Anesthetic Methods for Hip Fracture.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To review the benefits, risks, and contraindications of traditional and new anesthesia approaches for hip fracture surgery and describe what is known about the impact of these approaches on postoperative outcomes. RECENT FINDINGS: This review describes general and spinal anesthesia, peripheral nerve block techniques used for pain management, and novel, local anesthesia approaches which may provide significant benefit compared with traditional approaches by minimizing high-risk induction time and decreasing respiratory suppression and short- and long-term cognitive effects. Hip fracture surgery places a large physiologic stress on an already frail patient, and anesthesia choice plays an important role in managing risk of perioperative morbidity. New local anesthesia techniques may decrease morbidity and mortality, particularly in higher-risk patients.

Peripheral Nerve Catheter Reduces Postoperative Opioid Consumption and Pain in Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Background: Patients undergoing revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA) have historically received high doses of opioids during the perioperative period. As awareness of opioid use has heightened, opioid administration has continuously decreased. This study aimed to evaluate if peripheral nerve catheter (PNC) use in rTKA reduces opiate consumption while maintaining similar pain control and postoperative function levels. Methods: A retrospective review of 354 patients who underwent rTKA between July 2019 and January 2022 was conducted. Fifty total patients who received an adductor canal PNC were propensity-matched 1:1 to a control group of 50 patients that did not receive a PNC. To assess the primary outcome of opiate consumption, nursing documented opiate administration events were converted into morphine milligram equivalents per 24-hour interval. Postoperative pain and functional status were assessed using the verbal rating scale for pain and the Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care scores, respectively. Results: Compared to the control group, the PNC group demonstrated significantly lower overall inpatient opiate consumption (98.68 ± 117.03 vs 176.69 ± 203.47 morphine milligram equivalents; 44.15% decrease, P = .021) and lower verbal rating scale pain scores at 60 to 72 hours postoperatively (4.85 ± 1.24 vs 5.83 ± 1.35; 16.81% decrease, P = .038). There was no significant difference in Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care scores postoperatively (raw score: 19.41 ± 3.61 vs 19.46 ± 3.18; 0.26% decrease, P = .952). Finally, the PNC cohort was significantly less likely to be readmitted within 90 days after surgery (0.0% vs 12.0%; P = .012). Conclusions: In rTKA patients, PNC can significantly reduce inpatient opioid consumption while maintaining a comparable functional recovery and superior pain control. Level III Evidence: Retrospective Cohort Study.

The Influence of Tourniquet and Adductor Canal Block Use on Pain and Opioid Consumption after Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Reducing pain and opioid consumption after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is an important perioperative consideration. Though commonly used, the combined influence of tourniquets and adductor canal blocks (ACBs) on pain and opioid consumption is unknown. This study evaluated inpatient opioid consumption and pain between patients with TKA based on tourniquet and/or ACB use. Pain and opioid consumption were highest when a tourniquet, but no ACB was used, and lowest when an ACB, but no tourniquet was used - though absolute differences in pain scores were not clinically significant. Tourniquet and ACB use should be considered as part of TKA opioid-sparing protocols.

The Lateral Femoral Cutaneous and Over the Hip (LOH) Block for the Surgical Management of Hip Fractures: A Safe and Effective Anesthetic Strategy.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the efficacy of regional anesthesia with sedation only for a variety of hip fractures using the newly described lateral femoral cutaneous with over the hip (LOH) block. DESIGN: Retrospective. SETTING: Orthopedic specialty hospital. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: 40 patients who presented between November 2021 and February 2022 for fixation of OTA/AO 31.A1-3 and 31.B1-3 fractures. Matched cohorts of 40 patients who received general anesthesia and 40 patients who received spinal anesthesia for hip fracture fixation were also used. INTERVENTION: Operative fixation under LOH block and sedation only. The LOH block is a regional hip analgesic that targets the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, articular branches of femoral nerve, and accessory obturator nerve. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Demographics, intraoperative characteristics, anesthesia-related complications, hospital quality metrics, and short-term mortality and reoperation rates. RESULTS: A total of 120 patients (40 each: general, spinal, and LOH block) were compared. The cohorts were similar in age, race, body mass index, sex, Charlson comorbidity index, trauma risk score, ambulatory status at baseline, fracture type, and surgical fixation technique performed. Physiologic parameters during surgery were more stable in the LOH block cohort ( P < 0.05). Total OR time and anesthesia time were the shortest for the LOH block cohort ( P < 0.05). Patients in the LOH block cohort also had lower postoperative pain scores ( P < 0.05). Length of hospital stay was the shortest for patients in the LOH block cohort ( P < 0.05), and during discharge, patients in the LOH block cohort ambulated the furthest ( P < 0.05). No differences were found for anesthesia-related complications, palliative care consults, major and minor hospital complications, discharge disposition, reoperation and readmission rates, and mortality rates. CONCLUSIONS: The LOH block is safe and effective anesthesia for the treatment of all types of hip fractures in the elderly patients requiring surgery. In addition, this block may decrease postoperative pain and length of hospital stay, and allow for greater ambulation in the early postoperative period for patients with hip fracture. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Preoperative echocardiogram does not increase time to surgery in hip fracture patients with prior percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to (1) assess the effect of preoperative echocardiogram on time to surgery and (2) assess the outcomes of patients with a previous percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: Demographic, clinical, quality and cost data were obtained and a validated risk predictive tool (STTGMA) was calculated for each of a consecutive series of hip fracture patients. Comparative analyses of patients who had an echocardiogram prior to surgery or a PCI prior to hospitalization were performed. RESULTS: Between 2014 and 2020, 2625 patients presented to our institution with a hip fracture. From this cohort 471 patients underwent a preoperative transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE), 30 who had a history of a PCI, and an additional 26 who had a history of PCI but did not undergo a preoperative TTE. Those undergoing a preoperative TTE had similar time (days) to surgery (1.73 vs 1.77, p = 0.86) and 30-day mortality (4% vs 7%, p = 0.545) regardless of PCI history. PCI patients who underwent a preoperative TTE experienced increased rates of 1-year mortality (27% vs 10%, p = 0.007) and major complications (23% vs 12%, p = 0.08) compared to those without a PCI history. PCI patients undergoing a preoperative TTE had a similar time (days) to surgery (1.77 vs 1.48, .p = 0.397) compared to PCI patients without a preoperative TTE. Patients who underwent a preoperative TTE had higher rates of 90-day readmission (31.0% vs 8.0%, p = 0.047) and 1-year mortality (26.7% vs 3.8%, p = 0.029). CONCLUSIONS: Having a preoperative TTE does not affect surgical wait times in hip fracture patients regardless of PCI history, but it may not improve mortality outcomes or reduce postoperative complications in patients with a history of a PCI.

Indications for Conversion of Spinal into General Anesthesia During Total Joint Arthroplasty.

INTRODUCTION: Spinal anesthesia (SA) is the preferred method of anesthesia at many centers for total joint arthro- plasty (TJA). However, a small subset of patients fails SA, necessitating a conversion to general anesthesia (GA). This report assesses the patient characteristics associated with failed SA. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on patients who underwent SA during their primary TJA between Janu- ary 2015 and December 2016 at our institution. A subset of this group required a conversion from SA to GA. Anesthesia reports were reviewed for the number of attempts at SA and the documented reason for failure. The SA failure cohort was then subdivided into failure categories based on the reasons that had been provided. RESULTS: A total of 5,706 patients were included in this study, 78 of which experienced SA failure. The number of attempts was most strongly associated with SA failure, with three attempts resulting in a five times increased failure rate (OR = 4.73, p = 0.010) and four attempts resulting in 12 times increased failure rate compared to the no failure cohort (OR = 12.3, p < 0.001). Greater than two attempts occurred in 87.5% of the "technical failure" sub-group of the SA failure cohort (p < 0.001). No difference was demon- strated among the other patient characteristics, such as age, sex, body mass index, race, American Society of Anesthesia (ASA) score, and surgical time. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the major predic- tor influencing spinal to general anesthesia conversion was the number of attempts at SA, especially among technical failure cases. Based on the results, it may be appropriate for anesthesiologists to convert to GA after two failed spi- nal attempts. Further studies are warranted to assess this relationship for firm clinical recommendations.

Standardized Preoperative Pathways Determining Preoperative Echocardiogram Usage Continue to Improve Hip Fracture Quality.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to assess the hospital quality measures and outcomes of operative hip fracture patients before and after implementation of an anesthesiology department protocol assigning decision for a preoperative transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) to the hospitalist co-managing physician. Materials and Methods: Demographics, injury details, hospital quality measures, and outcomes were reviewed for a consecutive series of patients presenting to our institution with an operative hip fracture. In May of 2019, a new protocol assigning the responsibility to indicate a patient for preoperative TTE was mandated to the co-managing hospitalist at the institution. Patients were split into pre-protocol and post-protocol cohorts. Linear regression modeling and comparative analyses were conducted with a Bonferroni adjusted alpha as appropriate. Results: Between September 2015 and June 2021, 1002 patients presented to our institution and were diagnosed with a hip fracture. Patients in the post-protocol cohort were less likely to undergo a preoperative echocardiogram, experienced a shorter time (days) to surgery, shorter length of stay, an increase in amount of home discharges, and lower complication risks for urinary tract infection and acute blood loss anemia as compared to those in the pre-protocol cohort. There were no differences seen in inpatient or 30-day mortality. Multivariable linear regression demonstrated a patient's comorbidity profile (Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI)) and their date of presentation (pre- or post-protocol), were both associated with (P<0.01) a patients' time to surgery. Conclusion: A standardized preoperative work flow protocol regarding which physician evaluates and determines which patients require a preoperative TTE allows for a streamlined perioperative course for hip fracture patients. This allows for a shortened time to surgery and length of stay with an increase in home discharges and was associated with a reduced risk of common index hospitalization complications including UTI and anemia.

Regional anesthesia for nonunion surgery with iliac crest bone grafting results in an increase in same day discharge.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of fracture nonunion repair with autogenous iliac crest bone graft (ICBG) under regional anesthesia alone or in combination with other techniques compared to other anesthesia techniques. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Overall, 137 patients were identified who underwent ICBG as part of a repair of a long bone fracture nonunion between January 1, 2013 and October 1, 2020. Surgical and anesthetic records were reviewed to classify patients by anesthesia type. General, spinal, and regional anesthetics were used as either the primary anesthetic or as a combination of regional nerve block with general or spinal anesthesia. RESULTS: Administration of regional anesthesia alone or in combination with general or spinal anesthesia (RA) and general or spinal anesthesia only (GS) groups differed in nonunion site distribution (p < 0.001). RA patients were discharged the same day more often than GS patients (30.9% vs 10.0%, p = 0.009) and experienced fewer postoperative complications (p = 0.021). The RA group achieved union sooner than the GS group (by 5.3 ± 3.2 months vs. by 6.8 ± 3.2 months, p = 0.006). Mean morphine equivalent dose was similar between groups (p = 0.23). Regional anesthesia use increased from 2013 to 2020, and same day discharge surgeries simultaneously increased over the same time period. CONCLUSION: Regional anesthesia use increased in nonunion repair surgery with ICBG from 2013 to 2020. This was associated with an increase in same day discharge, sooner time to union, and decreased postoperative complications. There was not a need for increased opioid prescription in patients that underwent regional anesthesia.

Posterior Shoulder Instability After Infraclavicular Block for Outpatient Hand Surgery.

Regional blocks are being increasingly utilized for anesthesia for various orthopedic procedures. Several studies have shown that regional anesthesia has fewer side effects and improved postoperative pain relief compared to general anesthesia, but regional blocks are not without risks. We present case reports of 2 patients who experienced posterior shoulder instability, one of whom had a posterior shoulder dislocation, immediately in the postanesthesia care unit after undergoing hand surgery with regional anesthesia. This paper highlights the importance of being aware that patients might be at increased risk of shoulder instability after upper extremity regional anesthesia, and appropriate perioperative precautions should be taken.

Resolution of Psoriatic Plaques of the Leg After Nailing of an Ipsilateral Tibial Shaft Fracture: A Case Report.

CASE: This case describes a 45-year-old man with documented history of untreated bilateral lower extremity psoriasis of equal severity who sustained a closed left tibial-fibular shaft fracture. After operative fixation with an intramedullary nail under a regional nerve block, the left lower extremity circumferential psoriatic plaque resolved throughout 1 year of follow-up with persistence of the contralateral limb disease. CONCLUSION: This case describes a rare outcome for a patient with bilateral leg psoriasis who experienced resolution of psoriatic plaques on the operated leg only after surgery. It is unknown which process: injury, anesthetic, surgery, or fracture healing mediated this unique finding.

Adductor Canal Blocks Reduce Inpatient Opioid Consumption While Maintaining Noninferior Pain Control and Functional Outcomes After Total Knee Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: The use of perioperative adductor canal blocks (PABs) continues to be a highly debated topic for total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Here, we evaluate the effect of PABs on immediate postoperative subjective pain scores, opioid consumption, and objective functional outcomes. METHODS: On December 1, 2019, an institution-wide policy change was begun to use PABs in primary elective TKAs. Patient demographics, immediate postoperative nursing documented pain scores, opioid administration events, and validated physical therapy functional scores were prospectively collected as part of the standard of care and retrospectively queried through our electronic data warehouse. A historical comparison cohort was derived from consecutive patients undergoing TKA between July 1, 2019 and November 30, 2019. RESULTS: 405 primary TKAs received PABs, while 789 patients were in the control cohort. Compared with controls, average verbal rating scale pain scores were lower among PAB recipients from 0-12 hours (2.42 ± 1.60 vs 2.05 ± 1.60; <.001) and 24-36 hours (4.92 ± 2.00 vs 4.47 ± 2.27; <.01). PAB recipients demonstrated significantly lower opioid consumption within the first 24 hours (44.34 ± 40.98 vs 36.83 ± 48.13; P < .01) and during their total inpatient stay (92.27 ± 109.81 vs 77.52 ± 123.11; <.05). AM-PAC scores within the first 24 hours were also higher for PABs (total scores: 20.28 ± 3.06 vs 20.71 ± 3.12; <.05). CONCLUSION: While the minimal clinically important differences in pain scores and functional status were comparable between both cohorts, patients demonstrated a significant reduction in overall inpatient opiate consumption after the introduction of PABs. Surgeons should consider these findings when evaluating for perioperative pain management, opioid-sparing, and rapid discharge protocols.

Regional anesthesia for clavicle fracture surgery is safe and effective.

BACKGROUND: Historically, clavicle fracture repairs have been performed with patients under general anesthesia. However, in the past few years, the combination of an interscalene brachial plexus block and a modified superficial cervical plexus block has been described to provide adequate anesthesia for clavicle fracture surgery, with the added benefit of postoperative analgesia. In March 2013, members of our anesthesiology department began using this block with sedation for a subset of patients undergoing clavicle fracture fixation. METHODS: This study was a retrospective review of patients who underwent clavicle fracture repair at a single institution between June 2014 and November 2017. The decision on the type of anesthesia (regional vs. general) was made jointly by the patient, anesthesiologist, and surgeon. Demographic data, relevant perioperative times, and intraoperative pain medication consumption were recorded, and comparisons of these variables were made between the regional and general anesthesia groups. RESULTS: A total of 110 patients with 110 fractures were included. Of these patients, 52 received only regional anesthesia with the combined block whereas 58 received general anesthesia with an interscalene brachial plexus block. No major anesthetic-related complications were noted in any patients, and there were no cases in which regional anesthesia had to be converted to general anesthesia because of block failure. The anesthesia start time was significantly longer in the general anesthesia group (29 minutes vs. 20 minutes, P = .022), as was the total case time (164 minutes vs. 131 minutes, P < .001). Patients in the general anesthesia group required significantly more intraoperative fentanyl to be administered (207 µg vs. 141 µg, P = .002). CONCLUSION: Regional anesthesia using a combined brachial plexus and modified superficial cervical plexus block is a reliable, efficacious technique. The combined block appears to be a reasonable alternative to general anesthesia with an interscalene brachial plexus block, and it may have benefits regarding the anesthesia start time and total case time.

Modification of a Validated Risk Stratification Tool to Characterize Geriatric Hip Fracture Outcomes and Optimize Care in a Post-COVID-19 World.

OBJECTIVES: (1) To demonstrate how a risk assessment tool modified to account for the COVID-19 virus during the current global pandemic is able to provide risk assessment for low-energy geriatric hip fracture patients. (2) To provide a treatment algorithm for care of COVID-19 positive/suspected hip fractures patients that accounts for their increased risk of morbidity and mortality. SETTING: One academic medical center including 4 Level 1 trauma centers, 1 university-based tertiary care referral hospital, and 1 orthopaedic specialty hospital. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: One thousand two hundred seventy-eight patients treated for hip fractures between October 2014 and April 2020, including 136 patients treated during the COVID-19 pandemic between February 1, 2020 and April 15, 2020. INTERVENTION: The Score for Trauma Triage in the Geriatric and Middle-Aged ORIGINAL (STTGMAORIGINAL) score was modified by adding COVID-19 virus as a risk factor for mortality to create the STTGMACOVID score. Patients were stratified into quartiles to demonstrate differences in risk distribution between the scores. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Inpatient and 30-day mortality, major, and minor complications. RESULTS: Both STTGMA score and COVID-19 positive/suspected status are independent predictors of inpatient mortality, confirming their use in risk assessment models for geriatric hip fracture patients. Compared with STTGMAORIGINAL, where COVID-19 patients are haphazardly distributed among the risk groups and COVID-19 inpatient and 30 days mortalities comprise 50% deaths in the minimal-risk and low-risk cohorts, the STTGMACOVID tool is able to triage 100% of COVID-19 patients and 100% of COVID-19 inpatient and 30 days mortalities into the highest risk quartile, where it was demonstrated that these patients have a 55% rate of pneumonia, a 35% rate of acute respiratory distress syndrome, a 22% rate of inpatient mortality, and a 35% rate of 30 days mortality. COVID-19 patients who are symptomatic on presentation to the emergency department and undergo surgical fixation have a 30% inpatient mortality rate compared with 12.5% for patients who are initially asymptomatic but later develop symptoms. CONCLUSION: The STTGMA tool can be modified for specific disease processes, in this case to account for the COVID-19 virus and provide a robust risk stratification tool that accounts for a heretofore unknown risk factor. COVID-19 positive/suspected status portends a poor outcome in this susceptible trauma population and should be included in risk assessment models. These patients should be considered a high risk for perioperative morbidity and mortality. Patients with COVID-19 symptoms on presentation should have surgery deferred until symptoms improve or resolve and should be reassessed for surgical treatment versus definitive nonoperative treatment with palliative care and/or hospice care. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of Levels of Evidence.

Increased Mortality and Major Complications in Hip Fracture Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A New York City Perspective.

OBJECTIVES: To examine one health system's response to the essential care of its hip fracture population during the COVID-19 pandemic and report on its effect on patient outcomes. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Seven musculoskeletal care centers within New York City and Long Island. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: One hundred thirty-eight recent and 115 historical hip fracture patients. INTERVENTION: Patients with hip fractures occurring between February 1, 2020, and April 15, 2020, or between February 1, 2019, and April 15, 2019, were prospectively enrolled in an orthopaedic trauma registry and chart reviewed for demographic and hospital quality measures. Patients with recent hip fractures were identified as COVID positive (C+), COVID suspected (Cs), or COVID negative (C-). MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Hospital quality measures, inpatient complications, and mortality rates. RESULTS: Seventeen (12.2%) patients were confirmed C+ by testing, and another 14 (10.1%) were suspected (Cs) of having had the virus but were never tested. The C+ cohort, when compared with Cs and C- cohorts, had an increased mortality rate (35.3% vs. 7.1% vs. 0.9%), increased length of hospital stay, a greater major complication rate, and a greater incidence of ventilator need postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 had a devastating effect on the care of patients with hip fracture during the pandemic. Although practice patterns generally remained unchanged, treating physicians need to understand the increased morbidity and mortality in patients with hip fracture complicated by COVID-19. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of Levels of Evidence.