Total Hip Arthroplasty Versus Education and Exercise: A Propensity-Matched Analysis of 266 Patients Who Have Hip Osteoarthritis.

BACKGROUND: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) for osteoarthritis (OA) is a major health system cost. Education and exercise (Edu+Ex) programs may reduce the number of THAs needed, but supporting data is limited. This study aimed to estimate the treatment effect of THA versus Edu+Ex on pain, function, and quality of life outcomes 3- and 12-months after treatment initiation for hip OA. METHODS: Patients who had hip OA who underwent THA or an Edu+Ex program were included in this propensity-matched study. In 778 patients (Edu+Ex n = 303; THA n = 475), propensity scores were based on pre-treatment characteristics, and patients were matched on a 1:1 ratio. Between-group treatment effects (pain, function, and quality of life) were estimated as the mean difference in change from pre-treatment to 3- and 12-month follow-up using linear mixed models. RESULTS: The matched sample consisted of 266 patients (Edu+Ex n = 133; THA n = 133) that were balanced on all pre-treatment characteristics except opioid use. At 12-month follow-up, THA resulted in significantly greater improvements in pain (mean difference [MD] 35.4; 95% CI [confidence interval] 31.4 to 39.4), function (MD 30.5; 95% CI 26.3 to 34.7), and quality of life (MD 33.6; 95% CI 28.8 to 38.4). Between 17 and 30% of patients receiving Edu+Ex experienced a surgical threshold for clinically meaningful improvement in outcomes, compared to 84 and 90% of THA patients. CONCLUSIONS: A THA provides greater improvements in pain, function, and quality of life. A significant proportion of Edu+Ex patients had clinically meaningful improvements, suggesting Edu+Ex may result in THA deferral in some patients, but confirmatory trials are needed.

Total Knee Arthroplasty Versus Education and Exercise for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Propensity-Matched Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: We estimate the treatment effect of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) versus an education and exercise (Edu+Ex) program on pain, function, and quality of life outcomes 3 and 12 months after treatment initiation for knee osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: Patients with knee OA who had undergone TKA were matched on a 1:1 ratio with participants in an Edu+Ex program based on a propensity score fitted to a range of pretreatment covariates. After matching, between-group differences in improvement (the treatment effect) in Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score 12-item version (0, worst to 100, best) pain, function, and quality of life from baseline to 3 and 12 months were estimated using linear mixed models, adjusting for unbalanced covariates, if any, after matching. RESULTS: The matched sample consisted of 522 patients (Edu+Ex, n = 261; TKA, n = 261) who were balanced on all pretreatment characteristics. At 12-month follow-up, TKA resulted in significantly greater improvements in pain (mean difference [MD] 22.8; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 19.7-25.8), function (MD 21.2; 95% CI 17.7-24.4), and quality of life (MD 18.3; 15.0-21.6). Even so, at least one-third of patients receiving Edu+Ex had a clinically meaningful improvement in outcomes at 12 months compared with 75% of patients with TKA. CONCLUSION: TKA is associated with greater improvements in pain, function, and quality of life, but these findings also suggest that Edu+Ex may be a viable alternative to TKA in a meaningful proportion of patients, which may reduce overall TKA need. Confirmatory trials are needed.

Treatment of Concurrent Depression and Its Effect on Outcomes After Total Joint Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review of Comparative Studies.

PURPOSE: There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that patients with a diagnosis of depression suffer worse outcomes after total joint arthroplasty (TJA) procedures. It is unclear whether depression treatment is a modifiable risk factor that can be targeted to improve suboptimal outcomes. We conducted a systematic review to understand the role that various interventions have on outcomes of TJA in patients with diagnosed depression (PDDs). METHODS: PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, Scopus, and EMBASE were searched systematically from inception until November 2022. Studies of PDDs who underwent TJA that compared any intervention/treatment of depression with a control group and reported pain, functional outcomes, depression scores, and/or revision rates after TJA were relevant for this review. RESULTS: Ten relevant studies were included in the final systematic review, with a total of 33,501 patients included. Two studies reported lower revision rates for patients receiving selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor treatment and psychotherapy. Two studies showed no difference in functional outcomes for patients receiving pharmacologic treatment. One study reported improved functional outcomes for patients receiving cognitive behavioral therapy and another reported improved postoperative functional outcomes for patients receiving alprazolam. CONCLUSION: Interventions targeted at PDDs may improve short-term pain and functional outcomes, and there may be an association between selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor use and implant survival. The current literature is limited and inconclusive, with important gaps in understanding regarding the optimization and treatment of this modifiable risk factor. Surgeons should consider depression treatment as a method to improve outcomes in this cohort.

2023 American College of Rheumatology and American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons Clinical Practice Guideline for the Optimal Timing of Elective Hip or Knee Arthroplasty for Patients With Symptomatic Moderate-to-Severe Osteoarthritis or Advanced Symptomatic Osteonecrosis With Secondary Arthritis for Whom Nonoperative Therapy Is Ineffective.

OBJECTIVE: To develop evidence-based consensus recommendations for the optimal timing of hip and knee arthroplasty to improve patient-important outcomes including, but not limited to, pain, function, infection, hospitalization, and death at 1 year for patients with symptomatic and radiographic moderate-to-severe osteoarthritis or advanced symptomatic osteonecrosis with secondary arthritis of the hip or knee who have previously attempted nonoperative therapy, and for whom nonoperative therapy was ineffective, and who have chosen to undergo elective hip or knee arthroplasty (collectively referred to as TJA). METHODS: We developed 13 clinically relevant population, intervention, comparator, outcomes (PICO) questions. After a systematic literature review, the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach was used to rate the quality of evidence (high, moderate, low, or very low), and evidence tables were created. A Voting Panel, including 13 physicians and patients, discussed the PICO questions until consensus was achieved on the direction (for/against) and strength (strong/conditional) of the recommendations. RESULTS: The panel conditionally recommended against delaying TJA to pursue additional nonoperative treatment including physical therapy, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, ambulatory aids, and intraarticular injections. It conditionally recommended delaying TJA for nicotine reduction or cessation. The panel conditionally recommended delay for better glycemic control for patients who have diabetes mellitus, although no specific measure or level was identified. There was consensus that obesity by itself was not a reason for delay, but that weight loss should be strongly encouraged, and the increase in operative risk should be discussed. The panel conditionally recommended against delay in patients who have severe deformity or bone loss, or in patients who have a neuropathic joint. Evidence for all recommendations was graded as low or very low quality. CONCLUSION: This guideline provides evidence-based recommendations regarding the optimal timing of TJA in patients who have symptomatic and radiographic moderate-to-severe osteoarthritis or advanced symptomatic osteonecrosis with secondary arthritis for whom nonoperative therapy was ineffective to improve patient-important outcomes, including pain, function, infection, hospitalization, and death at 1 year. We acknowledge that the evidence is of low quality primarily due to indirectness and hope future research will allow for further refinement of the recommendations.

Perioperative Factors Associated With Postoperative Delirium in Patients Undergoing Noncardiac Surgery: An Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis.

Importance: Postoperative delirium (POD) is a common and serious complication after surgery. Various predisposing factors are associated with POD, but their magnitude and importance using an individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis have not been assessed. Objective: To identify perioperative factors associated with POD and assess their relative prognostic value among adults undergoing noncardiac surgery. Data Sources: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL from inception to May 2020. Study Selection: Studies were included that (1) enrolled adult patients undergoing noncardiac surgery, (2) assessed perioperative risk factors for POD, and (3) measured the incidence of delirium (measured using a validated approach). Data were analyzed in 2020. Data Extraction and Synthesis: Individual patient data were pooled from 21 studies and 1-stage meta-analysis was performed using multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression after a multivariable imputation via chained equations model to impute missing data. Main Outcomes and Measures: The end point of interest was POD diagnosed up to 10 days after a procedure. A wide range of perioperative risk factors was considered as potentially associated with POD. Results: A total of 192 studies met the eligibility criteria, and IPD were acquired from 21 studies that enrolled 8382 patients. Almost 1 in 5 patients developed POD (18%), and an increased risk of POD was associated with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) status 4 (odds ratio [OR], 2.43; 95% CI, 1.42-4.14), older age (OR for 65-85 years, 2.67; 95% CI, 2.16-3.29; OR for >85 years, 6.24; 95% CI, 4.65-8.37), low body mass index (OR for body mass index <18.5, 2.25; 95% CI, 1.64-3.09), history of delirium (OR, 3.9; 95% CI, 2.69-5.66), preoperative cognitive impairment (OR, 3.99; 95% CI, 2.94-5.43), and preoperative C-reactive protein levels (OR for 5-10 mg/dL, 2.35; 95% CI, 1.59-3.50; OR for >10 mg/dL, 3.56; 95% CI, 2.46-5.17). Completing a college degree or higher was associated with a decreased likelihood of developing POD (OR 0.45; 95% CI, 0.28-0.72). Conclusions and Relevance: In this systematic review and meta-analysis of individual patient data, several important factors associated with POD were found that may help identify patients at high risk and may have utility in clinical practice to inform patients and caregivers about the expected risk of developing delirium after surgery. Future studies should explore strategies to reduce delirium after surgery.

2023 American College of Rheumatology and American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons Clinical Practice Guideline for the Optimal Timing of Elective Hip or Knee Arthroplasty for Patients With Symptomatic Moderate-to-Severe Osteoarthritis or Advanced Symptomatic Osteonecrosis With Secondary Arthritis for Whom Nonoperative Therapy Is Ineffective.

OBJECTIVE: To develop evidence-based consensus recommendations for the optimal timing of hip and knee arthroplasty to improve patient-important outcomes including, but not limited to, pain, function, infection, hospitalization, and death at 1 year for patients with symptomatic and radiographic moderate-to-severe osteoarthritis or advanced symptomatic osteonecrosis with secondary arthritis of the hip or knee who have previously attempted nonoperative therapy, and for whom nonoperative therapy was ineffective, and who have chosen to undergo elective hip or knee arthroplasty (collectively referred to as TJA). METHODS: We developed 13 clinically relevant population, intervention, comparator, outcomes (PICO) questions. After a systematic literature review, the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach was used to rate the quality of evidence (high, moderate, low, or very low), and evidence tables were created. A Voting Panel, including 13 physicians and patients, discussed the PICO questions until consensus was achieved on the direction (for/against) and strength (strong/conditional) of the recommendations. RESULTS: The panel conditionally recommended against delaying TJA to pursue additional nonoperative treatment including physical therapy, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, ambulatory aids, and intraarticular injections. It conditionally recommended delaying TJA for nicotine reduction or cessation. The panel conditionally recommended delay for better glycemic control for patients who have diabetes mellitus, although no specific measure or level was identified. There was consensus that obesity by itself was not a reason for delay, but that weight loss should be strongly encouraged, and the increase in operative risk should be discussed. The panel conditionally recommended against delay in patients who have severe deformity or bone loss, or in patients who have a neuropathic joint. Evidence for all recommendations was graded as low or very low quality. CONCLUSION: This guideline provides evidence-based recommendations regarding the optimal timing of TJA in patients who have symptomatic and radiographic moderate-to-severe osteoarthritis or advanced symptomatic osteonecrosis with secondary arthritis for whom nonoperative therapy was ineffective to improve patient-important outcomes, including pain, function, infection, hospitalization, and death at 1 year. We acknowledge that the evidence is of low quality primarily due to indirectness and hope future research will allow for further refinement of the recommendations.

2023 American College of Rheumatology and American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons Clinical Practice Guideline for the Optimal Timing of Elective Hip or Knee Arthroplasty for Patients With Symptomatic Moderate-to-Severe Osteoarthritis or Advanced Symptomatic Osteonecrosis With Secondary Arthritis for Whom Nonoperative Therapy Is Ineffective.

OBJECTIVE: To develop evidence-based consensus recommendations for the optimal timing of hip and knee arthroplasty to improve patient-important outcomes including, but not limited to, pain, function, infection, hospitalization, and death at 1 year for patients with symptomatic and radiographic moderate-to-severe osteoarthritis or advanced symptomatic osteonecrosis with secondary arthritis of the hip or knee who have previously attempted nonoperative therapy, and for whom nonoperative therapy was ineffective, and who have chosen to undergo elective hip or knee arthroplasty (collectively referred to as TJA). METHODS: We developed 13 clinically relevant population, intervention, comparator, outcomes (PICO) questions. After a systematic literature review, the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach was used to rate the quality of evidence (high, moderate, low, or very low), and evidence tables were created. A Voting Panel, including 13 physicians and patients, discussed the PICO questions until consensus was achieved on the direction (for/against) and strength (strong/conditional) of the recommendations. RESULTS: The panel conditionally recommended against delaying TJA to pursue additional nonoperative treatment including physical therapy, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, ambulatory aids, and intraarticular injections. It conditionally recommended delaying TJA for nicotine reduction or cessation. The panel conditionally recommended delay for better glycemic control for patients who have diabetes mellitus, although no specific measure or level was identified. There was consensus that obesity by itself was not a reason for delay, but that weight loss should be strongly encouraged, and the increase in operative risk should be discussed. The panel conditionally recommended against delay in patients who have severe deformity or bone loss, or in patients who have a neuropathic joint. Evidence for all recommendations was graded as low or very low quality. CONCLUSION: This guideline provides evidence-based recommendations regarding the optimal timing of TJA in patients who have symptomatic and radiographic moderate-to-severe osteoarthritis or advanced symptomatic osteonecrosis with secondary arthritis for whom nonoperative therapy was ineffective to improve patient-important outcomes, including pain, function, infection, hospitalization, and death at 1 year. We acknowledge that the evidence is of low quality primarily due to indirectness and hope future research will allow for further refinement of the recommendations.

The GLA:D® Canada program for knee and hip osteoarthritis: A comprehensive profile of program participants from 2017 to 2022.

BACKGROUND: The Good Life with osteoArthritis in Denmark (GLA:D®) program was implemented in Canada in 2017 with the aim of making treatment guideline-recommended care available to the 4 million Canadians with knee and hip osteoarthritis (OA). This report describes the GLA:D® Canada program, registry and data collection procedures, and summarizes the sociodemographic and clinical profile of participants with knee and hip OA to inform the scientific research community of the availability of these data for future investigations and collaborations. METHODS: The GLA:D® program consists of three standardized components: a training course for health care providers, a group-based patient education and exercise therapy program, and a participant data registry. Patients seeking care for knee or hip OA symptoms and enrolling in GLA:D® are given the option to provide data to the GLA:D® Canada registry. Participants agreeing to provide data complete a pre-program survey and are followed up after 3-, and 12-months. Data collected on the pre-program and follow-up surveys include sociodemographic factors, clinical characteristics, health status measures, and objective physical function tests. These variables were selected to capture information across relevant health constructs and for future research investigations. RESULTS: At 2022 year-end, a total of 15,193 (11,228 knee; 3,965 hip) participants were included in the GLA:D® Canada registry with 7,527 (knee; 67.0%) and 2,798 (hip; 70.6%) providing pre-program data. Participants were 66 years of age on average, predominately female, and overweight or obese. Typically, participants had knee or hip problems for multiple years prior to initiating GLA:D®, multiple symptomatic knee and hip joints, and at least one medical comorbidity. Before starting the program, the average pain intensity was 5 out of 10, with approximately 2 out of 3 participants using pain medication and 1 in 3 participants reporting a desire to have joint surgery. Likewise, 9 out 10 participants report having previously been given a diagnosis of OA, with 9 out 10 also reporting having had a radiograph, of which approximately 87% reported the radiograph showed signs of OA. CONCLUSION: We have described the GLA:D® Canada program, registry and data collection procedures, and provided a detailed summary to date of the profiles of participants with knee and hip OA. These individual participant data have the potential to be linked with local health administrative data registries and comparatively assessed with other international GLA:D® registries. Researchers are invited to make use of these rich datasets and participate in collaborative endeavours to tackle questions of Canadian and global importance for a large and growing clinical population of individuals with hip and knee OA.

Quality indicators in primary elective total hip and knee arthroplasty.

PURPOSE: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) represent a significant portion of healthcare spending and are high-priority for quality improvement initiatives. This study aims to develop quality indicators (QIs) in the care of primary elective THA and TKA patients. These QIs serve a number of purposes including documentation of the quality of care, objective comparisons of institutions/providers, facilitating pay-for-performance initiatives, and supporting accountability, regulation, and accreditation. METHODS: A guideline-based approach, initially described by Kötter et al., was utilized. Eight clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) were evaluated for candidate indicators (CIs). CIs with high-quality evidence and consensus statements were extracted. Eighteen additional CIs were included from previous work that evaluated quality improvement databases. Each CI and supporting evidence was submitted for independent review by an expert panel. The RAND Corporation-University of California, Los Angeles (RAND/UCLA) appropriateness methodology was utilized and items were rated based on validity, reliability, and feasibility of measurement. After two rounds of ratings and ranking, a final ranked list of QIs was obtained. RESULTS: Fifty-six CIs were identified from the literature and CPGs or proposed by the expert panel. Two rounds of voting resulted in 12 total QIs that were deemed appropriate measures of high-quality care. The final 12 QIs were ranked by order of importance: use of peri-operative tranexamic acid, infusion of prophylactic antibiotics prior to inflation of tourniquet, appropriate post-operative venous thromboembolic prophylaxis, complication rate, rate of secondary procedure, readmission rate, early mobilization, average change of pre- to one year post-operative functional status, use of multimodal analgesia, use of neuraxial anesthesia, use of peri-articular injection in TKA, and use of pre-operative PO analgesia. CONCLUSION: This study is an expert opinion based on parameters observed in modern and high-quality academic settings. Twelve QIs are proposed to assess the quality of care in the peri-operative management of primary elective THA and TKA patients.

Precontouring Plates for MIS Bilateral Femur Osteosynthesis Using a Patient-Specific 3D Printed Model: A Case Report.

CASE: A 27-year-old woman with increasing bilateral thigh pain and underlying diagnosis of dysosteosclerosis was diagnosed with bilateral impending pathological femur fractures. Both femurs exhibited abnormal morphology with bowing, thickened cortices, and narrow intramedullary canals. We planned minimally invasive prophylactic plate osteosynthesis. Computed tomography scans of both femora were obtained and used to generate 3-dimensional (3D) printed models. Osteosynthesis plates were precontoured to fit the 3D models and sterilized, and prophylactic fixation was performed using a minimally invasive submuscular technique. CONCLUSION: 3D printed models aided in precontouring fixation plates in a case with challenging bony anatomy, enabling minimally invasive surgery.

Effect of intravenous acetaminophen on postoperative outcomes in hip fracture patients: a systematic review and narrative synthesis.

PURPOSE: Hip fractures are debilitating in older adults because of their impact on quality of life. Opioids are associated with adverse effects in this population, so oral acetaminophen is commonly prescribed to minimize opioid use. Intravenous (iv) acetaminophen has been reported to have superior efficacy and bioavailability than oral acetaminophen. Nevertheless, its effect on postoperative outcomes in emergency hip fractures is unclear. This systematic review assessed the effect of iv acetaminophen on postoperative outcomes in older hip fracture patients. SOURCE: We searched multiple databases from inception to June 2021 for studies on adults > 50 yr of age undergoing emergency hip fracture surgery who received iv acetaminophen (or paracetamol) and that reported postoperative outcomes. Relevant titles, abstracts, and full texts were screened based on the eligibility criteria. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to assess the quality of the selected papers. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Of 3,510 initial studies, four met the inclusion criteria. One was a prospective cohort study and three were retrospective cohort studies. All four studies used historical control groups. Three studies reported a significantly lower mean opioid dose with iv acetaminophen than with oral acetaminophen. Three studies also reported a significantly shorter hospital stay. One study each reported a significant decrease in the number of missed physical therapy sessions, the need for one-to-one supervision, and episodes of delirium. CONCLUSION: There is very limited low-level evidence that iv acetaminophen improves preoperative and postoperative analgesia and shortens hospital stay in older hip fracture patients. Nevertheless, our results should be interpreted with caution since there are no prospective randomized trials investigating whether iv acetaminophen improves postoperative outcomes in this patient population. STUDY REGISTRATION: PROSPERO (CRD42021198174); registered 15 August 2021.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIF: Les fractures de la hanche sont débilitantes chez les personnes âgées en raison de leur impact sur leur qualité de vie. Les opioïdes sont associés à des effets indésirables chez cette population, de sorte que l'acétaminophène par voie orale est couramment prescrit pour minimiser la consommation d'opioïdes. L'acétaminophène par voie intraveineuse (IV) a une efficacité et une biodisponibilité supérieures à celles de l'acétaminophène par voie orale. Néanmoins, son effet sur les devenirs postopératoires dans les fractures d'urgence de la hanche n'est pas clair. Cette revue systématique a évalué l'effet de l'acétaminophène IV sur les devenirs postopératoires chez les patients âgés avec une fracture de la hanche. SOURCES: Nous avons effectué des recherches dans plusieurs bases de données de leur création à juin 2021 pour en tirer les études portant sur des adultes > 50 ans bénéficiant d'une chirurgie d'urgence pour une fracture de la hanche et ayant reçu de l'acétaminophène IV (ou paracétamol), et qui rapportait les devenirs postopératoires. Les titres, résumés et textes intégraux pertinents ont été sélectionnés en fonction des critères d'admissibilité. L'échelle de Newcastle-Ottawa a été utilisée pour évaluer la qualité des articles sélectionnés. CONSTATATIONS PRINCIPALES: Sur les 3510 études initiales, quatre ont répondu aux critères d'inclusion. L'une était une étude de cohorte prospective et trois étaient des études de cohorte rétrospectives. Les quatre études ont utilisé des groupes témoins historiques. Trois études ont rapporté une dose moyenne d'opioïdes significativement plus faible avec l'acétaminophène IV qu'avec de l'acétaminophène par voie orale. Trois études ont également rapporté un séjour à l'hôpital significativement plus court. Une diminution significative du nombre de séances de physiothérapie manquées a été rapporté dans une étude, une autre a rapporté une diminution significative de la nécessité de supervision individuelle, et une troisième une réduction des épisodes d'état confusionnel aigu. CONCLUSION: : Il n'existe que très peu de données probantes qui sont de faible qualité et selon lesquelles l'acétaminophène IV améliore l'analgésie préopératoire et postopératoire et réduit la durée de séjour à l'hôpital chez les patients âgés atteints d'une fracture de hanche. Néanmoins, nos résultats doivent être interprétés avec prudence car il n'existe pas d'étude randomisée prospective évaluant si l'acétaminophène IV améliore les issues postopératoires dans cette population de patients. ENREGISTREMENT DE L'éTUDE: PROSPERO (CRD42021198174); enregistrée le 15 août 2021.

Evaluation of Trends in Knee Arthroscopy from 2004 to 2019 in Ontario, Canada.

Trends in Knee Arthroscopy in Ontario, CanadaThis study included 408,040 patients who underwent arthroscopy procedures in Ontario, Canada between 2004 and 2019. The number of procedures declined 8.9% from 24,070 in 2004/2005 to 21,930 in 2018/2019. Among patients with osteoarthritis, rates of progression to knee arthroplasty were 3.8%, 9.6% and 16.0% at 1, 2, and 5 years, respectively, compared with rates among patients with degenerative meniscal disorders, which were 1.6%, 4.1%, and 7.3%, at 1, 2 and 5 years, respectively.

Acute Postoperative Pulmonary Embolism Detected at Home by a Patient's Personal Activity Monitor: A Case Report.

CASE: The increase in smart technology and integration into health care is inevitable. We present a case of a smart wristwatch prompting a patient readmission to the emergency department for postoperative pulmonary embolism investigation and management. This prompted the assessment for community-based smart technology use and integration to the postoperative monitoring and the associated issues. CONCLUSION: Community-based smart technology is here to stay and is developing at a staggering rate, specifically with the cross-over to health monitoring. Constant patient monitoring and alerts are advantages, with smart technology and medical attention in this case. Surrounding issues of the technology must be considered with implementation.

Hyaluronate carboxymethylcellulose sheets for the prevention of adhesive complications: a model-based cost-utility analysis.

AIM: Clinical trials suggest that hyaluronate carboxymethylcellulose (HA/CMC) prevents adhesion-related complications after intra-abdominal surgery, but at a high upfront cost. This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of HA/CMC for patients undergoing curative-intent open colorectal cancer surgery. METHODS: Using a Markov Monte Carlo microsimulation model, we conducted a cost-utility analysis comparing the cost-effectiveness of HA/CMC at curative-intent open colorectal cancer surgery versus standard management. We considered a scenario where HA/CMC was used at the index operation only, as well as where it was used at the index operation and any subsequent operations. The perspective was that of the third-party payer. Costs and utilities were discounted 1.5% annually, with a 1-month cycle length and 5-year time horizon. Model input data were obtained from a literature review. Outcomes included cost, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), small bowel obstructions (SBOs) and operations for SBO. RESULTS: Using HA/CMC at the index operation results in an incremental cost increase of CA$316 and provides 0.001 additional QALYs, for an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of CA$310,000 per QALY compared to standard management. In our simulated cohort of 10,000 patients, HA/CMC prevented 460 SBOs and 293 surgeries for SBO. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis found that HA/CMC was cost-effective in 18.5% of iterations, at a cost-effectiveness threshold of CA$50,000 per QALY. Results of the scenario analysis where HA/CMC was used at the index operation and any subsequent operations were similar. CONCLUSIONS: Hyaluronate carboxymethylcellulose prevents adhesive bowel obstruction after open colorectal cancer surgery but is unlikely to be cost-effective given minimal long-term impact on healthcare costs and QALYs.

Implementation of the Good Life with osteoArthritis in Denmark (GLA:D) Program across Canada for the Management of Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis.

Good Life with osteoArthritis in Denmark (GLA:D®) is a program for the management of patients with hip and knee osteoarthritis (OA). Adapted for the Canadian population, the GLA:DTM Canada program implements evidence-based strategies to support the prevention, early diagnosis and effective management of hip and knee OA. GLA:D assists local communities in implementing OA strategies across the spectrum of disease severity. An integral part of this program is a national quality and outcomes registry, which includes data concerning participant characteristics and both patient-reported and functional outcomes. This registry helps healthcare providers and healthcare decision makers ensure that individuals with OA receive effective, high-quality care through the GLA:D Canada program.

Quality Measure Public Reporting Is Associated with Improved Outcomes Following Hip and Knee Replacement.

BACKGROUND: Given the inclusion of orthopaedic quality measures in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services national hospital payment programs, the present study sought to assess whether the public reporting of total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) risk-standardized readmission rates (RSRRs) and complication rates (RSCRs) was temporally associated with a decrease in the rates of these outcomes among Medicare beneficiaries. METHODS: Annual trends in national observed and hospital-level RSRRs and RSCRs were evaluated for patients who underwent hospital-based inpatient hip and/or knee replacement procedures from fiscal year 2010 to fiscal year 2016. Hospital-level rates were calculated with use of the same measures and methodology that were utilized in public reporting. Annual trends in the distribution of hospital-level outcomes were then examined with use of density plots. RESULTS: Complication and readmission rates and variation declined steadily from fiscal year 2010 to fiscal year 2016. Reductions of 33% and 25% were noted in hospital-level RSCRs and RSRRs, respectively. The interquartile range decreased by 18% (relative reduction) for RSCRs and by 34% (relative reduction) for RSRRs. The frequency of risk variables in the complication and readmission models did not systematically change over time, suggesting no evidence of widespread bias or up-coding. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that hospital-level complication and readmission rates following THA and TKA and the variation in hospital-level performance declined during a period coinciding with the start of public reporting and financial incentives associated with measurement. The consistently decreasing trend in rates of and variation in outcomes suggests steady improvements and greater consistency among hospitals in clinical outcomes for THA and TKA patients in the 2016 fiscal year compared with the 2010 fiscal year. The interactions between public reporting, payment, and hospital coding practices are complex and require further study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.