Treatment failures (revision or arthroplasty) after knee osteochondral allograft transplantation with minimum two-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Knee osteochondral allograft transplantation (OCAT) has been associated with good short- to mid-term outcomes, however, treatment failures occur more frequently than desired. This study used data from a lifelong outcomes registry to analyze knee OCAT treatment failure rates, variables associated with knee OCAT treatment failures, and outcomes after revision or arthroplasty surgery for knee OCAT treatment failures. METHODS: Patient outcomes were followed after knee OCAT performed using standard preservation (SP) or Missouri Osteochondral Preservation System (MOPS®) allografts. The study population consisted of patients undergoing primary OCAT with ≥ 2-year follow-up. For comparisons, the treatment failure population was defined by patients in the study population with documented treatment failure (revision or arthroplasty) with ≥ 2-year follow-up after failure. Functional graft survival was defined as no further need for revision surgery after primary or revision OCAT. RESULTS: A total of 262 patients (n = 136 males; 51.9%) were analyzed. SP grafts were used for 59 cases and MOPS grafts were used for 203 cases. Treatment failure was documented in 61 cases (23.3%). MOPS grafts were 3.3 times more likely to be associated with functional graft survival. SP grafts, older patient age, higher BMI, tibiofemoral bipolar OCAT and non-adherence to the postoperative rehabilitation protocol were significantly associated with treatment failure. CONCLUSIONS: Knee OCAT resulted in functional graft survival at short- to mid-term follow-up in the majority (70-88%) of cases. In addition, revision of primary OCAT resulted in functional graft survival for at least 2 years after revision surgery in the majority (66%) of patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2, prospective cohort study.

Patient Adherence Following Knee Surgery: Evidence-Based Practices to Equip Patients for Success.

Patient adherence with postoperative wound care, activity restrictions, rehabilitation, medication, and follow-up protocols is paramount to achieving optimal outcomes following knee surgery. However, the ability to adhere to prescribed postoperative protocols is dependent on multiple factors both in and out of the patient's control. The goals of this review article are (1) to outline key factors contributing to patient nonadherence with treatment protocols following knee surgery and (2) to synthesize current management strategies and tools for optimizing patient adherence in order to facilitate efficient and effective implementation by orthopaedic health care teams. Patient adherence is commonly impacted by both modifiable and nonmodifiable factors, including health literacy, social determinants of health, patient fear/stigma associated with nonadherence, surgical indication (elective vs. traumatic), and distrust of physicians or the health care system. In addition, health care team factors, such as poor communication strategies or failure to follow internal protocols, and health system factors, such as prior authorization delays, staffing shortages, or complex record management systems, impact patient's ability to be adherent. Because the majority of factors found to impact patient adherence are nonmodifiable, it is paramount that health care teams adjust to better equip patients for success. For health care teams to successfully optimize patient adherence, focus should be paid to education strategies, individualized protocols that consider patient enablers and barriers to adherence, and consistent communication methodologies for both team and patient-facing communication.

Integrated Care for Comprehensive Management of Patients with Osteoarthritis: Program Development and Implementation.

Treatment of symptomatic osteoarthritis (OA) is often complicated by comorbidities, which put patients at potentially higher risks following operative interventions. Management of these comorbidities is usually separate from orthopaedic care, with patients invited to return to their orthopaedic surgeon once surgical risk factors are better controlled. However, this practice can lead to disjointed care, resulting in uncertainty, mistrust, unmanaged pain, and dissatisfaction for patients. Integrated care teams provide an effective option for coordinated comprehensive nonoperative and preoperative management of patients with knee OA and medical comorbidities. The objective of this article is to summarize the process for implementation of an integrated program to manage patients with symptomatic knee OA and the initial outcomes at our institution as an example of the effects of integrated patient management in orthopaedics. At the author's institution, an integrated program was implemented, successfully addressing the unmet need for coordinated care for patients with bone and joint health problems and medical comorbidities. Patients who completed the full program experienced significant improvements in both pain and function. Potential applications for knee surgeons considering implementing integrated care models could include pre- and postoperative management programs, nonoperative management program, and programs seeking to meet key metrics such as improved readmission rates, patient satisfaction, or value-based care. For effective program implementation, careful planning with convenient referral mechanisms, leadership buy-in, and patient-centered communication protocols are required.

Effects of Patient Assessment and Education by an Integrated Care Team on Postoperative Adherence and Failure Rates After Osteochondral Allograft and Meniscal Allograft Transplantation in the Knee.

Background: Patient nonadherence with prescribed rehabilitation protocols is associated with up to 16 times higher likelihood of treatment failure after osteochondral allograft transplantation (OCA) and meniscal allograft transplantation. Hypothesis: Patients who completed counseling with an orthopaedic health behavior psychologist as part of an evidence-based shift in practice at our institution would have significantly lower rates of nonadherence and surgical treatment failure versus patients who did not participate in counseling. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: Patients in a prospective registry who underwent OCA and/or meniscal allograft transplantation between January 2016 and April 2021 were included for analysis when 1-year follow-up data were available. Of 292 potential patients, 213 were eligible for inclusion. Patients were categorized based on whether they participated in the preoperative counseling and postoperative patient management program: no health psych group (n = 172) versus health psych group (n = 41). Nonadherence was defined as documented evidence of a deviation from the prescribed postoperative rehabilitation protocol. Results: In this cohort of patients, 50 (23.5%) were documented to be nonadherent. Patients in the no health psych cohort were significantly more likely to be nonadherent (P = .023; odds ratio [OR], 3.4). Tobacco use (OR, 7.9), higher preoperative Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Pain Interference score, lower preoperative PROMIS Mental Health score, older age, and higher body mass index were also significantly associated with nonadherence (P < .001 for all). Patients who were nonadherent with the prescribed postoperative rehabilitation protocol during the first year after transplantation were 3 times more likely (P = .004) to experience surgical treatment failure than those who were adherent. Overall, 26.2% of patients in the no health psych group experienced surgical treatment failure versus 12.2% in the health psych cohort. Conclusion: Data from the present study suggest that preoperative counseling with a health behavior psychologist is associated with an improved rate of patient adherence and a lower proportion of surgical treatment failure after OCA and meniscal allograft transplantation. Patients who remained adherent to the postoperative protocol were 3 times more likely to have a successful short-term (≥1 year) outcome.

Initial Outcomes After Unicompartmental Tibiofemoral Bipolar Osteochondral and Meniscal Allograft Transplantation in the Knee Using MOPS-Preserved Fresh (Viable) Tissues.

BACKGROUND: Unicompartmental tibiofemoral bipolar osteochondral allograft transplantation (OCAT) with meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT) has not historically been associated with consistently successful outcomes for treatment of knee articular cartilage defects with meniscal deficiency. HYPOTHESIS: Primary OCAT and MAT using fresh tissues will be associated with successful short-term outcomes based on statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in pain and function in the majority of patients. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: Patients were prospectively enrolled into a registry for outcomes after OCAT and MAT. Patients included those who underwent primary OCAT and MAT using Missouri Osteochondral Preservation System (MOPS)-preserved allografts for treatment of large bipolar tibiofemoral articular cartilage defects with meniscal deficiency and had a minimum of 2-year follow-up data. RESULTS: A total of 76 patients (n = 52 male; 68%) met inclusion criteria (mean follow-up, 52 months). The mean age was 41.1 years (range, 15-69 years), and the mean body mass index was 28.9 (range, 17-46); 48 patients underwent another OCAT in addition to the unicompartmental bipolar tibiofemoral OCAT and MAT; 23 patients (30.3%) were documented to be nonadherent to the prescribed postoperative restriction and rehabilitation protocol. The initial success rate (>2 years) was 77.6%, with 8 patients (10.5%) undergoing revision and 9 (11.8%) converting to arthroplasty. Variables associated with an increased risk for treatment failure (revision or arthroplasty) included ipsilateral osteotomy (P = .046; odds ratio [OR] = 3.3), ipsilateral concurrent procedure (P = .0057; OR = 5.5), and nonadherence (P = .0009; OR = 7.2). None of the patients undergoing revision surgery required arthroplasty at the time of data analysis such that the overall success rate for primary and revision unicompartmental bipolar OCA plus MAT was 88.2%. There were statistically significant (P < .0001) and clinically important improvements for all patient-reported outcomes at each annual follow-up time point. CONCLUSION: Unicompartmental tibiofemoral bipolar OCAT and MAT can result in successful short-term outcomes (2-6 years) and satisfaction in the majority of patients (78%). Primary MOPS-preserved OCAT with MAT for treatment of femoral condyle and tibial plateau articular cartilage defects with concurrent meniscal deficiency was associated with statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in patient-reported measures of pain and function.

Prospective, Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing a Novel Motion-Assistive Device to Standard Physical Therapy for Initial Management of Knee Range of Motion after Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty.

This prospective randomized clinical trial assessed a novel device for initial management of knee range of motion (ROM), pain, and function after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Primary TKA patients with preoperative ROM of at least 5° to 115° were randomized to initial knee motion management: Mizzou BioJoint Flex-novel motion-assistive device with prescribed physical therapy or standard physical therapy-prescribed physical therapy. ROM, pain score, and knee injury and osteoarthritis score for joint replacement (KOOSjr) were obtained preoperatively and 2 weeks, 6 weeks, and 3 months postoperatively. Patient satisfaction for both cohorts and subjective assessments of the MBF device were assessed at 3 months. Readmissions, reoperations, and complications were assessed through 1 year. Nineteen patients were randomized to each cohort, with no significant preoperative differences in demographics, pain score, KOOSjr score, or ROM. Six SPT (31.6%) and 3 MBF (15.8%) patients failed to regain preoperative ROM (p = 0.044). One SPT (5.3%) and eight MBF (42%) patients exceeded 125° ROM (p = 0.019) by 3 months. Total ROM (p = 0.039), pain (p = 0.0068), and function (p = 0.0027) were significantly better for MBF at 3 months. MBF patients reported significantly higher satisfaction (mean, 9.4 ± 1.1 vs. 8.0 ± 1.8, respectively; p = 0.0084). One patient in each group underwent manipulation under anesthesia. No other readmissions, reoperations, or complications were reported. A novel durable medical equipment device can provide a safe and effective patient-controlled method for initial management of knee ROM, pain, and function after primary TKA with potential clinically meaningful advantages over physical therapy alone. In conjunction with physical therapy, management with this novel knee flexion device more effectively restored knee ROM and early patient function when compared with therapy alone and was associated with higher proportions of patients regaining minimum (115°) and desired (125°) levels of knee ROM and clinically meaningful differences in pain scores, knee function, and patient satisfaction. This is a Level 1, prospective trial study.

The Missouri Osteochondral Preservation System Is Associated With Better Short-Term Outcomes Than Standard Preservation Methods When Performing Osteochondral Allograft Transplantation Using Shell Grafts for Patellofemoral Lesions.

PURPOSE: To compare outcomes after whole-surface osteochondral allograft (OCA) transplantation using shell grafts for treatment of patellofemoral joint lesions with respect to surfaces treated and OCA preservation method. METHODS: With institutional review board approval and informed consent, patients were prospectively enrolled into a registry to follow outcomes after OCA transplantation. Patients who received patellofemoral shell OCA to treat the entire articular surface of the patella, trochlea, or both, and with a minimum of 2-year follow-up data, including patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), failures, and complications, were included. Functional graft survival was determined based on patients returning to functional activities without need for OCA revision or arthroplasty surgery and calculated using the formula: 100% - (%revision + %failure). Minimum clinically important differences were determined based on previously validated data. Outcomes were compared based on differences in graft preservation methodology (Missouri Osteochondral Preservation System [MOPS] or standard preservation [SP]) and based on surfaces treated (patella, trochlea, or both). RESULTS: Fifty-eight patients met inclusion criteria. Mean age was 36.7 years (range 15-60 years) and mean body mass index was 28.9 (range 18-42). OCAs stored using SP methods were transplanted in 12 patients, mean follow-up was (66.1 months; range 54-70 months): OCAs stored using MOPS methods were transplanted in 46 patients, mean follow-up was (44.8 months; range 24-60 months). Graft survival rate at final follow-up was significantly greater (P = .025) for MOPS OCAs (98%) compared with SP OCAs (75%), whereas 2-year functional graft survival rates (MOPS 98% vs SP 83%; P = .1) were not. Reoperation rate was significantly greater (P = .0014) for SP cases compared with MOPS cases. PROMs showed statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements through 4 years after unipolar patella, unipolar trochlea, and bipolar patellofemoral OCA transplantation using MOPS grafts. Unipolar patella OCA transplantations were associated with significantly more reduction in pain and significantly better PROMs at 1-year compared with unipolar trochlea and bipolar patellofemoral OCAs. CONCLUSIONS: OCA transplantation using MOPS shell grafts for unipolar and bipolar patellofemoral resurfacing was associated with statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements from preoperative levels of pain and function. The 2-year functional graft survival rate was 83% in the SP group and 98% in the MOPS group, such that MOPS was associated with better short-term outcomes than SP methods when performing OCA transplantation using shell grafts for patellofemoral lesions. Patients who received unipolar patella allografts reported the best outcomes in terms of pain and function. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective analysis of registry data.

Are All Unloader Braces Created Equal? Recommendations for Evidence-Based Implementation of Unloader Braces for Patients with Unicompartmental Knee OA.

Unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis (UKOA) is a complex issue that is estimated to affect roughly 28% of patients with knee OA, and can result in severe cartilage degeneration, meniscus deficiency, and concomitant varus or valgus malalignment. This malalignment results in abnormally high joint reaction forces in the affected compartment, which can elicit pain, cause dysfunction, and exacerbate joint degradation. For more than two decades, the use of knee unloader braces has been advocated as a cost-effective option for symptomatic management of UKOA.During bipedal ambulation with a normal lower extremity mechanical axis, ground reaction forces create a knee adduction moment (KAM) such that the medial compartment of the knee experiences approximately 60% of joint loading and the lateral compartment experiences approximately 40% of joint loading. UKOA disrupts the mechanical axis, altering KAM and joint loading and causing pain, dysfunction, and disease progression. In theory, knee unloader braces were designed to mitigate the symptoms of UKOA by normalizing KAM via shifts in the lever arms about the knee. However, studies vary, and suggest that push-mechanism knee unloaders do not consistently provide significant biomechanical benefits for medial or lateral UKOA. Current evidence suggests that pull-mechanism unloaders may be more effective, though contrasting data have also been reported, such that further validation is necessary. The purpose of our study was to synthesize current best evidence for use of knee unloader braces for management of UKOA to suggest evidence-based best practices as well as gaps in knowledge to target for future studies. Unloader bracing for patients with UKOA appears to be a cost-effective treatment option for patients with medial UKOA who have insurance coverage. Pull-mechanism unloader bracing should be considered in conjunction with other nonoperative management therapies for those who are willing to adhere to consistent brace use for weight-bearing activities.

Return to Sport After Large Single-Surface, Multisurface, or Bipolar Osteochondral Allograft Transplantation in the Knee Using Shell Grafts.

BACKGROUND: Return to sport (RTS) after osteochondral allograft (OCA) transplantation for large unipolar femoral condyle defects has been consistent, but many athletes are affected by more severe lesions. PURPOSE: To examine outcomes for athletes who have undergone large single-surface, multisurface, or bipolar shell OCA transplantation in the knee. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: Data from a prospective OCA transplantation registry were assessed for athletes who underwent knee transplantation for the first time (primary transplant) between June 2015 and March 2018 for injury or overuse-related articular defects. Inclusion criteria were preinjury Tegner level ≥5 and documented type and level of sport (or elite unit active military duty); in addition, patients were required to have a minimum of 1-year follow-up outcomes, including RTS data. Patient characteristics, surgery type, Tegner level, RTS, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), compliance with rehabilitation, revisions, and failures were assessed and compared for statistically significant differences. RESULTS: There were 37 included athletes (mean age, 34 years; range, 15-69 years; mean body mass index, 26.2 kg/m2; range, 18-35 kg/m2) who underwent large single-surface (n = 17), multisurface (n = 4), or bipolar (n = 16) OCA transplantation. The highest preinjury median Tegner level was 9 (mean, 7.9 ± 1.7; range, 5-10). At the final follow-up, 25 patients (68%) had returned to sport; 17 (68%) returned to the same or higher level of sport compared with the highest preinjury level. The median time to RTS was 16 months (range, 7-26 months). Elite unit military, competitive collegiate, and competitive high school athletes returned at a significantly higher proportion (P < .046) than did recreational athletes. For all patients, the Tegner level at the final follow-up (median, 6; mean, 6.1 ± 2.7; range, 1-10) was significantly lower than that at the highest preinjury level (P = .007). PROMs were significantly improved at the final follow-up compared with preoperative levels and reached or exceeded clinically meaningful differences. OCA revisions were performed in 2 patients (5%), and failures requiring total knee arthroplasty occurred in 2 patients (5%), all of whom were recreational athletes. Noncompliance was documented in 4 athletes (11%) and was 15.5 times more likely (P = .049) to be associated with failure or a need for revision than for compliant patients. CONCLUSION: Large single-surface, multisurface, or bipolar shell OCA knee transplantations in athletes resulted in two-thirds of these patients returning to sport at 16 to 24 months after transplantation. Combined, the revision and failure rates were 10%; thus, 90% of patients were considered to have successful 2- to 4-year outcomes with significant improvements in pain and function, even when patients did not RTS.

Postoperative Management for Articular Cartilage Surgery in the Knee.

The postoperative rehabilitation team plays a crucial role in optimizing outcomes after articular cartilage surgery. A comprehensive approach to postoperative physical therapy that considers the type of surgery, location in the knee, concurrent procedures, and patient-specific factors is imperative. While postoperative rehabilitation protocols should be specific to the patient and type of surgery performed and include phased rehabilitation goals and activities, the key principles for postoperative rehabilitation apply across the spectrum of articular cartilage surgeries and patients. These key principles consist of preoperative assessments that include physical, mental, and behavioral components critical to recovery; education and counseling with respect to expectations and compliance; and careful monitoring and adjustments throughout the rehabilitation period based on consistent communication among rehabilitation, surgical, and imaging teams to ensure strict patient compliance with restrictions, activities, and timelines to optimize functional outcomes after surgery.

Outcomes associated with behavioral evaluation and counseling for patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery - A systematic review.

Osteochondral allograft transplantation can be an effective way to treat cartilage defects in the knee. The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate available research on the effects of preoperative behavioral evaluation and counseling on the outcomes for patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery with emphasis on osteochondral allograft transplantation in the knee. This systematic review of best current evidence indicates that psychological distress and untreated mental health issues are strongly associated with unfavorable outcomes after treatment of orthopaedic disorders, underscoring the need to incorporate behavioral screening and counseling into a comprehensive patient management protocol that improves outcomes for patients.

Effects of Compliance With Procedure-Specific Postoperative Rehabilitation Protocols on Initial Outcomes After Osteochondral and Meniscal Allograft Transplantation in the Knee.

BACKGROUND: Osteochondral and meniscal allograft transplantation have been performed in the knee for more than 40 years, with the number of patients treated each year growing as allograft quantity and quality increase. To date, the effects of postoperative management on outcomes after these procedures have received relatively little focus in the peer-reviewed literature. HYPOTHESIS: Compliance with the recommended postoperative management protocol will be associated with significantly higher initial success and significantly lower revision and failure rates for patients undergoing osteochondral and/or meniscal allograft transplantation in the knee. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: Patients were prospectively enrolled into a dedicated registry designed to follow outcomes after osteochondral and/or meniscal allograft transplantation. Patients were included when at least 1 year of follow-up data were available, including data on complications and reoperations, patient-reported outcome measures, compliance with rehabilitation, revisions, or failures, based on the electronic medical record and communication logs with patients' outpatient physical therapists. RESULTS: For patients meeting the inclusion criteria (N = 162), compliance with the prescribed procedure-specific postoperative management protocol was associated with significantly higher 1- to 3-year success and significantly lower revision and failure rates. Specifically, patients who were compliant were 6.3 times less likely to need allograft revision or total knee arthroplasty and 7.5 times more likely to have a successful outcome at 1 to 3 years after osteochondral and/or meniscal allograft transplantation. In addition to noncompliance, older patient age and higher body mass index were associated with inferior short-term outcomes in this cohort. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that compliance with procedure-specific postoperative rehabilitation protocols is associated with higher success, lower revision, and lower failure rates for patients undergoing osteochondral and meniscal allograft transplantation. Given these results showing the importance of these modifiable risk factors, our center has devoted resources to preoperative patient assessment and communication to provide education, set appropriate expectations, identify and address modifiable risk factors, impediments, and noncompliance, and monitor and adjust postoperative care as indicated.