No Difference in Quality-Of-Life Outcomes in the First 7 Years Following Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty Performed Using Computer Navigation Versus Conventional Referencing: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Computer navigation techniques can potentially improve both the accuracy and precision of prosthesis implantation in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) but its impact on quality-of-life outcomes following surgery remains unestablished. METHODS: An institutional arthroplasty registry was queried to identify patients with TKA performed between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2019. Propensity score matching based on demographical, medical, and surgical variables was used to match computer-navigated to conventionally referenced cases. The primary outcomes were Veterans RAND 12 Item Health Survey scores (VR-12 PCS and MCS), Short Form 6 Dimension utility values (SF-6D), and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) in the first 7 years following surgery. RESULTS: A total of 629 computer-navigated TKAs were successfully matched to 1,351 conventional TKAs. The VR-12 PCS improved by a mean of 12.75 and 11.94 points in computer-navigated and conventional cases at 12-month follow-up (P = .25) and the VR-12 MCS by 6.91 and 5.93 points (P = .25), respectively. The mean VR-12 PCS improvement at 7-year follow-up (34.4% of the original matched cohort) for navigated and conventional cases was 13.00 and 12.92 points (P = .96) and for the VR-12 MCS was 4.83 and 6.30 points (P = .47), respectively. The mean improvement in the SF-6D utility score was 0.164 and 0.149 points at 12 months (P = .11) and at 7 years was 0.115 and 0.123 points (P = .69), respectively. Computer-navigated cases accumulated 0.809 QALYs in the first 7 years, compared to 0.875 QALYs in conventionally referenced cases (P = .65). There were no differences in these outcomes among a subgroup analysis of obese patients (body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2). CONCLUSION: The use of computer navigation did not provide an incremental benefit to quality-of-life outcomes at a mean of 2.9 years following primary TKA performed for osteoarthritis when compared to conventional referencing techniques.

Predicting the Long-Term Gains in Health-Related Quality of Life After Total Knee Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the predictors of long-term gains in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) from total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and the patient attributes that predicted cost-effective TKA. METHODS: Data on TKA patients (n = 570) from 2006 to 2007 were extracted from a single-institution registry. QALY gains over 7 years post surgery were calculated from health-related quality of life (HrQoL) scores measured preoperatively and annually postoperatively using the short-form health survey (SF-12) instrument. Multivariate linear regression analysis investigated the predictors of QALY gain from TKA from a broad range of preoperative patient characteristics and was used to predict QALY gains for each individual. Patients were grouped into deciles according to their predicted QALY gain, and the cost-effectiveness of each decile was plotted on the cost-effectiveness plane. Patient attribute differences between deciles were decomposed. RESULTS: After exclusions and dropout, data were available for 488 patients. The average estimated QALY gain over 7 years was 0.77 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.70-0.83). Predictors significantly associated with smaller QALY gains were comorbidities (Charlson comorbidity index 3+ coefficient -0.54 CI -0.15 to -0.92), the absence of severe osteoarthritis in the ipsilateral knee (-0.51 CI -0.16 to -0.85), preoperative HrQoL (standardized coefficient -0.34 CI -0.26 to -0.43), the requirement for an interpreter (-0.24 CI -0.05 to -0.44), and age (-0.01 CI -0.01 to -0.02). The largest difference between cost-effective and non-cost-effective deciles was relatively high preoperative HrQoL in the non-cost-effective decile. CONCLUSION: TKA is likely to be cost-effective for most patients except those with unusually high preoperative HrQoL or a lack of severe osteoarthritis. The poorer outcomes for those requiring an interpreter requires further research.

The impact of cost on quality of surgical management in non-metastatic extremity sarcoma: A cross-country narrative literature review with a systematic approach.

BACKGROUND: Extremity sarcoma surgery entails significant costs for patients, governments and insurers. Multiple studies have described individual costs, however, the overall impact of cost on the quality of surgical care remains unclear. OBJECTIVES: A narrative review with a systematic approach was undertaken to compare the impact of cost on the quality of extremity sarcoma care across low-middle-income and high-income countries. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, PsycInfo, DARE, NHS-EED, HTA. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Inclusion criteria were: discussion of costs and the surgical management of primary extremity sarcoma. There were no restrictions on study design, publication type, date, geographic location or publication status. A data extraction table was used to identify study location, type and findings. RESULTS: 1012 studies were retrieved and 44 met the inclusion criteria. Four additional studies were identified from the reference lists of included articles. 27 studies were published in high-income countries (HIC) including all four full health economic analyses and 20 studies were published in low-middle income countries (LMC). Within LMC, cost impeded access to diagnosis, resection and options for reconstruction. In HIC, cost varied with choice of management, particularly during the long-term postoperative period. CONCLUSIONS: Within LMC, cost impaired the provision of quality, curative care for patients with extremity sarcoma. Within HIC, while costs varied with chosen management, they were not prohibitive to the provision of quality care. Further research is required, specific to both socioeconomic contexts, to further describe the long-term cost-utility of different methods for the surgical management of extremity sarcoma.