Cementless Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Resurgence-Who, When, Where, and How?

BACKGROUND: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is one of the most common procedures in orthopaedics, but there is still debate over the optimal fixation method for long-term durability: cement versus cementless bone ingrowth. Recent improvements in implant materials and technology have offered the possibility of cementless TKA to change clinical practice with durable, stable biological fixation of the implants, improved operative efficiency, and optimal long-term results, particularly in younger and more active patients. METHODS: This symposium evaluated the history of cementless TKA, the recent resurgence, and appropriate patient selection, as well as the historical and modern-generation outcomes of each implant (tibia, femur, and patella). Additionally, surgical technique pearls to assist in reliable, reproducible outcomes were detailed. RESULTS: Historically, cemented fixation has been the gold standard for TKA. However, cementless fixation is increasing in prevalence in the United States and globally, with equivalent or improved results demonstrated in appropriately selected patients. CONCLUSIONS: Cementless TKA provides durable biologic fixation and successful long-term results with improved operating room efficiency. Cementless TKA may be broadly utilized in appropriately selected patients, with intraoperative care taken to perform meticulous bone cuts to promote appropriate bony contact and biologic fixation.

Recurrent Klebsiella bacteremia due to chronic strongyloidiasis in the context of cirrhotic hepatopulmonary syndrome.

A woman in her 50s with a medical history of cirrhosis, alcohol use disorder, primary biliary cholangitis and extended spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL) Klebsiella presented with weakness, cough and abdominal pain with positive blood cultures for ESBL Klebsiella, and was treated with intravenous meropenem and patient symptoms improved. Testing for Strongyloides antibodies was positive, so she was treated with ivermectin. Strongyloidiasis-associated Gram-negative rod (GNR) bacteremia are rare conditions; however, it is important to consider an underlying strongyloidiasis in recurrent GNR bacteremia to prevent recurrent hospitalisation and morbidity.

The Mechanism of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries in the National Football League: A Systematic Video Review.

Introduction Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are common among American football athletes, although few studies have performed video analyses of ACL injuries to better understand the injury mechanism. This work aims to characterize the mechanism of ACL injury during professional football competitions using video analysis. We hypothesize that football-specific injury trends will emerge, including high rates of contact injuries and associations with shallow knee and hip flexion angles (0°-30°). Methods Videos of professional football players suffering ACL injuries from 2007 to 2016 were analyzed. Injured players were identified using the injured reserve (IR) lists of the National Football League (NFL), and videos were discovered via a systematic Google search. Descriptive statistics and frequency analyses were performed on all variables using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0 (IBM SPSS Statistics, Armonk, NY, USA). Results Of the 429 ACL injuries identified, 53 (12%) videos were available. Deceleration was the most common injury maneuver, present in 32 (60%) athletes. Thirty-one (58%) players suffered contact injuries. Twenty-eight (53%) injuries demonstrated valgus collapse of the knee, and 26 (49%) had neutral knee rotation. Defensive backs (26%) and wide receivers (23%) were the most frequently injured positions. Conclusion Overall, we found that most ACL injuries had preceding contact, deceleration, shallow hip and knee flexion, and heel strike, and subsequent valgus collapse and neutral knee rotation. This understanding of American football-specific ACL tear mechanisms could help direct the focus of future injury prevention training modalities.

Safety and Cost Effectiveness of Outpatient Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review.

INTRODUCTION: Changes in healthcare policy have driven many hospital-based surgeries to the outpatient environment. Multiple studies have shown outpatient total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) is a safe alternative to the inpatient setting. This systematic review evaluates patient selection, perioperative protocols, complications, costs, patient satisfaction, and clinical outcomes of outpatient TSA and compares these with their inpatient counterparts. METHODS: The Emnbase, Medline, and CENTRAL databases were queried on April 30, 2020, for outpatient TSA studies, identifying 232 articles, with 21 meeting inclusion criteria. This involved 25,808 and 231,408 patients undergoing outpatient and inpatient TSA, respectively. Failed same-day discharge, readmissions, revision surgeries, cost, and complications among outpatient TSA were aggregated when raw numbers were available. Statistical significance for comparisons among outpatient and inpatient TSA within individual studies was alpha = 0.05. RESULTS: Ten studies evaluated same-day discharge rate, with 440 of 446 patients (98.7%) meeting the goals. Fourteen studies evaluated readmissions, revision surgeries, and complications, with readmissions in 238 of 6,133 patients (3.9%), revision surgeries in 32 of 1,484 patients (2.1%), and complications in 376 of 4,977 patients (7.6%). Readmission rates were similar between inpatients and outpatients, with only one study finding more readmissions after inpatient TSA. Complications were more common in inpatient TSA in five studies. Outpatient TSA demonstrated a charge reduction of $25,509 to $53,202 per patient, and patient satisfaction after outpatient TSA was "good to excellent" in more than 95% of patients. Patient selection for outpatient TSA used patient age, medical comorbidities, social support, living proximity to location of surgery, and lack of preoperative opioid use. DISCUSSION: Outpatient TSA in appropriately selected patients is a safe and cost-effective alternative to inpatient TSA. However, the literature is limited to national database or small retrospective studies. Large prospective, cohort studies are necessary to further assess differences in complication profiles between outpatient and inpatient TSA. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV; systematic review.

Intraobserver and Interobserver Reliability of the Peritubercle Lucency Sign in Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis.

BACKGROUND: An area of enlargement of the metaphyseal socket around the epiphyseal tubercle, termed the peritubercle lucency sign, has recently been introduced as a possible predictor of contralateral slipped capital femoral epiphysis in patients with previous unilateral slipped capital femoral epiphysis. This study aimed to assess intraobserver and interobserver reliability for detecting the presence or absence of the peritubercle lucency sign. METHODS: Thirty-five radiographs were presented to 6 fellowship-trained pediatric orthopaedic surgeons on 2 separate occasions 30 days apart, ensuring that the images were shown in a different order on the second exposure. Both times the reviewers recorded whether the peritubercle lucency sign was present or absent in each of the radiographs. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the intraobserver and interobserver reliability. RESULTS: In the intraobserver analysis, percent agreement between the first and second time the radiographs were reviewed varied between 62.9% and 85.7%, for an average intraobserver agreement of 74.8%. κ values for the 6 reviewers varied between 0.34 and 0.716, with an average intraobserver κ value of 0.508. The interobserver percent agreement was 40.0% for the first time the radiographs were reviewed, 42.9% the second time, and the overall interobserver percent agreement was 29%. The interobserver κ value was 0.44 the first time the radiographs were reviewed, 0.45 the second time, and the overall interobserver κ value was 0.45. DISCUSSION: On the basis of our findings, the peritubercle lucency has modest intraobserver and interobserver reliability at best and should be used with other currently used factors, such as age, presence of endocrinopathy, status of triradiate cartilage, posterior sloping angle, and modified Oxford score, in determining the need for prophylactic pinning. Further refinement of the definition of the peritubercle lucency sign may be needed to improve agreement and reliability of the sign. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III-prognostic study.

Prophylactic Peritoneal Dialysis After the Arterial Switch Operation: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Fluid overload contributes to poor outcomes after neonatal cardiac surgery. The optimal strategy to mitigate fluid overload related morbidity is unknown. The utility of prophylactic peritoneal dialysis remains controversial. We aimed to assess the impact of prophylactic peritoneal dialysis on outcomes and hypothesized that prophylactic dialysis would be associated with less fluid overload and improved outcomes in neonates undergoing the arterial switch operation. METHODS: A single-center retrospective analysis of 41 consecutive neonates between June 2010 and March 2016 undergoing the arterial switch operation was performed. Fluid balance and other outcomes were compared between those who received peritoneal dialysis (n = 25) and those who did not (n = 16). RESULTS: Demographics were similar between groups, except cardiopulmonary bypass duration, which was significantly longer in the dialysis group (125 ± 20 minutes) compared with the no dialysis group (109 ± 15 minutes; P = .01). Median time to dialysis initiation was 9.1 hours (interquartile range, 7 to 9.8) and median time to termination from cardiac intensive care unit admission was 58.7 hours (interquartile range, 44 to 76.1). Cumulative fluid balance in the dialysis group was significantly more negative compared with the no dialysis group across all 7 postoperative days. In the multivariable analysis, use of dialysis was associated with a 42% reduction in hours of mechanical ventilation (relative risk 0.58; 95% confidence interval, 0.4 to 0.85; P < .01) and a 34% reduction in intensive care unit length of stay (relative risk 0.66; 95% confidence interval, 0.47 to 0.94; P = .02). Utilization of dialysis was associated with lower hospital costs (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic peritoneal dialysis after the arterial switch operation is associated with improved postoperative outcomes without increased hospital costs (Graphical Abstract).

Check-in Kiosks in the Outpatient Clinical Setting: Fad or the Future?

OBJECTIVES: Check-in kiosks are increasingly used in health care. This project aims to assess the effects of kiosk use upon check-in duration, point of service (POS) financial returns, and patient satisfaction. METHODS: Six kiosks were implemented in a large academic orthopedic clinic, and check-in duration for 8.5 months following implementation and POS returns for 10.5 months before and after implementation were analyzed. Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Clinician and Group survey and self-devised surveys recorded patient satisfaction. RESULTS: Cumulatively, 28,636 kiosk-based patient encounters were analyzed. Compared with historical norms, check-in duration decreased 2 minutes, 47 seconds (P < 0.001). Daily gross and individual POS returns increased $532.13 and $1.89, respectively (P < 0.001). Satisfaction surveys were completed by 719 of 1376 consecutive patients (52% response rate), revealing 12% improvement (P < 0.001), but Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Clinician and Group survey responses demonstrated no change (P = 0.146, 0.928, and 0.336). CONCLUSIONS: Kiosks offer to reduce check-in duration and increase POS revenue without negatively affecting patient satisfaction.

Usage Trends of Patient-reported Outcome Measures in Shoulder Literature.

INTRODUCTION: Quantifying patient outcomes is integral in orthopaedic practice, and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) assist with this goal and assist clinicians in assessing subjective outcomes (pain, satisfaction, etc.). This study seeks to identify the most highly used PROMs in the shoulder literature and analyze their usage trends. METHODS: PubMed was queried for all shoulder-based articles published in eight selected journals from 2007 to 2017. Articles were assessed for PROM usage, surgical approach, surgical procedure, and disease pathology. Frequency analyses identified the most used PROMs overall, and for each approach, procedure, and pathology. Last, usage trends, question number, validation, and clinician dependence of PROMs with ≥20 uses were analyzed. RESULTS: In total, 1,740 of 2,462 articles (71%) used 105 unique PROMs 4,394 times during the study. PROM usage increased 18%, and the use of multiple PROMs increased by 20%. PROMs with a clinician component increased 21% slower than the baseline. Twenty-two PROMs (17%) had >20 uses, with the most used PROMs being the Constant-Murley Score (783), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Shoulder Score (731), Visual Analog Scale (685), Simple Shoulder Test (372), and the University of California, Los Angeles, Shoulder Rating Scale (274). PROMs demonstrating the greatest usage increase were the EuroQol 5-Dimensions Questionnaire (1,282%), Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (638%), Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (632%), Western Ontario Osteoarthritis of the Shoulder Index (582%), and Oxford Shoulder Score (462%)-all without a clinician component. DISCUSSION: PROM usage is increasing, often with multiple PROMs being used to evaluate patient outcomes. PROMs without a clinician component are growing at higher rates than their clinician-dependent counterparts, highlighting an emphasis on patient reporting of outcomes. This study suggests that the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Shoulder Score, Oxford Shoulder Score, Visual Analog Scales-all without a mandatory clinician component and high levels of use-will be the most highly used PROMs moving forward to assess shoulder function.

Predictive Accuracy of the ACS-NSQIP Surgical Risk Calculator for Pathologic Humerus Fracture Fixation.

Pathologic fractures are associated with poor outcomes. This article investigated the prevalence of underestimation of risk by the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) Surgical Risk Calculator (SRC) in patients with pathologic humerus fractures. Two hundred seven (207) patients were identified and analyzed using the ACS-NSQIP SRC. Predicted and actual outcomes were then compared. Average hospitalization was 6 ± 10 days. Ten patients (5%) had a mild adverse event (AE), and 15 (7%) had a serious AE. The ACS-NSQIP SRC underestimated hospitalizations (p < 0.001), but not serious AE (p = 0.601), mild AE (p = 0.948), cardiac complications (p = 0.817), pneumonia (p = 0.713), surgical site infection (p = 0.692), urinary tract infection (p = 0.286), venous thromboembolism (p = 0.554), acute renal failure (p = 0.191), discharge to acute care facility (p = 0.865), readmission (p = 1.0), reoperation (0.956) or mortality (p = 0.872). Negative outcomes were limited in this cohort, and the SRC demonstrated acceptable accuracy. Future investigation of the calculator in other orthopaedic populations is warranted. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 28(4):250-256, 2019).

Trends and Characteristics of Highly Cited Articles in Proximal Humerus Fracture Research.

As the treatment of proximal humerus fractures remains controversial in the literature, this study aims to identify highly cited articles and examine trends and characteristics. Scopus was used to identify the highest cited articles of proximal humerus fracture research. SPSS 23 was used for descriptive statistics and Pearson correlations for the relationship between citation count and density. Average citation count was 233 ± 164 with an annual citation density of 14 ± 7. Total citation count was associated with total citation density, 5-year citation count, and 5-year citation density. The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery-American produced the most articles with 15 (30%). Thirty-five articles originated in Europe. The five most represented authors published three articles each. Finally, 13 (26%) papers appear in the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Curriculum Guide. This study compiles a collection of articles investigating proximal humerus fractures for future review and demonstrates citation count to be an acceptable measure of an article's contemporary academic influence. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 28(3):180-188, 2019).

Trends and Characteristics of Highly Cited Articles in Shoulder Arthroplasty.

Citation calculations measure academic influence. This study sought to analyze highly cited shoulder arthroplasty articles and determine the best measure to assess their impact. Scopus identified the 50 most cited articles, and each was analyzed for citation number, authors, institution, country of origin, and journal of publication. SPSS 23 was used for descriptive statistics, and a Pearson correlation coefficient assessed the relationship between citation measures. The results revealed an average citation count of 259 ± 108 and a citation density (citation count/years since publication) of 18 ± 10 annually. Most articles originated in the United States (31) and France (9). Twelve surgeons were included on three or more articles. Forty-one studies were clinically based. Finally, correlation was demonstrated between citation count and citation density (r = 0.486, p < .001). In conclusion, this study revealed the trends of highly cited shoulder arthroplasty articles and found citation count and citation density to be acceptable measures of academic influence. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 28(1):10-17, 2019).

Radiographic restoration of native anatomy: a comparison between stemmed and stemless shoulder arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Shoulder arthroplasty is a reliable procedure for patients with degenerative glenohumeral disease, and reproduction of native shoulder anatomy leads to superior outcomes. The aim of this study was to compare the ability of stemmed and stemless implants to radiographically restore native glenohumeral anatomy. METHODS: Shoulder arthroplasties were performed in 79 patients, with 58 receiving a stemless implant and 21 receiving a stemmed implant. Preoperative and postoperative radiographs were assessed for humeral head height, humeral head centering, humeral head medial offset, humeral head diameter, humeral neck angle, and lateral humeral offset by 2 independent viewers. Measurements were scored and summed to identify the anatomic reconstruction index (ARI). Radiographic measurements were compared using the Student t test, and significance was set at P < .05 for all statistical analyses. Interobserver agreement of radiographic analyses was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient, finding excellent reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.92). RESULTS: Five of six radiographic measurements along with the calculated ARI demonstrated no differences between stemmed and stemless shoulder implants (humeral head diameter, P = .651; humeral head height, P = .813; humeral head medial offset, P = .592; lateral humeral offset, P = .311; humeral head centering, P = .414; and ARI, P = .862). Stemless implants showed improved restoration of the native humeral neck angle (0° for stemless vs. -3° for stemmed, P = .017). CONCLUSION: Radiographic restoration of anatomy is similar for stemmed and stemless shoulder arthroplasty implants.

Early Clinical and Economic Outcomes of Prophylactic and Acute Pathologic Fracture Treatment.

INTRODUCTION: Pathologic fractures often contribute to adverse events in metastatic bone disease, and prophylactic fixation offers to mitigate their effects. This study aims to analyze patient selection, complications, and in-hospital costs that are associated with prophylactic fixation compared with traditional acute fixation after completed fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample database was queried from 2002 to 2014 for patients with major extremity pathologic fractures. Patients were divided by fixation technique (prophylactic or acute) and fracture location (upper or lower extremity). Patient demographics, comorbidities, complications, hospitalization length, and hospital charges were compared between cohorts. Preoperative variables were analyzed for potential confounding, and χ2 tests and Student's t tests were used to compare fixation techniques. RESULTS: Cumulatively, 43,920 patients were identified, with 14,318 and 28,602 undergoing prophylactic and acute fixation, respectively. Lower extremity fractures occurred in 33,582 patients, and 10,333 patients had upper extremity fractures. A higher proportion of prophylactic fixation patients were white ( P = .043), male ( P = .046), age 74 years or younger ( P < .001), and privately insured ( P < .001), with decreased prevalence of obesity ( P = .003) and/or preoperative renal disease ( P = .008). Prophylactic fixation was also associated with decreased peri- and postoperative blood transfusions ( P < .001), anemia ( P < .001), acute renal failure ( P = .010), and in-hospital mortality ( P = .031). Finally, prophylactic fixation had decreased total charges (-$3,405; P = .001), hospitalization length ( P = .004), and extended length of stay (greater than 75th percentile; P = .012). CONCLUSION: Prophylactic fixation of impending pathologic fractures is associated with decreased complications, hospitalization length, and total charges, and should be considered in appropriate patients.

MRI Safety with Orthopedic Implants.

The literature within the last 10 years on MRI use in patients with orthopedic implants is reviewed. A literature search returned 15 relevant articles. Only 2 discussed pediatric patients. Overall, significant displacement of implants was infrequent. Radiofrequency-induced heating of implants differed among the studies, but most reported increases of less than 1°C. The authors conclude MRI is safe in patients with orthopedic implants because implant displacement and heating pose little risk to patients. A risk-to-benefit ratio is warranted, however, to assess the clinical utility and necessity of the study. Further research and individual assessment of implant properties and MRI-related interactions are warranted.

Readability of Orthopaedic Patient-reported Outcome Measures: Is There a Fundamental Failure to Communicate?

BACKGROUND: Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are increasingly used to quantify patients' perceptions of functional ability. The American Medical Association and NIH suggest patient materials be written at or below 6th to 8th grade reading levels, respectively, yet one recent study asserts that few PROMs comply with these recommendations, and suggests that the majority of PROMs are written at too high of a reading level for self-administered patient use. Notably, this study was limited in its use of only one readability algorithm, although there is no commonly accepted, standard readability algorithm for healthcare-related materials. Our study, using multiple readability equations and heeding equal weight to each, hopes to yield a broader, all-encompassing estimate of readability, thereby offering a more accurate assessment of the readability of orthopaedic PROMS. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1) What proportion of orthopaedic-related PROMs and orthopaedic-related portions of the NIH Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS®) are written at or below the 6th and 8th grade levels? (2) Is there a correlation between the number of questions in the PROM and reading level? (3) Using systematic edits based on guidelines from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, what proportion of PROMs achieved American Medical Association and NIH-recommended reading levels? METHODS: Eighty-six (86) independent, orthopaedic and general wellness PROMs, drawn from commonly referenced orthopaedic websites and prior studies, were chosen for analysis. Additionally, owing to their increasing use in orthopaedics, four relevant short forms, and 11 adult, physical health question banks from the PROMIS®, were included for analysis. All documents were analyzed for reading grade levels using 19 unique readability algorithms. Descriptive statistics were performed using SPSS Version 22.0. RESULTS: The majority of the independent PROMs (64 of 86; 74%) were written at or below the 6th grade level, with 81 of 86 (94%) written at or below the 8th grade level. All item banks (11 of 11) and short forms (four of four) of the PROMIS® were written below the 6th grade reading level. The median reading grade level of the 86 independent PROMs was 5.0 (interquartile range [IQR], 4.6-6.1). The PROMIS® question banks had a median reading grade level of 4.1 (IQR, 3.5-4.8); the Adult Short Forms had a median reading grade level of 4.2 (IQR, 4.2-4.3) There was no correlation appreciated between the median reading grade level and the number of questions contained in a PROM (r = -0.081; p = 0.460). For PROMs above NIH-recommended levels, following edits, all (five of five) achieved NIH reading level goals and three (three of five) achieved American Medical Association goals. Editing of these PROMs improved readability by 4.3 median grade level (before, 8.9 [IQR, 8.4-9.1], after 4.6 [IQR, 4.6-6.4], difference of medians, 4.3; p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Patient literacy has great influence on healthcare outcomes, and readability is an important consideration in all patient-directed written materials. Our study found that more than 70% of PROMs commonly used in orthopaedics, and all orthopaedic-related portions of the PROMIS® are written at or below the most stringent recommendations (≤ 6th grade reading level), and more than 90% of independent PROMs and all PROMIS® materials are written at or below an 8th grade level. Additionally, the use of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services guidelines for editing high reading level PROMs yields satisfactory results. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Fears of widely incomprehensible PROMs may be unfounded. Future research to identify the most appropriate readability algorithm for use in the healthcare sector, and revalidation of PROMs after readability-improving edits is warranted.

MRI evaluation of asymmetry of nigrostriatal damage in the early stage of early-onset Parkinson's disease.

INTRODUCTION: The motor symptoms and signs of early-onset idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) in Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) stage-1 are generally unilateral. We hypothesized that there would be detectable differences in the quantitative MRI parameters in these PD patients between the hemispheres contralateral to the clinically symptomatic and non-symptomatic body side. METHODS: We tested this hypothesis by comparing transverse relaxation rates and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters in the substantia nigra and putamen between the two hemispheres contralateral to the symptomatic and non-symptomatic side in H&Y stage-1 PD patients who had onset of symptoms between ages of 40-59 years. RESULTS: There were quantifiable hemispheric asymmetries in transverse relaxation rates in the substantia nigra, as well as fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity in the putamen in early PD, which correlated with the unilaterality of motor symptoms as evaluated using the motor portion of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale. CONCLUSION: Transverse relaxation mapping and DTI demonstrated significant differences between the symptomatic and non-symptomatic hemispheres at the early stage of early-onset PD. These findings support the hypothesis of asymmetric neurodegeneration in the bilateral nigrostriatal pathways in the early stage of the disease.