Risk Factors Associated with Thromboembolic Complications After total Hip Arthroplasty: An Analysis of 1,129 Pulmonary Emboli.

INTRODUCTION: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains a dangerous complication after total hip arthroplasty (THA), despite advances in chemoprophylactic measures. This study aimed to identify risk factors of developing pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after THA using a modern cohort of patients reflecting contemporary practices. METHODS: The Premier Healthcare Database was queried for primary, elective THAs from January 1st, 2015, to December 31st, 2021. Patients who developed PE or DVT within 90 days of THA were compared with patients who did not develop any postoperative VTE. Differences in patient demographics, comorbidities, hospital factors, perioperative medications, chemoprophylactic agents, and allogeneic blood transfusion were compared between cohorts. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify independent risk factors of PE and DVT. In total, 544,298 THAs were identified, of which 1,129 (0.21%) developed a PE and 1,799 (0.33%) developed a DVT. RESULTS: Patients diagnosed with a PE had significantly higher rates of in-hospital death (2.6% vs 0.1%, P < 0.001) compared with those without a PE. Age (adjusted odds ratio: 1.02 per year, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01 to 1.03) and Black race (aOR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.24 to 1.87) were associated with an increased risk of PE. Comorbidities associated with increased risk of PE included chronic pulmonary disease (aOR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.36 to 1.84), pulmonary hypertension (aOR: 2.06, 95% CI: 1.39 to 3.04), and history of VTE (aOR: 2.38, 95% CI: 1.98 to 2.86). Allogeneic blood transfusion (aOR: 2.40, 95% CI: 1.88 to 3.06) was also associated with an increased risk of PE while dexamethasone utilization was associated with a reduced risk (aOR: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.73 to 0.95). DISCUSSION: Increasing age; Black race; allogeneic blood transfusion; and comorbidities, including chronic pulmonary disease, pulmonary hypertension, and history of VTE, were independent risk factors of PE after THA. Given the increased mortality associated with PE, patients should be carefully evaluated for these factors and managed with an appropriate chemoprophylactic regimen.

Risk Factors for Revision of External Fixation of Unstable Ankle Injuries.

INTRODUCTION: External fixation of unstable ankle injuries is commonly done by orthopaedic surgeons. An improper technique can negate the benefits of the procedure and necessitate revision. This study sought to determine the risk factors for revision of external fixation of unstable ankle injuries. METHODS: Retrospective cohort at a level I academic trauma center of 120 consecutive patients underwent external fixation of an unstable ankle injury. Exclusion criteria included external fixation for reason other than fracture, inadequate intraoperative imaging, skeletal immaturity, and follow-up less than 30 days. Primary outcome measurement was revision of external fixation within 30 days. RESULTS: Ninety-seven patients met inclusion criteria. Eighteen (18.6%) underwent revision within 30 days of whom 5 (28%, P < 0.001) had a poor reduction intraoperatively. No patients with a good reduction required revision. Revised patients had a significantly higher talar tilt (P < 0.001) and were more likely to lack a first metatarsal pin (P = 0.018). Multivariate analysis revealed talar tilt >0.5° (odds ratio, 22.62; 95% confidence interval, 6.52 to 50.63) as an independent risk factor for revision. DISCUSSION: For external fixation of unstable ankle injuries, poor reduction quality is a risk factor for need for revision surgery. Orthopaedic surgeons should be critical of their final intraoperative assessment to prevent revision.

An Updated Estimate of Total Hip and Total Knee Arthroplasty Inpatient Case Volume During the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States.

Background: Inpatient total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) practices were dramatically affected in the United States in 2020 as elective surgeries were paused in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study sought to provide an updated estimate of inpatient total joint arthroplasty (TJA) case volumes in the United States in 2020. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed by identifying all adult patients who underwent primary, elective TJA from January 1st, 2017 to December 31st, 2020, using the National Inpatient Sample. Monthly and annual case volumes were reported with descriptive statistics. Baseline case volumes were established by taking the average number of monthly cases performed in 2017, 2018, and 2019. These monthly averages were compared to 2020 values. Results: From 2017 to 2019, the average case volume was 1,056,669 cases per year (41.0% THA, 59.0% TKA) and 88,055 cases per month. In 2020, 535,441 cases were identified (45.4% THA, 54.6% TKA), corresponding to a 49.3% reduction from the 2017-2019 annual average. Monthly cases decreased to 4515 in April during the "first wave" of COVID-19, corresponding to a 94.8% decrease from prior years. In June, cases rebounded to 55,520 before decreasing again in July to 50,100 during the "second wave" of COVID-19. During the "third wave," COVID-19 cases decreased month-over-month from October through December (56.5% decrease). Conclusions: This updated estimate identified a 49.3% decrease in inpatient TJA cases in 2020 compared to prior years. This is similar to the 46.5-47.7% decrease in case volume previously reported.

Characteristics of Very Young Patients Undergoing Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Contemporary Assessment.

Background: This study aims to compare indications, patient characteristics, hospital factors, and complication rates between total hip arthroplasty (THA) patients aged 30 years or younger and those older than 30 years using a large national database. Methods: The Premier Healthcare Database was utilized to identify primary THA patients from 2015 to 2021 who were aged ≤30 or >30 years. Patient demographics, hospital factors, and primary indications were compared for each cohort. Rates of complications and readmissions were assessed for each cohort by primary indication. Differences were assessed through univariate analysis. Results: Overall, 539,173 primary THA patients were identified (age ≤30: 1849; >30: 537,234). Compared to the >30 cohort, the ≤30 cohort was more likely to be male (56.5% vs 44.9%, P < .001) and non-White (34.0% vs 14.2%, P < .001). The most common indications for THA in the ≤30 cohort were osteonecrosis (49.3%), osteoarthritis (17.8%), and congenital hip deformities (16.0%), and in the >30 cohort, they were osteoarthritis (77.0%), other arthritis (11.3%), and osteonecrosis (5.4%). Patients aged ≤30 years had lower rates of respiratory failure (0.16% vs 0.57%, P < .001), acute renal failure (0.32% vs 1.72%, P < .001), and urinary tract infection (0.38% vs 1.11%, P = .003) than those aged >30 years, but higher rates of wound dehiscence (0.59% vs 0.29%, P = .015) and transfusion (3.68% vs 2.21%, P < .001). There were no differences in 90-day readmission rates (P = .811) or 90-day in-hospital death (P = .173) between cohorts. Conclusions: Younger patients undergoing THA differed significantly in indication, patient characteristics, and hospital factors compared to the older population on univariate analysis. Despite differences in indications, the cohorts did not differ markedly with regard to complication rates in this study.

Are all Cages Created Equal? Analysis of Cervical Cage Malfunctions Using FDA MAUDE Database.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. OBJECTIVE: To characterize failure rates of cervical cages based on manufacturer and design characteristics using the nationwide database of reported malfunctions. BACKGROUND: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) aims to ensure the safety and efficacy of cervical interbody implants postimplantation; however, intraoperative malfunctions may be overlooked. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The FDA's Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience database was queried for reports of cervical cage device malfunctions from 2012 to 2021. Each report was categorized based on the failure type, implant design, and manufacturer. Two market analyses were performed. First, "failure-to-market share indices" were generated by dividing the number of failures per year for each implant material by its yearly US market share in cervical spine fusion. Second, "failure-to-revenue indices" were calculated by dividing the total number of failures per year for each manufacturer by their approximate yearly revenue from spinal implants in the US. Outlier analysis was performed to generate a threshold value above which failure rates were defined as greater than the normal index. RESULTS: In total, 1336 entries were identified, and 1225 met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 354 (28.9%) were cage breakages, 54 (4.4%) were cage migrations, 321 (26.2%) were instrumentation-related failures, 301 (24.6%) were assembly failures, and 195 (15.9%) were screw failures. Poly-ether-ether-ketone implants had higher failure by market share indices for both migration and breakage compared with titanium. Upon manufacturer market analysis, Seaspine, Zimmer-Biomet, K2M, and LDR exceeded the failure threshold. CONCLUSION: The most common cause of implant malfunction was breakage. Poly-ether-ether-ketone cages were more likely to break and migrate compared with titanium ones. Many of these implant failures occurred intraoperatively during instrumentation, which underscores the need for FDA evaluation of these implants and their accompanying instrumentation under the appropriate loading conditions before commercial approval.

Laminoplasty in Motion: Evolving Techniques and Complications.

Cervical laminoplasty is an increasingly popular surgical option for the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). Over the past few decades, there have been substantial developments in both surgical technique and hardware options. As the field of cervical surgery rapidly evolves, there is a timely need to reassess the evolving complications associated with newer techniques. This review aims to synthesize the available literature on cervical laminoplasty and associated mechanical complications pertaining to different laminoplasty hinge fixation options.

Medicare Advantage in Soft Tissue Sarcoma May Be Associated with Worse Patient Outcomes.

Medicare Advantage healthcare plans may present undue impediments that result in disparities in patient outcomes. This study aims to compare the outcomes of patients who underwent STS resection based on enrollment in either traditional Medicare (TM) or Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. The Premier Healthcare Database was utilized to identify all patients ≥65 years old who underwent surgery for resection of a lower-extremity STS from 2015 to 2021. These patients were then subdivided based on their Medicare enrollment status (i.e., TM or MA). Patient characteristics, hospital factors, and comorbidities were recorded for each cohort. Bivariable analysis was performed to assess the 90-day risk of postoperative complications. Multivariable analysis controlling for patient sex, as well as demographic and hospital factors found to be significantly different between the cohorts, was also performed. From 2015 to 2021, 1858 patients underwent resection of STS. Of these, 595 (32.0%) had MA coverage and 1048 (56.4%) had TM coverage. The only comorbidities with a significant difference between the cohorts were peripheral vascular disease (p = 0.027) and hypothyroidism (p = 0.022), both with greater frequency in MA patients. After controlling for confounders, MA trended towards having significantly higher odds of pulmonary embolism (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.98, 95% confidence interval (95%-CI): 0.58-6.79), stroke (aOR: 1.14, 95%-CI: 0.20-6.31), surgical site infection (aOR: 1.59, 95%-CI: 0.75-3.37), and 90-day in-hospital death (aOR 1.38, 95%-CI: 0.60-3.19). Overall, statistically significant differences in postoperative outcomes were not achieved in this study. The authors of this study hypothesize that this may be due to study underpowering or the inability to control for other oncologic factors not available in the Premier database. Further research with higher power, such as through multi-institutional collaboration, is warranted to better assess if there truly are no differences in outcomes by Medicare subtype for this patient population.

Increased Risk of Venous Thromboembolism in Patients with Postoperative Anemia After Total Joint Arthroplasty: Are Transfusions to Blame?

BACKGROUND: The relationship between anemia and the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA) remains unclear. Red blood cell (RBC) transfusions, which have been shown to have thrombogenic effects, may explain conflicting data. This study sought to elucidate the relationship between anemia, RBC transfusions, and VTE following total joint arthroplasty (TJA). METHODS: Using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes, the Premier Healthcare Database was queried for all adults who underwent primary elective THA or TKA from January 2015 to December 2020. Patients were classified into 3 cohorts: those who did not have a diagnosis of anemia and did not receive an RBC transfusion (the control group), those with acute blood loss anemia who did not receive a transfusion (the anemia without transfusion group), and those with acute blood loss anemia who did receive a transfusion (the anemia with transfusion group). The primary outcomes assessed were the 90-day rate and risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), and aggregate VTE. Analysis of variance and pairwise comparisons were used to compare groups. Multivariable analyses were performed to account for confounding factors. RESULTS: The 1,290,815 patients identified as having undergone TJA included 1,078,507 control patients (83.6%), 198,233 patients who had anemia without transfusion (15.4%), and 14,075 patients who had anemia and transfusion (1.1%). Age, sex, race, length of hospital stay, and hospital costs were significantly different between the 3 groups. After adjusting for confounding factors, there was no difference between the anemia without transfusion group and the control group with regard to DVT (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.97 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.89 to 1.06]; p = 0.500), PE (adjusted OR, 1.04 [95% CI, 0.92 to 1.18]; p = 0.543), and VTE (adjusted OR, 0.99 [95% CI, 0.92 to 1.06]; p = 0.697). However, patients with anemia and transfusion had an increased risk of PE (adjusted OR, 1.83 [95% CI, 1.34 to 2.51]; p < 0.001) and VTE (adjusted OR, 1.39 [95% CI, 1.14 to 1.70]; p = 0.001) compared with patients in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with acute blood loss anemia who received a transfusion were at increased risk for developing VTE following TJA, whereas patients with anemia who did not receive a transfusion were not. Orthopaedic surgeons need to be aware of the risks of transfusion and individualize the use of transfusions in their patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level III . See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Prevalence of primary malignant tumours, rates of pathological fracture, and mortality in the setting of metastatic bone disease.

Aims: The modern prevalence of primary tumours causing metastatic bone disease is ill-defined in the oncological literature. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to identify the prevalence of primary tumours in the setting of metastatic bone disease, as well as reported rates of pathological fracture, postoperative complications, 90-day mortality, and 360-day mortality for each primary tumour subtype. Methods: The Premier Healthcare Database was queried to identify all patients who were diagnosed with metastatic bone disease from January 2015 to December 2020. The prevalence of all primary tumour subtypes was tabulated. Rates of long bone pathological fracture, 90-day mortality, and 360-day mortality following surgical treatment of pathological fracture were assessed for each primary tumour subtype. Patient characteristics and postoperative outcomes were analyzed based upon whether patients had impending fractures treated prophylactically versus treated completed fractures. Results: In total, 407,893 unique patients with metastatic bone disease were identified. Of the 14 primary tumours assessed, metastatic bone disease most frequently originated from lung (24.8%), prostatic (19.4%), breast (19.3%), gastrointestinal (9.4%), and urological (6.5%) malignancies. The top five malignant tumours resulting in long bone pathological fracture were renal (5.8%), myeloma (3.4%), female reproductive (3.2%), lung (2.8%), and breast (2.7%). Following treatment of pathological fractures of long bones, 90-day mortality rates were greatest for lung (12.1%), central nervous system (10.5%), lymphoma (10.4%), gastrointestinal (10.1%), and non-renal urinary (10.0%) malignancies. Finally, our study demonstrates improved 90-day and 360-day survival in patients treated for impending pathological fracture compared to completed fracture, as well as significantly lower rates of deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, urinary tract infection, and blood transfusion. Conclusion: This study defines the contemporary characteristics of primary malignancies resulting in metastatic bone disease. These data should be considered by surgeons when prognosticating patient outcomes during treatment of their metastatic bone disease.

Spinolaminar locking plates improve fixation strength compared to pedicle screws: a biomechanical analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Pedicle screw loosening is a significant complication of posterior spinal fixation, particularly among osteoporotic patients and in deformity constructs. In orthopedic trauma surgery, locking plates and screws have revolutionized the fixation of osteoporotic fractures. We have combined the traumatology principle of fixed-angle locking plate fixation with the spine principles of segmental instrumentation. METHODS: A novel spinolaminar locking plate was designed based on morphometric studies of human thoracolumbar vertebrae. The plates were fixed to cadaveric human lumbar spines and connected to form 1-level L1-L2 or L4-L5 constructs and compared to similar pedicle screw constructs. Pure moment testing was performed to assess range of motion before and after 30,000 cycles of cyclic fatigue. Post-fatigue fixture pullout strength was assessed by applying a continuous axial tensile force oriented to the principal axis of the pedicle until pullout was observed. RESULTS: Spinolaminar plate fixation resulted in superior pullout strength compared to pedicle screws (1,065 ± 400N vs. 714 ± 284N, p = 0.028). Spinolaminar plates performed equivalently to pedicle screws in range of motion reduction during flexion/extension and axial rotation. Pedicle screws outperformed the spinolaminar plates in lateral bending. Finally, no spinolaminar constructs failed during cyclic fatigue testing, whereas one pedicle screw construct did. CONCLUSIONS: The spinolaminar locking plate maintained adequate fixation post-fatigue, particularly in flexion/extension and axial rotation compared to pedicle screws. Moreover, spinolaminar plates were superior to pedicle screw fixation with respect to cyclic fatiguing and pullout strength. The spinolaminar plates offer a viable option for posterior lumbar instrumentation in the adult spine.

Direct Anterior Versus Posterior Approach for Total Hip Arthroplasty Performed for Displaced Femoral Neck Fractures.

OBJECTIVES: To compare perioperative, 90-day, and 1-year postoperative complications and outcomes between the direct anterior approach (DAA) and the posterior approach for total hip arthroplasty in geriatric patients with displaced femoral neck fractures (FNFs). DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Multicenter Health care Consortium. PATIENTS: Seven-hundred and nine patients 60 years or older with acute displaced FNFs between 2009 and 2021. INTERVENTION: Total hip arthroplasty using either DAA or posterior approach. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Rates of postoperative complications including dislocations, reoperations, and mortality at 90 days and 1 year postoperatively. Secondary outcome measures included ambulation capacity at discharge, ambulation distance with inpatient physical therapy, discharge disposition, and narcotic prescription quantities (morphine milligram equivalents). RESULTS: Through a multivariable regression analysis, DAA was associated with significantly shorter operative time ( B = -6.89 minutes; 95% confidence interval [CI] -12.84 to -0.93; P = 0.024), lower likelihood of blood transfusion during the index hospital stay (adjusted odds ratios = 0.54; 95% CI 0.27 to 0.96; P = 0.045), and decreased average narcotic prescription amounts at 90 days (B = -230.45 morphine milligram equivalents; 95% CI -440.24 to -78.66; P = 0.035) postoperatively. There were no significant differences in medical complications, dislocations, reoperations, and mortality at 90 days and 1 year postoperatively. CONCLUSION: When comparing the DAA versus posterior approach for total hip arthroplasty performed for displaced FNF, DAA was associated with shorter operative time, lower likelihood of blood transfusion, and lower 90-day postoperative narcotic prescription amounts. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Standard versus low-dose computed tomography for assessment of acetabular fracture reduction using novel step and gap measurement technique.

PURPOSE: Quality of reduction is of paramount importance after acetabular fracture and is best assessed on computed tomography (CT). A recently proposed measurement technique for assessment of step and gap displacement is reproducible but has not been validated. The purpose of this study is to validate a well-established measurement technique against known displacements and to determine if it can be used with low dose CT. METHODS: Posterior wall acetabular fractures were created in 8 cadaveric hips and fixed at known step and gap displacements. CT was performed at multiple radiation doses for each hip. Four surgeons measured step and gap displacement for each hip at all doses, and the measurements were compared to known values. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in measurements across surgeons, and all measurements were found to have positive agreement. Measurement error < 1.5 mm was present in 58% of gap measurements and 46% of step measurements. Only for step measurements at a dose of 120 kVp did we observe a statistically significant measurement error. There was a significant difference in step measurements made by those with greater and those with fewer years in practice. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests this technique is valid and accurate across all doses. This is important as it may reduce the amount of radiation exposure for patients with acetabular fractures.

Medicaid Patients Undergo Total Joint Arthroplasty at Lower-Volume Hospitals by Lower-Volume Surgeons and Have Poorer Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Medicaid insurance coverage among patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) or those undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has been associated with worse postoperative outcomes compared with patients without Medicaid. Surgeons and hospitals with lower annual total joint arthroplasty (TJA) volume have also been associated with worse outcomes. This study sought to characterize the associations between Medicaid insurance status, surgeon case volume, and hospital case volume and to assess the rates of postoperative complications compared with other payer types. METHODS: The Premier Healthcare Database was queried for all adult patients who underwent primary TJA from 2016 to 2019. Patients were divided on the basis of their insurance status: Medicaid compared with non-Medicaid. The distribution of annual hospital and surgeon case volume was assessed for each cohort. Multivariable analyses were performed accounting for patient demographic characteristics, comorbidities, surgeon volume, and hospital volume to assess the 90-day risk of postoperative complications by insurance status. RESULTS: Overall, 986,230 patients who underwent TJA were identified. Of these, 44,370 (4.5%) had Medicaid. Of the patients undergoing TJA, 46.4% of those with Medicaid were treated by surgeons performing ≤100 TJA cases annually compared with 34.3% of those without Medicaid. Furthermore, a higher percentage of patients with Medicaid underwent TJA at lower-volume hospitals performing ≤500 cases annually, 50.8% compared with 35.5% for patients without Medicaid. After accounting for differences among the 2 cohorts, patients with Medicaid remained at increased risk for postoperative deep vein thrombosis (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.16; p = 0.031), pulmonary embolism (adjusted OR, 1.39; p < 0.001), periprosthetic joint infection (adjusted OR, 1.35; p < 0.001), and 90-day readmission (adjusted OR, 1.25; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with Medicaid were more likely to undergo TJA performed by lower-volume surgeons at lower-volume hospitals and had higher rates of postoperative complications compared with patients without Medicaid. Future research should assess socioeconomic status, insurance, and postoperative outcomes in this vulnerable patient population seeking arthroplasty care. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level III . See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Factors Associated With Failure Following Proximal Femoral Replacement for Salvage Hip Surgery for Nononcologic Indications.

BACKGROUND: Proximal femoral replacement (PFR) is used when extensive proximal femoral bone loss is encountered during revision total hip arthroplasty. However, further data on 5-to-10-year survivorship and predictors of failure are needed. Our aim was to assess the survivorship of contemporary PFRs used for nononcologic indications and determine factors associated with failure. METHODS: A single-institution retrospective observational study was conducted between June 1, 2010 and August 31, 2021 for patients undergoing PFR for non-neoplastic indications. Patients were followed for a minimum of 6 months. Demographic, operative, clinical, and radiographic data were collected. Implant survivorship was determined via Kaplan-Meier analysis of 56 consecutive cemented PFRs in 50 patients. RESULTS: At a mean follow-up of 4 years, the mean Oxford Hip Score was 36.2 and patient satisfaction was rated at an average of 4.7 of 5 on the Likert scale. Radiographic evidence of femoral-sided aseptic loosening was determined in 2 PFRs at a median of 9.6 years. The 5-year survivorship with all-cause reoperation and revision as end points was 83.2% (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 70.1% to 91.0%) and 84.9% (95% CI: 72.0% to 92.2%), respectively. The 5-year survivorship was 92.3% (95% CI: 78.0% to 97.5%) for stem length > 90 mm compared to 68.4% (95% CI: 39.5% to 85.7%) for stem length ≤ 90 mm. A construct-to-stem length ratio (CSR) ≤ 1 was associated with a 91.7% (95% CI: 76.4% to 97.2%) survival, while a CSR > 1 was associated with a 73.6% (95% CI: 47.4% to 88.1%) survival. CONCLUSION: A PFR stem length ≤ 90 mm and CSR > 1 were associated with increased rates of failure.

Positive COVID-19 Diagnosis Following Primary Elective Total Joint Arthroplasty: Increased Complication and Mortality Rates.

BACKGROUND: This study analyzed complication rates following primary elective total joint arthroplasty (TJA) in patients who subsequently contracted COVID-19. METHODS: A large national database was queried for adult patients who underwent primary elective TJA in 2020. Patients who contracted COVID-19 after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) or total hip arthroplasty (THA) underwent 1:6 matching (age [±6 years], sex, month of surgery, COVID-19-related comorbidities) to patients who did not. Differences between groups were assessed using univariate and multivariate analyses. Overall, 712 COVID-19 patients were matched to 4,272 controls (average time to diagnosis: 128-117 days [range, 0-351]). RESULTS: Of patients diagnosed <90 days postoperatively, 32.5%-33.6% required COVID-19-driven readmission. Discharge to a skilled nursing facility (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.72, P = .003) or acute rehabilitation unit (aOR 4.93, P < .001) and Black race (aOR 2.28, P < .001) were associated with readmission after TKA. Similar results were associated with THA. COVID-19 patients were at increased risk of pulmonary embolism (aOR 4.09, P = .001) after TKA and also periprosthetic joint infection (aOR 4.65, P < .001) and sepsis (aOR 11.11, P < .001) after THA. The mortality rate was 3.51% in COVID-19 patients and 7.94% in readmitted COVID-19 patients compared to 0.09% in controls, representing a 38.7 OR and 91.8 OR of death, respectively. Similar results were observed for TKA and THA separately. CONCLUSION: Patients who contracted COVID-19 following TJA were at greater risk of numerous complications, including death. These patients represent a high-risk cohort who may require more aggressive medical interventions. Given the potential limitations presently, prospectively collected data may be warranted to validate these findings.

Perioperative Dexamethasone Associated With Decreased Length of Stay After Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty.

INTRODUCTION: Dexamethasone is increasingly used after total joint arthroplasty (TJA) to reduce postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and pain. The primary aim of this study was to examine the relationship between perioperative intravenous (IV) dexamethasone and length of stay (LOS) in patients undergoing primary, elective TJA. METHODS: All patients who underwent TJA from 2015 to 2020 and received perioperative IV dexamethasone were queried from the Premier Healthcare Database. The cohort of patients who received dexamethasone was randomly truncated by a power of 10 and matched in a 1:2 ratio based on age and sex to patients who did not receive dexamethasone. Patient characteristics, hospital factors, comorbidities, 90-day postoperative complications, LOS, and postoperative morphine milligram equivalents were recorded for each cohort. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to assess differences. RESULTS: Overall, 190,974 matched patients were included, 63,658 (33.3%) of whom received dexamethasone and 127,316 (66.7%) did not. The dexamethasone cohort was composed of fewer patients with uncomplicated diabetes (11.6% vs. 17.5%, P < 0.001). Patients who received dexamethasone had significantly decreased mean LOS compared with patients who did not receive dexamethasone (1.66 vs. 2.03 days, P < 0.001). After controlling for confounding variables, dexamethasone was associated with significantly lower risk of pulmonary embolism (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.61 to 0.90, P = 0.003), deep vein thrombosis (aOR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.68 to 0.89, P < 0.001), PONV (aOR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.70 to 0.80, P < 0.001), acute kidney injury (aOR: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.75 to 0.89, P < 0.001), and urinary tract infection (aOR: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.70 to 0.80, P < 0.001). In aggregate, dexamethasone was associated with similar postoperative opioid utilization between cohorts ( P = 0.061). CONCLUSION: Perioperative dexamethasone was associated with reduced LOS and decreased postoperative complications including PONV, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, acute kidney injury, and urinary tract infection after TJA. Although perioperative dexamethasone was not associated with notable reductions in postoperative opioid utilization, this study supports the use of dexamethasone to decrease LOS through multifactorial mechanisms beyond decreased pain.

Anteroposterior pelvic radiograph findings correlate with sagittal spinopelvic motion.

It has been well documented in the arthroplasty literature that lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD) contributes to abnormal spinopelvic motion. However, the relationship between the severity or pattern of hip osteoarthritis (OA) as measured on an anteroposterior (AP) pelvic view and spinopelvic biomechanics has not been well investigated. Therefore, the aim of the study is to examine the association between the severity and pattern of hip OA and spinopelvic motion. A retrospective chart review was conducted to identify patients undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty (THA). Plain AP pelvic radiographs were reviewed to document the morphological characteristic of osteoarthritic hips. Lateral spine-pelvis-hip sitting and standing plain radiographs were used to measure sacral slope (SS) and pelvic femoral angle (PFA) in each position. Lumbar disc spaces were measured to determine the presence of DDD. The difference between sitting and standing SS and PFA were calculated to quantify spinopelvic motion (ΔSS) and hip motion (ΔPFA), respectively. Univariate analysis and Pearson correlation were used to identify morphological hip characteristics associated with changes in spinopelvic motion. In total, 139 patients were included. Increased spinopelvic motion was observed in patients with loss of femoral head contour, cam deformity, and acetabular bone loss (all p < 0.05). Loss of hip motion was observed in patients with loss of femoral head contour, cam deformity, and acetabular bone loss (all p < 0.001). A decreased joint space was associated with a decreased ΔPFA (p = 0.040). The presence of disc space narrowing, disc space narrowing > two levels, and disc narrowing involving the L5-S1 segment were associated with decreased spinopelvic motion (all p < 0.05). Preoperative hip OA as assessed on an AP pelvic radiograph predicts spinopelvic motion. These data suggest that specific hip osteoarthritic morphological characteristics listed above alter spinopelvic motion to a greater extent than others.

Peripheral Nerve Block Utilization is Associated With Decreased Postoperative Opioid Consumption and Shorter Length of Stay Following Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Background: This study aims to examine differences in postoperative complications and opioid consumption associated with perioperative peripheral nerve block (PNB) utilization during primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods: The Premier Healthcare Database was queried for adult patients who underwent primary, elective TKA from 2015 to 2020. Patients who received a femoral or adductor canal PNB were compared to patients who did not. PNB utilization was trended from 2015 to 2020. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed to assess differences in the 90-day risk of postoperative complications between groups. The average inpatient opioid consumption in morphine milligram equivalents was assessed as a function of length of stay. Results: Overall, 609,991 patients were included. PNB utilization increased from 9.29% in 2015 to 30.3% in 2020. After controlling for confounders, the PNB cohort was more likely to have same-day discharge (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.88) and had a decreased risk of periprosthetic joint infection (aOR 0.87), pulmonary embolism (aOR 0.81), and respiratory failure (aOR 0.78). However, there was an increased risk of seroma (aOR 1.75) and hematoma (aOR 1.22) associated with PNB utilization. Lower average overall opioid exposure was seen in the PNB cohort vs no-PNB cohort (82.1 ± 194.7 vs 89.4 ± 214.1 morphine milligram equivalents, P < .001). Conclusions: PNB utilization during primary TKA is associated with a shorter length of stay and decreased risk of multiple postoperative complications, as well as reduced postoperative opioid consumption. These data provide evidence in support of the safety and efficacy of this emerging practice. However, the clinical relevance of an increased risk of seroma and hematoma formation may warrant further investigation.

Aspirin for Venous Thromboembolic Prophylaxis Following Total Hip and Total Knee Arthroplasty: An Analysis of Safety and Efficacy Accounting for Surgeon Selection Bias.

BACKGROUND: Aspirin may be effective at preventing venous thromboembolism following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) or total hip arthroplasty (THA). Current evidence is limited by bias as many surgeons who use aspirin prescribe for high-risk patients alternative chemoprophylactic agents. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the risk of pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients who received aspirin and warfarin while accounting for surgeon selection bias. METHODS: A national database was queried for patients undergoing primary elective TKA or THA from 2015 to 2020. Patients whose surgeon used aspirin in >90% of their patients were compared to patients whose surgeon used warfarin in >90% of cases. Instrumental variable analyses were performed to assess for PE, DVT, and transfusion while accounting for selection bias. Among TKA patients, 26,657 (18.8%) were in the warfarin cohort and 115,005 (81.2%) were in the aspirin cohort. Among THA patients, 13,035 (17.7%) were in the warfarin cohort and 60,726 (82.3%) were in the aspirin cohort. RESULTS: Analyses were unable to identify a difference in the risk of PE (TKA: adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 0.98, P = .659; THA: aOR = 0.93, P = .310) and DVT (TKA: aOR = 1.05, P = .188; THA: aOR = 0.96, P = .493) between the aspirin and warfarin cohorts. However, the aspirin cohort was associated with a lower risk of transfusion (TKA: aOR = 0.58, P < .001, THA: 0.84, P < .001). DISCUSSION: After accounting for surgeon selection bias, aspirin was as effective as warfarin at preventing PE and DVT following TKA and THA. Furthermore, aspirin was associated with a lower risk of transfusion compared to warfarin.

A double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized study to evaluate the efficacy of perioperative dextromethorphan compared to placebo for the treatment of postoperative pain: a study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Pain management is a critical component of comprehensive postsurgical care, as it influences patient safety and outcomes, and inadequate control has been associated with the development of chronic pain syndromes. Despite recent improvements, the management of postoperative pain following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) remains a challenge. The use of opioid-sparing, multimodal analgesic regimens has broad support, but there is a paucity of high-quality evidence regarding optimal postoperative protocols and novel approaches are needed. Dextromethorphan stands out among both well-studied and emerging pharmacological adjuncts for postoperative pain due its robust safety profile and unique pharmacology. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of multi-dose dextromethorphan for postoperative pain control following TKA. METHODS: This is a single-center, multi-dose, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. A total of 160 participants will be randomized 1:1 to receive either 60 mg oral dextromethorphan hydrobromide preoperatively, as well as 30 mg 8 h and 16 h postoperatively, or matching placebo. Outcome data will be obtained at baseline, during the first 48 h, and the first two follow-up visits. The primary outcome measure will be total opioid consumption at 24 h postoperatively. Secondary outcomes related to pain, function, and quality of life will be evaluated using standard pain scales, the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Joint Replacement (KOOS, JR) questionnaire, the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS-29) questionnaire, and clinical anchors. DISCUSSION: This study has a number of strengths including adequate power, a randomized controlled design, and an evidence-based dosing schedule. As such, it will provide the most robust evidence to date on dextromethorphan utilization for postoperative pain control following TKA. Limitations include not obtaining serum samples for pharmacokinetic analysis and the single-center study design. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial has been registered on the National Institute of Health's ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT number: NCT05278494). Registered on March 14, 2022.