Total Shoulder Arthroplasty Is Cost-Effective Compared with Hemiarthroplasty: A Real-World Economic Evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Although outcome studies generally demonstrate the superiority of a total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) over a hemiarthroplasty (HA), comparative cost-effectiveness has not been well studied. From a publicly funded health-care system's perspective, this study compared the costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) in patients who underwent TSA with those in patients who underwent HA. METHODS: We conducted a cost-utility analysis using a Markov model to simulate the costs and QALYs for patients undergoing either TSA or HA over a lifetime horizon to account for costs and medically important events over the patient lifetime. Subgroup analyses by age groups (≤50 or >50 years) were performed. A series of sensitivity analyses were performed to assess robustness of study findings. The results were presented in 2019 U.S. dollars. RESULTS: TSA was dominant as it was less costly ($115,785 compared with $118,501) and more effective (10.21 compared with 8.47 QALYs) than HA over a lifetime horizon. Changes to health utility values after TSA and HA had the largest impact on the cost-effectiveness findings. At a willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold of $50,000 per QALY gained, HA was not found to be cost-effective. The probability that TSA was cost-effective was 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Based on a WTP of $50,000 per QALY gained, from the perspective of Canada's publicly funded health-care system, TSA was found to be cost-effective in all patients, including those ≤50 years of age, compared with HA. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Economic and Decision Analysis Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Predictors of wound leakage in patients undergoing surgery for neck of femur fractures.

AIMS: Persistent wound leakage following joint arthroplasty is a known risk for periprosthetic joint infection. Little is known of the predictors of wound leakage, particularly in patients with a fractured neck of femur. We aimed to determine patient and surgical risk factors for wound leakage in this cohort. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients undergoing surgery for a fractured neck of femur at Leicester Royal Infirmary between May and August 2017 were included. Patients were identified from a prospective database and placed into two groups: those with wound leakage later than three days postoperatively and those without leakage. All previously reported potential risk factors for wound leakage were compared between groups using a chi-square test and logistic regression. A Kattan-style nomogram was also created to allow probabilities output for the regression predictive models in a visual representation. RESULTS: Two hundred patients underwent surgery for a fractured neck of femur. Overall, 17% of patients (33/200) developed a persistent leaky wound. A multivariable model highlighted increased age (p = 0.01), raised body mass index (BMI; > 25 kg/m2; p = 0.047), diabetes (p = 0.03) and intramedullary hip screw fixation (p = 0.03) as significant risk factors for wound leakage. Patients with persistent wound leakage had significantly longer hospital admission than those without (p = 0.001). DISCUSSION: Our analysis identified four perioperative risk factors for wound leakage following fractured neck of femur surgery. We also developed a novel tool to identify those patients at highest risk of leakage. Once identified, the aggressive management of certain medical comorbidities in these patients may help to reduce their incidence of wound issues and the prolonged admissions that result.

The impact of COVID-19 on the management and outcomes of patients with proximal femoral fractures: a multi-centre study of 580 patients.

BACKGROUND: On the 11th March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic. Multiple new guidelines were proposed and existing models of social, domestic and hospital care altered. Most healthcare systems were largely unprepared for this, and the pandemic has tested their adaptability. This study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on the demographics, presentation, clinical management and outcomes of patients with proximal femoral (hip) fractures comparing them to a similar cohort of patients admitted a year earlier. METHODS: This retrospective multi-centre cohort study compared all patients admitted with hip fractures between 1st March and 30th May 2019 (group PC: pre-COVID-19) with hip fracture patients admitted over the same time period during the pandemic in 2020 (group C: COVID-19). The data was obtained from the hospitals' local and National Hip Fracture Databases. Mortality data was checked with the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Primary outcomes were time to theatre, in-patient length of stay and 30-day mortality. RESULTS: A total of 580 patients were included (304 group PC, 276 group C). Patient demographics including Charlson Comorbidity Index and Nottingham Hip Fracture Scores were broadly similar across the two cohorts. There was a significant reduction in the percentage of total hip replacements (11 to 5%, p = 0.006) in group C. There was an increase in conservative management (1 to 5%, p = 0.002) in group C. Time to theatre was significantly delayed in group C (43.7 h) vs group PC (34.6 h) (p ≤ 0.001). The overall length of hospital stay was significantly longer in group PC (16.6 days) vs group C (15 days) (p = 0.025). The 30-day mortality rate in group C was 9.8% compared to 8.2% in group PC (p = 0.746), but for COVID-19 (+) patients, it was significantly higher at 38.2% vs 5.8% in COVID-19 (-) patients (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This is one of the largest multi-centre comparative cohort study in the literature to date examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the management of hip fracture patients. Whilst mortality rates were similar in both groups, COVID-19-positive patients were almost seven times more likely to die, reflecting the seriousness of the COVID-19 infection and its sequelae in such elderly, vulnerable patients.

The incidence of shoulder arthroplasty: rise and future projections compared with hip and knee arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: There remains a paucity of epidemiologic data from recent years on the incidence of shoulder arthroplasty. We aimed to examine the recent trends and predict future projections of hemiarthroplasty (HA), anatomic (aTSA), and reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA), as well as compare these predictions to those for total hip (THA) and knee arthroplasty (TKA). METHODS: The National Inpatient Sample was queried from 2011 to 2017 for HA, aTSA, and RSA, as well as TKA and THA. Linear and Poisson regression was performed to project annual procedural incidence and volume to the year 2025. RESULTS: Between 2011 and 2017, the number of primary shoulder arthroplasties increased by 103.7%. In particular, RSA increased by 191.3%, with 63,845 RSAs performed in 2017. All projection models demonstrated significant increases in shoulder arthroplasty volume and incidence from 2017 to 2025. By 2025, the linear model predicts that shoulder arthroplasty volume will increase by 67.2% to 174,810 procedures whereas the Poisson model predicts a 235.2% increase, to 350,558 procedures by 2025. These growth rate projections outpace those of THA and TKA. CONCLUSIONS: The number of shoulder arthroplasties has been increasing in recent years, largely because of the exponential increases in RSA. The overall incidence is increasing at a greater rate than TKA or THA, with projections continuing to rise over the next decade. These data and projections can be used by policy makers and hospitals to drive initiatives aimed at meeting these projected future demands.

The value of artificial neural networks for predicting length of stay, discharge disposition, and inpatient costs after anatomic and reverse shoulder arthroplasty.

HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE: The objective is to develop and validate an artificial intelligence model, specifically an artificial neural network (ANN), to predict length of stay (LOS), discharge disposition, and inpatient charges for primary anatomic total (aTSA), reverse total (rTSA), and hemi- (HSA) shoulder arthroplasty to establish internal validity in predicting patient-specific value metrics. METHODS: Using data from the National Inpatient Sample between 2003 and 2014, 4 different ANN models to predict LOS, discharge disposition, and inpatient costs using 39 preoperative variables were developed based on diagnosis and arthroplasty type: primary chronic/degenerative aTSA, primary chronic/degenerative rTSA, primary traumatic/acute rTSA, and primary acute/traumatic HSA. Models were also combined into diagnosis type only. Outcome metrics included accuracy and area under the curve (AUC) for a receiver operating characteristic curve. RESULTS: A total of 111,147 patients undergoing primary shoulder replacement were included. The machine learning algorithm predicting the overall chronic/degenerative conditions model (aTSA, rTSA) achieved accuracies of 76.5%, 91.8%, and 73.1% for total cost, LOS, and disposition, respectively; AUCs were 0.75, 0.89, and 0.77 for total cost, LOS, and disposition, respectively. The overall acute/traumatic conditions model (rTSA, HSA) had accuracies of 70.3%, 79.1%, and 72.0% and AUCs of 0.72, 0.78, and 0.79 for total cost, LOS, and discharge disposition, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our ANN demonstrated fair to good accuracy and reliability for predicting inpatient cost, LOS, and discharge disposition in shoulder arthroplasty for both chronic/degenerative and acute/traumatic conditions. Machine learning has the potential to preoperatively predict costs, LOS, and disposition using patient-specific data for expectation management between health care providers, patients, and payers.

Effect on mortality of treatment method and surgery time for hip fracture patients aged over 65 years.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the effects on mortality of implant selection used and time to surgery in patients aged over 65 years operated for hip fractures. METHODS: A total of 301 patients aged over 65 years were investigated in this study. Patients were divided into three groups as follows: Group 1 cemented hemiarthroplasty (CH), Group 2 cementless hemiarthroplasty (CLH), and Group 3 proximal femoral nail (PFN). Time of surgery, fracture and demographic information were retrospectively recorded. RESULTS: After removing 59 patients with missing information, this study included 242 patients. Mean age of patients was 80.5 years. When patient groups were examined according to treatment method, Group 1 (n=146) comprised 60.3%, Group 2 (n=54) comprised 22.3% and Group 3 (n=42) comprised 17.4% of the study group. There was no significant difference in survival between the patients operated in the first 48 hours and the patients operated later (p=0.834). There was an effect on the survival of treatment implant selection (p=0.016). Patients with CH were observed to survive longer than patients with CLH and PFN. CONCLUSION: Operation in the first 48 hours was not observed to affect mortality. Additionally, while sex and age were found to be effective on mortality, implant selection was also concluded to affect mortality.

Mortality and revision rate of cemented and uncemented hemiarthroplasty after hip fracture: an analysis of the Dutch Arthroplasty Register (LROI).

Background and purpose - Femoral neck fractures are commonly treated with cemented or uncemented hemiarthroplasties (HA). We evaluated differences in mortality and revision rates in this fragile patient group.Patients and methods - From January 1, 2007 until December 31, 2016, 22,356 HA procedures from the Dutch Arthroplasty Register (LROI) were included. For each HA, follow-up until death, revision, or end of follow-up (December 31, 2016) was determined. The crude revision rate was determined by competing risk analysis. Multivariable Cox regression analyses were performed to evaluate the effect of fixation method (cemented vs. uncemented) on death or revision. Age, sex, BMI, Orthopaedic Data Evaluation Panel (ODEP) rating, ASA grade, surgical approach, and previous surgery were included as potential confounders.Results - 1-year mortality rates did not differ between cemented and uncemented HA. 9-year mortality rates were 53% (95% CI 52-54) in cemented HA compared to 56% (CI 54-58) in uncemented HA. Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed similar mortality between cemented and uncemented HA (HR 1.0, CI 0.96-1.1). A statistically significantly lower 9-year revision rate of 3.1% (CI 2.7-3.6) in cemented HA compared with 5.1% (CI 4.2-6.2) in the uncemented HA was found with a lower hazard ratio for revision in cemented compared with uncemented HA (HR 0.56, CI 0.47-0.67).Interpretation - Long-term mortality rates did not differ between patients with a cemented or uncemented HA after an acute femoral neck fracture. Revision rates were lower in cemented compared with uncemented HA.

Risk factors for mortality and survival rates in elderly patients undergoing hemiarthroplasty for hip fracture.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between mortality and possible risk factors in elderly patients surgically treated with hemiarthroplasty for hip fracture and to determine mortality rates and yearly survival outcome in a selected cohort. METHODS: A total of 92 patients (51 men (55.4%) and 41 women (44.6%); mean age: 76.47 years) who underwent hemiarthroplasty for hip fracture were included into the study. The following data associated with risk factors were recorded for 92 patients: age, gender, pre-fracture activities of daily living (ADL), type of fracture, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, therapeutic procedure, type of anesthesia, length of time after fracture until operation, postoperative mobility, and duration of hospitalization. A multivariate logistic regression test was used to evaluate the correlation between the risk factors and first- and second-year mortality rates. Third-year mortality rate after surgery was analyzed and compared with the general mortality rate in a similar population of the same age group living in the same city. RESULTS: The mortality rate was 18.5% (17 patients) after the first-year follow-up and 25% (23 patients) after the second year. The mortality risk after hip fracture was found to be 11.7 times greater than the similar age group population in the third year. In addition, there was a significant relationship between a low (dependent) preoperative ADL score, advanced age (>80 years), male gender, high ASA score and poor ability to walk (unable to walk), and first- and second-year mortalities (p<0.05). However, no significant relationship was found between fracture type, fracture side, anesthesia type, time from fracture to surgery, or duration of hospitalization and mortality (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Advanced age, male gender, a high ASA score, a dependent preoperative ADL score, and a postoperative inability to walk were determined to be the most important risk factors affecting mortality in elderly patients with hip fracture. The mortality risk was 11.7 times greater than that of a population with similar characteristics. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, Therapeutic study.

Timing of hip hemiarthroplasty and the influence on prosthetic joint infection.

INTRODUCTION: Previous research suggested that patients have increased risk of infection with increased time from presentation with a femoral neck fracture to treatment with a hip hemiarthroplasty (HHA). The purpose of this study was to determine if rates of prosthetic joint infections within 3 months of surgery was affected by the time from patient presentation with a femoral neck fracture to the time of treatment with HHA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Acute hip fractures treated with HHA between 2005 and 2017 at three centres in Norway were enrolled in the study. Multi-trauma patients were excluded. Univariable analysis was performed to determine any significant effect of pre-operative waiting time on infection rate. Two pre-planned analyses dichotomizing pre-operative waiting time cut-offs were performed. RESULTS: There were 2300 patients with an average age of 82 (range, 48-100) years included of which 3.4% experienced a prosthetic joint infection within 3 months. The primary analysis found no significant difference in infection rate depending on time to surgery (OR = 1.06 (95% CI 0.94-1.20, p = 0.33)). The secondary analyses showed no significant differences in infection rates when comparing pre-operative waiting time of <24 hours vs ≥24 hours (OR = 0.92 (95% CI 0.58-1.46, p = 0.73)) and <48 hours vs ≥48 hours (OR = 1.39 (95% CI 0.81-2.38, p = 0.23)). CONCLUSION: Based off of a large retrospective Norwegian database of hip fractures there did not appear to be a significant difference in infection rate based on pre-operative wait time to surgery.

Cost analysis and complication profile of primary shoulder arthroplasty at a high-volume institution.

BACKGROUND: Paralleling the increased utilization of shoulder arthroplasty, bundled-payment reimbursement is becoming increasingly common. An understanding of the costs of each element of care and detailed information on the frequency of and reasons for readmission and reoperation are keys to developing bundled-payment initiatives. The purpose of this study was to perform a comprehensive analysis of complications, readmission rates, and costs of primary shoulder arthroplasty at a high-volume institution. METHODS: Between 2012 and 2016, 2 shoulder surgeons from a single institution performed 1794 consecutive primary shoulder arthroplasties: 636 anatomic total shoulder arthroplasties (TSAs), 1081 reverse shoulder arthroplasties (RSAs), and 77 hemiarthroplasties. A cost analysis was designed to include a period of 60 days preoperatively, the index surgical hospitalization, and 90 days postoperatively, including costs of any readmission or reoperation. RESULTS: The 90-day complication, reoperation, and readmission rates were 2.3%, 0.6%, and 1.8%, respectively. The 90-day readmission risk was higher among patients with an American Society of Anesthesiologists score of 3 or greater; a 1-unit increase in the American Society of Anesthesiologists score was associated with a $429 increase in index cost. Of the hospital readmissions, 10 were directly related to the index arthroplasty whereas 21 were not. The median standardized costs were as follows: preoperative evaluation, $481; index surgical hospitalization, $15,758; and postoperative care, $183. The median standardized costs for index surgical hospitalization were different for each procedure: TSA, $14,010; RSA, $16,741; and hemiarthroplasty, $12,709. CONCLUSION: In this study, primary shoulder arthroplasty was associated with low 90-day reoperation and complication rates. The median standardized costs inclusive of preoperative workup and 90-day postoperative recovery were $14,675 and $17,407 for TSA and RSA, respectively.

Surgical site infection after hip fracture - mortality and risk factors: an observational cohort study of 1,709 patients.

Background and purpose - Surgical site infection (SSI) is a devastating complication of hip fracture surgery. We studied the contribution of early deep SSI to mortality after hip fracture surgery and the risk factors for deep SSI with emphasis on the duration of surgery.Patients and methods - 1,709 patients (884 hemi-arthroplasties, 825 sliding hip screws), operated from 2012 to 2015 at a single center were included. Data were obtained from the Norwegian Hip Fracture Register, the electronic hospital records, the Norwegian Surveillance System for Antibiotic Use and Hospital-Acquired Infections, and the Central Population Register.Results - The rate of early (≤ 30 days) deep SSI was 2.2% (38/1,709). Additionally, for hemiarthroplasties 7 delayed (> 30 days, ≤ 1 year) deep SSIs were reported. In patients with early deep SSI 90-day mortality tripled (42% vs. 14%, p < 0.001) and 1-year mortality doubled (55% vs. 24%, p < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, early deep SSI was an independent risk factor for mortality (RR 2.4 for 90-day mortality, 1.8 for 1-year mortality, p < 0.001). In univariable analysis, significant risk factors for early and delayed deep SSI were cognitive impairment, an intraoperative complication, and increasing duration of surgery. However, in the multivariable analysis, duration of surgery was no longer a significant risk factor.Interpretation - Early deep SSI is an independent risk factor for 90-day and 1-year mortality after hip fracture surgery. After controlling for observed confounding, the association between duration of surgery and early and delayed deep SSI was not statistically significant.

Surgery trends for osteonecrosis of the femoral head: a fifteen-year multi-centre study in Japan.

PURPOSE: The most appropriate procedure and at what type and stage of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) these procedures had been argued. We attempted to clarify the trend in surgical operations with respect to the age of patients, type classification, and stage of ONFH over a period of 15 years by using the multi-center sentinel monitoring system in Japan. METHODS: We evaluated the hips of 3844 patients using this system in three phases of every five  years from 2003 to 2017. We classified the surgical procedures as osteotomy (OT), hemiarthroplasty (Hemi), and total hip arthroplasty (THA). We assessed the trend in age, type classification, and stage of ONFH over three time periods; "early," and the "late." We calculated the proportion of surgeries for ONFH in each period. We used the Cochran-Armitage test to evaluate trends in proportion of two levels of characteristics across three time periods. RESULTS: The proportion of younger patients significantly decreased. The proportion of OT and Hemi decreased over time, while the proportion of THA increased. The proportion of patients with types C1 and C2 who underwent OT and Hemi decreased over time. In contrast, that of THA increased. The proportion of patients who underwent OT and Hemi significantly decreased; the proportion of patients who underwent THA significantly increased over time at all stages. CONCLUSIONS: In Japan, the younger patients underwent surgery for ONFH decreased. The patients who underwent OT and Hemi for ONFH decreased, while that of THA increased over time.

Use and Cost of Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty Versus Hemiarthroplasty for Acute Proximal Humerus Fractures.

Although reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) may outperform hemiarthroplasty (HSA) for acute proximal humerus fractures (PHF), both the RTSA implant and the procedure are more expensive. The goal of this study was to compare the use and longitudinal cost of care for RTSA vs HSA for the treatment of PHF. Patients were selected from a private payer database with a surgical date between 2010 and 2015. The International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification(ICD-9-CM), codes were used to identify patients who underwent RTSA and HSA for PHF. The 1-year cost follow-up was guaranteed. During the study period, a total of 1038 patients underwent RTSA and 1046 patients underwent HSA for the treatment of PHF. A total of 601 patients who underwent RTSA and 431 patients who underwent HSA with at least 1 year of follow-up were matched by age and sex. The average Charlson Comorbidity Index for the RTSA and HSA groups was 4, indicating similar health status. From 2010 to 2015, the use of RTSA increased linearly (R2=0.986), whereas the use of HSA decreased linearly (R2=0.796). The average index admission cost was higher for RTSA than for HSA ($15,263 vs $14,356, respectively; mean difference [MD], $907; 95% confidence interval [CI], $58-$1760; P=.04). At 1 year postoperatively, however, no statistically significant difference was noted in cost (P=.535). The 1-year physical and occupational therapy cost per patient was higher after HSA than after RTSA (MD, $723; CI, $718-$728; P<.001), but no difference was noted in discharge disposition or 1-year revision or readmission rates. The results of this study suggest that despite the higher initial cost of RTSA, the total cost of care in the year after RTSA and HSA is similar. Therefore, RTSA should be considered in the appropriate clinical setting. [Orthopedics. 2020;43(2):119-125.].

Cognitive impairment influences the risk of reoperation after hip fracture surgery: results of 87,573 operations reported to the Norwegian Hip Fracture Register.

Background and purpose - About one-fourth of hip fracture patients have cognitive impairment. We investigated whether patients' cognitive function affects surgical treatment, risk of reoperation, and mortality after hip fracture, based on data in the Norwegian Hip Fracture Register (NHFR).Patients and methods - This prospective cohort study included 87,573 hip fractures reported to the NHFR in 2005-2017. Hazard rate ratios (HRRs) for risk of reoperation and mortality were calculated using Cox regression adjusted for sex, age, ASA class, fracture type, and surgical method.Results - Cognitive impairment was reported in 27% of patients. They were older (86 vs. 82 years) and had higher ASA class than non-impaired patients. There were no differences in fracture type or operation methods. Cognitively impaired patients had a lower overall reoperation rate (4.7% vs. 8.9%, HRR 0.71; 95% CI 0.66-0.76) and lower risk of reoperation after osteosynthesis (HRR 0.58; CI 0.53-0.63) than non-impaired patients. Cognitively impaired hip fracture patients had an increased reoperation risk after hemiarthroplasty (HRR 1.2; CI 1.1-1.4), mainly due to dislocations (1.5% vs. 1.0%, HRR 1.7; CI 1.3-2.1). Risk of dislocation was particularly high following the posterior approach (4.7% vs. 2.8%, HRR 1.8; CI 1.2-2.7). Further, they had a higher risk of reoperation due to periprosthetic fracture after uncemented hemiarthroplasty (HRR 1.6; CI 1.0-2.6). Cognitively impaired hip fracture patients had higher 1-year mortality than those without cognitive impairment (38% vs. 16%, HRR 2.1; CI 2.1-2.2).Interpretation - Our findings support giving cognitively impaired patients the same surgical treatment as non-impaired patients. But since the risk of hemiprosthesis dislocation and periprosthetic fracture was higher in cognitively impaired patients, they should probably not have posterior approach surgery or uncemented implants.

Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes After Surgical Treatment of Proximal Humeral Fractures with Head-Split Component.

BACKGROUND: Head-split fractures are a subgroup of proximal humeral fractures in which the fracture line affects the articular surface. Limited data are available regarding outcomes and risk factors for failure following surgical treatment of this rare fracture type. METHODS: Of 45 patients with head-split fractures identified, a total of 30 (67%) were included in this retrospective study, with a mean follow-up of 49 ± 18 months (range, 12 to 83 months). Of those 30, 24 were treated with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF), 4 with reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA), and 2 with hemiarthroplasty. Subjective Shoulder Value, Simple Shoulder Test, Constant score, and biplanar radiographs were assessed. Fracture pattern, quality of reduction, eventual complications, revision procedures, and clinical failure (adjusted Constant score < 40) were analyzed, and risk factors for failure were calculated. RESULTS: The overall complication rate was 83% (ORIF: 21 of 24 [88%]; RTSA: 3 of 4 [75%]; and hemiarthroplasty: 1 of 2 [50%]). The most common complications following ORIF were humeral head osteonecrosis (42%), malunion of the lesser tuberosity (33%), and screw protrusion (29%), whereas all complications following RTSA were related to tuberosity problems. Revision was performed in 7 of 24 (29%) of initial ORIF patients, and no revisions were performed in RTSA or hemiarthroplasty patients. Four patients (17%) who underwent primary ORIF underwent conversion to RTSA, and 3 patients (12.5%) had screw removal due to penetration. The overall clinical failure rate was 50% (ORIF: 12 of 24 [50%]; RTSA: 1 of 4 [25%]; and hemiarthroplasty: 2 of 2 [100%]). No significant association was found between preoperative factors and clinical failure. ORIF and primary RTSA showed higher average clinical outcome scores than primary hemiarthroplasty and secondary RTSA. In general, patients who required revision had worse Subjective Shoulder Value (p = 0.014), Simple Shoulder Test (p = 0.028), and adjusted Constant scores (p = 0.069). CONCLUSIONS: Head-split fractures of the humerus treated with ORIF showed high complication and revision rates. RTSA resulted in comparable clinical outcomes and complication rates; however, the complications associated with RTSA were mostly related to tuberosity problems, which in this small series did not require revision. Therefore, RTSA may be the most predictable treatment option for head-split fractures in elderly patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete list of levels of evidence.

More hip complications after total hip arthroplasty than after hemi-arthroplasty as hip fracture treatment: analysis of 5,815 matched pairs in the Swedish Hip Arthroplasty Register.

Background and purpose - Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is increasing as treatment of displaced femoral neck fractures. Several studies compare hemiarthroplasty (HA) with THA, but results vary and few studies report on medical complications. We examined the outcome of THA and HA with a focus on medical complications, hip complications, and death.Patients and methods - Data from the Swedish Hip Arthroplasty Register on 30,953 acute hip fracture patients treated with cemented THA or HA in 2005-2011 were cross-matched with Statistics Sweden for socioeconomic data and with the National Patient Register for diagnostic codes representing medical complications within 180 days or hip complications within the study period. Propensity score matching was used to create comparable groups based on age, sex, income, level of education, marital status, Elixhauser index, and year of surgery. Logistic regression models were created for each outcome.Results - 81% were treated with HA, 73% and 71% were female (HA and THA respectively). Matching resulted in 2 groups of 5,815 patients each. THA was associated with fewer medical complications (OR = 0.83; 95% CI 0.76-0.91) and lower 1-year mortality (OR = 0.42; CI 0.38-0.48), but more hip complications (OR = 1.31; CI 1.20-1.43).Interpretation - THA as treatment of hip fracture was associated with more hip-related complications than HA. The results on mortality and medical complications are, rather, influenced by residual confounding than by the implant design per se. An expansive use of THAs for hip fracture treatment, at the expense of HAs, is not recommended based on our findings if hip complications are to be avoided.

Outcomes of internal fixation versus hemiarthroplasty for elderly patients with an undisplaced femoral neck fracture: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Although internal fixation has been the main treatment option for elderly patients with an undisplaced femoral neck fracture, it is associated with a high reoperation rate. Some surgeons have discussed the use of hemiarthroplasty, but there is limited literature comparing these two treatment modalities. In this study, we compared the perioperative results of hemiarthroplasty with internal fixation for undisplaced femoral neck fractures. METHODS: We performed a comprehensive review of literatures on PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for randomized controlled trials and comparative observational studies. Of the 441 studies initially identified, 3 met all inclusion criteria. Two reviewers independently graded study quality and abstracted relevant data including reoperation rate, mortality rate, Harris Hip Score (HHS), length of hospital stay, and operation duration. RESULTS: Our results revealed that hemiarthroplasty was associated with a lower reoperation rate than the internal fixation group (OR 4.489; 95% CI 2.030 to 9.927). Mortality rate at postoperative 1 month and 1 year and HHS at postoperative 1 year and 2 years were not different. Length of hospital stay (SMD - 0.800, 95% CI - 1.011 to - 0.589) and operation duration (SMD - 2.497, 95% CI - 2.801 to - 2.193) were shorter in the internal fixation group. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the internal fixation group, patients that underwent hemiarthroplasty had a lower reoperation rate and an equivalent overall mortality rate. Our meta-analysis suggests that hemiarthroplasty might be a better treatment choice than internal fixation in treating elderly patients with an undisplaced femoral neck fracture.

Low conversion rates toward total hip arthroplasty after hemiarthroplasty in patients under 75 years of age.

INTRODUCTION: An intracapsular fracture of the femoral neck is frequent in the elderly. Patients can be treated with either total hip arthroplasty or hemiarthroplasty. There is a continuous discussion about the treatment in elderly patients who are still healthy, active and mentally untroubled. A potential consequence of hemiarthroplasty, especially in the relatively young elderly, could be conversion to total hip arthroplasty. The conversion rate must be acceptable, and clinical outcome must be sufficient to justify the treatment with hemiarthroplasty in this group of patients. This study evaluates the conversion rate of hemiarthroplasty to total hip arthroplasty and clinical outcome in patients under 75 years of age. METHODS: This study identified 248 patients, younger than 75 years at time of operation, with a fracture of the femoral neck treated with hemiarthroplasty. Patient-reported outcome measurements (VAS pain during rest and activity and WOMAC) were assessed by telephone interviews. Furthermore, radiographic evaluation for the presence of acetabular wear was performed. RESULTS: At a follow-up of 5.1 (0.9-9.6) years, the conversion rate was 7.3%. Mean VAS pain in rest was 0.89 (0-10), the mean VAS pain during activity was 2.2 (0-10), and the WOMAC showed a mean of 16.51 (0-64). At time of follow-up, 38.7% of patients had died. Radiographic evaluation of the unrevised group showed in one patient signs of acetabulum wear. CONCLUSION: Hemiarthroplasty in the relatively young elderly after a fracture of the femoral neck demonstrates an acceptable conversion rate. Furthermore, unrevised patients show low complaints of pain. To prevent one conversion to total hip arthroplasty, 13.7 patients should be treated with total hip arthroplasty that will not undergo a conversion at a later stage. Therefore, hemiarthroplasty remains a viable treatment of femoral neck fractures in relatively young patients. There seems to be no space for standardized decision making concerning the choice of treatment. An individual approach is required.

Does time from fracture to surgery affect mortality and intraoperative medical complications for hip fracture patients? An observational study of 73 557 patients reported to the Norwegian Hip Fracture Register.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to investigate mortality and risk of intraoperative medical complications depending on delay to hip fracture surgery by using data from the Norwegian Hip Fracture Register (NHFR) and the Norwegian Patient Registry (NPR). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 83 727 hip fractures were reported to the NHFR between 2008 and 2017. Pathological fractures, unspecified type of fractures or treatment, patients less than 50 years of age, unknown delay to surgery, and delays to surgery of greater than four days were excluded. We studied total delay (fracture to surgery, n = 38 754) and hospital delay (admission to surgery, n = 73 557). Cox regression analyses were performed to calculate relative risks (RRs) adjusted for sex, age, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, type of surgery, and type of fracture. Odds ratio (OR) was calculated for intraoperative medical complications. We compared delays of 12 hours or less, 13 to 24 hours, 25 to 36 hours, 37 to 48 hours, and more than 48 hours. RESULTS: Mortality remained unchanged when total delay was less than 48 hours. Total delay exceeding 48 hours was associated with increased three-day mortality (RR 1.69, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.23 to 2.34; p = 0.001) and one-year mortality (RR 1.06, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.22; p = 0.003). More intraoperative medical complications were reported when hospital delay exceeded 24 hours. CONCLUSION: Hospitals should operate on patients within 48 hours after fracture to reduce mortality and intraoperative complications. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2019;101-B:1129-1137.

Nationwide trends in management of proximal humeral fractures: an analysis of 77,966 cases from 2008 to 2017.

BACKGROUND: There is no consensus as to the treatment of proximal humeral fractures (PHFs), particularly in elderly patients. There is increasing evidence that nonoperative management may have similar functional outcomes to operative management, which is potentially conflicting with increasingly improved surgical techniques and implants. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in the incidence and management of PHFs across Australia over a 10-year period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all hospitalizations of patients with PHFs from 2 Australian national health care databases from 2008 to 2017. We recorded the incidence of PHFs and annual utilization rates of commonly used treatment options including nonoperative management, hemiarthroplasty (HA), reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA), and open reduction-internal fixation (ORIF). RESULTS: The incidence of PHFs increased from 26.8 per 100,000 person-years in 2008 to 45.7 per 100,000 person-years in 2017. There was a decrease in operative management from 2008 to 2017, with 32.5% and 22.8% of all PHFs treated operatively in 2008 and 2017, respectively (P = .001). ORIF use decreased significantly from 76.6% to 72.6% (P = .004). RTSA use increased significantly from 4.1% to 24.5% (P < .001). HA use decreased significantly from 19.3% to 3% (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Whereas the incidence of PHFs increased, the operative management of PHFs decreased significantly from 2008 to 2017, particularly in patients aged 65 years or older. This decrease in operative management was in part due to a significant decrease in ORIF and HA use in patients aged 65 years or older. There was a significant increase in RTSA use.