What Is the Quality of Surgical Care for Patients with Hip Fractures at Critical Access Hospitals?

BACKGROUND: Critical access hospitals (CAHs) play an important role in providing access to care for many patients in rural communities. Prior studies have shown that these facilities are able to provide timely and quality care for patients who undergo various elective and emergency general surgical procedures. However, little is known about the quality and reimbursement of surgical care for patients undergoing surgery for hip fractures at CAHs compared with non-CAH facilities. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: Are there any differences in 90-day complications, readmissions, mortality, and Medicare payments between patients undergoing surgery for hip fractures at CAHs and those undergoing surgery at non-CAHs? METHODS: The 2005 to 2014 Medicare 100% Standard Analytical Files were queried using ICD-9 procedure codes to identify Medicare-eligible beneficiaries undergoing open reduction and internal fixation (79.15, 79.35, and 78.55), hemiarthroplasty (81.52), and THA (81.51) for isolated closed hip fractures. This database was selected because the claims capture inpatient diagnoses, procedures, charged amounts and paid claims, as well as hospital-level information of the care, of Medicare patients across the nation. Patients with concurrent fixation of an upper extremity, lower extremity, and/or polytrauma were excluded from the study to ensure an isolated cohort of hip fractures was captured. The study cohort was divided into two groups based on where the surgery took place: CAHs and non-CAHs. A 1:1 propensity score match, adjusting for baseline demographics (age, gender, Census Bureau-designated region, and Elixhauser comorbidity index), clinical characteristics (fixation type and time to surgery), and hospital characteristics (whether the hospital was located in a rural ZIP code, the average annual procedure volume of the operating facility, hospital bed size, hospital ownership and teaching status), was used to control for the presence of baseline differences in patients presenting at CAHs and those presenting at non-CAHs. A total of 1,467,482 patients with hip fractures were included, 29,058 of whom underwent surgery in a CAH. After propensity score matching, each cohort (CAH and non-CAH) contained 29,058 patients. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess for differences in 90-day complications, readmissions, and mortality between the two matched cohorts. As funding policies of CAHs are regulated by Medicare, an evaluation of costs-of-care (by using Medicare payments as a proxy) was conducted. Generalized linear regression modeling was used to assess the 90-day Medicare payments among patients undergoing surgery in a CAH, while controlling for differences in baseline demographics and clinical characteristics. RESULTS: Patients undergoing surgery for hip fractures were less likely to experience many serious complications at a critical access hospital (CAH) than at a non-CAH. In particular, after controlling for patient demographics, hospital-level factors and procedural characteristics, patients treated at a CAH were less likely to experience: myocardial infarction (3% (916 of 29,058) versus 4% (1126 of 29,058); OR 0.80 [95% CI 0.74 to 0.88]; p < 0.001), sepsis (3% (765 of 29,058) versus 4% (1084 of 29,058); OR 0.69 [95% CI 0.63 to 0.78]; p < 0.001), acute renal failure (6% (1605 of 29,058) versus 8% (2353 of 29,058); OR 0.65 [95% CI 0.61 to 0.69]; p < 0.001), and Clostridium difficile infections (1% (367 of 29,058) versus 2% (473 of 29,058); OR 0.77 [95% CI 0.67 to 0.88]; p < 0.001) than undergoing surgery in a non-CAH. CAHs also had lower rates of all-cause 90-day readmissions (18% (5133 of 29,058) versus 20% (5931 of 29,058); OR 0.83 [95% CI 0.79 to 0.86]; p < 0.001) and 90-day mortality (4% (1273 of 29,058) versus 5% (1437 of 29,058); OR 0.88 [95% CI 0.82 to 0.95]; p = 0.001) than non-CAHs. Further, CAHs also had risk-adjusted lower 90-day Medicare payments than non-CAHs (USD 800, standard error 89; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Patients who received hip fracture surgical care at CAHs had a lower risk of major medical and surgical complications than those who had surgery at non-CAHs, even though Medicare reimbursements were lower as well. Although there may be some degree of patient selection at CAHs, these facilities appear to provide high-value care to rural communities. These findings provide evidence for policymakers evaluating the impact of the CAH program and allocating funding resources, as well as for community members seeking emergent care at local CAH facilities. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, therapeutic study.

Hook Plate Fixation of Medial Malleolar Fractures: A Comparative Study of Clinical Outcomes.

Medial malleolar fractures, occurring in isolation or in bi- or trimalleolar fractures, require surgical fixation if there is any displacement. Several techniques have been described in the literature for open reduction and internal fixation of medial malleolar fractures, but no data exist on the functional outcomes after fixation with a hook plate. The objective of this review study was to compare complication and union rates in patients who underwent hook plate fixation of medial malleolar fractures to those who underwent fixation with 2 lag screws. A total of 31 patients were included in the study. They were all followed for a minimum of 6 months from the day of surgery. There was a 18% to 35% complication rate with this technique; however, there was no statistical difference in the complication rate between medial malleolar fracture fixation with hook plate versus 2 lag screws in our study. All patients in this study went on to have a successful union. Hook plate fixation is an acceptable alternative to medial malleolar fracture fixation, especially in patients at high risk for poor bone healing.

Pubic root fractures are commonly misread as anterior column fractures by radiologists: Single-institution study from a level 1 trauma center.

BACKGROUND: We sought to determine how frequently pubic root fracture is incorrectly identified as anterior column fracture by radiologists and describe differences in characteristics and outcomes between injury patterns. METHODS: We identified 155 patients who sustained pelvic or acetabular fractures at a single, level 1 trauma academic institution. Pelvis computed tomography (CT) scans were evaluated to determine whether patients sustained an anterior column fracture or pubic root fracture. Demographic and clinical factors such as mortality, ambulatory status, type of treatment (nonoperative/surgery), and mechanism of energy were assessed. RESULTS: There were a total of 83 patients in the anterior column group and 72 patients in the pubic root cohort. Eighty-five percent of pubic root fractures were read as anterior column fractures by radiologists. A total of 77.8% of pubic root fractures had posterior ring involvement. Patients with true anterior column acetabular fracture were more likely to need surgery (63.86% vs 41.70%, P = 0.01) and be discharged to skilled nursing or inpatient rehabilitation (59.04% vs 40.27%, P = 0.02) compared to patients with pubic root fracture. CONCLUSION: Pubic root fractures are frequently misread as anterior column fractures in radiology reports. Correctly diagnosing pubic root fractures and differentiating them from anterior column acetabular fractures can have significant impact on patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III, Therapeutic.

Paresthesia Post Total Knee Arthroplasty Secondary to Severe Thoracic Spinal Cord Compression.

A 57-year-old obese man was referred to a physical therapist 14 weeks after left knee arthroplasty due to loss of function and worsening symptoms. Following examination, due to the worsening and progressive weakness that is atypical after this surgery, the physical therapist and surgeon agreed to refer the patient to the emergency department. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed T11-12 spinal canal stenosis with cord compression. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2020;50(12):724. doi:10.2519/jospt.2020.9655.

A Review of State Guidelines for Elective Orthopaedic Procedures During the COVID-19 Outbreak.

BACKGROUND: The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in widespread cancellation of elective orthopaedic procedures. The guidance coming from multiple sources frequently has been difficult to assimilate as well as dynamic, with constantly changing standards. We seek to communicate the current guidelines published by each state, to discuss the impact of these guidelines on orthopaedic surgery, and to provide the general framework used to determine which procedures have been postponed at our institution. METHODS: An internet search was used to identify published state guidelines regarding the cancellation of elective procedures, with a publication cutoff of March 24, 2020, 5:00 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time. Data collected included the number of states providing guidance to cancel elective procedures and which states provided specific guidance in determining which procedures should continue being performed as well as to orthopaedic-specific guidance. RESULTS: Thirty states published guidance regarding the discontinuation of elective procedures, and 16 states provided a definition of "elective" procedures or specific guidance for determining which procedures should continue to be performed. Only 5 states provided guidelines specifically mentioning orthopaedic surgery; of those, 4 states explicitly allowed for trauma-related procedures and 4 states provided guidance against performing arthroplasty. Ten states provided guidelines allowing for the continuation of oncological procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Few states have published guidelines specific to orthopaedic surgery during the COVID-19 outbreak, leaving hospital systems and surgeons with the responsibility of balancing the benefits of surgery with the risks to public health.

Multi-Modal Pain Control in Ambulatory Hand Surgery.

We evaluated postoperative pain control and narcotic usage after thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) arthroplasty or open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of the distal radius in patients given opiates with or without other non-opiate medication using a specific dosing regimen. A prospective, randomized study of 79 patients undergoing elective CMC arthroplasty or ORIF of the distal radius evaluated postoperative pain in the first 5 postoperative days. Patients were divided into 4 groups: Group 1, oxycodone and acetaminophen PRN; Group 2, oxycodone and acetaminophen with specific dosing; Group 3, oxycodone, acetaminophen, and OxyContin with specific dosing; and Group 4, oxycodone, acetaminophen, and ketorolac with specific dosing. During the first 5 postoperative days, we recorded pain levels according to a numeric pain scale, opioid usage, and complications. Although differences in our data did not reach statistical significance, overall pain scores, opioid usage, and complication rates were less prevalent in the oxycodone, acetaminophen, and ketorolac group. Postoperative pain following ambulatory hand and wrist surgery under regional anesthesia was more effectively controlled with fewer complications using a combination of oxycodone, acetaminophen, and ketorolac with a specific dosing regimen.

Impact of lesion location on the progression of osteoarthritis in a rat knee model.

To investigate how surgically created acute full-thickness cartilage defects of similar size and location created on the medial versus lateral femoral condyle influence progression of spontaneous cartilage lesions in a rat model. Full-thickness cartilage defects of 1 mm were surgically created on the medial or lateral femoral condyles on the right leg of 20 rats (n = 10/group). Ten rats served as controls. Spontaneous lesion progression on the ipsilateral and contralateral surfaces was examined using a high-resolution digital camera along with H&E and Safranin-O staining. Chondral defects were scored grossly and histologically. Control femur displayed no cartilage disruption. Surgically treated knees exhibited created and spontaneous cartilage defects with no evidence of healing unless subchondral bone was penetrated. Ipsilateral spontaneous lesions on the lateral condyle were significantly more severe on average (p = 0.009) compared to medial lesions on gross examination. Histological examination found contralateral lesions on the lateral surface following surgically created medial lesions to be more severe (p = 0.057) compared to contralateral lesions. A trend toward more susceptible chondral damage to the lateral condyle was observed following acute lesion creation on either medial or lateral condyles. Mechanisms behind this pattern of spontaneous lesion development are unclear, requring further investigation.

Avoiding complications in patellofemoral surgery.

The diagnosis and treatment of patellofemoral disorders can challenge even the experienced orthopedic surgeon. Differential diagnosis is broad and multiple anatomic abnormalities must be taken into account in order to manage care. The majority of patients with patellofemoral disorders can be treated successfully nonoperatively. When nonoperative management fails, and in the carefully selected patient, a variety of surgical options exist based on the anatomic pathology involved, but each brings its own potential for complication. We discuss several of the surgical treatment options that are available to the orthopedic surgeon for the treatment of patellofemoral disorders, including lateral retinacular release, medial soft-tissue reconstructive procedures, and bony procedures (including trochleoplasty and tibial tubercle osteotomy. We describe potential complications of each procedure and what the orthopedic surgeon can do to avoid them.

Lower-extremity soft tissue infections with intra-abdominal sources.

This article describes a series of 3 patients who presented with lower-extremity soft tissue infections. Each patient was treated with prompt debridement by an orthopedic surgeon (J.F.G.) and required at least 1 additional procedure by another surgeon.These infections vary from superficial cellulitis to rapidly advancing necrotizing fasciitis. At times, the source of these infections is clear. Other times, no obvious source of infection exists, in which case the abdomen must be considered as a possible source of infection. A high level of suspicion, complete history and physical examination, and appropriate ancillary studies are required to make an accurate and prompt diagnosis. Options for the treatment of the intra-abdominal source of infection depend on the etiology of the infection and anatomic location of the process. Psoas abscesses can often be decompressed by an interventional radiologist using computed tomography guidance. In the case of bowel involvement, such as suspected carcinoma or diverticulitis, a general surgeon is necessary. When the appropriate diagnosis is made, soft tissue infections of the thigh often respond to appropriate surgical debridement and antibiotic therapy. It is important to remember the whole patient when evaluating soft tissue infections, especially in the thigh. A low threshold for imaging of the abdomen and pelvis is important, especially when the physical examination or medical history reveals the abdomen as a possible source of infection.

Use of bioabsorbable pins in surgical fixation of comminuted periarticular fractures.

OBJECTIVES: To determine if bioabsorbable pins can be used for stabilization of comminuted articular fragments in periarticular fractures with adequate quality of fixation, while eliminating the potential complications related to use of traditional implants. DESIGN: Multicenter retrospective review. SETTING: Two Level 1 trauma centers. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: Institutional billing records identified all cases (83) in which bioabsorbable pins were implanted. All charts were reviewed, and all periarticular fracture cases (80 fractures in 78 patients) were included. INTERVENTION: Open reduction and internal fixation of highly comminuted periarticular fractures, using bioabsorbable poly-p-dioxanone and poly-l-lactic acid pins to stabilize the fragments of articular surface. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Outcomes were determined by maintenance of articular reduction assessed at 6 weeks and 3 months; development of posttraumatic arthritis assessed radiographically and by clinical examination at 1 year postoperatively; and rates of local complications including infection, pin migration, and pin-related soft tissue complications evaluated by complete medical record review. RESULTS: No patients showed loss of articular reduction at 6 weeks or 3 months. There were no pin-related local complications or pin migration and no instances of delayed union or nonunion. Radiographs showed 19% arthritic changes at 12 months, with 16% loss to follow-up. Infection rate was 6%. CONCLUSIONS: In highly comminuted periarticular fractures, bioabsorbable pins are an intriguing alternative to traditional fixation methods. They afford similar effectiveness in maintaining stability without evidence of pin migration or other concerns of buried metallic implants.