High Rate of Patient Satisfaction with Either Telemedicine or Traditional Office-Based Follow-Up Visit After Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine if any differences exist in patient satisfaction with office-based visits versus telemedicine visits following arthroscopic shoulder surgery. Methods: Patients undergoing shoulder arthroscopy were prospectively enrolled for 1 year. Patient demographic and clinical data (including complication events) and second postoperative visit satisfaction data were recorded and analyzed for statistical significance. Results: Ninety-six (n = 96) patients met inclusion criteria. Fifty-four patients (56.3%) participated in a traditional in-person office visit, and 42 participated in a video visit (43.8%). No significant differences were found between office and video appointments in terms of overall care satisfaction (9.46 ± 0.9 vs. 9.55 ± 1.0, p = 0.67). Females were significantly less satisfied with their second postoperative visit compared with males (8.3 ± 2.3 vs. 9.3 ± 1.5, p = 0.035). Significantly more females would also have preferred a traditional in person office visit compared with males (91% vs. 67%, p = 0.009). Video appointment patients spent significantly more time with their surgeon than office visit patients (57.64 mean rank vs. 41.39 mean rank, p = 0.003). Discussion: Video visit patients required significantly less time overall for their visit and spent significantly more time with their surgeon, although did not demonstrate differences in satisfaction.

A Comparison of Immunosuppression Regimens in Hand, Face, and Kidney Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Authors have speculated that vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA) recipients may require greater maintenance immunosuppression than solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients due to the higher antigenicity of skin. However, detailed comparisons of VCA and SOT immunosuppression regimens have been limited. METHODS: Hand and face VCA recipient immunosuppression data were collected through a systematic literature review. Kidney recipient data were obtained through a retrospective chart review of the authors' institution. Prednisone and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) doses were compared between VCA and kidney recipients at predefined follow-up intervals (<1, 1-5, and >5 y). Tacrolimus target trough levels (TTTL) were compared at follow-up intervals of 1-5 and >5 y, and stratified into our institution's kidney transplant risk-based target ranges (4-6 ng/mL, 6-8 ng/mL) or higher (>8 ng/mL). RESULTS: Immunosuppression data were available for 57 VCA and 98 kidney recipients. There were no significant differences in prednisone doses between groups at all follow-up intervals. VCA recipient mean MMF dose was significantly greater at <1-y (1.71 ± 0.58 versus 1.16 ± 0.55 gm/d; P = 0.01). For VCA recipients, there was a significant difference (P = 0.02) in TTTL distribution over the three predefined therapeutic ranges (4-6 ng/mL, 6-8 ng/mL, and >8 ng/mL) between 1 and 5 y (24.0%, 20.0%, 56.0%, respectively) and >5 y (28.6%, 42.9%, 28.6%). CONCLUSIONS: At longer follow-up, VCA and kidney recipients receive comparable MMF/prednisone doses, and most VCA recipients are treated with TTTL similar to kidney recipients. Further research may improve our understanding of VCA's complex risk/benefit ratio, and enhance informed consent.

Return to Play After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction with Extra-Articular Augmentation: A Systematic Review.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the current study is to systematically review the current evidence in the literature to ascertain rates of return to play after ACLR with extra-articular augmentation (EA). METHODS: A literature search was performed based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies were included if they evaluated and reported on return to play after ACLR + EA; case studies and review articles were excluded. The outcomes measured focused on (1) return to play, (2) return to play at the same or higher level, and (3) timing of return to play. Qualitative analysis and quantitative analysis were performed using SPSS. RESULTS: Overall, 19 studies met our inclusion criteria. Among patients undergoing primary ACLR, 82.8% to 100% were able to return to play, with 64% to 100% able to return at the same or higher level of play. All professional athletes were able to return to play, and 85.7% to 100% were able to return to the same level of preoperative play. The mean time to return was 5 to 11 months in those undergoing primary ACLR + EA. Among those undergoing revision ACLR, 50% to 88.4% were able to return to play, with 41.5% to 77.8% able to return at the same or higher level of play. None of the 5 studies that compared rate of return to play (at any level) between ACLR + EA and ACLR alone found a significant difference between them. However, among the 6 studies that compared rate of return to play at the same level between ACLR + EA and ACLR alone, 2 studies found a significantly higher rate of return to play with ACLR + EA. CONCLUSION: ACLR + EA resulted in high levels of return to play in those undergoing either primary or revision ACLR. Additionally, comparative studies of patients undergoing primary ACLR with or without EA reported similarly high rates of return to play. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, systematic review of level I to IV studies.

Management of Meniscal Pathology: From Partial Meniscectomy to Transplantation.

Meniscal pathology is one of the most common structural knee issues seen and managed by the orthopaedic surgeon. An ever-evolving armamentarium of management options exists that are geared toward the elimination of symptoms and restoration of normal knee function. A common theme among these management options is to preserve meniscal tissue whenever possible through repair or minimization of meniscal excision, as the literature has shown that the loss of meniscal tissue can significantly alter the distribution of forces and contact stresses on knee articular cartilage, thus predisposing the joint to degenerative osteoarthritis. In the setting of meniscal injuries or insufficiency, various advances in repair techniques, use of meniscal allografts, and use of biologic adjuvants have been reported to help preserve and/or attempt to restore the native kinematic properties of the knee. It is important to explore meniscal function, its associated pathologies, and currently available treatment options that are supported by short-term and long-term clinical data.

No difference in 90-day complication rate following open versus arthroscopic Latarjet procedure.

The purpose of this study was to compare the 90-day complication rate between the open and arthroscopic Latarjet procedure. A retrospective review of patients who underwent an open or arthroscopic Latarjet procedure at NYU Langone Health between 2012 and 2019 was performed. The complications, readmissions, and reoperations within 90 days were assessed. Outcomes were compared between the two approaches, and a p value of < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. The study included 150 patients (open: 110; arthroscopic: 40), with no patients lost to follow-up within the first 90 days. Both cohorts were similar in terms of patient demographics. No intra-operative complications were observed in either group. Overall, there were 4 post-operative complications with the open approach and 2 with the arthroscopic approach (3.6% and 5.0%, respectively; n.s.) during the study period. Three patients required a readmission within the 90-day period; one patient in both groups required a revision Latarjet for graft fracture, and one patient in the open Latarjet required irrigation and debridement for deep infection (n.s.). With the open approach, there were 2 (2.3%) wound complications, 1 graft complication, and 1 (1.1%) nerve injury. With the arthroscopic approach, there was 1 (2.8%) wound complication and 1 (2.8%) hardware complication. The safety, and 90-day complication and readmission profile of arthroscopic Latarjet is similar to open Latarjet procedure. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Return to play criteria among shoulder surgeons following shoulder stabilization.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to survey the members of North American and European shoulder surgery and sports medicine societies to evaluate their criteria for deciding when an athlete can safely return to play (RTP) following shoulder stabilization surgery. METHODS: A survey was sent to the members of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES), American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM), European Society for Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy (ESSKA), and European Society for Surgery of the Shoulder and the Elbow (SECEC). Surgeons were asked which criteria they used to determine when an athlete can return to play following the arthroscopic Bankart repair and Latarjet procedures, with additional questions on how time from surgery and participation in collision sports affect return. RESULTS: Overall, 317 surgeons responded to the survey. Following arthroscopic Bankart repair, the most common criteria used were time (98.7%), strength (74.8%), and range of motion (70%). The most commonly reported time point was 4 months (43.8%), and the majority used an additional time period, most commonly 2 months (38.2%), before allowing a collision athlete to return to play (75.4%). Interestingly, the addition of a remplissage procedure did not affect decision making regarding RTP in most cases (92.1%). Following the Latarjet procedure, the most common criteria used were time (98.4%), strength (67.5%), and range of motion (65.9%). Less than half reported using imaging to assess for radiographic union before allowing patients to return to play (47%), and the most common modality was plain radiography (80%). The most common time point was 4 months (33.1%), and the majority reported waiting an additional period of time, most commonly by 2 months (25.9%), before allowing a collision athlete to return to play (59.6%). CONCLUSION: Despite the absence of evidence-based guidelines on when athletes can safely return to play following shoulder stabilization surgery, there exists minimal variability in recommendations between North American and European shoulder surgeons. Further research is required to better define criteria for RTP after the arthroscopic Bankart repair and Latarjet procedures.

Institutional reductions in opioid prescribing do not change patient satisfaction on Press Ganey surveys after total shoulder arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: With an ongoing opioid epidemic in the United States, it is important to examine if decreased opioid prescribing can affect patient experience, namely satisfaction with pain control. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate what effect, if any, decreased opioid prescribing after total shoulder arthroplasty had on Press Ganey satisfaction surveys. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted on patients who underwent primary anatomic or reverse total shoulder arthroplasty between October 2014 and October 2019. Patients with complete Press Ganey survey information and no history of trauma, fracture, connective tissue disease, or prior shoulder arthroplasty surgery were included in the analysis. Patients were segregated into 2 groups, pre-protocol and post-protocol, based on the date of surgery relative to implementation of an institutional opioid reduction protocol, which occurred in October 2018. Prescriptions were converted to morphine milligram equivalents (MME) for direct comparison between different opioid medications. RESULTS: A total of 201 patients met inclusion criteria, and there were 110 reverse total shoulder arthroplasties and 91 anatomic total shoulder arthroplasties. Average opioids prescribed on discharge for the pre-protocol group were 426.3 ± 295 MME (equivalent to 56.8 tablets of oxycodone 5 mg), whereas after the initiation of the protocol, they were 193.8 ± 199 MME (equivalent to 25.8 tablets of oxycodone 5 mg); P < .0001. Average satisfaction with pain control did not change significantly between pre-protocol and post-protocol (4.71 ± 0.65 pre-protocol and 4.74 ± 0.44 post-protocol, P = .82). CONCLUSION: A reduction in opioids prescribed after a total shoulder replacement is not associated with any negative effects on patient satisfaction, as measured by the Press Ganey survey.

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

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

Arthroscopic Bankart Repair Versus Conservative Management for First-Time Traumatic Anterior Shoulder Instability: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: To perform a meta-analysis of the current evidence in the literature comparing arthroscopic Bankart repair versus conservative management for first-time anterior shoulder dislocation. METHODS: A literature search of the MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases was performed based on the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses) guidelines. Prospective studies comparing arthroscopic Bankart repair versus conservative management as treatment for first-time anterior shoulder dislocation were included. Recurrence, further treatment, and return to play were compared, with all statistical analysis performed using Review Manager, version 5.3. P < .05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Ten prospective studies with 569 patients were included. Arthroscopic Bankart repair resulted in a lower rate of total recurrent instability (9.7% vs 67.4, I2 = 0, P < .0001) and further surgical treatment for anterior shoulder instability (5.9% vs 46.7%, I2 = 0, P < .0001). Additionally, arthroscopic Bankart repair resulted in a higher rate of return to play (92.8% vs 80.8%, I2 = 0, P = .002). CONCLUSIONS: Arthroscopic Bankart repair resulted in a 7-fold lower recurrence rate and a higher rate of return to play than conservative management. Thus, arthroscopic Bankart repair may be advisable to perform routinely in patients with first-time dislocation who participate in sports. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II, systematic review of Level I and II studies.

High rate of return-to-play following meniscal allograft transplantation.

PURPOSE: In recent years, meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT) has been established as an effective option for young patients with symptomatic meniscus insufficiency with goals of functional improvement and joint preservation. Currently, there is little available information on return-to-play among patients in this cohort. The purpose of this study is to systematically review the literature and to evaluate the reported rehabilitation protocols, return-to-play guidelines, and subsequent rates of return-to-play following MAT. METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library were searched according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines to find studies on MAT. Studies were included if they reported return-to-play data or rehabilitation protocols. The rate and timing of return-to-play was assessed. The rehabilitation protocols were recorded, including time to start range of motion (ROM), full ROM, partial weight bearing (WB), and full WB. RESULTS: Overall, 67 studies met the inclusion criteria. Eleven studies, including 624 patients, reported 483 out of 624 patients (77.4%) returning to play, with 326 out of a reported 475 patients (68.6%) returning to the same/higher level, at a mean time to return of 9.0 months. There was significant variability in the reported rehabilitation protocols, but the most commonly reported time to begin ROM exercises was within the first week by 42 out of 60 studies (70.0%) and full ROM at 8 weeks by 18 out of 46 studies (39.1%). Partial weight bearing was most commonly begun in the fourth week by 20 out of 46 studies (43.5%), and for full WB the sixth week by 43 out of 65 studies (66.1%). Time elapsed following surgery was the most commonly reported criteria for return-to-play by 44 out of 48 studies (91.6%), with 6 months being the most common time point utilized by 17 out of 45 studies (37.8%). A small proportion of studies, 16 out of 48 (33.3%), advised against returning to competitive/collision sports altogether following MAT. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, there is a high rate of return-to-play following MAT, with the majority of patients returning to the same level of play. However, there is significant variability in reported rehabilitation protocols, and poor-quality reporting in return-to-play criteria in the literature indicates a need for further study and the development of an evidence-based consensus statement for this patient population. The results from this study can be used to better inform patients on their expected outcomes and provide a more informed consent process. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Perceived Esthetic Outcomes of Face Transplantation: A Survey of the General Public.

Facial transplantation (FT) has attracted the interest of individuals with facial disfigurement as a path to social reintegration. The perception among face transplant recipients and the reconstructive surgery community appears to be that superior functional and esthetic outcomes can be obtained with FT compared to autologous reconstruction (AR). Although lifelong immunosuppression adds well-known risks to FT, its benefits have proven difficult to quantify, especially because of its non-life-saving nature. Evidence that the general public perceives facial allograft recipients as less disfigured than AR patients may dramatically alter the currently accepted risk/benefit ratio of this novel procedure. A survey containing independent images of individuals in nondisfigured (ND), autologous facial reconstruction, and FT groups was administered to the general public in an urban environment. Participants assigned a disfigurement score to each photograph using the Observer-Rated Facial Disfigurement Scale, a validated instrument used to rate facial disfigurement among head and neck cancer patients. One-way analysis of variance was used to calculate differences in mean level of perceived facial disfigurement among the 3 groups. A total of 250 participants completed the survey. Mean perceived disfigurement scores assigned to the ND, FT, and AR groups were 1.2 ±â€Š0.4, 4.9 ±â€Š1.3, and 8.5 ±â€Š0.6, respectively. A significant difference in disfigurement score was observed between all 3 groups (P < 0.001). This pilot study suggests that the general public perceives the esthetic outcome of FT to be superior to those obtained with AR in patients with severe facial defects.

Effect of Gum Chewing on the Volume and pH of Gastric Contents: A Prospective Randomized Study.

BACKGROUND: Insufficient fasting prior to endoscopic procedures performed under sedation may result in potential aspiration of gastric contents. Fasting as per ASA guidelines is recommended prior to these procedures. However, the effect of chewing gum on fasting status has been a subject of debate and often leads to procedural delays. OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of the effect of chewing gum on the gastric volume and pH. METHODS: In this randomized controlled prospective observer blinded trail, ASA I-III patients aged more than 18 years scheduled for esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) or a combined EGD and colonoscopy under conscious sedation were studied. Patients randomized to the chewing gum group (Group-C) were allowed to chew gum until just before the start of their procedure; the remaining patients were included into Group-NC. After sedation and endoscope insertion, stomach contents were aspirated under vision of a gastroenterologist (blinded to groups). RESULTS: Volume and pH of gastric contents aspirated from 67 patients (34 in Group-C and 33 in Group-NC) were analyzed. The demographic parameters of the groups were comparable. Gastric volume (median-interquartile range) was statistically higher in Group-C (13 ml (7.75-40.75) vs Group-NC 6 ml (1.00-14.00) (P < 0.001)]. The mean pH in both groups was comparable: 2.84 ± 2.11 in Group-C and 3.79 ± 2.53 in Group-NC (P = 0.141). CONCLUSION: Although our results show gastric volume in patients chewing gum was statistically higher, clinical relevance of such a small difference is questionable. Thus patients who chewed gum inadvertently prior to procedure should not be denied or delayed administration of sedative and anesthetic medications.

Superior Pain Reduction with Anteromedialization Tibial Tubercle Osteotomy Versus Non-Operative Management for Patellofemoral Osteoarthritis.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of patients with patellofemoral osteoar-thritis (PFOA) treated non-operatively with those treated operatively with an unloading anteromedialization tibial tubercle osteotomy (TTO). METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed to identify patients with isolated PFOA who were either managed non-operatively or surgically with a TTO and who had a minimum follow-up of 2 years. Patients were surveyed with the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Joint Replacement (KOOS-JR), Anterior Knee Pain scale (Kujala), and Tegner Activity scale. Statistical analysis included two-sample t-testing, one-way ANOVA, and bivariate analysis. RESULTS: The clinical outcomes of 49 non-operatively managed patients (mean age: 52.7 ± 11.3 years; mean follow-up: 1.7 ± 1.0 years) and 35 operatively managed patients (mean age: 31.8 ± 9.4 years; mean follow-up: 3.5 ± 1.7 years) were assessed. The mean VAS improved sig-nificantly in both groups [6.12 to 4.22 (non-operative), p < 0.0001; 6.94 to 2.45 (TTO); p < 0.0001], with operatively treated patients having significantly lower postoperative pain than non-operatively managed patients at the time of final follow-up [2.45 (TTO) vs. 4.22 (non-operative), p < 0.001]. The mean KOOS-JR score was significantly greater in the operative group at time of final follow-up [78.7 ± 11.6 (TTO) vs. 71.7 ± 17.8 (non-operative), p = 0.035]. There was no significant difference in Kujala or Tegner scores between the treatment groups. Additionally, there was no sig-nificant relationship between the number of intra-articular injections, duration of NSAID use, and number of physical therapy sessions on clinical outcomes in the non-operatively treated group (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: An unloading anteromedialization TTO provides significantly better pain relief and restoration of function compared to non-operative management in the treatment of symptomatic PFOA.

Matrix-Induced Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation Versus Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation of the Knee A Retrospective Comparison.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the short-term clinical outcomes of matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte implantation (MACI) to those seen following traditional autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) in the management of symptomatic cartilage lesions of the knee. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent either ACI or MACI from January 2011 to March 2018. Patients with a minimum postoperative follow-up of 18 months were contacted. Demographic information, intraoperative findings, and patient-reported functional outcomes scores were collected. Comparisons were made between the two cell-based cartilage repair techniques. RESULTS: Fifty-six patients were included in the study (39 ACI, 17 MACI). Visual analog scale (VAS) for pain scores improved significantly in both groups, with MACI patients demonstrating significantly lower postoperative pain scores compared to those treated with ACI. In the ACI group, there was a decrease in the Tegner Activity score compared to the preoperative baseline, while no significant difference was seen between pre- and postoperative activity levels in the MACI group. Patients were generally satisfied with the outcome of their procedures, and there was no significant difference in satisfaction between groups. No patients re-quired additional surgery during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Both ACI and MACI demonstrated good short-term postoperative clinical results with improved pain and activity levels compared to the preoperative baseline. Patients treated with the MACI technique demonstrated greater reductions in pain scores compared to ACI, and while ACI resulted in a decrease in levels of postoperative activity, activity levels for MACI remained stable.

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

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

High Tibial Osteotomies for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis of the Knee.

¼: A high tibial osteotomy (HTO) is a joint-preserving procedure that can be used to treat symptomatic unicompartmental cartilage disorders in the presence of limb malalignment. ¼: Appropriate patient selection and careful preoperative planning are vital for optimizing outcomes. ¼: Based on past literature, correction of varus malalignment to 3° to 8° of valgus appears to lead to favorable results. Recently, there has been growing awareness that it is important to consider soft-tissue laxity during preoperative planning. ¼: Although there has been a recent trend toward performing opening-wedge rather than closing-wedge or dome HTOs for unicompartmental osteoarthritis, current data suggest that all 3 are acceptable techniques with varying complication profiles. ¼: Based on current evidence, an HTO provides pain relief, functional improvement, and a high rate of return to sport, with reported survivorship ranging from 74.7% to 97.6% and 66.0% to 90.4% at 10 and 15 years, respectively.

Synovial Fluid Cytokine Profile at the Time of Arthroscopy Explains Intermediate-Term Functional Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The intra-articular immune response after ligamentous, meniscal, or focal chondral knee injuries likely plays a role in intra-articular healing and the onset and progression of posttraumatic osteoarthritis. PURPOSE: To evaluate the association of synovial fluid cytokine concentrations measured at the time of knee arthroscopy with intermediate-term functional outcomes after knee arthroscopy based on the Lysholm score. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study of patients undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery. Synovial fluid was aspirated from the injured knee immediately before surgical incision, and the concentrations of 10 cytokines were analyzed using immunoassay. Principal component regression was used to create a model to predict patient-reported Lysholm score at a minimum of 5 years postoperatively. Hierarchical clustering was performed to identify groups of patients with similar synovial fluid inflammatory phenotypes. Lysholm scores and cytokine concentrations were compared between clusters. RESULTS: A total of 26 patients (mean age, 40.33 ± 16.40 years) were included in the analysis. The mean duration between surgery and follow-up was 6.69 ± 0.72 years. A model consisting of 2 principal components (PC1, PC2) explained 62.48% of the variance in the cytokine data and 52.03% of the variance in intermediate-term Lysholm score. Hierarchical clustering resulted in 3 patient clusters based on the principal components used in the regression model. Despite no baseline differences in Lysholm score, cluster 3 demonstrated significantly greater intermediate-term Lysholm score compared with cluster 2 (94.33 vs 76.09, respectively; 95% CI, 5.96-30.52; P = .006) and cluster 1 (94.33 vs 52.33, respectively; 95% CI, 24.09-59.91; P = .003). Cluster 3, when compared with the overall means, was characterized by greater PC1 value (1.01 vs 0.00, respectively; P = .030) and greater PC2 value (0.86 vs 0.00, respectively; P = .002). CONCLUSION: The concentrations of select synovial fluid cytokines assessed at the time of knee arthroscopy can be used to explain more than half of the variance in intermediate-term functional outcomes.

Reducing Postoperative Opioid-prescribing Following Posterior Lumbar Fusion Does Not Significantly Change Patient Satisfaction.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective comparative; LOE-3. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate what effect, if any, an institutional opioid reduction prescribing policy following one- or two-level lumbar fusion has on Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey results. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Previous research has demonstrated that high levels of opioid-prescribing may be related, in part, to a desire to produce superior patient satisfaction. METHODS: A retrospective review of prospectively collected data was conducted on patients who underwent one- or two-level lumbar fusions L3-S1 between October 2014 and October 2019 at a single institution. Patients with complete survey information were included in the analysis. Patients with a history of trauma, fracture, spinal deformity, fusions more than two levels, or prior lumbar fusion surgery L3-S1 were excluded. Cohorts were based on date of surgery relative to implementation of an institutional opioid reduction policy, which commenced in October 1, 2018. To better compare groups, opioid prescriptions were converted into milligram morphine equivalents (MME). RESULTS: A total of 330 patients met inclusion criteria: 259 pre-protocol, 71 post-protocol. There were 256 one-level fusions and 74 two-level fusions included. There were few statistically significant differences between groups with respect to patient demographics (P > 0.05) with the exception of number of patients who saw the pain management service, which increased from 36.7% (95) pre-protocol to 59.2% (42) post-protocol; P < 0.001. Estimated blood loss (EBL) decreased from 533 ±â€Š571 mL to 346 ±â€Š328 mL (P = 0.003). Percentage of patients who underwent concomitant laminectomy decreased from 71.8% to 49.3% (P < 0.001). Average opioids prescribed on discharge in the pre-protocol period was 534 ±â€Š425 MME, compared to after initiation of the protocol, that is 320 ±â€Š174 MME (P < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference with respect to satisfaction with pain control, 4.49 ±â€Š0.85 pre-protocol versus 4.51 ±â€Š0.82 post-protocol (P = 0.986). CONCLUSION: A reduction in opioids prescribed at discharge after one- or two-level lumbar fusion is not associated with any statistically significant change in patient satisfaction with pain management, as measured by the HCAHPS survey.Level of Evidence: 3.

Knee Osteotomies Can Be Performed Safely In An Ambulatory Setting.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the rate of hospital admissions, inpatient conversions, reoperations, and complications associated with tibial tubercle osteotomies (TTO), high tibial osteotomies (HTO), and distal femoral osteotomies (DFO) performed at our ambulatory surgery center compared with our inpatient hospital facility. Methods: A retrospective review of patients receiving a TTO, HTO or DFO at our institution between June 2011 and October 2019 was performed. Inclusion criteria consisted of patients undergoing the aforementioned procedures for malalignment, and a minimum of 90-days follow-up. Revision osteotomies, those undergoing an osteotomy for an acute fracture, and those with rule-out criteria for outpatient surgery (ASA > 3, and body mass index >40) were excluded. Complications, including readmission and reoperation, were compared between the two groups using either the Fisher's exact test and independent samples t-test, where applicable, and a P value of <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: The study included 531 patients undergoing osteotomies (222 ambulatory surgical center [ASC] and 309 hospital) with no patients lost to follow-up in the 90-day postoperative period. No patients operated on at an ASC required transfer to inpatient setting. There were no differences in complication rates, readmission, or reoperation rates among the two groups (4.1% vs 4.9%; P = .8328; 3.1% vs 4.5%, P = .5026; 3.1% vs 4.5%; P = .5026; respectively). Complications, including surgical site infection and arthrofibrosis were not significantly different in the two cohorts, (1.4% vs. 2.6%, P = .341 and 1.4% vs 1%; P = .698, respectively). Conclusions: Osteotomies about the knee performed in an ambulatory setting were safe, with no difference in readmission, reoperation, or postoperative complications compared to those performed at an inpatient hospital. Additionally, no patient required conversion from an outpatient to an inpatient setting. Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective comparative study.

Complications of Single-Incision Versus Dual-Incision Distal Biceps Repair A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Comparative Studies.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to systematically review and analyze the current evidence in the literature to determine the relative complication rates of the singleincision versus dual-incision approach to distal biceps tendon repair. METHODS: The literature search was performed based on the PRISMA guidelines. Cohort studies comparing the single-incision or dual-incision approach to biceps tendon repair alone were included. Clinical outcomes were compared, with all statistical analysis performed using Review Manager Version 5.3. A p-value < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. RESULTS: Twelve clinical studies with varying levels of evidence (LOE I: 1, LOE II: 1, LOE III: 10) with 2,429 patients were included. Overall, there was a significantly lower rate of total complications with the dual-incision approach (16.1% vs. 23.1%, p < 0.01) and a lower rate of neurological injuries (9.1% vs. 24.1%, p < 0.01). There was a lower rate of lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve injuries with the dual-incision approach (5.2% vs. 19.5%, p < 0.01), and superficial radial nerve injuries (2.5% vs. 4.8%, p < 0.01), but there was no significant difference in the rate of posterior interosseous nerve injuries (2.2% vs. 1.2%, p = 0.20). There was a significantly lower rate of heterotopic bone formation with the single-incision approach (1.3% vs. 2.7%, p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: The dual-incision approach decreases the risk of total, overall postoperative complications and sensory nerve injuries following distal biceps repair. However, it has a higher risk of heterotopic bone formation.