Meniscectomy Reimbursement and Utilization Are Declining at Different Rates Across the United States.

PURPOSE: To evaluate how arthroscopic meniscectomy utilization, reimbursement, physician billing practices, and patient populations have changed within the Medicare population from 2013 to 2021 at a national level and regional level. METHODS: The Medicare Physician & Other Practitioners database was queried for all episodes of 2-compartment and single-compartment arthroscopic meniscectomy between 2013 and 2021. Utilization per 10,000 beneficiaries and average inflation-adjusted reimbursement were assessed. Physician practice styles, measured through changes in the services billed, and Medicare beneficiary demographic characteristics were extracted each year. The Kruskal-Wallis test was performed to compare regions. RESULTS: Between 2013 and 2021, two-compartment meniscectomy utilization per 10,000 Medicare beneficiaries declined by 54.9% and single-compartment meniscectomy utilization declined by 54.2%. Average reimbursement declined by 9.3% and 12.5% for 2-compartment meniscectomy and single-compartment meniscectomy, respectively. In 2021, the South had the highest utilization of both 2-compartment (3.8/10,000) and single-compartment (4.7/10,000) meniscectomies while having the lowest average reimbursement for 2-compartment meniscectomy ($383.02, P < .001). Nationally, the average number of beneficiaries per surgeon performing single-compartment meniscectomy declined by 3.8% whereas the average number of billable services performed per beneficiary increased by 46.6%. The comorbidity risk score of these patients decreased by 8.7%, with the West having the healthiest patients in 2021. CONCLUSIONS: Meniscectomy utilization and reimbursement have been declining nationally within the Medicare population. Surgeons in the South performed the most meniscectomies while having among the lowest reimbursement. The practice patterns of surgeons performing meniscectomies have been changing, with surgeons performing nearly 50% more total billable services per beneficiary while performing fewer unique billable services. Additionally, the patient population of surgeons who perform meniscectomy was healthier in 2021 than in 2013. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study highlights changes in meniscectomy utilization and reimbursement over time in the face of changing evidence of meniscectomy use in elderly patients and new Medicare legislature regarding reimbursement.

Increased Risk of Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve Injury in Patients With Previous Hip Arthroscopy Who Underwent a Direct Anterior Approach Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Purpose: To evaluate the rates of lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) injury in patients who underwent a direct anterior approach (DAA) total hip arthroplasty (THA) with and without previous hip arthroscopy. Methods: We retrospectively investigated consecutive DAA THAs performed by a single surgeon. These cases were grouped into patients with and without a history of previous ipsilateral hip arthroscopy. LFCN sensation was assessed during the initial follow-up (6 weeks) and 1-year (or most recent) follow-up visits. The incidence and character of LFCN injury was compared between the 2 groups. Results: In total, 166 patients underwent a DAA THA with no previous hip arthroscopy, and 13 had a history of previous arthroscopy. Of the 179 total patients who underwent THA, 77 experienced some form of LFCN injury at initial follow-up (43%). The rate of injury for the cohort with no previous arthroscopy was 39% (n = 65/166) on initial follow-up, whereas the rate of injury for the cohort with a history of previous ipsilateral arthroscopy was 92% (n =12/13) on initial follow-up (P < .001). In addition, although the difference was not significant, 28% (n = 46/166) of the group without history of previous arthroscopy and 69% (n = 9/13) of the group with a history of previous arthroscopy had continued symptoms of LFCN injury at most recent follow-up. Conclusions: In this study, patients who underwent hip arthroscopy before an ipsilateral DAA THA were at increased risk of LFCN injury compared with patients who underwent a DAA THA without a previous hip arthroscopy. At final follow-up of patients with initial LFCN injury, symptoms resolved in 29% (n = 19/65) of patients with no previous hip arthroscopy and 25% (n = 3/12) of patients with previous hip arthroscopy. Level of Evidence: Level III, case-control study.

Direct anterior approach associated with lower dislocation risk after primary total hip arthroplasty in patients with prior lumbar spine fusion.

BACKGROUND: While there has been much interest in the increased dislocation rate in total hip arthroplasty (THA) patients with a lumbar spine fusion (LSF), there is minimal literature comparing the risk based on surgical approach. The purpose of this study was to determine if a direct anterior (DA) approach was protective against dislocation when compared to the anterolateral and posterior approaches in this high-risk patient population. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of 6554 THAs performed at our institution from January 2011 to May 2021. 294 (4.5%) patients had a prior LSF and were included in the analysis. The surgical approach, timing of LSF in relation to THA, vertebral levels fused, timing of THA dislocation, and the need for revision surgery were recorded for statistical analysis. RESULTS: In total, 39.7.3% of patients underwent a DA approach (n = 117), 25.9% underwent an anterolateral approach (n = 76), and 34.3% underwent a posterior approach (n = 101). There was no difference in number of vertebral levels fused between groups (mean 2.5, all p > 0.05). There was a total of 13 (4.4%) THA dislocation events, with an average time from surgery to dislocation of 5.6 months (0.3-30.5 months). There were fewer dislocations in the DA cohort (0.9%) in comparison to both the anterolateral (6.6%, p = 0.036) and posterior groups (6.9%, p = 0.026). CONCLUSIONS: The DA approach demonstrated a significantly lower THA dislocation rate compared to both the anterolateral and posterior approaches in patients with a concomitant LSF.

Patient Satisfaction and Pain Relief After Deep Peroneal Nerve Neurectomy for Midfoot Arthritis: A Preliminary Short Report.

BACKGROUND: The deep peroneal nerve (DPN) plays a role in afferent nociceptive dorsal midfoot joint pain perception. DPN neurectomy for treatment of symptomatic dorsal midfoot osteoarthritis allows early mobilization and weightbearing. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the patient satisfaction and pain relief after DPN neurectomy for treatment of chronic dorsal midfoot pain due to osteoarthritis. METHODS: In this retrospective, IRB-approved, questionnaire-based study, we evaluated 48 patients (55 feet) with an average follow-up of 35.1 (range, 16-51) months who underwent DPN neurectomy at our institution between September 2017 and February 2021. There were 38 women and 10 men, 41 unilateral (22 right, 19 left) and 7 bilateral procedures, with an average age of 67.8 (range, 35-88) years at the time of surgery. A questionnaire that included questions regarding postsurgical dorsal midfoot pain relief, surgical result satisfaction, and current functional limitations was administered via telephone. Demographic information, patient responses, and complications were recorded. RESULTS: Of the 48 patients, 80.8% were satisfied with the result of the surgery in relieving their dorsal midfoot pain, 84.6% would repeat the surgery under the same circumstances, 83.8% would recommend the surgery to a friend, 10.4% reported they wish they had undergone arthrodesis, 91.7% reported pain relief in the first 6 months, and 55.6% reported current activity limitations. Six feet (10.9%) underwent a second procedure with an average postoperative time of 20.5 (range, 1-36) months. Complications included 1 hematoma and deep wound infection, 1 DPN neuroma and superficial peroneal nerve entrapment, and 4 patients with inadequate pain relief. CONCLUSION: In this cohort, DPN neurectomy appeared to be a reasonable surgical alternative to arthrodesis for the management of chronic dorsal midfoot pain due to midfoot osteoarthritis after failed nonoperative management. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, retrospective case series.

Contemporary Review: Autograft Bone Use in Foot and Ankle Surgery.

Bone autografts are frequently harvested for use in foot and ankle surgery. A commonly used harvest site is the iliac crest; however, because of known morbidity with this site, the tibia and calcaneus are attractive alternatives. There remains limited understanding regarding the osteogenic potential of autografts from each of these locations. In this review, we provided an update of the known data on bone autografts from the iliac crest, tibia, and calcaneus, focusing on the total cells harvested from each site as well as the presence of osteogenic osteoprogenitor cells. Level of Evidence: Level V, expert opinion.

Percutaneous biopsy of musculoskeletal tumors and the potential for needle tract seeding: technical considerations, current controversies, and outcomes.

Multidisciplinary communication and planning between the musculoskeletal radiologist and orthopedic oncologist are essential for proper biopsy planning when a primary musculoskeletal malignancy is suspected. Image-guided percutaneous biopsy allows for real-time visualization of the biopsy needle and surrounding structures, combining high diagnostic accuracy with safety and cost-effectiveness. However, determining a surgically optimal biopsy trajectory for a mass can be technically challenging due to critical surrounding anatomy or challenging needle approach angles. Inappropriately placed biopsies can have serious repercussions on patient function and oncological survival. The potential for needle tract seeding and local recurrence after biopsy of sarcoma has been central to the debate regarding the need for excision of the biopsy tract. This multidisciplinary review highlights current controversies in the field, including the issue of core needle biopsy tracts and their excision, technical considerations and advances in image-guidance in the setting of challenging biopsies, advances in histopathological diagnostics with implications for targeted therapy in sarcoma, as well as surgical and oncological outcomes after needle tract biopsy.

Higher rates of mortality and perioperative complications in patients undergoing primary shoulder arthroplasty and a history of previous stroke.

BACKGROUND: Cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs), or strokes, are the second most common cause of mortality and third most common cause of disability worldwide. Although advances in the treatment of strokes have improved survivorship following these events, there remains a limited understanding of the effect of a prior stroke and sequelae on patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty (SA). This study aimed to determine the outcomes of patients with a history of stroke with sequela undergoing primary SA. METHODS: Over a 30-year time period (1990-2020), 205 primary SAs (32 hemiarthroplasties [HAs], 56 anatomic total shoulder arthroplasties [aTSAs], and 117 reverse shoulder arthroplasties [RSAs]) were performed in patients who sustained a previous stroke with sequela and were followed for a minimum of 2 years. This cohort was matched (1:2) according to age, sex, body mass index, implant, and year of surgery with patients who had undergone HA or aTSA for osteoarthritis or RSA for cuff tear arthropathy. Mortality after primary SA was individually calculated through a cumulative incidence analysis. Implant survivorship was analyzed with a competing risk model selecting death as the competing risk. RESULTS: The stroke cohort sustained 38 (18.5%) surgical and 42 (20.5%) medical perioperative complications. Compared with the control group, the stroke cohort demonstrated higher rates of any surgical complication (18.5% vs 10.7%; P = .007), instability (6.3 % vs 1.7%; P = .002), venous thromboembolism (3.4% vs 0.5%; P = .004), pulmonary embolus (2.0% vs 0%; P = .005), postoperative stroke (2.4% vs 0%; P = .004), respiratory failure (1.0% vs 0%; P = .045), any medical complication (20.5% vs 7.3%; P < .001), and 90-day readmission (16.6% vs 4.9%; P < .001). Additionally, RSA in the stroke cohort was associated with higher reoperation (8.5% vs 2.6%; P = .011) and revision rates (6.8% vs 1.7%; P = .013) compared with the matched cohort. Subsequent cumulative incidences of death at 1, 2, 5, 10, 15, and 20 years were 4.4% vs 3.4%, 10.7% vs 5.1%, 25.6% vs 14.7%, 51.6% vs 39.3%, 74.3% vs 58.6%, and 92.6% vs 58.6% between the stroke and matched cohorts, respectively (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: A preoperative diagnosis of a stroke in patients undergoing primary SA is associated with higher rates of perioperative complications and mortality when compared to a matched cohort. This information should be considered to counsel patients and surgeons to optimize care and help mitigate risks associated with the perioperative period.

Measuring Deltoid Insufficiency After Supination-External Rotation Ankle Fracture With Lateral Talar Subluxation on Gravity Stress View.

BACKGROUND: Stress-view radiographs are frequently obtained to evaluate supination-external rotation (SER) variant ankle fractures. Measurement of the ankle medial clear space (MCS) is a surrogate of medial structure integrity as part of overall ankle stability. Measurement of the lateral talus displacement with respect to the incisura may be a sensitive and specific method to assess joint subluxation. METHODS: Retrospective review of acute SER-variant isolated lateral malleolar fractures with gravity stress views (GSVs) were performed for 103 patients. GSV analysis was performed with standardized measurements of the MCS, superior clear space (SCS), and 2 new novel measurements of lateral talus subluxation (LTS). Decision for surgery was obtained by surgeons who reviewed masked injury radiographs for predictive performance analysis of the LTS vs MCS. RESULTS: MCS, SCS, and LTS measurements were performed on 103 patients. Mean MCS, SCS, and LTS within the operative group was increased. MCS ≥5 mm and LTS >4 mm had equal sensitivity (95%), with higher specificity for LTS (75% vs 60%). Receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrates an area under the curve of 0.786 for MCS ≥5 mm vs 0.918 for LTS >4 mm. CONCLUSION: We found LTS to be superior to MCS for medial ankle structure stability on gravity stress views of SER-variant ankle fractures. We propose this as a useful tool for clinicians to consider when evaluating SER-variant ankle fractures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II, prospective comparative study of radiographs.

Recurrent Metatarsal Fractures in a Patient With Cushing Disease: A Case Report.

Cushing syndrome (CS) can result from excess exposure to exogenous or endogenous glucocorticoids. The most common endogenous cause of CS is an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-secreting pituitary adenoma, known as Cushing disease (CD). Patients typically present with characteristics including truncal obesity, moon facies, facial plethora, proximal muscle weakness, easy bruising, and striae. Insufficiency fractures of the metatarsals are a rare presentation for CS. A 39-year-old premenopausal woman presented to the orthopedic outpatient clinic with recurrent metatarsal fractures and no history of trauma. A metabolic bone disease was suspected, and after further evaluation by endocrinology services, the CD was diagnosed. Surgical resection was performed, and pathology confirmed the presence of a pituitary adenoma. Multiple, recurrent, non-traumatic metatarsal fractures can be the initial presentation of CD in a premenopausal woman.