative for most cases (68%). Eighteen patients with ILB (35%) and 5 patients with ELB (25%) required reoperation. One patient died from multiorgan failure after staple-line dehiscence of the excluded stomach (mortality 0.04%). CONCLUSION: The incidence of POB is low, yet it is the most frequent postoperative complication after RYGB. Most POB can be managed conservatively while surgical treatment is required for patients with hemodynamic instability or signs of intestinal obstruction due to an intraluminal clot.

Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty in patients 80 years and older: a national database analysis of complications and mortality.

BACKGROUND: Although reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) is considered a safe surgical option in elderly patients, large-scale analyses of complications and mortality after RSA in patients 80 years and older are scarce. The goals of the current study were to identify revision, complication, and early mortality rates after RSA in patients 80 years and older and compare these to younger patients. METHODS: The PearlDiver Database, which contains services rendered to Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurance patients, was queried for patients undergoing RSA using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth/Tenth Revision (ICD-9/ICD-10) procedure codes. Patients were separated into 2 groups based on their age: 80 years and older and <80 years of age. The incidence of revision arthroplasty, medical, and surgical complications after RSA were extracted. Multivariate regression was used to compare revision arthroplasty and complication rates between groups. Statistical significance was set at P <.05. RESULTS: A total of 29,430 cases of RSA were included, with 486 cases in patients 80 years and older (median age, 80 years; age range, 2 years). Patients 80 years and older had 1- and 2-year revision rates of 3.9% and 5.1%, compared with the younger cohort at 3.0% and 3.1%, respectively. In patients 80 years and older, there were higher rates of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) (odds ratio [OR] 2.87, 95% CI 1.5-4.97), urinary tract infection (OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.01-1.94), acute renal failure (OR 2.18, 95% CI 1.44-3.17), and pneumonia (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.09-2.68) within 90 days postoperatively. Ninety-day surgical complications were similar between the cohorts; however, younger patients experienced higher rates of dislocation, stiffness, periprosthetic fracture, and implant complications 1 year postoperatively. Patients 80 years and older had a significantly higher 90-day mortality rate at 2.7% compared with 1.5% in younger patients (P = .002). CONCLUSIONS: RSA is a generally safe procedure even in patients 80 years and older, with low complication and revision rates. Patients 80 years and older had higher early mortality and medical complication rates, including DVT, renal failure, and pneumonia than patients <80 years of age. However, patients 80 years and older had lower rates of dislocation, periprosthetic fracture, and implant-related complication at 1 year postoperatively.

The Impact of Femoral Component Cementation on Fracture and Mortality Risk in Elective Total Hip Arthroplasty: Analysis from a National Medicare Sample.

BACKGROUND: Complications following elective total hip arthroplasty (THA) are rare but potentially devastating. The impact of femoral component cementation on the risk of periprosthetic femoral fractures and early perioperative death has not been studied in a nationally representative population in the United States. METHODS: Elective primary THAs performed with or without cement among elderly patients were identified from Medicare claims from 2017 to 2018. We performed separate nested case-control analyses matched 1:2 on age, sex, race/ethnicity, comorbidities, payment model, census division of facility, and exposure time and compared fixation mode between (1) groups with and without 90-day periprosthetic femoral fracture and (2) groups with and without 30-day mortality. RESULTS: A total of 118,675 THAs were included. The 90-day periprosthetic femoral fracture rate was 2.0%, and the 30-day mortality rate was 0.18%. Cases were successfully matched. The risk of periprosthetic femoral fracture was significantly lower among female patients with cement fixation compared with matched controls with cementless fixation (OR = 0.83; 95% CI, 0.69 to 1.00; p = 0.05); this finding was not evident among male patients (p = 0.94). In contrast, the 30-day mortality risk was higher among male patients with cement fixation compared with matched controls with cementless fixation (OR = 2.09; 95% CI, 1.12 to 3.87; p = 0.02). The association between cement usage and mortality among female patients almost reached significance (OR = 1.74; 95% CI, 0.98 to 3.11; p = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: In elderly patients managed with THA, cemented stems were associated with lower rates of periprosthetic femoral fracture among female patients but not male patients. The association between cemented stems and higher rates of 30-day mortality was significant for male patients and almost reached significance for female patients, although the absolute rates of mortality were very low. For surgeons who can competently perform THA with cement, our data support the use of a cemented stem to avoid periprosthetic femoral fracture in elderly female patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Assessment of morbidity and mortality after periprosthetic hip fracture. Influence of Vancouver stage in a retrospective single-centre study of 88 patients.

BACKGROUND: Peri-prosthetic hip fractures (PPHFs) are serious complications whose treatment is generally difficult due to their predominance in elderly patients with bone frailty and other comorbidities. The Vancouver classification is the most widely used and is helpful for assisting treatment decisions. However, its value for predicting morbidity and mortality has not been assessed. The objective of this retrospective study was to assess post-operative morbidity and mortality according to the fracture type in the Vancouver classification. HYPOTHESIS: Post-operative morbidity and mortality vary across fracture types in the Vancouver classification. METHODS: A single-centre retrospective study was conducted from 1st January 2010 to 31st December 2015. All patients who had surgery for a PPHF were included. There were 88 patients, including 66 (75%) females, and mean age was 82 years. The patients were re-evaluated at least 3 years after surgery. The distribution of the fracture types was as follows: Vancouver (V) A, n=7; VB, n=63 (VB1, n=30; VB2, n=23; and VB3, n=10); and VC, n=18. Data on the pre-operative status (self-sufficiency, comorbidities, ASA score, etc.) were extracted from the admission files. Morbidity and mortality were evaluated globally and according to the Vancouver type, using the patient files and telephone calls to determine self-sufficiency scores (Parker, Katz, and Lawton) and functional scores (Merle d'Aubigné-Postel [MAP] score and Harris Hip Score [HHS]). RESULTS: Post-operative medical complications were very common (33 [37.5%] patients) and correlated with the severity of the fracture. Similarly, the mortality rate at last follow-up varied significantly (p<0.05) with the severity of the fracture, as follows: VA, 28.5%; VB1, 40%; VB2, 47.8%; VC, 55.6%; and VB3, 66.7%). In the overall population, loss of self-sufficiency was 20%, 14%, and 26% according to Parker, Katz, and Lawton, respectively; loss of function was 13.9% and 13.3% according to the MAP score and HHS (p<0.05). All the self-sufficiency scores (Parker, Katz, and Lawton) and functional scores (MAP and HHS) decreased post-operatively in proportion to the severity of the fracture (very small losses for VA and greatest losses for VB3) (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The short- and medium-term mortality rates in our cohort of patients with PPHFs were high and chiefly dependent on the severity of the fractures. The self-sufficiency and functional scores were better in the group with VA fractures than in the groups with VB1, VB2, VB3, and VC fractures. In any case, early weight-bearing is without doubt a key factor in limiting the impact of PPHFs on the functional outcome and on mortality. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, retrospective study.

The Cost-Effectiveness of Closed Incisional Negative Pressure Wound Therapy for Infection Prevention after Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Recent investigations have shown that closed incisional negative pressure wound therapy (ciNPWT) decreases the rate of postoperative wound complications following revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA). In this study, we used a break-even analysis to determine whether ciNPWT is a cost-effective measure for reducing prosthetic joint infection (PJI) after revision TKA. The cost of ciNPWT, cost of treatment for PJI, and baseline infection rates following revision TKA were collected from institutional data and the literature. The absolute risk reduction (ARR) in infection rate necessary for cost-effectiveness was calculated using break-even analysis. Using our institutional cost of ciNPWT ($600), this intervention would be cost-effective if the initial infection rate of revision TKA (9.0%) has an ARR of 0.92%. The ARR needed for cost-effectiveness remained constant across a wide range of initial infection rates and declined as treatment costs increased. The use of ciNPWT for infection prevention following revision TKA is cost-effective at both high and low initial infection rates, across a broad range of treatment costs, and at inflated product expenses.

Risk Factors for Infection and Revision Surgery following Patellar Tendon and Quadriceps Tendon Repairs: An Analysis of 3,442 Patients.

Disruption of the extensor mechanism is debilitating with surgical repair being the accepted treatment. The incidence of infection and reoperation after extensor mechanism repair are not well reported in the literature. Thus, the objective of the current study was to (1) determine the incidence of surgical site infection and reoperation within 1 year of primary extensor mechanism repair and (2) identify independent risk factors for infection and reoperation following patellar and quadriceps tendon repair. A retrospective review of the 100% Medicare Standard Analytic files from 2005 to 2014 was performed to identify patients undergoing isolated patellar tendon repair and quadriceps tendon repair. Diagnosis of infection within 1 year of operative intervention and revision repair were assessed. Extensor mechanism injuries in the setting of total knee arthroplasty and polytrauma were excluded. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate risk factors for postoperative infection and reoperation within 1 year. Infection occurred in 6.3% of patients undergoing patellar tendon repair and 2.6% of patients undergoing quadriceps tendon repair. Diabetes mellitus (odds ratio [OR] = 1.89, p = 0.005) was found to be an independent risk factor for infection following patellar tendon repair. Reoperation within 1 year occurred in 1.3 and 3.9% following patellar tendon and quadriceps tendon repair, respectively. Age less than 65 years (OR = 2.77, p = 0.024) and obesity (OR = 3.66, p = 0.046) were significant risk factors for reoperation after patellar tendon repair. Hypertension (OR = 2.13, p = 0.034), hypothyroidism (OR = 2.01, p = 0.010), and depression (OR = 2.41, p = 0.005) were significant risk factors for reoperation after quadriceps tendon repair. Diabetes mellitus was identified as a risk factor for infection after patellar tendon repair. Age less than 65 years, peripheral vascular disease, and congestive heart failure were risk factors for infection after quadriceps tendon repair. The current findings can be utilized to counsel patients regarding preoperative risk factors for postoperative complications prior to surgical intervention for extensor mechanism injuries.

Association Between Social Determinants of Health and Postoperative Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Single-Level Lumbar Fusions: A Matched Analysis.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze association between social determinants of health (SDH) disparity on postoperative complication rates, and 30-day and 90-day all-cause readmission in patients undergoing single-level lumbar fusions. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Decreasing postoperative complication rates is of great interest to surgeons and healthcare systems. Postoperative complications are associated with poor convalescence, inferior patient reported outcomes measures, and increased health care resource utilization. Better understanding of the association between Social Determinants of Health (SDH) on postoperative outcomes maybe helpful to decrease postoperative complication rates. METHODS: MARINER 2020, an all-payer claims database, was utilized to identify patients undergoing single-level lumbar fusions between 2010 and 2018. The primary outcomes were the rates of any postoperative complication, symptomatic pseudarthrosis, need for revision surgery, or 30-day and 90-day all-cause readmission. RESULTS: The exact matched population analyzed in this study contained 16,560 patients (8280 [50.0%] patients undergoing single-level lumbar fusion with an SDH disparity; 8280 [50.0%] patients undergoing single-level lumbar fusion without a disparity). Both patient groups were balanced at baseline. The rate of symptomatic pseudarthrosis (1.0% vs. 0.6%, P < 0.05) or any postoperative complication (16.3% vs. 10.4%, P < 0.05) in the matched analysis was higher in the disparity group. The presence of a disparity was associated with 70% increased odds of developing any complication (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.53-1.84) or symptomatic pseudarthrosis (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.17-2.37). Unadjusted and adjusted sensitivity analyses yielded similar results as the primary analysis. CONCLUSION: Social Determinants of Health affect outcomes in spine surgery patients and are associated with an increased risk of developing postoperative complications following lumbar spine fusion.Level of Evidence: 3.