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INTRODUCTION: Early diagnosis and aggressive treatment of pulmonary embolism (PE) are crucial for preventing severe complications after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). This study aimed to examine the efficacy of measuring oxygen saturation (SpO2) using a pulse oximeter for early diagnosis of PE after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We consecutively examined 1645 patients who underwent TKA between January 2015 and November 2019. Postoperative SpO2 was measured with a pulse oximeter, which was stopped if SpO2 was maintained at ≥ 95% until postoperative day 2 (POD2). To diagnose PE, computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA) was performed for specific indications, including persistently low SpO2 < 95% (group 1), sudden decrease in SpO2 (group 2), and decrease in SpO2 after POD3 with presenting symptoms (group 3). Also, we divided the patients into unilateral, simultaneous and sequential TKA groups and compared the results with specific statistical techniques. RESULTS: Of the 1645 patients who underwent TKA, there were 20 patients with PE (1.2%), and symptomatic PE was observed in only 4 patients (0.24%). CTPA was performed in 58 (3.5%) patients, of whom 20 were diagnosed with PE. In groups 1 (n = 34), 2 (n = 21), and 3 (n = 3), CTPA was performed 2.4, 2.6, and 8.3 days after TKA, respectively, and 12, 8, and 0 patients were diagnosed with PE, respectively. Of the 782, 416, and 447 unilateral, simultaneous, and sequential (done in same admission with interval 1 or 2 weeks) patients with TKA, 38, 18, and 2 received CTPA, and 13, 6, and 1 were diagnosed with PE, respectively. All patients diagnosed with PE have persistently low SpO2 < 95% (group 1), or sudden decrease in SpO2 (group 2) until POD2. Of the patients diagnosed with PE, SpO2 decreased without the presentation of symptoms in 16 patients (11 and 5 from groups 1 and 2, respectively) and with the presentation of symptoms, such as mild dyspnea and chest discomfort, in 4 patients (1 and 3 from groups 1 and 2, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Measuring SpO2 using a pulse oximeter until POD2 was an effective method for early diagnosis of PE after TKA. No case of morbidity or mortality was observed after early diagnosis with early stage CTPA and management of PE. We recommend measuring SpO2 with a pulse oximeter for early diagnosing of PE in TKA.
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Background: The long-term goal of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is to prevent secondary osteoarthritis due to instability. Obesity itself is also a risk factor for osteoarthritis and shows an increase in its incidence, but little is known about the relationship between obesity and the outcome of ACL reconstruction. Purpose/Hypothesis: This study aimed to determine the relationship between the outcome of ACL reconstruction and obesity. It was hypothesized that obesity would be associated with the revision rate of ACL reconstruction and additional surgical treatment for osteoarthritis in patients who undergo ACL reconstruction. Study design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Claims and health screening data of the National Health Insurance Service were used to analyze patients who underwent ACL reconstruction between January 1, 2003, and December 31, 2021. The association between obesity and risk of revision ACL reconstruction and additional surgical treatment for osteoarthritis or meniscal lesion was analyzed. Body mass index (BMI) was used to classify patients as underweight (BMI, <18.5), normal weight (BMI, 18.5-24.9), overweight (BMI, 25.0-29.9), obese (BMI, 30.0-39.9), or morbidly obese (BMI, ≥40.0). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards model analysis was conducted. Results: A total of 56,734 patients were included. Of them, 311 (0.5%) patients were underweight, 26,613 (46.9%) were normal weight, 24,372 (43.0%) were overweight, 5324 (9.4%) were obese, and 114 (0.2%) patients were morbidly obese. The underweight group showed a significantly lower risk of revision ACL reconstruction than the normal weight group (hazard ratio [HR], 0.54; 95% CI, 0.31-0.93; P = .0273). However, the overweight, obese, and morbidly obese groups had no significant difference from the normal weight group. The risk of high tibial osteotomy (HTO) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA) was significantly high for the overweight (HR, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.70-2.19; P < .0001) and obese (HR, 2.71; 95% CI, 2.23-3.30; P < .0001) groups. Subgroup analysis performed in patients ≥40 years of age for the risk of HTO showed a significant increased risk in the overweight group (HR, 1.889; 95% CI, 1.56-2.29; P < .0001) and obese group (HR, 2.78; 95% CI, 2.10-3.69; P < .0001). Subgroup analysis performed in patients ≥50 years of age for the risk of TKA also showed a significant increased risk in the overweight group (HR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.67-2.47; P < .0001) and obese group (HR, 2.53; 95% CI, 1.83-3.50; P < .0001). After adjusting for meniscal injury at index surgery by multivariate regression analysis, 1.87- and 2.75-fold increased risks of HTO were identified for the overweight and obese groups, respectively, for patients aged >40 years. For patients aged >50 years, 2.02-fold and 2.52-fold increased risks of TKA were observed for the overweight and obese groups, respectively. The risk of additional surgery due to the meniscal lesion was high for the overweight (HR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.03-1.15; P = .002) and obese (HR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.01-1.21; P = .0351) groups, while no significant difference was found for the underweight and morbidly obese groups. Conclusion: This study highlights that obesity does not increase the revision rate of ACL reconstruction. However, the risk of additional surgical treatment for osteoarthritis and meniscal lesions increased as BMI increased. Further investigation is needed to determine the efficacy of ACL reconstruction for preventing osteoarthritis in obese patients.
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Background: Falls after orthopaedic surgery can cause serious injuries, which lengthen hospital stays and increase medical expenses. This has prompted hospitals to implement various fall-prevention protocols. The aims of this study were to determine the incidence of in-hospital falls after spine surgery, to analyze the overall risk factors, to discern factors that have a major influence on falls, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the fall-prevention protocol that we implemented. Methods: This was a retrospective, single-center study including patients who underwent spine surgery from January 2011 to November 2021 at the National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital (NHISIH) in Goyang, Republic of Korea. Reported falls among these patients were examined. Patient demographics; surgery type, date, and diagnosis; and fall date and time were evaluated. Results: Overall, 5,317 spine surgeries were performed, and 128 in-hospital falls were reported (overall incidence: 2.31%). From the multivariable analyses, older age and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score were identified as independent risk factors for in-hospital patient falls (multivariable adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] for age 70 to 79 years, 1.021 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.01 to 1.031]; for age ≥80 years, 1.035 [1.01 to 1.06]; and for ASA score of 3, 1.02 [1.01 to 1.031]). Similar results were seen in the subgroup who underwent primary surgery. Within 2 weeks following surgery, the highest frequency of falls occurred at 3 to 7 days postoperatively. The lowest fall rate was observed in the evening (6 to 10 p.m.). Morbidities, including rib, spine, and extremity fractures, were recorded for 14 patients, but none of these patients underwent operative treatment related to the fall. The NHISIH implemented a comprehensive nursing care service in May 2015 and a fall protocol in May 2017, but the annual incidence rate did not improve. The fall rate was higher after thoracolumbar surgeries (2.47%) than after cervical surgeries (1.20%). Moreover, a higher fall rate was observed in thoracolumbar cases with a greater number of fusion levels and revision spine surgeries. Conclusions: Patients with advanced age, more comorbidities, a greater number of fusion levels, and revision surgeries and who are female are more vulnerable to in-hospital falls after spine surgery. Novel strategies that target these risk factors are warranted. Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
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STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective observational study. OBJECTIVE: To determine the proximity between screw and endplate of the upper instrumented vertebra (UIV) using a cortical bone trajectory (CBT) screw as a predictive factor for radiographic adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) in patients surgically treated with transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) with CBT screws (CBT-TLIF) with lumbar spinal stenosis. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The risk factors for radiographic ASD after CBT-TLIF remain unknown. METHODS: Among patients surgically treated with CBT-TLIF at a single institute, 239 consecutive patients (80 males and 159 females) were enrolled. ASD was defined by the presence of one or more of the following three radiologic criteria on the adjacent segment: >3 mm anteroposterior translation, >10° segmental kyphosis, or >50% loss of disc height comparing immediate postoperative and 1-year follow-up radiographs. Clinical and radiological features associated with the development of ASD were retrospectively measured. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify risk factors associated with radiographic ASD. RESULTS: Radiographic ASD was observed in 71 (29.7%) cases at 1-year postoperative follow-up. The preoperative Pfirrmann grade of the adjacent segment (>grade 2), multi-level fusion (>2 levels), and proximity between the tip of CBT screws and endplate on the UIV were significantly associated with radiographic ASD (OR = 3.98, 95% CI [1.06-15.05], P=0.042 versus OR = 3.03, 95% CI [1.00-9.14], P=0.049 versus OR = 0.53, 95% CI [0.40-0.72], P<0.001). The cut-off value of the distance between the tip of the screw and endplate on UIV for radiographic ASD was approximately 2.5 mm (right-sided CBT screw; cut-off value 2.48 mm/ left-sided CBT screw; cut-off value 2.465 mm). CONCLUSION: Radiographic adjacent segment degeneration progression can occur when the cortical trajectory bone screw is close to the endplate of the upper instrumented vertebrae in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis undergoing fusion surgery.
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STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE: To compare the incidence of adjacent segmental pathology (ASP) following minimally invasive (MI) vs open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) and to identify factors linked to ASP requiring reoperation. METHODS: This retrospective study reviewed the outcomes of patients who underwent MI-TLIF or open TLIF. Radiographic ASP (RASP) was evaluated using X-ray imaging to distinguish between degenerative changes, spondylolisthesis, and instability in the adjacent spinal segment. Clinical ASP (CASP) was assessed with the visual analog scale score for leg and back pain and the Oswestry disability index. Patient data were collected 1, 2, 5, and 10 years postoperatively. The timing and frequency of ASP reoperation were analyzed. RESULTS: Five years postoperatively, the RASP rate was 35.23% and 45.95% in the MI-TLIF and open TLIF groups. The frequency of CASP differed significantly between the MI-TLIF and open TLIF groups at 1 year postoperatively. The rates of RASP, CASP, and ASP necessitating reoperation were not significantly different 10 years postoperatively. Cranial facet violation significantly affected ASP in both groups. In the open TLIF group, preoperative adjacent segment disc degeneration significantly influenced ASP. CONCLUSION: The RASP rate at 5 years postoperatively and the CASP rate at 1 year postoperatively differed significantly between groups. There was no difference in the rate of ASP requiring reoperation. Cranial facet violation is a crucial driving factor for ASP after both surgical procedures.
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BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Early fusion is crucial in interbody procedures to minimize mechanical complications resulting from delayed union, especially for patients with osteoporosis. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are used in spinal fusion procedures; however, limited evaluation exists regarding time-to-fusion for BMP use, particularly in patients with osteoporosis. PURPOSE: To evaluate the difference in time-to-fusion after single-level transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) surgery between recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) usage and nonusage groups according to bone density. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective single-center cohort study. PATIENT SAMPLE: This study enrolled 132 patients (mean age, 65.25±8.66; male patients, 40.9%) who underwent single-level TLIF for degenerative disorders between February 2012 and December 2021, with pre and postoperative computed tomography (CT). OUTCOME MEASURE: The interbody fusion mass and bone graft status on postoperative CT scans was obtained annually, and time-to-fusion was recorded for each patient. METHODS: The patients were divided into 2 groups based on rhBMP-2 use during the interbody fusion procedure. Patients were further divided into osteoporosis, osteopenia, and normal groups based on preoperative L1 vertebral body attenuation values, using cutoffs of 90 and 120 Hounsfield units. It was strictly defined that fusion is considered complete when a trabecular bone bridge was formed, and therefore, the time-to-fusion was measured in years. Time-to-fusion was statistically compared between BMP group and non-BMP groups, followed by further comparison according to bone density. RESULTS: The time-to-fusion differed significantly between BMP and non-BMP groups, with half of the patients achieving fusion within 2.5 years in the BMP group compared with 4 years in the non-BMP group (p<.001). The fusion rate varied based on bone density, with the maximum difference observed in the osteoporosis group, when half of the patients achieved fusion within 3 years in the BMP group compared to 5 years in the non-BMP group (p<.001). Subgroup analysis was conducted, revealing no significant associations between time-to-fusion and factors known to influence the fusion process, including age, gender, medical history, smoking and alcohol use, and medication history, except for rh-BMP2 use and bone density. CONCLUSIONS: RhBMP-2 usage significantly reduced time-to-fusion in single-level TLIF, especially in patients with osteoporosis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.
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STUDY DESIGN: Prospective Cohort Study. OBJECTIVE: Untreated pre-surgical depression may prolong post-surgical pain and hinder recovery. However, research on the impact of untreated pre-surgical depression on post-spinal surgery pain is lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to assess pre-surgical depression in patients and analyze its relationship with post-surgical pain and overall post-surgical outcomes. METHODS: We recruited 100 patients scheduled for lumbar spine surgery due to spondylolisthesis, degenerative lumbar disc diseases, and herniated lumbar disc diseases. Psychiatrists evaluated them for the final selection. We assessed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and EuroQoL 5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) scores, numerical back and leg pain scales, and medication dosage data collected before and at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months after surgery. RESULTS: Ninety-one patients were included in this study; 40 and 51 were allocated to the control and depression groups, respectively. The pre- and post-surgical leg pain, back pain, and functional scores were not different. However, the depression group showed higher ODI and EQ-5D and lower JOA scores than the control group 3 months post-surgery. Partial correlation analysis revealed an inverse correlation between the JOA and BDI scores and a positive correlation between the EQ-5D and BDI scores at 3 months postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Untreated depression can prolong postoperative pain and hinder recovery. Detecting and treating depression in patients before spine surgery may improve their overall quality of life and functional recovery.
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OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to investigate whether multi-segment fusion or fusion-to-sacrum increases sacroiliac joint pathology, compared with single-segment fusion or a non-fused sacrum. METHODS: This study included 116 patients who underwent lumbar or lumbosacral fusion and were followed up for 2 years. The patients were classified into single-segment fusion (n=46) and multi-segment fusion (more than two-levels, n=70) groups and then reclassified into the non-fused sacrum (n=68) and fusion-to-sacrum groups (n=48). Pre- and postoperative radiographs were used to evaluate radiographic parameters, and computed tomography (CT) was used to evaluate sacroiliac joint degeneration. Low back pain (LBP) was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS, 0-10). Baseline and postoperative values were compared using a paired sample t-test. RESULTS: LBP VAS scores significantly differed at 6 months (single-segment fusion, 3.04±1.88; multi-segment fusion, 4.83±2.33; p<0.001) and 2 years postoperatively (single-segment fusion, 3.3±2.2; multi-segment fusion, 4.78±2.59; p=0.094). There was no significant difference in sacroiliac joint degeneration, as assessed by CT scan, between the two surgical groups: 14 (30%) and 19 (27%) patients in the single-segment and multi-segment (p=0.701) fusion groups, respectively. The LBP VAS scale showed comparable differences at 1 (non-fused sacrum, 3±2.18; fusion-to-sacrum, 3.74±2.28; p=0.090) and 2 years postoperatively (non-fused sacrum, 3.29±2.01; fusion-to-sacrum, 4.66±2.71; p=0.095). CT scan revealed that 18 (26%) and 15 (31%) patients in the non-fused sacrum and fusion-to-sacrum groups, respectively, developed sacroiliac joint arthritis; however, there was no significant inter-group difference (p=0.574). CONCLUSION: Sacroiliac joint degeneration occurs independent of the number of fused segments or sacrum involvement.