When does patient function "Plateau" after total joint arthroplasty? A cohort study.

PURPOSE: With over 100,000 procedures completed per year, hip and knee arthroplasty are two of the most common surgical procedures performed in Canada. There has been literature indicating that patient reported outcome measures (PROM) will start to plateau between six and 12 months. The purpose of this paper was to analyze the trajectory of PROMs following total hip and knee arthroplasty (THA and TKA), as well as assess the impact of any potential confounders on this trajectory. The central research question was: At what point do PROMS plateau among patients that undergo elective THA and TKA? METHODS: This study was a retrospective analysis of data from a prospective database. Patients were eligible if they had undergone an elective, primary THA/TKA with Oxford Scores recorded pre-operatively, and at least at two of the following four time points: six weeks, six months, one year, and two years. RESULTS: Mean pre-operative Oxford scores were 18.0 (7.8) for THA, and 20.1 (7.5) for TKA. For both THA and TKA, there were statistically significant interval improvements in Oxford scores from six weeks [THA: 33.8 (7.9)/TKA: 28.7 (7.8)] to six months [THA: 40.2 (7.3)/TKA: 35.9 (8.3)], and from six months to one year [THA: 41.0 (7.3)/TKA: 37.3 (8.4)], but not from one to two years [THA: 40.0 (8.5)/TKA: 36.4 (9.6)]. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing either primary THA or TKA can expect clinically meaningful improvements in the first six months after surgery. Beyond this time point, there is a plateau in PROMs. These findings are important for both setting patient expectations in pre-operative discussions, and allowing surgeons to have a realistic understanding of their patients' expected post-operative course.

Routine use of antibiotic-laden bone cement in total knee arthroplasty is a cost-effective practice in the single-payer healthcare system.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the cost-effectiveness of antibiotic-laden bone cement (ALBC) in primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) from the perspective of a single-payer healthcare system. METHODS: A cost-utility analysis (CUA) was performed over a 2-year time horizon comparing primary TKA with either ALBC or regular bone cement (RBC) from the perspective of the single-payer Canadian healthcare system. All costs were in 2020 Canadian dollars. Health utilities were in the form of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Model inputs for cost, utilities and probabilities were derived from the literature as well as regional and national databases. One-way deterministic sensitivity analysis was performed. RESULTS: Primary TKA with ALBC was found to be more cost-effective compared to primary TKA with RBC with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of -3,637.79 CAD/QALY. The use of routine ALBC remained cost-effective even with cost increases of up to 50% per bag of ALBC. TKA with ALBC was no longer cost-effective if the rate of PJI following this practice increased 52%, or the rate of PJI following the use of RBC decreased 27%. CONCLUSIONS: The routine use of ALBC in TKA is a cost-effective practice in the single-payer Canadian healthcare system. This remains to be the case even with a 50% increase in the cost of ALBC. Policy makers and hospital administrators of single-payer healthcare systems can leverage this model to inform their local funding policies. Future prospective reviews and randomized controlled trials from the perspective of various healthcare models can further shed light on this issue. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

The Changing Characteristics of Arthroplasty Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Total joint arthroplasty (TJA) is among the most common operations performed worldwide, with global volumes on the rise. It is important to understand if the characteristics of this patient population are changing over time for resource allocation and surgical planning. The purpose of this study is to examine how this patient population has changed between 2003 and 2017. METHODS: A retrospective review of a prospective TJA database was conducted. Age, gender, body mass index, comorbidities, American Society of Anesthesiologists class, responsible diagnoses, and comorbidities were compared over 5-year intervals between 2003 and 2017. All patients undergoing primary, elective TJA were included. RESULTS: Overall, 17,138 TJAs were included. Mean body mass index increased over the study period for total hip arthroplasty (THA; 29.4-30.4 kg/m2, P < .0001) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA; 32.0-3.1 kg/m2, P < .0001) patients. THA patients were significantly younger in more recent years (68.0-66.8 years old, P = .0026); this trend was not observed among TKA patients. Over the study period, a significantly higher proportion of patients were American Society of Anesthesiologists class III/IV for THA (50.5%-72.3%) and TKA (57.5%-80.7%) (P < .00001). Prevalence of common comorbidities did not change significantly. CONCLUSION: The key findings of this retrospective analysis of a large prospective database are that patients undergoing TJA are becoming younger and more obese. It is unclear whether patients are becoming more medically complex. These trends paint a concerning picture of a population that is increasingly complex, and may require a greater allocation of resources in the future. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective cohort study.

Randomized Controlled Trial of Sensor-Guided Knee Balancing Compared to Standard Balancing Technique in Total Knee Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Despite advances in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) technology, up to 1 in 5 patients remain dissatisfied. This study sought to evaluate if sensor-guided knee balancing improves postoperative clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction compared to a conventional gap balancing technique. METHODS: We undertook a prospective double-blind randomized controlled trial of patients presenting for elective primary TKA to determine a difference in TKA soft tissue balance between a standard gap balancing (tensiometer) approach compared to augmenting the balance using a sensor-guided device. The sensor-guided experimental group had adjustments made to achieve a balanced knee to within 15 pounds of intercompartmental pressure difference. Secondary outcomes included differences in clinical outcome scores at 6 months and 1 year postoperative, including the Oxford Knee Score and Knee Society Score and patient satisfaction. RESULTS: The sample comprised of 152 patients, 76 controls and 76 experimental sensor-guided cases. Within the control group, 36% (27/76) of knees were unbalanced based on an average coronal plane intercompartmental difference >15 pounds, compared to only 5.3% (4/76) within the experimental group (P < .0001). There were no significant differences in 1-year postoperative flexion, Knee Society Score, or Oxford scores. Overall, TKA patient satisfaction at 1 year was comparable, with 81% of controls and experimental cases reporting they were very satisfied (P = .992). CONCLUSION: Despite the use of the sensor-guided knee balancer device to provide additional quantitative feedback in the evaluation of the soft tissue envelope during TKA, we were unable to demonstrate improved clinical outcomes or patient satisfaction compared to our conventional gap balancing technique.

Nuisance Symptoms in Total Joint Arthroplasty: Prevalence and Impact on Patient Satisfaction.

BACKGROUND: While hip and knee total joint arthroplasty (TJA) patients experience marked improvement in pain relief and function, many patients experience nuisance symptoms, which may cause discomfort and dissatisfaction. METHODS: A prospective survey study to determine type and prevalence of hip/knee TJA nuisance symptoms and impact on patient satisfaction at 1 year postoperative was conducted. The survey determined occurrence of common nuisance symptoms (eg, localized pain, swelling, instability, stiffness) and impact on overall satisfaction rated on a 10-point visual analog scale (VAS). Survey responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: The sample comprised 545 TJA patients who completed the survey: 335 knees (61%) and 210 hips (39%). Among knees, the most commonly reported nuisance symptoms and associated impact on satisfaction included difficulty kneeling (78.2%; VAS, 4.3; SD, 3.3), limited ability to run/jump (71.6%; VAS, 3.3; SD, 3.3), and numbness around incision (46.3%; VAS, 3.8; SD, 3.3). Overall, 94% of knee patients experienced at least 1 nuisance symptom at 1 year, reporting mean satisfaction of 9/10 (SD, 1.7). Among hips, the most commonly reported nuisance symptoms and associated impact on satisfaction were limited ability to run/jump (68.6%; VAS, 3.4; SD, 3.4), thigh muscle pain (44.8%; VAS, 3; SD, 2.7), and limp when walking (37.6%; VAS, 4.1; SD, 3.2). Overall, 88% of hip patients experienced at least 1 self-reported nuisance symptom at 1 year, reporting mean satisfaction of 8.9/10 (SD, 1.7). CONCLUSION: Nuisance symptoms after hip/knee TJA are very common. Despite the high prevalence, impact on overall satisfaction is minimal and patient satisfaction remains high. Careful preoperative counseling regarding prevalence is prudent and will help establish realistic expectations following TJA.