Optimizing Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Among an Underserved Population: Lessons Learned From a Quality-Improvement Initiative.

Background: Under-represented minorities and those with noncommercial insurance have higher medical comorbidities and complications following elective total joint arthroplasty (TJA). In an effort to bridge this gap, our center implemented a preoperative optimization protocol for TJA in a Medicaid Clinic (Clinic). The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of that protocol and highlight challenges associated with caring for this patient population. Methods: This retrospective analysis included 117 patients undergoing TJA between January 2015 and January 2020. In 2015, the protocol was implemented as a mandatory practice prior to TJA. A contemporary control cohort from the private office was also analyzed. Patient demographics, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, and postoperative complications were collected. Results: Within the clinic group, 52.5% (62) patients identified as Hispanic with 46.6% (55) Spanish-speaking as primary language, compared to 9.3% (11) and 8.5% (10) in the office group (P = .0001), respectively. Clinic group patients were significantly more likely to experience a complication compared to office patients (20 vs 7, respectively). There was no difference in complication or reoperation rate between clinic patients who underwent the optimization protocol and those who did not. Conclusions: The findings from this study highlight the demographic and comorbidities profile of an underserved population, and report on results of a quality improvement initiative among that population, which failed to improve postoperative outcomes. These results underscore the need for further study in this population to improve outcomes and health equity.

Surgeon-Applied Stress and a Ligament Tensor Instrument Provide a Similar Assessment of Preresection Flexion Laxity During Robotic Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Background: Robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty (RA-TKA) allows surgeons to perform intraoperative soft tissue laxity assessments prior to bone resections and is used to alter resections to achieve gap balance. This study compared 2 techniques for flexion gap laxity assessment during RA-TKA. Methods: A prospective study of 50 primary RA-TKAs performed by a single surgeon was conducted between February and October 2023. Following full exposure, anterior tibial dislocation, and osteophyte removal, maximal medial and lateral compartment flexion laxity was quantified to the nearest 0.5 mm by the robotic system using a dynamic, surgeon-applied stress (SURGEON). This data was used to plan a balanced flexion gap by adjusting the femoral component size, rotation, and anterior-posterior translation. Flexion laxity was quantified again after distal femoral and proximal tibial resections using a ligament tensor instrument (TENSOR). These new data were used to plan for the same desired flexion gap using the same variables. Paired-samples t-tests and a simple linear regression were used for analysis. Results: Both methods produced near-identical recommendations for femoral component sizing (mean deviation 0.06 sizes, range -1 to +1 size; P = .569), rotation (deviation mean 1.0°, range -3.0° to +3.0°; P = .741), and anterior-posterior translation (deviation mean 0.13 mm, range -0.5 to +0.5 mm, P = .785). SURGEON femoral component rotation predicted TENSOR rotation (R2 = 0.157; 95% confidence interval = 0.124, 0.633; P = .004). Conclusions: Assessing flexion laxity with a surgeon-applied stress vs a ligament tensor produced near-identical laxity data in RA-TKA, suggesting surgeons may comfortably choose either technique as a reliable method. Level of Evidence: Level III.

Complications and Survivorship After Aseptic Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty: Is There a Difference by Surgical Approach?

BACKGROUND: Revision total hip arthroplasty (rTHA) has traditionally been performed through the posterolateral approach (PA). Anterior approaches (AA) for rTHA are increasingly being utilized. The purpose of this study was to compare complications and survivorship from re-revision and reoperation after aseptic rTHA performed using an AA versus a PA. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent aseptic rTHA either through an AA (direct anterior approach [DAA], anterior-based muscle sparing [ABMS]) or PA from January 2017 to December 2021. There were 116 patients who underwent AA-rTHA (DAA 50, ABMS 66) or PA-rTHA (n = 105). Patient demographics, complications, and postoperative outcomes were collected. RESULTS: The most common indication in both groups was aseptic loosening (n = 26, 22.4% AA, n = 28, 26.7% PA). Acetabular revision alone was most common in the AA group (n = 33, 28.4%), while both components were most commonly revised in the PA groups (n = 47, 44.8%). In all the AA-rTHA group, the index total hip arthroplasty was performed through a PA in 51% of patients, while the PA-rTHA group had the index procedure performed via AA in 4.8%. There was no statistically significant difference in re-revision rate between the DAA, ABMS, or PA groups (9.55 versus 5.3% versus 11.4%, respectively, P = .11). The most common overall reason for re-revision was persistent instability, with no difference in incidence of postoperative hip dislocation (n = 4, 6.8% DAA, n = 3, 5.3%, n = 10, 9.5% PA; P = .31). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates no difference in complication or re-revision survivorship after aseptic rTHA performed through a DAA, ABMS approach, or PA, nor between anterior or posterior-based approaches. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Race and ethnic disparities arthroplasty trends and hotspots: Bibliometric analysis.

Introduction: Despite continual advancements in total joint arthroplasty and perioperative optimization, there remains national variability in outcomes. These outcome variabilities have been in part attributed to racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare quality and access to care. This study aims to identify arthroplasty racial and ethnic disparities research and to predict future hotspots. Methods: Ethnic and racial disparities articles between 1992 and 2022 were queried from the Web of Science Core Collection of Clarivate Analytics. Bibliometric indicators in excel format were extracted and subsequently imported for further analysis. Bibliometrix and VOSviewer analyzed current and previous research. Results: Database search yielded 234 total articles assessing racial and ethnic disparities between 1992 and 2022. Twenty-six countries published manuscripts with the United States producing the majority of publications. The Veterans Health Administration and University of Pittsburgh were the most relevant institutions. Ibrahim SA was the most relevant and influential author within this field. Visuals of thematic map and co-occurrences identified the basic, motor, and niche themes within the literature. Conclusions: Racial and ethnic disparity within arthroplasty literature demonstrate growing traction with global contributions. United States authors and institutions are the largest contributors within this field. This bibliometric analysis identified previous, current, and future trends for prediction of future hotspots.

Aseptic Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty Through an Anterior Approach: Survivorship and Risk Factors for Re-Revision.

BACKGROUND: The utilization of anterior-based approaches for total hip arthroplasty (THA) is increasing. Literature on the outcomes of revision THA (rTHA) through an anterior approach, however, is sparse. This study reports the survivorship and risk factors for re-revision in patients undergoing aseptic rTHA through an anterior approach. METHODS: This was a single-institution, retrospective cohort analysis of patients who underwent aseptic rTHA through an anterior approach (direct anterior, anterior-based muscle sparing) from January 2017 to December 2021, regardless of the original surgical approach. Exclusion criteria were age <18 years, conversion THA, and septic revisions. Patient demographics, complications, and postoperative outcomes were collected. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to measure survivorship while Cox regression analyses were used to identify risk factors for re-revision of THA. RESULTS: We identified 251 total anterior rTHAs, of which 155 were aseptic anterior revisions. There were 111 patients (111 rTHAs; 63 anterior-based muscle sparing and 48 direct anterior) who met criteria and had a mean follow-up of 4.2 years (range, 2.1 to 6.9). There were a total of 54 (49%) anterior-based index approaches and 57 (51%) posterior index approaches. The most common indications for rTHA were femoral loosening (n = 25, 22.5%), followed by instability (n = 16, 14.4%) and wear or osteolysis (n = 16, 14.4%). At 2 years, the survivorship from reoperation and re-revision was 89% (95% confidence interval: 84 to 95) and 91% (95% confidence interval: 86 to 96), respectively. Reoperation occurred in 14 patients (12.6%) at a mean time of 7.8 months (range, 0.5 to 28.6). Re-revision occurred in 12 patients (10.8%) at a mean time of 7.3 months (range, 0.5 to 28.6). Instability was the most common reason for re-revision (4.5%). Neither index approach type, revision approach type, nor any patient-specific risk factors were identified as predictors of re-revision or reoperation in multivariable regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates an acceptable rate of re-revision when aseptic rTHA is performed through an anterior approach, with the most common reason for aseptic re-revision being instability.

Scheduling and Vendor Consistency Improves Turnover Time Efficiency in Total Joint Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Maximizing operative room (OR) efficiency is important for hospital efficiency, patient care, and positive surgeon and staff morale. Reducing turnover time (TOT) has become a popular focus to improve OR efficiency. The present study evaluated if TOT is influenced by changing case type, implant vendor, and/or laterality. METHODS: In total, 444 turnovers from January to July 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. All turnovers were same-surgeon turnovers between primary arthroplasty cases in dedicated, overlapping rooms. Single linear regression models tested the predictability of TOT based on case type, vendor, and laterality. A multivariate multiple regression and 1-way Analyses of Variance analyzed variables against each other. Independent sample t-tests evaluated TOTs when all variables were the same or different. RESULTS: Changing versus keeping the same case type increased TOT by 2.4 minutes (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.7, 4.0; P = .004). Changing vendors increased TOT by 2.9 minutes (95% CI = 1.1, 4.7; P = .002). Laterality did not affect TOT, with a change of 0.9 minutes (95% CI = -0.6, 2.5; P = .229). Vendor (P = .030) independently predicted TOT when analyzed as a covariate with case type (P = .410). The TOT with same case type and vendor (mean 38.2 minutes; range, 22 to 62) was less than that of different case types and vendors (mean 41.4 minutes; range, 26 to 73) (P = .017). Mean TOT differed by 5.5 minutes when keeping all variables the same versus all different (P = .018). CONCLUSIONS: Maintaining a consistent case type, vendor, and laterality had a synergistic effect in reducing TOT in arthroplasty ORs with the same primary surgeon running 2 overlapping rooms. Changing vendor representatives was found to independently predict TOT increases, which is likely attributed to a disruption in workflow and collaboration of the multidisciplinary OR team. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

The Hip-spine Assessment of a Novel Surgical Planning Software Provides Acetabular Component Targets That Are Reliable and in Agreement With Current Clinical Recommendations.

Background: Spinopelvic immobility has been reported to increase dislocation risk following total hip arthroplasty. Surgically placing acetabular components in a functional orientation has been shown to mitigate risk. The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of novel surgical planning software to generate clinically recommended cup targets. Methods: Hip-spine assessments were performed retrospectively on 40 patients. Five reviewers, including 3 arthroplasty-trained surgical fellows and 2 clinical research scientists performed the assessments. Hip-spine assessments consisted of measuring anterior pelvic plane tilt, sacral slope, pelvic incidence, and lumbar lordosis on standing anteroposterior pelvis and lateral standing and seated hip-spine images. Generated cup targets and a control group (40°/20° relative to the anterior pelvic plane) were compared to clinically recommended cup targets. Agreement was defined as a cup position within the recommended range or within 3° of a specific target (eg, 40° inclination) when no range was provided. Intraclass correlation coefficients were used to assess interrater and intrarater reliability, and McNemar's chi-square test was used to measure success relative to the control group. Results: The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.88 for delta sacral slope and 0.92 for pelvic incidence-lumbar lordosis mismatch. For patients with spinopelvic risk factors, the generated targets matched the clinical recommendations in 81% of patients compared to only 16% in the control group. Conclusions: Excellent interrater and intrarater reliability was achieved using the novel surgical planning software. The resultant target values agreed with clinical recommendations to a greater extent than the control group.