Is the increased use of intramedullary nailing over DHS for intertrochanteric hip fractures justified? - A review of the Irish hip fracture database 2016 -2020.

PURPOSE: Intertrochanteric hip fractures are significant and costly injuries and there remains controversy within the orthopaedic literature over the best method of fixation. The Irish Hip Fracture Database (IHFD) was established in 2012 to drive improvements in clinical outcomes and the quality of hip fracture care. This paper will review the outcomes of dynamic hip screw (DHS) versus intra-medullary nailing (IMN) in the treatment of intertrochanteric hip fractures in Ireland. METHODS: Eligible cases for this study include patients >60 years of age with trochanteric hip fractures treated by DHS or IMN between January 2016 and December 2020. Outcomes recorded and compared include length of stay, inpatient mortality, mobilisation on post-operative day 1 (POD 1), and discharge destination. RESULTS: 5668 hip fractures treated with DHS or IMN were identified. There was no significant difference between inpatient mortality, re-operation rate or length of stay between the two groups. Females and patients with a high ASA grade (IV and V) were more likely to receive IMN. Patients receiving DHS were more likely to be mobilised day 1 post-operatively and be discharged directly home. It was noted that the use of IMN increased from 42% of cases in 2016 to 70% in 2020. CONCLUSION: IMN use for intertrochanteric fractures continues to increase. However, patients treated with DHS were more likely to mobilise early post-operatively and to go directly home. Notwithstanding the limitations of national registry data research, the dramatic rise in the use of IMN for these fractures appears unsupported by the evidence.

Azacitidine as a rare cause of reactive arthritis in a patient with acute myeloid leukemia.

INTRODUCTION: Azacitidine (AZA), a demethylating agent, is one of the mainstay treatments for patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) who are ineligible for curative allogeneic stem-cell transplantation and is recommended as first-line treatment in multiple countries. While arthralgia and myalgia have been commonly reported as side effects, the incidence of drug-induced reactive arthritis has only been reported twice so far. CASE REPORT: We present a retrospective overview of a clinical case of a 71-year-old patient that developed new cytopenias on a background of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia and was diagnosed with therapy-associated AML. His treatment included an indefinite course of AZA to induce remission and optimise long-term survival which resulted in a satisfactory haematological response. However, after his ninth AZA cycle, he presented to the emergency department with knee swelling and erythema and conjunctivitis. MANAGEMENT AND OUTCOMES: Arthrocentesis of the knee revealed reactive arthritis with no crystal or organism growth. His symptoms were managed effectively with conservative management including NSAIDs, analgesia and temporary immobilization for joint rest. The adverse drug reaction probability score in our study was calculated as six and adverse drug reaction was thus assigned to the "probable" category. CONCLUSION: We report a case that points to AZA as a probable cause of arthritis flares in MDS patients. The current limitation of this study is the lack of available data, future reviews and research will aid in providing stronger evidence of a correlation between arthritis and AZA treatment.

Sustainable orthopaedic surgery: Initiatives to improve our environmental, social and economic impact.

In response to appeals from the WHO and The Lancet, a collaborative statement from over 200 medical journals was published in September 2021, advising international governments to combat the "catastrophic harm to health" from climate change. Healthcare, specifically surgery, constitutes a major contributor to environmental harm that remains unaddressed. This article provides practical guidance that can be instituted at a departmental, hospital and national level to institute transformative, sustainable efforts into practice. We also aim to provoke healthcare leaders to discuss policy-making with respect to this issue and highlight the necessity for sustainability to become a core domain of quality improvement. The average orthopaedic service produces 60% more waste than any other surgical specialty. Fortunately, simple measures such as a comprehensive education programme can decrease waste disposal costs by 20-fold. Other simple and effective "green" measures include integrating carbon literacy into surgical training, prioritising regional anaesthesia and conducting recycling audits. Furthermore, industry must take accountability and be incentivised to limit the use of single-item packaging and single-use items. National policymakers should consider the benefits of reusable implants, reusable surgical drapes and refurbishing crutches as these are proven cost and climate-effective interventions. It is crucial to establish a local sustainability committee to maintain these interventions and to bridge the gap between clinicians, industry and policymakers.

Intracapsular hip fractures: A comparative study of cemented and uncemented hemiarthroplasties in the Irish hip fracture database.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to analyse the association between use of cement for stem fixation in hip hemiarthroplasty and the outcomes of mobility, mortality, and discharge destination. METHODS: The Irish Hip Fracture Database was examined from 2016 to 2020 to assess for any difference in post op mobility, 7-day, 14-day and inpatient mortality, and discharge destination. RESULTS: A total of 7109 hemi-arthroplasties were identified from 2016 to 2020. 71.6 % were cemented (n = 5,172), with 28.4 % uncemented (1,937). There was no difference in day 1 post op mobilisation (79.7 % vs 80.9 %) or cumulative ambulatory score on discharge (2.5 vs 2.4). The mortality rate was equivocal at all time points between the cemented and uncemented groups (7 day (.9 % vs 1.2 %), 14 day (1.9 % vs 2.3 %), inpatient (4 % vs 5.1 %)). There was no difference in length of stay (11 vs 12 days) or discharge to home directly (21 % vs 27 %). CONCLUSION: The use of cement did not have any significant difference on post op mortality, mobility or discharge destination.

Telemedicine in Orthopedic Surgery: A Systematic Review of Current Evidence.

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has triggered transformative changes in how clinicians interact with patients. There has been a shift toward virtual consultations. The evidence to support this change in practice is unclear. The aim of this study was to systematically review the evidence base for virtual consultations for orthopedics. Materials and Methods: Two independent reviewers performed a literature search based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, utilizing the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Scopus databases. Only studies reporting outcomes following the use of telemedicine for diagnosis, consultation, rehabilitation, and follow-up were included. Outcomes analyzed were: (1) patient and clinician satisfaction, (2) clinical outcome measures, and (3) cost analysis of traditional versus teleconsultation. Results: A total of 41 studies were included. Fifteen studies compared clinical outcomes of telemedicine against a matched traditional cohort. Of these 15 studies, 2 demonstrated noninferiority, 9 showed no statistically significant difference, and 4 found telemedicine to be superior. Eleven studies recorded patient reported outcomes, which demonstrated high patient satisfaction. Nine studies reported decreased costs when telemedicine was compared to traditional care. The remaining six studies had varied aims and methodologies that didn't fit well with any of these subheadings. Discussion: While the available evidence is limited, the studies assessed here show that telemedicine can deliver high quality health care with good clinical outcomes and high patient satisfaction in a cost-effective manner. Our team thinks what this has highlighted is that communication technology is advancing rapidly and that we as a community of surgeons need to be able to adapt rapidly and adopt innovative technology to continue to improve patient experience and outcomes.

A Systematic Review of Total Knee Arthroplasty in Neurologic Conditions: Survivorship, Complications, and Surgical Considerations.

BACKGROUND: Patients with neurologic disorders present a unique set of challenges for knee surgeons because of contractures, muscle weakness, spasticity, and ligament instability. The primary purpose of this review was to report the outcomes of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in these patients, including survivorship, complications, and surgical considerations. METHODS: We performed a systematic review of articles using PubMed, Cochrane Central, EMBASE, and Google Scholar. All studies reporting outcomes of TKA in patients with Parkinson disease, multiple sclerosis, poliomyelitis, Charcot joint, spina bifida, stroke, and cerebral palsy were included. RESULTS: In total 38 studies were included: 22 studies (461 patients) reported patient-reported outcome measures and 24 studies (510 patients) reported survivorship. All 38 studies reported complication rates. TKA resulted in an improvement in functional outcome in all series. Complication rate was higher in patients with neurologic conditions. Of studies reporting survivorship, mean follow-up ranged from 1 to 12 years with survivorship from 66% to 100%. All levels of implant constraint were reported without consensus. Limited rehabilitative data exist. CONCLUSION: TKA in patients with neurologic disorders improves symptoms and function but carries significant risk. This review helps surgeons preoperatively counsel their patients in an informed manner. Careful planning, perioperative care, and appropriate implant selection may mitigate risk of complication.

404 Porous titanium revision shells permit early weight-bearing and rapid rehabilitation in revision hip surgery.

An aging population and younger primary arthroplasty candidates have led to increased demand for acetabular bone deficient revision hip surgery. Seventy consecutive revision arthroplasty porous titanium shells prior to December 2011 were reviewed. We sought to determine evidence of implant instability in a cohort of patients that are mobilised early. Radiological data were analysed for stability. Primary endpoint was revision of implant. Mean age at surgery was 69.9 (±10) years. Median time since primary surgery was 13 years (range: 0.3-37). Forty-nine per cent had Paprosky Type IIb or greater acetabular deficiency. Bone graft and augments were not used. One shell was revised for ingrowth failure. Mean acetabular inclination was 35.4 ̊ (±7.3) post- operatively and 36.9 ̊ (±7.28) at latest follow up. There were no screw fractures. Porous titanium shells in revision arthroplasty are stable and permit rapid rehabilitation.

Prevention of Dislocation After Total Hip Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Prevention of dislocation after primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) begins with patient preoperative assessment and planning. METHODS: We performed a literature search to assess historical perspectives and current strategies to prevent dislocation after primary THA. The search yielded 3458 articles, and 154 articles are presented. RESULTS: Extremes of age, body mass index >30 kg/m2, lumbosacral pathology, surgeon experience, and femoral head size influence dislocation rates after THA. There is mixed evidence regarding the effect of neuromuscular disease, sequelae of pediatric hip conditions, and surgical approach on THA instability. Sex, simultaneous bilateral THA, and restrictive postoperative precautions do not influence the dislocation rates of THA. Navigation, robotics, lipped liners, and dual-mobility acetabular components may improve dislocation rates. CONCLUSIONS: Risks for dislocation should be identified, and measures should be taken to mitigate the risk. Reliance on safe zones of acetabular component positioning is historical. We are in an era of bespoke THA surgery.

Dual-Mobility vs Fixed-Bearing Total Hip Arthroplasty in Patients Under 55 Years of Age: A Single-Institution, Matched-Cohort Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Prosthetic dislocation of total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a common cause for revision surgery. Dual-mobility (DM) bearings were introduced to mitigate complications; however, their performance in younger patients is unknown. This study compared results of patients <55 years of age with DM vs fixed-bearing (FB) primary THA. METHODS: Our total joint registry was used to evaluate primary THA patients <55 years of age, and then, an age-matched comparative analysis was performed for 136 THAs using third-generation highly cross-linked polyethylene DM bearings and 136 THAs using FB from the same manufacturer with mean follow-up of 3.2 and 3.4 years, respectively. Mean age at surgery was 48.4 and 48.5 years, respectively. There was no difference in gender distribution. Incidence of complications (eg, dislocation) was evaluated and compared statistically. Patient-reported outcomes using the Modified Harris Hip Score were available. Normally distributed continuous data were compared using the Student t test, and discrete data were compared using the Fisher exact test (P < .05). RESULTS: There were no dislocations or intraprosthetic dissociations (0%) in the DM group and 7 (5.1%) dislocations in the FB group (P = .01) at the mean follow-up of 3 years postoperatively. Two of the 7 unstable patients in the FB cohort were revised for recurrent instability (1.5%). There was no difference in postoperative Modified Harris Hip Score between the DM (87.2 ± 16.6) and the control cohorts (87.9 ± 13.7; P = .78). CONCLUSION: DM bearings in patients <55 years of age show excellent results for prosthetic stability when compared with patients who undergo FB.

Early experience with dual mobility acetabular systems featuring highly cross-linked polyethylene liners for primary hip arthroplasty in patients under fifty five years of age: an international multi-centre preliminary study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate early performance of contemporary dual mobility acetabular systems with second generation annealed highly cross-linked polyethylene for primary hip arthroplasty of patients under 55 years of age. METHODS: A prospective observational five years study across five centers in Europe and the USA of 321 patients with a mean age of 48.1 years was performed. Patients were assessed for causes of revision, hip instability, intra-prosthetic dissociation, Harris hip score and radiological signs of osteolysis. RESULTS: There were no dislocations and no intra-prosthetic dissociations. Kaplan Meier analysis demonstrated 97.51% survivorship for all cause revision and 99.68% survivorship for acetabular component revision at five years. Mean Harris hip score was 93.6. Two acetabular shells were revised for neck-rim implant impingement without dislocation and ten femoral stems were revised for causes unrelated to dual mobility implants. CONCLUSION: Contemporary highly cross-linked polyethylene dual mobility systems demonstrate excellent early clinical, radiological, and survivorship results in a cohort of patients that demand high performance from their implants. It is envisaged that DM and second generation annealed HXLPE may reduce THA instability and wear, the two most common causes of THA revision in hip arthroplasty.

The Oswestry Spinal Risk Index (OSRI): an external validation study.

PURPOSE: The Oswestry Spinal Risk Index (OSRI) was recently reported as an adjunct in the management of metastatic spinal disease. Based on the tumour type and a general condition score, survivorship is predicted. We aimed to externally validate this new score. METHODS: We assessed the survivorship of 121 patients identified from a prospectively collated database in the National Spinal Injuries Unit in the Republic of Ireland. Actual survivorship was calculated according to the tumour subtype and general conditioning, according to the Karnofsky Performance Score (OSRI = Primary Tumour Pathology + (2-General Conditioning Score)). Our results were then compared to those previously published. RESULTS: 45.5 % were female (n = 55). The mean age at presentation was 61.5 years (range 23-85). Breast and prostate cancers were the most frequent diseases encountered. The actual survival in our cohort closely mirrored the predicted survival, according to the equation used to calculate the OSRI with an overall strong correlation found (r = 0.798, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: We found that the OSRI is a simple to use scoring system. We found a strong correlation in our results with the predicted survivorship based on the OSRI. The OSRI can be used as a useful adjunct in the management of patient with metastatic disease of the spine.

An assessment of the readability and quality of elective orthopaedic information on the Internet.

This study assessed the readability and quality of websites related to; total hip replacement, total knee replacement and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using validated instruments. 225 websites were analyzed from Google, Yahoo and Bing. Readability was assessed using the Flesch Reading Ease Score and Flesch-Kincaid grade level. Quality was assessed using the LIDA tool, HON-code status and an original assessment tool. Only 13.7% were set at or below the recommended 6th grade readability level. 27.35% were HON-code certified. There was a wide variation in quality scores between websites and the information relating to the three procedures was inconsistent and generally of poor quality. Given the deficit in information it is important Orthopaedic surgeons provide patients with high quality, readable information or direct them to an appropriate source.

A standardised communication tool reduces radiation exposure associated with intraoperative fluoroscopy.

BACKGROUND: The widespread use of intraoperative fluoroscopy in orthopaedic procedures has revolutionised surgical practice. However, there are risks associated with using ionising radiation. Efforts to reduce radiation exposure include low-dose imaging protocols and lead protective equipment. Current communication during fluoroscopic procedures can be inefficient and lead to excessive radiation exposure for patients and staff. AIMS: This study aims to implement a communication tool with standardised commands to reduce radiation exposure in an Irish orthopaedic department. METHODS: Radiation exposure was evaluated using dose-area product (DAP) measured in uGy/m2. A control group was recorded before implementing the communication tool. Training sessions were conducted and posters of the standardised commands were displayed. Feedback was collected from surgeons and radiographers via surveys. Statistical analysis was performed to compare pre- and post-intervention groups. RESULTS: A total of 673 surgical cases were included over 6 months. The post-intervention group showed a mean reduction in radiation exposure from 59.8 to 36.4 uGy/m2 (p < 0.011). Subset analyses revealed reduced radiation exposure for ORIF of the distal radius, ankle, humerus, and phalanges. Surgeons and radiographers recognised the need for improved communication and expressed willingness to learn the new tool. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a standardised communication tool effectively reduced patient and staff radiation exposure. It was also believed to have a positive effect on theatre staff morale. Incorporating a universal language tool into training programmes could be beneficial. Surgeons and radiographers provided several suggestions to improve the effectiveness and implementation of this tool into other units.

Risk scoring models for patients with proximal femur fractures: Qualitative systematic review assessing 30-day mortality and ease of use.

BACKGROUND: Hip fractures are a common orthopaedic injury affecting a particularly frail and vulnerable patient cohort. They are at risk of many complications, including prolonged length of stay and mortality. Efforts to identify those at high risk may be beneficial. Over 25 risk prediction models are published for patients with hip fractures. AIM: The primary aim of this study was to assess the performance of predictor scores in predicting 30-day mortality. The secondary aim was to assess the ease of use of these systems. METHODS: A qualitative systematic review was performed. A search was conducted on online databases, including PubMed, CINAHL, Clinical Trials.gov, Cochrane, DARE, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and Web of Science.. The terms fragility hip fractures and risk prediction models were utilised while performing the search. These were then expanded using Boolean operators and similar terms. Search results were imported to Covidence. Primary observational studies using one or more hip fracture mortality prediction models and 30-day mortality as an outcome were included. Systematic reviews and studies on specific patient groups defined other medical conditions (e.g. COVID positive or dialysis patients) were excluded. RESULTS: 3,101 studies were screened following duplicate removal. 34 papers were included in the review, in which 23 scoring systems were reported. Six of these were pre-operative and reported in multiple studies. Most demonstrated appropriate fit and fair discrimination. Five of the six pre-operative scoring systems examined, displayed appropriate ease of use, allowing risk calculation at the time of admission. CONCLUSION: Nottingham Hip Fracture Score remains the most extensive reported scoring system and performs fair overall with AUROCs of 0.64-0.80 and good fit in calibration across all studies. However, new systems utilise many similar predictors. There is a need for the standardisation of publications on scoring systems to allow further systematic review and meta-analyses.

RhBMP-2 use in lumbar fusion surgery is associated with transient immediate post-operative leg pain.

PURPOSE: Supra-physiological rhBMP loads during spinal fusion may trigger local inflammation and post-operative radiculitis. MRI is an effective tool to detect nerve root compression in severe post-operative leg pain. The aim of this study was to determine if recombinant bone morphogenic protein 2 (rhBMP-2) is associated with immediate post-operative leg pain without evidence of root compression using MRI. METHOD: All patients undergoing posterolateral and posterior interbody lumbar spinal fusions with rhBMP-2 between July 2007 and January 2009 at a single surgeon practice were retrospectively reviewed for incidence of severe immediate post-operative leg pain. Patients that presented with immediate post-operative leg pain were interviewed and Oswestry Disability Indices calculated. RESULTS: Sixty-four rhBMP-2 treated patients and 40 controls were included. Pre-operative demographics and diagnoses were similar and inter-body cages were used equally. Immediate post-operative leg pain incidence was 25 and 12.5% in the rhBMP-2 and non-rhBMP-2 groups, respectively. 17.2% of the patients treated with rhBMP-2 had immediate post-operative leg pain without evidence of nerve root compression on MRI versus 7.5% of the patients treated without rhBMP-2. At follow-up, leg pain incidence was 11.6 and 7.6% in rhBMP-2 and non-rhBMP-2 groups, respectively. There was no difference in Oswestry Disability Indices between groups (36.5 ± 31.2 vs. 23.0 ± 25.5). CONCLUSION: RhBMP-2 associated radiculitis presenting as immediate post-operative leg pain without MRI evidence of neuronal compression occurs in 17% of the patients with rhBMP-2 assisted fusion. Patients should be pre-operatively counselled regarding immediate post-operative leg pain with rhBMP-2. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Exsanguinators and tourniquets: do we need to change our practice?

PURPOSE: Exsanguinators and tourniquets are regularly used in orthopaedic theatres. A good understanding of their application and contraindications must be ensured to prevent injury to limb or life. However, the level of staff understanding is not well documented. The aims of this study were to assess knowledge of their use between theatre personnel and assess their sterility at our institution. METHODS: A previously published questionnaire was distributed to various orthopaedic theatre personnel responsible for exsanguinator and tourniquet application. Microbiology culture and sensitivity swabs were also taken. RESULTS: Mean questionnaire score for all participants was 30.9%. None of the 74 participants scored more than 49% in the questionnaire. Exsanguinators grew more positive cultures than the tourniquets. CONCLUSIONS: Exsanguinators and tourniquets are used widely in the field of orthopaedics. Lack of their understanding amongst operating theatre personnel involved with their use strongly supports the need for providing and ensuring adequate education to provide the best patient care. In consideration of our findings, we propose a solution addressing these issues.

Weight-bearing Allowed Following Internal Fixation of Ankle Fractures, a Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative management regimes vary following open reduction and internal fixation of unstable ankle fractures. Traditional postoperative nonweightbearing cast immobilization may prevent loss of fixation and protect the soft tissue envelope but may also be associated with poorer functional outcomes. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the complication rate and functional outcomes of early weightbearing (EWB) vs late weightbearing (LWB) following open reduction and internal fixation of ankle fractures. METHODS: We performed a systematic review with a meta-analysis of controlled trials and comparative cohort studies using 3 databases. We included all studies that investigated the effect of weightbearing following internal fixation of ankle fractures in adult patients by any means. Studies that investigated mobilization but not weightbearing, non-English-language publications, and tibial Plafond fractures were excluded from this systematic review. We assessed the risk of bias using ROB 2 tools for randomized controlled trials and ROBINS-1 for cohort studies. Data extraction was performed using Covidence online software and meta-analysis by using RevMan 5.3. RESULTS: This systematic review included 10 randomized controlled trials and 4 comparative cohort studies. Most of the included studies were rated as having some concern with regard to the risk of bias. There was no significant difference in the complication rate between the protected EWB and LWB groups (the risk ratio [RR] for infection was 1.30, 95% CI 0.74, 2.30; I² = 0%; P = .36), but better functional outcome scores were detected in the EWB group only at 6 weeks postoperatively (MD =10.08, 95% CI 5.13, 15.02; I² = 0%; P ≤ .0001), with no significant difference seen at 6 or 12 months postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Based on the studies reviewed, it appears that early protected weightbearing following open reduction and internal fixation of ankle fractures does not affect surgical incision or fracture healing and is associated with better early functional outcomes at 6 weeks, but not 6 or 12 months, postoperatively.

Subsidence of monoblock and modular titanium fluted tapered stems in revision hip arthroplasty: A retrospective multicentre comparison study.

Background: Tapered, fluted, titanium (TFT) stems have shown good clinical outcomes in revision total hip arthroplasty (rTHA), however concerns exist regarding early subsidence. This study compares subsidence between a modern monoblock 3-degree and a modular 2-degree TFT stem in rTHA. Methods: A retrospective, international multicentre comparative study was conducted including 64 rTHA in 63 patients. A monoblock TFT stem was used in 37 cases and a modular TFT stem was used in 27 cases. Patient demographics, Paprosky femoral bone loss classification, bicortical contact and stem subsidence were recorded at minimum four week follow up. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in overall subsidence (p = 0.318) or the rate of subsidence >10 mm between stems. Mean subsidence was 2.13 mm in the monoblock group and 3.15 mm in the modular group. Two stems subsided >10 mm: one in each group. There was no difference in bicortical contact between groups (p = 0.98). No re-revisions were performed. Conclusions: We found no difference in subsidence between the two stems. Surgeons may consider the use of monoblock stems in rTHA as they have comparably low rates of subsidence and eliminate the small but potentially catastrophic risk of implant fracture at modular junctions associated with modular stems.

Short-term outcomes of total knee arthroplasty performed with and without a tourniquet.

INTRODUCTION: Not using a tourniquet could improve early postoperative pain, range of motion (ROM), length of stay (LOS), and thromboembolic risk in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Our aim was to compare these factors, intraoperative blood loss, and gender-related outcomes in patients undergoing primary TKA with or without a tourniquet. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of 97 patients undergoing TKA with or without tourniquet from 2018 to 2020. Revisions and bilateral TKAs were excluded. Blood loss was estimated using a validated formula. Postoperative pain was tested using the visual analogue scale (VAS). ROM and quadriceps lag were assessed by a physiotherapist on a postoperative day 2 and discharge. The index of suspicion for a thromboembolic event was defined as the number of embolic-related investigations ordered in the first 6 months post-surgery. The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to assess the distribution of the data, Mann-Whitney for the continuous variables, and Fischer's test for the categorical ones. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: There was a significant difference in blood loss. The non-tourniquet group lost on average 32% more blood (1291 mL vs. 878 mL, p<0.001 two-tailed). We found no difference in pain, ROM, LOS, and quadriceps lag on day 2 and at discharge. There was one thromboembolic event in the tourniquet group, but the thromboembolic index of suspicion did not differ (p=0.53). With tourniquet use, women had a significantly lower day 2 maximum flexion than men (71.56° vs. 84.67°, p=0.02). In this retrospective cohort study, the results suggest that tourniquet use is associated with lower blood loss and similar postoperative pain, range of motion, quadriceps lag, length of stay, and thromboembolic risk. There might be some differences between how men and women tolerate a tourniquet, with women having worse short-term outcomes compared to men.

Incidence and Risk Factors for the Development of Acute Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction (Ogilvie Syndrome) in Total Joint Arthroplasty Patients.

BACKGROUND: Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (Ogilvie syndrome [OS]) is a rare but devastating condition that can develop in orthopaedic patients postoperatively. The objective of this study was to identify the risk factors for developing OS after total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and to compare the outcomes between patients who did and did not develop OS postoperatively. METHODS: This was a retrospective review using the National Inpatient Sample, a national database incorporating inpatient hospitalization information. ICD-9 codes were used to identify patients who underwent primary and revision THA or TKA. Patients were separated based on the diagnosis of OS. Primary outcomes assessed included patient mortality, postoperative complications, length of stay, and cost during index hospitalization. RESULTS: From 2001 to 2014, a total of 12,541,169 patients underwent primary and revision THA or TKA. Of those, 3,182 patients (0.03%) developed OS postoperatively. There was an increased incidence of OS in revision THA and TKA compared with primary THA and TKA. Fluid and electrolyte disorders were associated with the largest increased adjusted risk of OS. Patients with OS had an increased adjusted risk of overall postoperative complications and being discharged to skilled nursing facility. Patients with OS had an increased average length of stay and hospitalization cost compared with patients without OS. DISCUSSION: Given our findings, the risk factors for the development of OS, including revision surgery, should be identified and minimized during the perioperative period to prevent the development of this morbid and potentially life-threatening complication. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III (Retrospective cohort study).