Do social media use and patient satisfaction scores correlate with online award recognition among hip and knee arthroplasty specialists?

INTRODUCTION: The physician-patient interaction now begins before patients arrive in the office. Online ratings, social media profiles, and online award status are all components of physician online reputation which contributes to the patient's initial impressions. Therefore, it is important to understand the interplay of these factors and determine if there is a consistent trend indicating the value of this information. METHODS: We Identified all (N â€‹= â€‹160) registered American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS) in New England using the https://findadoctor.aahks.net/tool for Massachusetts (MA), Connecticut (CT), Rhode Island (RI), Vermont (VT), New Hampshire (NH), and Maine (ME) on 6/26/2023. We collected surgeon age, fellowship graduation year, and practice type (i.e. Academic or Private). The average 5-star rating and number of ratings were collected from four websites. Any professional-use Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube Channel, Personal Websites, or Institutional Websites were identified and a modified SMI Score was calculated. Finally, Castle Connolly Top Doctor, Local Magazine (e.g. Boston Magazine) Top Doctor, or the presence of having any award was noted for each surgeon. RESULTS: We identified several significant trends indicating that online awards were associated with higher online ratings. Social media presence, as determined by SMI Score, was also correlated with higher ratings overall and a higher likelihood of having an online award. CONCLUSION: Given the observed trends and reported importance patients place on ratings and awards, surgeons may consider increasing online engagement via social media and encouraging patients to share their experience via online ratings.

Similar incidence of postoperative sciatic nerve palsy in direct anterior and posterior approach total hip arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Sciatic nerve palsy is a rare but devastating complication following total hip arthroplasty (THA). While the use of the direct anterior approach is increasing, limited data exist regarding sciatic nerve palsy and surgical approach. The purpose of this study was to determine the factors and outcomes associated with sciatic nerve palsy (SNP) after THA. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed at a single institution of 7 SNP that occurred in 4045 THA via direct anterior approach and 10 SNP in 8854 THA via posterior approach, being operated between 01 January 2017 and 12 December 2021. SNP patients were matched 1:5 to patients without SNP. Medical records were reviewed for demographics including age, gender, body mass index (BMI), comorbidities, and preoperative indication. Additional workup of SNP patients including advanced imaging and reoperation were documented. Recovery grades were assigned to all SNP patients at most recent clinical follow-up. RESULTS: 5 of the SNP were complete and 12 partial. They occurred as frequently with the direct anterior (0.17%) and posterior approach (0.11%, p = 0.5). The presence of femur cables and reoperations were associated with SNP (p = 0.04 and p = 0.002, respecitvely). Age, gender, BMI, comorbidities, and surgical indication had no effect on SNP. 4 of the 17 affected patients had almost complete recovery at latest follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of SNP was similar in direct anterior and posterior approach. Surgeons should counsel patients regarding the risks of SNP regardless of the used approach.

Antibiotic Prophylaxis Prior to Dental Procedures After Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Does Not Decrease the Risk of Periprosthetic Joint Infection.

BACKGROUND: Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a devastating complication after total hip and total knee arthroplasty (THA/TKA). While some guidelines no longer recommend routine use of prophylactic antibiotics for dental procedures, many surgeons continue to prescribe antibiotics for their THA/TKA patients. In a setting of increasing antibiotic resistance, it is important to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use. This study aims to evaluate antibiotics prior to dental procedures and the association between dental procedures and PJI. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent THA/TKA between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2020. The primary outcome was late-presenting PJI, occurring > 90 days after surgery. Patients were designated in the antibiotic group (2,000 mg of amoxicillin) or non-antibiotic group based on their surgeon's prophylaxis protocol. Dental-associated PJIs were considered if the patient had evidence of poor dentition or a recent dental procedure prior to the onset of PJI symptoms. RESULTS: There were 2,871 (26.4%) patients in the no antibiotics group and 8,023 (73.6%) patients in the antibiotics group. We found 27 (0.3%) late-presenting PJIs and 4 dental-associated PJIs. In the univariate and multivariable analyses, body mass index ≥-30 and revision surgery were the only variables that increased the odds of late-presenting PJI. All 4 dental-associated PJIs occurred in patients prescribed antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS: We found a low rate of late-presenting PJI. Routine antibiotics prior to dental procedures were not shown to affect the risk of late-presenting PJI. These findings suggest that routine antibiotic prophylaxis before dental procedures is not necessary after THA/TKA.

Modular Knee Arthrodesis as Definitive Treatment for Periprosthetic Infection, Bone Loss, and Failure of the Extensor Mechanism After Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Background: Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) can result in bone and soft-tissue loss, leg length discrepancies, and dysfunctional extensor mechanisms. While above-knee amputation (AKA) is an established salvage treatment, modular knee arthrodesis (MKA) is a viable option that provides rigid stability and maintains leg length even in patients with severe bone and soft-tissue loss. We sought to report the outcomes of patients with an MKA as the definitive treatment. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 8 patients implanted with an MKA at 2 institutions between 2016 and 2022. The mean age was 69.63 years, and 50.0% of patients were women. All patients were indicated for conversion to an MKA as the definitive treatment in the setting of treated chronic PJI after TKA, severe bone loss, and failure of the extensor mechanism not amenable to repair. Medical records and radiographs were reviewed. Results: No patients required incision and drainage or exchange of their MKA for PJI at mean 2-year follow-up. One patient required 2 revisions for mechanical failure of his implant at 5.0 and 6.4 years postoperatively. Conclusions: MKA is a viable permanent alternative to AKA for patients with treated chronic PJI and dysfunctional extensor mechanism after TKA. The procedure restores leg lengths in the setting of severe bone and soft-tissue loss, therefore allowing patients to ambulate independently. Still, surgeons should be aware of the potential for mechanical failure requiring revision.

Socioeconomic Disadvantage Predicts Decreased Likelihood of Maintaining a Functional Knee Arthroplasty Following Treatment for Prosthetic Joint Infection.

BACKGROUND: Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) carries major morbidity and mortality as well as a complicated and lengthy treatment course. In patients who have high degrees of socioeconomic disadvantage, this may be a particularly devastating complication. Our study sought to evaluate the impact of socioeconomic deprivation on outcomes following treatment for PJI of the knee. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA) procedures performed for the treatment of initial PJI between 2008 and 2020 at a single tertiary care center in the United States. The Area Deprivation Index (ADI) was used to quantify socioeconomic deprivation. The primary outcome measure was presence of a functional knee joint at the time of most recent follow-up defined as TKA components or an articulating spacer. A total of 96 patients were included for analysis. The median follow-up duration was 26.5 months. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the rate of treatment failure (P = .63). However, the proportion of patients who had a functional knee arthroplasty (in contrast to having undergone arthrodesis, amputation, or retention of a static spacer) declined significantly with increasing ADI index (81.8% for the least disadvantaged group, 58.7% for the middle group, 42.9% for the most disadvantaged group, P = .021). CONCLUSIONS: Patients who have a higher socioeconomic disadvantage as measured by ADI are less likely to maintain a functional knee arthroplasty following treatment for TKA PJI. These findings support continued efforts to improve access to care and optimize treatment plans for patients who have socioeconomic disadvantage.

Product warranties by orthopaedic surgery companies. Quality control or a new fad?

Introduction: Product guarantees are known to the manufacturing industry, however warranties have been rare in Orthopaedic surgery. Over the last 10 years, select manufacturers of implants have instituted warranties of varying scope, length, and reimbursement. This phenomenon prompted us to investigate the landscape of warranties in Orthopaedics and compare that to other medical industries to better inform their impact on patient care. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of patient access material of over 120 Orthopaedic manufacturers including that of the Top 25 grossing companies of 2022 to identify the prevalence and scope of these warranties. Results: We identified eight companies that offer a warranty on implants. The expiration time for the implant warranties ranged from one year to lifetime. The scope of the warranties ranged from coverage of a one-time component replacement to outcome-based guarantees that cover any complications and revisions that may result from the surgery. Discussion: While the use of warranties remains uncommon in orthopaedics, their utility is expanding and evolving. Contemporary warranties appear to have a focus on enhancing product-marketability and improving quality-control.

Arthroscopic Procedures Are Performed in 5% of Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis 1 Year Preceding Total Knee Arthroplasty and Are Associated With Increased Stiffness and Increased Costs.

Purpose: To describe the different types of arthroscopic procedures that patients undergo in the year prior to total knee arthroplasty (TKA), reveal the cost associated with these procedures, and understand the relationship between preoperative arthroscopy and clinical outcomes after TKA. Methods: An observational cohort study was conducted using the IBM Watson Health MarketScan databases. Patients with knee osteoarthritis who underwent unilateral isolated primary TKA between January 1, 2018, and September 30, 2019, were included. Knee arthroscopic procedures performed in the 1-year period before a primary TKA was identified. The primary outcomes of interest were cost of these procedures and the risk of 90-day postoperative complications. Results: In total, 2,904 patients, representing 5.2% of the analyzed cohort, underwent arthroscopic procedures in the year prior to TKA. The most common procedure and diagnosis were meniscectomy and meniscal tear, respectively, with procedures performed an average of 7.2 ± 3.0 months before TKA. Average per patient costs were $9,716 ± $5,500 in the highest payment quartile vs $1,789 ± 636 in the lowest payment quartile. Patients with a history of arthroscopy were more likely to develop postoperative stiffness (P = .001), while no difference was found in the risk of 90-day periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). Conclusions: Of the patients, 5.2% underwent knee arthroscopy in the year prior to TKA. While no association was seen with PJI risk, the costs associated with these procedures are high and may increase the overall cost of management of knee osteoarthritis. Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective comparative study.

The Relative Importance of Factors That Applicants Weigh When Ranking Adult Reconstruction Fellowships as Well as Their Perspectives on Robotic-Assisted Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Orthopedic Surgery Fellowship programs offer highly specialized training that varies based on the training environment and surgical experience. Additionally, for Adult Reconstruction programs, robotic-assisted surgery exposure has been a widely discussed topic. The purpose of this study was to determine the relative value of various factors to Adult Hip and Knee Fellowship applicants, and their perceptions of robotic-assisted arthroplasty. METHODS: We surveyed 780 applicants who applied to our fellowship to matriculate in 2020 to 2024. We received 158 responses (20.3% response rate). We assessed factors concerning people and perceptions, logistics, salary and benefits, program reputation and curriculum, and surgical experience. Additionally, we surveyed fellows' attitudes toward using robotic surgery and its impact on patient outcomes. RESULTS: The highest-rated factors were Level of Hands-On Operative Experience (4.83), Revision Hip Volume (4.72), Revision Knee Volume (4.71), Multiple Surgical Exposures to the Hip (4.59), and Clinical Case Variety (4.59). Respondents who were postfellowship matriculation placed significantly more value on Exposure to Multiple Attendings with Surgical Diversity (P = .01), and Anterior Hip Volume (P = .04), and less value on Geographic Location (P = .04) and Patient-Specific Instrumentation (P = .02) than prematriculates. Overall, 65% of applicants plan to or currently use robotics, 7.6% do not, and 27.2% said "Maybe". Those who plan to or currently use robotics most cited procedure fidelity, patient-preference, and marketability as reasons to use robotics. CONCLUSIONS: Hands-on surgical experience and revision volume were the most important factors for fellowship applicants. Applicants placed lower importance on robotics exposure and their perspectives on robotics in their future practice were highly variable. Our results will inform fellowship programs and future applicants what previous applicants have valued in their training to help guide fellowship program structure, resource management, as well as recruitment.

Energy expenditure of femoral broaching in direct anterior total hip replacements-Comparison between manual and automated techniques.

INTRODUCTION: Little information is known regarding the energy expenditure of the surgeon during total hip arthroplasty (THA). We sought to compare the energy expenditure associated with femoral broaching using two techniques: manual and automated. METHODS: We recorded energy expenditure, minute ventilation, heart rate, and total broaching time of a single surgeon while broaching the femoral canal during direct anterior THA using two different techniques: Manual broaching (n = 26) and automated broaching (n = 20). RESULTS: Manual broaching required a longer time than automated broaching (6.1 ± 1.1 vs. 3.7 ± 0.9 min; p < 0.001) with an increase in energy expenditure (32.6 ± 7.0 vs. 16.0 ± 7.1 Calories; p < 0.001). Heart rate was higher with manual broaching (99.4 ± 9.8 vs. 90.1 ± 9.8 beats per min; p = 0.003), along with minute ventilation (36.5 ± 7.0 vs. 30.3 ± 5.8 L/min; p = 0.003). There were no intraoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: Automated femoral broaching during THA can decrease the energy expenditure of broaching by 50% and time of broaching by 40%, when compared to manual technique. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: This research was not a clinical trial.

The Future of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Therapy.

Over the last 10 years CAR T cell therapies have been shown to be transformative for B- and plasma-cell malignancies, however the field is only beginning to realize the potential benefit to patients of such therapies. Over the next 10 years it is expected that advances will be made in durable response rates for patients with B/plasma cell malignancies; expansion to T-cell, myeloid, and solid malignancies; and in delivery and manufacturing to transform the field.

The Microbiome of Osteoarthritic Hip and Knee Joints: A Prospective Multicenter Investigation.

BACKGROUND: Recent advances in high-throughput DNA sequencing technologies have made it possible to characterize the microbial profile in anatomical sites previously assumed to be sterile. We used this approach to explore the microbial composition within joints of osteoarthritic patients. METHODS: This prospective multicenter study recruited 113 patients undergoing hip or knee arthroplasty between 2017 and 2019. Demographics and prior intra-articular injections were noted. Matched synovial fluid, tissue, and swab specimens were obtained and shipped to a centralized laboratory for testing. Following DNA extraction, microbial 16S-rRNA sequencing was performed. RESULTS: Comparisons of paired specimens indicated that each was a comparable measure for microbiological sampling of the joint. Swab specimens were modestly different in bacterial composition from synovial fluid and tissue. The 5 most abundant genera were Escherichia, Cutibacterium, Staphylococcus, Acinetobacter, and Pseudomonas. Although sample size varied, the hospital of origin explained a significant portion (18.5%) of the variance in the microbial composition of the joint, and corticosteroid injection within 6 months before arthroplasty was associated with elevated abundance of several lineages. CONCLUSIONS: The findings revealed that prior intra-articular injection and the operative hospital environment may influence the microbial composition of the joint. Furthermore, the most common species observed in this study were not among the most common in previous skin microbiome studies, suggesting that the microbial profiles detected are not likely explained solely by skin contamination. Further research is needed to determine the relationship between the hospital and a "closed" microbiome environment. These findings contribute to establishing the baseline microbial signal and identifying contributing variables in the osteoarthritic joint, which will be valuable as a comparator in the contexts of infection and long-term arthroplasty success. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Mechanisms of Resistance and Treatment of Relapse after CAR T-cell Therapy for Large B-cell Lymphoma and Multiple Myeloma.

Although chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy (CAR-T) has altered the treatment landscape for relapsed/refractory B cell malignancies and multiple myeloma, only a minority of patients attain long-term disease remission. The underlying reasons for CAR-T resistance are multifaceted and can be broadly divided into host-related, tumor-intrinsic, microenvironmental and macroenvironmental, and CAR-T-related factors. Emerging host-related determinants of response to CAR-T relate to gut microbiome composition, intact hematopoietic function, body composition, and physical reserve. Emerging tumor-intrinsic resistance mechanisms include complex genomic alterations and mutations to immunomodulatory genes. Furthermore, the extent of systemic inflammation prior to CAR-T is a potent biomarker of response and reflects a proinflammatory tumor micromilieu characterized by infiltration of myeloid-derived suppressor cells and regulatory T cell populations. The tumor and its surrounding micromilieu also can shape the response of the host to CAR-T infusion and the subsequent expansion and persistence of CAR T cells, a prerequisite for efficient eradication of tumor cells. Here, focusing on both large B cell lymphoma and multiple myeloma, we review resistance mechanisms, explore therapeutic avenues to overcome resistance to CAR-T, and discuss the management of patients who relapse after CAR-T.

Association of patient activity bio-profiles with health-related quality of life in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma: a prospective observational cohort study.

Background: Due to the nature of their disease, patients with multiple myeloma (MM) often have bone disease-related pain that limits physical activity and diminishes health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Digital health technology with wearables and electronic patient reported outcome (ePRO) tools can provide insights into MM HRQoL. Methods: In this prospective observational cohort study conducted at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer in NY, NY, USA, patients with newly diagnosed MM (n = 40) in two cohorts (Cohort A - patients <65 years; Cohort B - patients ≥65 years) were passively remote-monitored for physical activity at baseline and continuously for up to 6 cycles of induction therapy from Feb 20, 2017 to Sep 10, 2019. The primary endpoint of the study was to determine feasibility of continuous data capture, defined as 13 or more patients of each 20-patient cohort compliant with capturing data for ≥16 h of a 24-hr period in ≥60% of days of ≥4 induction cycles. Secondary aims explored activity trends with treatment and association to ePRO outcomes. Patients completed ePRO surveys (EORTC - QLQC30 and MY20) at baseline and after each cycle. Associations between physical activity measurements, QLQC30 and MY20 scores, and time from the start of treatment were estimated using a linear mixed model with a random intercept. Findings: Forty patients were enrolled onto study, and activity bioprofiles were compiled among 24/40 (60%) wearable user participants (wearing the device for at least one cycle). In an intention to treat feasibility analysis, 21/40 (53%) patients [12/20 (60%) Cohort A; 9/20 (45%) Cohort B] had continuous data capture. Among data captured, overall activity trended upward cycle over cycle for the entire study cohort (+179 steps/24 h per cycle; p = 0.0014, 95% CI: 68-289). Older patients (age ≥65 years) had higher increases in activity (+260 steps/24 h per cycle; p < 0.0001, 95% CI: -154 to 366) compared to younger patients (+116 steps/24 h per cycle; p = 0.21, 95% CI: -60 to 293). Activity trends associated with improvement of ePRO domains, including physical functioning scores (p < 0.0001), global health scores (p = 0.02), and declining disease burden symptom scores (p = 0.042). Interpretation: Our study demonstrates that feasibility of passive wearable monitoring is challenging in a newly diagnosed MM patient population due to patient use. However, overall continuous data capture monitoring remains high among willing user participants. As therapy is initiated, we show improving activity trends, mainly in older patients, and that activity bioprofiles correlate with traditional HRQOL measurements. Funding: Grants -National Institutes of HealthP30 CA 008748, Awards - Kroll Award 2019.

The Cost of Stiffness After Total Knee Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Stiffness after primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is debilitating and poorly understood. A heterogenous approach to the treatment is often utilized, including both nonoperative and operative treatment modalities. The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of treatments used between stiff and non-stiff TKA groups and their financial impact. METHODS: An observational cohort study was conducted using a large database. A total of 12,942 patients who underwent unilateral primary TKA from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2017, were included. Stiffness after TKA was defined as manipulation under anesthesia and a diagnosis code of stiffness or ankylosis, and subsequent diagnosis and procedure codes were used to identify the prevalence and financial impact of multiple common treatment options. RESULTS: The prevalence of stiffness after TKA was 6.1%. Stiff patients were more likely to undergo physical therapy, medication, bracing, alternative treatment, clinic visits, and reoperation. Revision surgery was the most common reoperation in the stiff TKA group (7.6%). The incidence of both arthroscopy and revision surgery were higher in the stiff TKA population. Dual component revisions were costlier for patients who had stiff TKAs ($65,771 versus $48,287; P < .05). On average, patients who had stiffness after TKA endured costs from 1.5 to 7.5 times higher than the cost of their non-stiff counterparts during the 2 years following index TKA. CONCLUSION: Patients who have stiffness after primary TKA face significantly higher treatment costs for both operative and nonoperative treatments than patients who do not have stiffness.

Intraosseous Regional Administration of Antibiotic Prophylaxis for Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Intraosseous regional administration (IORA) of antibiotics after tourniquet inflation has recently been introduced as a technique to deliver antibiotics directly to the surgical site among patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). METHODS: PubMed and Embase were queried for studies reporting on IORA for perioperative prophylaxis during TKA. Primary outcome measures were local tissue antibiotic concentrations and rates of prosthetic joint infection (PJI). Eight studies were included for analysis. Four studies (all randomized controlled trials) compared local tissue concentrations between patients receiving IORA and intravenous (IV) antibiotics. Six studies assessed the rate of PJI among patients receiving IORA versus IV antibiotics. RESULTS: All studies found a statistically significant increase in antibiotic concentration in femoral bone and fat samples in patients who were treated with IORA (44.04 µg/g [fat] and 49.3 µg/g [bone] following 500 mg of intraosseous vancomycin) versus IV (3.5 µg/g [fat] and 5.2 µg/g [bone] following 1 g IV of vancomycin). The two studies powered to determine differences in PJI rates found a statistically significant decrease in the rate of PJI among patients receiving IORA versus IV antibiotics. The incidence of PJI in patients treated with IORA and IV antibiotics across all studies was 0.3 and 1.1%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Perioperative IORA of antibiotics in TKA provides local tissue concentrations of antibiotics that are on average 10 times higher than IV administration alone. Although more adequately powered investigations are necessary to determine the effectiveness of IORA in reducing PJI rates, adoption of IORA should be considered in high-risk patients where elevated tissue antibiotic concentrations would be of a maximum benefit.

The trend and future projection of technology-assisted total knee arthroplasty in the United States.

BACKGROUND: As technology-assisted surgery has boosted in the last decades, we aimed to investigate the factors affecting adoption and to predict the future utilization of technology among patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty (TKA). METHODS: Patients underwent TKA in 2017-2019 in the MarketScan Database were included. Percentage of technology-assisted surgery was calculated. Multivariable logistic regression models were performed to analyse the factors and make the prediction. RESULTS: Of 112,161 TKA procedures, 7.2% were technology-assisted. The proportion of technology-assisted TKA is expected to reach 50% by 2032. The West showed the highest proportion of technology-assisted TKA (12.3%), while the South had the lowest (5.7%). Over time, the Midwest showed the greatest increase in technology adoption (OR = 1.26 compared to the Northeast, 95% CI [1.15, 1.38]). CONCLUSIONS: Technology adoption rate of TKA will continue to increase for the next 20 years in the United States with a slight geographical variation.

Association Between Surgical Opioid Prescriptions and Opioid Initiation by Opioid-naïve Spouses.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether surgical opioid prescriptions are associated with increased risk of opioid initiation by operative patients' spouses. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Adverse effects of surgical opioids on operative patients have been well described. Whether risks of surgical opioids extend to operative patients' family members is unknown. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of opioid-naïve, married patients undergoing 1 of 11 common surgeries from January 1, 2011 to June 30, 2017. The adjusted association between surgical opioid prescriptions and opioid initiation by the operative patient's spouse in the 6-months after surgery was assessed. Secondary analyses assessed how this association varied with postoperative time. RESULTS: There were 318,022 patients (mean ± standard deviation age 48.8 ±9.3 years; 49.5% women). Among the 50,833 (16.0%) patients that did not fill a surgical opioid prescription, 2152 (4.2%) had spouses who filled an opioid prescription within 6-months of their surgery. In comparison, among the 267,189 (84.0%) patients who filled a surgical opioid prescription, 15,026 (5.6%) had spouses who filled opioid prescriptions within 6-months of their surgery [unadjusted P < 0.001; adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.37, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.31-1.43, P < 0.001]. Associated risks were only mildly elevated in postoperative month 1 (aOR 1.11, 95% CI 1.00-1.23, P = 0.04) before increasing to a peak in postoperative month 3 (aOR 1.57,95% CI 1.391.76, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Surgical opioid prescriptions were associated with increased risk of opioid initiation by spouses of operative patients, suggesting that risks associated with surgical opioids may extend beyond the surgical patient. These findings may highlight the importance of preoperative counseling on safe opioid use, storage, and disposal for both patients and their partners.

Characterizing Intraoperative Vasopressor Use in Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Preoperative optimization and protocols for joint replacement care pathways have led to decreased length of stay (LOS)and narcotic use, and are increasingly important in delivering quality, cost savings, and shifting appropriate cases to an outpatient setting. The intraoperative use of vasopressors is independently associated with increased LOS and risk of adverse postoperative events including death, and in total hip arthroplasty, there is an increased risk for intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Our aim is to characterize the patient characteristics associated with vasopressor use specifically in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of a cohort of patients who underwent inpatient primary TKA at a single academic hospital from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2018. Demographics, comorbidities, perioperative factors, and intraoperative medication administration were compared with multivariate regression to identify patients who may require intraoperative vasopressors. Out of these, 748 patients underwent TKA, 439 patients required intraoperative vasopressors, while 307 did not. Significant independent predictors of vasopressor use were older age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-1.08) and history of a prior cerebrovascular accident (CVA; OR = 11.80, CI: 1.48-93.81). While not significant, male sex (OR = 0.72, CI: 0.50-1.04) and regional anesthesia (OR = 0.64, CI: 0.40-1.05) were nearing significance as negative independent predictors of vasopressor use. In a secondary analysis, we did not observe an increase in complications attributable to vasopressor administration intraoperatively. In conclusion, nearly 59% of patients undergoing TKA received intraoperative vasopressor support. History of stroke and older age were significantly associated with increased intraoperative vasopressor use. As the first study to examine vasopressor usage in a TKA patient population, we believe that understanding the association between patient characteristics and intraoperative vasopressor support will help orthopaedic surgeons select the appropriate surgical setting during preoperative optimization.

A Safe Number of Perioperative Opioids to Reduce the Risk of New Persistent Usage Among Opioid-Naïve Patients Following Total Joint Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Higher initial opioid dosing increases the risk of prolonged opioid use following total joint arthroplasty (TJA), and the safe amounts to prescribe are unknown. We examined the relationship between perioperative opioid exposure and new persistent usage among opioid-naïve patients after total knee and hip arthroplasty. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, 22,310 opioid-naïve patients undergoing primary TJA between 2018 and 2019 were identified within a commercial claims database. Perioperative opioid exposure was defined as total dose of opioid prescription in morphine milligram equivalents (MME) between 1 month prior to and 2 weeks after TJA. New persistent usage was defined as at least one opioid prescription between 90 and 180 days postoperatively. Multivariate regression analyses were performed to examine the relationship between the perioperative dosage group and the development of new persistent usage. RESULTS: For the total patient cohort, 8.1% developed new persistent usage. Compared to patients who received <300 MME, patients who received 600-900 MME perioperatively had a 77% increased risk of developing new persistent usage (odds ratio 1.77, 95% CI, 1.44-2.17), and patients who received ≥1,200 MME perioperatively had a 285% increased risk (odds ratio 3.85, 95% CI, 3.13-4.74). CONCLUSION: We found a dose-dependent association between perioperative MME and the risk of developing new persistent usage among opioid-naïve patients following TJA. We recommend prescribing <600 MME (equivalent to 80 pills of 5 mg oxycodone) during the perioperative period to reduce the risk of new persistent usage. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.