Insufficient stem antetorsion and lower cup abduction is a combined risk factor for posterior hip dislocation in patients undergoing THA for femoral neck fractures: a retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: The role of acetabular and femoral component positions with respect to the risk of post-operative instability and dislocation remains debated. In this study, we aimed to identify potential risk factors for early dislocation following primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) for displaced intracapsular femoral neck fractures (FNF) using radiological measurements. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data for patients who underwent cementless primary THA for FNF using a posterolateral approach between January 2018 and December 2021. Follow-up duration, age, sex, affected side, and mean time from THA to dislocation were recorded. Leg-length inequality, abductor lever arm, vertical and horizontal femoral offsets, vertical and horizontal hip centers of rotation, abduction, anteversion of the acetabulum and femoral prosthesis, and combined anteversion were measured. RESULTS: The study sample included 17 men and 34 women, with 21 and 30 patients undergoing left- and right-hip operations, respectively. The mean patient age was 70.18 ± 7.64 years, and the mean follow-up duration was 27.73 ± 13.52 months. The mean time between THA and dislocation was 1.58 ± 0.79 months. Seven patients (13.73%) sustained posterior dislocation of the hip. The abduction angle (36.05 ± 6.82° vs. 45.68 ± 8.78°) (p = 0.008) and anteversion of the femoral prosthesis (8.26 ± 4.47° vs. 19.47 ± 9.01°) (p = 0.002) were significantly lower in the dislocation group than in the control group. There were no significant differences in other parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Insufficient stem antetorsion combined with lower abduction angle of the acetabular component were associated with a high risk of dislocation, especially in patients with deep flexion or internal rotation of the flexed hip joint and knees, or in patients with a stiff spine or anterior pelvic tilt, impingement may then occur in the neck of the prosthesis and cup component, ultimately resulting in posterior dislocation. These findings could remind surgeons to avoid simultaneous occurrence of both in THA surgery. These results provide new insight into risk factors for hip dislocation in patients undergoing primary THA for FNF and may aid in reducing the risk of instability and dislocation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prospective comparative study Level II.

There is No Increased Pulmonary Risk Following Total Hip Arthroplasty in Patients Who Have Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) Without Underlying Lung Disease.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a frequent condition in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA). The current study evaluated whether there is a difference in the perioperative outcome of patients undergoing THA who had a low to moderate risk for OSA and a high risk for OSA, respectively. METHODS: After excluding patients who had concomitant lung disease (COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), asthma, or lung fibrosis) and those missing a STOP-Bang-Score, 1,141 THA patients who had OSA operated on between 2016 and 2020 were included in this retrospective study. Patients at low- to moderate-risk for OSA (STOP-Bang Score 0 to 4) and patients at high risk for OSA (STOP-Bang Score 5 to 8) were compared, and SpO2 (oxygen saturation) drops < 90% as well as readmission rates were compared between patients who did and did not use CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure). RESULTS: There was no difference in the risk of SpO2-drop below 90% (1 versus 0%, P = 0.398) and readmission rate (2 versus 2%, P = 0.662) between patients who had low to moderate OSA risk (327 THA) and high OSA risk (814 THA). There was no difference in SpO2 (P > 0.999) and a decrease in oxygen flowrate from the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) to the morning of postoperative day (POD1). A CPAP device was used by 41% (467 of 1,141) of patients. There were no differences in SpO2 drop < 90% (0 versus 0%, P = 0.731) and readmission rate (2 versus 2%, P = 0.612) between patients who did and did not use a CPAP machine. CONCLUSION: The current study showed no difference in perioperative outcomes between OSA patients undergoing THA who had a low STOP Bang Score and patients who had a high STOP Bang Score, regardless of the use of a CPAP machine. These data suggest that an elevated Stop Bang Score does not indicate an increased perioperative risk for OSA patients when deciding on outpatient discharge.

Prior Authorization Leads to Administrative Burden and Delays in Treatment in Primary Total Joint Arthroplasty Patients.

BACKGROUND: The prior authorization (PA) process is often criticized by physicians due to increased administrative burden and unnecessary delays in treatment. The effects of PA policies on total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) have not been well described. The purpose of this study was to analyze the use of PA in a high-volume orthopaedic practice across 4 states. METHODS: We prospectively collected data on 28,725 primary THAs and TKAs performed at our institution between 2020 and 2023. Data collected included patient demographics, payer approval or denial, time to approval or denial, the number of initial denials, the number of peer-to-peer (P2P) or addenda, and the reasons for denial. RESULTS: Seven thousand five hundred twenty eight (56.4%) patients undergoing THA and 8,283 (54%) patients undergoing TKA required PA, with a mean time to approval of 26.3 ± 34.6 and 33.7 ± 41.5 days, respectively. Addenda were requested in 608 of 7,528 (4.6%) THA patients and 737 of 8,283 (8.9%) TKA patients. From a total of 312 (4.1%) THA patients who had an initial denial, a P2P was requested for 50 (0.7%) patients, and only 27 (0.4%) were upheld after the PA process. From a total of 509 (6.1%) TKA patients who had an initial denial, a P2P was requested for 55 (0.7%) patients, and only 26 (0.3%) were upheld after the PA process. The mean time to denial in the THA group was 64.7 ± 83.5, and the most common reasons for denial were poor clinical documentation (25.9%) and lack of coverage (25.9%). The mean time to denial in the TKA group was 63.4 ± 103.9 days, and the most common reason for denial was not specified by the payer (46.1%). CONCLUSIONS: The use of PA to approve elective THA and TKA led to increased surgical waiting times and a high administrative burden for surgeons and healthcare staff.

Operative or Nonoperative Treatment is Predicted Accurately for Patients Who Have Hip Complaints Consulting an Orthopedic Surgeon Using Machine Learning Algorithms Trained With Prehospital Acquired History-Taking Data.

BACKGROUND: Increasing numbers of patients suffering from hip osteoartritis will lead to increased orthopaedic health care consumption. Artificial intelligence might alleviate this problem, using Machine learning (ML) to optimize orthopaedic consultation workflow by predicting treatment strategy (non-operative or operative) prior to consultation. The purpose of this study was to assess ML accuracy in clinical practice, by comparing ML predictions to the outcome of clinical consultations. METHODS: In this prospective clinical cohort study, adult patients referred for hip complaints between January 20th to February 20th 2023 were included. Patients completed a computer-assisted history taking (CAHT) form and using these CAHT answers, a ML-algorithm predicted non-operative or operative treatment outcome prior to in-hospital consultation. During consultation, orthopaedic surgeons and physician assistants were blinded to the prediction in 90 and unblinded in 29 cases. Consultation outcome (non-operative or operative) was compared to ML treatment prediction for all cases, and for blinded and unblinded conditions separately. Analysis was done on 119 consultations. RESULTS: Overall treatment strategy prediction was correct in 101 cases (accuracy 85%, P < .0001). Non-operative treatment prediction (n = 71) was 97% correct versus 67% for operative treatment prediction (n = 48). Results from unblinded consultations (86.2% correct predictions,) were not statistically different from blinded consultations (84.4% correct, P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Machine Learning algorithms can predict non-operative or operative treatment for patients with hip complaints with high accuracy. This could facilitate scheduling of non-operative patients with physician assistants, and operative patients with orthopaedic surgeons including direct access to pre-operative screening, thereby optimizing usage of health care resources.

Trends in Extended Oral Antibiotic Prophylaxis Utilization Following Primary and Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty From 2010 to 2022.

BACKGROUND: In patients considered high-risk for infection, extended oral antibiotic (EOA) prophylaxis has been demonstrated to reduce rates of prosthetic joint infection following total hip arthroplasty (THA). Although national guidelines regarding their use have not yet been created, the increase in literature surrounding EOA prophylaxis suggests a potential change in practice patterns. The purpose of this study was to investigate the trends in utilization of EOA prophylaxis following THA from 2010 to 2022 and identify prescription patterns. METHODS: A total of 646,059 primary THA and 51,879 aseptic revision THA patients were included in this study. Patients who underwent primary or aseptic revision THA between 2010 and 2022 were identified in a national administrative claims database. Rates and duration of EOA prescriptions were calculated. A secondary analysis examined rates of utilization across demographics, including patients considered high risk for infection. RESULTS: From 2010 to 2022, utilization of EOA increased by 366% and 298% following primary and revision THA, respectively. Of patients prescribed postoperative antibiotics, 30% and 59% were prescribed antibiotics for more than 7 days following primary and revision THA, respectively. Rates of utilization were similar between high-risk individuals and the general population. CONCLUSIONS: Rates of utilization of EOA prophylaxis after THA have increased significantly since 2010. As current trends demonstrate a wide variation in prescription patterns, including in length of antibiotic duration and in patient population prescribed, guidelines surrounding the use of EOA prophylaxis after THA are necessary to promote antibiotic stewardship while preventing rates of periprosthetic joint infection.

Surgical Approach Does Not Influence Instability Risk in Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Although the direct anterior (DA) approach has increased in popularity for primary total hip arthroplasty (THA), there is limited evidence regarding its use for revision THA. It is unknown whether the dislocation benefit seen in the primary setting translates to revision cases. METHODS: This retrospective review compared the dislocation rates of revision THA performed through DA versus postero-lateral (PL) approaches at a single institution (2011 to 2021). Exclusion criteria included revision for instability, ≥ 2 prior revisions, approaches other than DA or PL, and placement of dual-mobility or constrained liners. There were 182 hips in 173 patients that met the inclusion criteria. The average follow-up was 6.5 years (range, 2 to 8 years). RESULTS: There was a trend toward more both-component revisions being performed through the PL approach. There were no differences in dislocation rates between the DA revision and PL revision cohorts, which were 8.1% (5 of 72) and 7.5% (9 of 120), respectively (P = .999). Dislocation trended lower when the revision approach was discordant from the primary approach compared to cases where primary and revision had a concordant approach (4.9 versus 8.5%), but this was not statistically significant (P = .740). No significant differences were found in return to operating room, 90-day emergency department visits, or 90-day readmissions. However, the length of stay was significantly shorter in patients who had DA revisions after a primary PL procedure (P = .021). CONCLUSIONS: Dislocation rates following revision THA did not differ between the DA and PL approaches irrespective of the primary approach. Surgeons should choose their revision approach based on their experience and the specific needs of the patient.

No Revisions Attributable to Wear of Highly Cross-Linked Polyethylene Liners: A Long-Term Follow-Up Study.

BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of data beyond 15 years on the survivorship of total hip arthroplasty since the introduction of highly cross-linked polyethylene (HXLPE) liners. Our aim was to evaluate implant survivorship, liner wear rates, and clinical outcomes after primary total hip arthroplasty using HXLPE liners implanted between 1999 and 2002. METHODS: Between 1999 and 2002, 690 primary total hip arthroplasties utilizing 28-mm femoral heads and HXLPE liners of a single design were identified using our institutional total joint registry. Femoral heads were made of metal in 96% of cases and ceramic in 4%. The mean age was 56 years, 48% were women, and the mean body mass index was 30. Survivorship analyses were performed for the outcomes of implant revision, reoperation, and complications for the entire cohort. Linear HXLPE liner wear rates were determined on 197 hips with radiographs with more than 18.5 years of follow-up. RESULTS: At 20 years, survivorship free of revision was 94%, free of reoperation was 92%, and free of any complication was 81%. There were no documented wear-related revisions. The linear wear rate at a mean of 20.3 years postoperatively was 0.02 mm/y. There was no statistically significant difference in measured wear observed between the first available postoperative radiographs and those taken at the final follow-up. The use of elevated liners, patient body mass index, age, preoperative diagnosis, acetabular component inclination, and anteversion angles were not associated with increased wear rates. Mean Harris hip scores improved from 52 preoperatively to 90 at greater than 18.5 years CONCLUSIONS: Primary total hip arthroplasties using a single first-generation HXLPE liner demonstrated excellent survivorship and clinical outcomes at long-term follow-up with no wear-related revisions. Wear rates of HXLPE liners at 20 years are exceedingly low and are not significantly impacted by acetabular component position or patient-dependent variables such as BMI. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Some Offset Restoration Options Can Paradoxically Lead to Decreased Range of Motion in Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty: A 3-Dimensional Computer Simulation Study.

BACKGROUND: In total hip arthroplasty (THA), femoral offset restoration results in optimal biomechanics and range of motion (ROM) without bone-bone impingement. We hypothesized that differences in implant design features significantly affect bone-bone impingement risk in primary THA. METHODS: This retrospective computer simulation study included a cohort of 43 primary robotic arm-assisted THA. Considering sagittal pelvic tilt, we measured the maximum external rotation at 0° hip flexion and the maximum internal rotation at both 90° and 100° hip flexion before any bone-bone impingement occurred. To influence the offset, we included neutral or extended polyethylene liners, neutral or plus prosthetic heads, standard or high-offset stems, and stems with 132° or 127° neck angles. RESULTS: Extended polyethylene liner use resulted in decreased bone-bone impingement for both stems but also decreased prosthetic ROM in hip extension (mean -4.5 to 5°, range -10 to 0°) and hip flexion (mean -3 to 3.7°, range -10 to 0°) due to decreases in head diameter. Using a plus head or different stem offset/neck angle options resulted in either (1) no improvement in ROM (stem 1: 60%; stem 2: 28%) or (2) a paradoxical increase in bone-bone impingement (stem 1 with 127°: 19% and stem 2 with high offset option: 7%). CONCLUSION: Counterintuitively, a subset of patients experience a paradoxical increase in bone-bone impingement when transitioning from standard to high-offset or varus necks due to the pelvic and proximal femoral bone shape. For this group of patients, preoperative personalized 3-dimensional modeling may help guide implant choice for optimizing outcomes.

Higher Annual Total Hip Arthroplasty Volume Decreases the Risk of Intraoperative Periprosthetic Femur Fractures.

BACKGROUND: Periprosthetic femur fracture (PFF) is a complication of total hip arthroplasty (THA). These occur intraoperatively or postoperatively, and documented risk factors of PFFs include women, age greater than 65 years, cementless stems, and inflammatory arthropathies. The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to assess the relationship of years of surgical experience and surgeon annual THA volume on intraoperative and postoperative PFFs. METHODS: Data were collected from a database query, and PFFs were identified as either intraoperative or postoperative. Intraoperative and postoperative PFFs were both compared to a control group of non-PFF patients. Years of surgical experience at the time of surgery and annual THA volume for the primary surgeon were calculated for all cases. Logistic regression analyses were used to calculate odds ratios for each of the surgeon variables when adjusted for patient demographics. RESULTS: Thirty-seven intraoperative and 108 postoperative PFFs were identified and compared to 7,629 controls. From regression analyses, high-volume surgeons (≥50 THA/year) had lower odds of intraoperative PFF (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.40, P = .020) but not postoperative PFF (aOR = 1.02, P = .921). Surgeon experience (≥15 years since board certification at the time of surgery), was not significantly related to either PFF outcomes. For patient factors, age ≥65 years (aOR = 2.30, P < .001) and women (aOR = 2.69, P < .001) were both significant predictors of postoperative PFFs only. CONCLUSION: Surgeons who performed 50 or more THAs per year had significantly fewer intraoperative PFFs than surgeons who did less than 50 THAs per year. Surgeon experience was not significantly related to PFFs.

Mean 16-Year Results of Total Hip Arthroplasty With Alumina Ceramic Femoral Heads on Highly Cross-Linked Polyethylene in Patients 50 Years or Less.

BACKGROUND: Highly cross-linked polyethylene (HXLPE) is a widely used bearing surface in total hip arthroplasty (THA); long-term results in young patients are limited. We previously demonstrated excellent results in HXPLE on cobalt-chrome femoral heads at 15-year mean follow-up. The purpose of the present study was to investigate polyethylene wear rates, implant survivorships, wear-related revisions, and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in a young patient cohort who had alumina ceramic on HXPLE coupling at an average 16-year follow-up. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 128 hips that underwent THA with HXLPE on alumina ceramic bearings between March 1, 2004, and April 15, 2007. The patient's mean age was 38 years (range, 13 to 50). All THAs utilized HXPLE liners with alumina ceramic heads. The University of California, Los Angeles activity score and modified Harris hip scores were collected preoperatively and at each follow-up. Martell hip analysis suite was used for wear calculations. RESULTS: At average 16 years (range, 13 to 18), aseptic revision survivorship was 93.3% and osteolysis/wear survivorship was 99.2%. The mean linear wear rate was 0.0191 mm/year and mean volumetric wear rate was 19.43 mm3/y, both of which were clinically undetectable. We observed excellent PROs with a significant increase in mean modified Harris hip scores (43.6 to 87.4, P < .0001) and the University of California, Los Angeles activity scores (4.0 to 6.0, P < .0001). There were no statistically significant differences in PROs or wear rates between ceramic and cobalt-chrome groups. CONCLUSION: At a mean 16-year follow-up, young patients who had HXLPE on ceramic coupling had excellent wear properties, PROs, and acceptable survivorships.

Urgent Care Visits Sought After Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Potentially Overlooked Resource.

BACKGROUND: Following total hip arthroplasty (THA), readmissions and emergency department (ED) visits have been studied. Urgent care utilization is not well-characterized and may represent an overlooked avenue to facilitate lesser acuity patient needs. METHODS: Primary THAs performed for osteoarthritis indications were identified from 2010 to April of 2021 from a large national database. The incidence and timing of 90-day postoperative ED and urgent care visits were determined. Univariable and multivariable analyses assessed factors associated with urgent care relative to ED utilization. Reasons and acuity of diagnoses for these visits were determined. For 213,189 THA patients, 90-day ED visits were identified for 37,692 (17.7%) and urgent care visits for 2,083 (1.0%). The greatest incidence of both ED and urgent care visits were in the first two postoperative weeks. RESULTS: Independent predictors of urgent care utilization relative to ED utilization were: procedures being performed in the Northeast or South, insurance plan being Commercial, women, and lesser comorbidity burden (P < .0001). Reason for visits to the ED was directly related to the surgical site for 25.6% but for urgent care were just 4.8% (P < .0001). Reasons for visits to the ED were classified as low-acuity for 57.4% and for urgent care 96.9% (P < .0001). CONCLUSION: Following THA, patients may need urgent evaluation. While many issues can be addressed through the office, urgent care visits may represent a viable and underused resource relative to the ED for a large percentage of patients who have lower acuity diagnoses.

Asymptomatic Gluteal Tendinosis Does Not Adversely Affect Outcomes of Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare outcomes after total hip arthroplasty (THA) in patients who have preoperative asymptomatic gluteal tendinosis (aGT) to a control group with no gluteal tendinosis (GT). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed using data from patients who underwent THA between March 2016 and October 2020. An aGT was diagnosed using hip magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) without clinical symptoms. Patients who had aGT were matched (1:1) to patients without GT on MRI. A total of 56 aGT hips and 56 hips without GT were found using propensity-score matching. Patient-reported outcomes, intraoperative macroscopic evaluation, outcome measurements, postoperative physical examinations, complications, and revisions were compared for both groups. RESULTS: When compared to preoperative outcomes, both groups demonstrated significant improvements in patients-reported outcomes at the final follow-up. There were no significant differences between both groups for preoperative scores, 2-year postoperative outcome scores, or the magnitude of improvement. Patients in the aGT group were significantly less likely to obtain the MCID for the SF-36 MCS score (50.2 versus 69.3%, P = .034). However, there were no other differences in the rates of meeting the MCID between both groups. The aGT group demonstrated significantly higher rates of partial tendon degeneration of the gluteus medius muscle. CONCLUSION: Asymptomatic gluteal tendinosis patients who have osteoarthritis and undergo THA may expect favorable patients-reported outcomes at minimum 2-year follow-up. These results were comparable with those of a control group of patients without gluteal tendinosis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Femoral Head Length Impact on Outcomes Following Total Hip Arthroplasty in 36 Millimeter Cobalt Chrome-on-Highly Crosslinked Polyethylene Articulations.

BACKGROUND: Despite concerns for corrosion, dislocation, and periprosthetic femur fractures, minimal literature has investigated the effect of adjusting femoral head length on outcomes after primary total hip arthroplasty (THA). Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effect of femoral head length on the risk of any revision and reoperation following cobalt chromium (CoCr)-on-highly crosslinked polyethylene (HXLPE) THAs. METHODS: Between 2004 and 2018, we identified 1,187 primary THAs with CoCr-on-HXLPE articulations using our institutional total joint registry. The mean age at THA was 71 years (range, 19-97), 40% were women, and mean body mass index was 30 (range, 10-68). All THAs using 36 mm diameter femoral heads were included. Neutral (0 mm), positive, or negative femoral head lengths were used in 42, 31, and 27% of the THAs, respectively. Kaplan-Meier survivorship was assessed. The mean follow-up was 7 years (range, 2-16). RESULTS: The 10-year survivorships free of any revision or reoperation were 94 and 92%, respectively. A total of 47 revisions were performed, including periprosthetic femur fracture (17), periprosthetic joint infection (8), dislocation (7), aseptic loosening of either component (6), corrosion (4), and other (5). Nonrevision reoperations included wound revision (11), open reduction and internal fixation of periprosthetic femur fracture (4), and abductor repair (2). Multivariable analyses found no significant associations between femoral head length and revision or reoperation. CONCLUSION: Altering femoral head lengths in 36 mm CoCr-on-HXLPE THAs did not affect outcomes. Surgeons should select femoral head lengths that optimize hip stability and center of rotation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Patient-Reported Outcomes Following Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty Demonstrate Less Improvement and Significantly Higher Rates of Worsening Compared to Primaries.

BACKGROUND: Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) provide the patient's perspective following total hip arthroplasty (THA), although differences between primary THA (pTHA) and revision THA (rTHA) remain unclear. Thus, we compared the Minimal Clinically Important Difference for Improvement (MCID-I) and Worsening (MCID-W) in pTHA and rTHA patients. METHODS: Data from 2,159 patients (1,995 pTHAs/164 rTHAs) who had completed Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score-Physical Function Short Form (HOOS-PS), Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Physical Function Short Form 10a (PF10a), PROMIS Global-Mental, or PROMIS Global-Physical questionnaires were analyzed. The PROMs and MCID-I/MCID-W rates were compared using statistical tests and multivariate logistic regressions. RESULTS: Compared to the pTHA group, the rTHA group had lower rates of improvement and higher rates of worsening for almost all PROMs, including HOOS-PS (MCID-I: 54 versus 84%, P < .001; MCID-W: 24 versus 4.4%, P < .001), PF10a (MCID-I: 44 versus 73%, P < .001; MCID-W: 22 versus 5.9%, P < .001), PROMIS Global-Mental (MCID-W: 42 versus 28%, P < .001), and PROMIS Global-Physical (MCID-I: 41 versus 68%, P < .001; MCID-W: 26 versus 11%, P < .001). Odds ratios supported rates of worsening following revision for the HOOS-PS (Odds Ratio (OR): 8.25, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 5.62 to 12.4, P < .001), PF10a (OR: 8.34, 95% CI: 5.63 to 12.6, P < .001), PROMIS Global-Mental (OR: 2.16, 95% CI: 1.41 to 3.34, P < .001), and PROMIS Global-Physical (OR: 3.69, 95% CI: 2.46 to 5.62, P < .001). CONCLUSION: Patients reported higher rates of worsening and lower rates of improvement following rTHA than pTHA, with significantly less score improvement and lower postoperative scores for all PROMs after revision. Most patients reported improvements following pTHA, with few worsening postoperatively. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective comparative study.

Role of Operating Room Size on Air Quality in Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Airborne biologic particles (ABPs) can be measured intraoperatively to evaluate operating room (OR) sterility. Our study examines the role of OR size on air quality and ABP count in primary total hip arthroplasty (THA). METHODS: We analyzed primary THA procedures done within 2 ORs measuring 278 ft2 and 501 ft2 at a single academic institution from April 2019 to June 2020. Temperature, humidity, and ABP count per minute were recorded with a particle counter intraoperatively and cross-referenced with surgical data from the electronic health records using procedure start and end times. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate differences in variables. P-values were calculated using t-test and chi-squared test. RESULTS: A total of 116 primary THA cases were included: 18 (15.5%) in the "small" OR and 98 (84.5%) in the "large" OR. Between-group comparisons revealed significant differences in temperature (small OR: 20.3 ± 1.23 C versus large OR: 19.1 ± 0.85 C, P < .0001) and relative humidity (small OR: 41.1 ± 7.24 versus large OR: 46.9 ± 7.56, P < .001). Significant percent decreases in ABP rates for particles measuring 2.5 um (-125.0%, P = .0032), 5.0 um (-245.0%, P = .00078), and 10.0 um (-413.9%, P = .0021) were found in the large OR. Average time spent in the OR was significantly longer in the large OR (174 ± 33 minutes) compared to the small OR (151 ± 14 minutes) (P = .00083). CONCLUSION: Temperature and humidity differences and significantly lower ABP counts were found in the large compared to the small OR despite longer average time spent in the large OR, suggesting the filtration system encounters less particle burden in larger rooms. Further research is needed to determine the impact this may have on infection rates.

Hospital Teaching Status and Patient-Reported Outcomes Following Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty: An American Joint Replacement Registry Study.

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies have shown lower morbidity and mortality rates after total hip arthroplasty (THA) at academic teaching hospitals. This study sought to determine the relationship between hospital teaching status and patient-reported outcome measures following primary THA. METHODS: Using American Joint Replacement Registry data from 2012 to 2020, 4,447 primary, elective THAs with both preoperative and one year postoperative Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, Joint Replacement (HOOS, JR) scores were analyzed. The main exposure variable was hospital teaching status, with three cohorts, as follows: major teaching hospitals, minor teaching hospitals, and non-teaching hospitals. Mean preoperative and one year postoperative HOOS, JR scores were compared. RESULTS: Preoperative HOOS, JR scores (nonteaching: 49.69 ± 14.42 versus major teaching: 47.68 ± 15.10 versus minor teaching: 42.46 ± 19.19, P < .001) were significantly higher at non-teaching hospitals than major and minor teaching hospitals, and these differences persisted at one year postoperatively (87.40 ± 15.14 versus 83.87 ± 16.68 versus 80.37 ± 19.27, P < .001). Both preoperative and postoperative differences in HOOS, JR scores were less than the minimum clinically important difference (MCID) at both time points. In multivariate regressions, non-teaching and minor teaching hospitals had similar odds of MCID achievement in HOOS, JR scores compared to major teaching hospitals. CONCLUSION: Using the HOOS, JR score as a validated outcome measure, undergoing primary THA at an academic teaching hospital did not correlate with higher postoperative HOOS, JR scores or greater chances of MCID achievement in HOOS, JR scores compared to non-teaching hospitals. Further work is required to determine the most important factors that may lead to improvement in patient-reported outcomes following THA.

Neuraxial Anesthesia Significantly Reduces 30-Day Venous Thromboembolism Rate and Length of Hospital Stay in Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Stratified Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Analysis.

BACKGROUND: General anesthesia (GA) has been the commonly used protocol for total hip arthroplasty (THA); however, neuraxial anesthesia (NA) has been increasingly performed. Our purpose was to compare NA and GA for 30-day postoperative outcomes in United States veterans undergoing primary THA. METHODS: A large veteran's database was utilized to identify patients undergoing primary THA between 1999 and 2019. A total of 6,244 patients had undergone THA and were included in our study. Of these, 44,780 (79.6%) had received GA, and 10,788 (19.2%) had received NA. Patients receiving NA or GA were compared for 30-day mortalities, cardiovascular, respiratory, and renal complications, and wound infections and hospital lengths of stay (LOS). Propensity score matching, multivariate regression analyses, and subgroup analyses by American Society of Anesthesiology classification were performed to control for selection bias and patient baseline characteristics. RESULTS: Upon propensity-adjusted multivariate analyses, NA was associated with decreased risks for deep venous thrombosis (odds ratio [OR] = 0.63; 95% CI = 0.4-0.9; P = .02), any respiratory complication (OR = 0.63; 95% CI = 0.5-0.9; P = .003), unplanned reintubation (OR = 0.51; 95% CI = 0.3-0.9; P = .009), and prolonged LOS (OR = 0.78; 95% CI = 0.72-0.84; P < .001). Subgroup analyses by American Society of Anesthesiology classes showed NA decreased 30-day venous thromboembolism rate in low-risk (class I/II) patients and decreased respiratory complications in high-risk (class III/IV) patients. CONCLUSION: Using a patient cohort obtained from a large national database, NA was associated with reduced risk of 30-day adverse events compared to GA in patients undergoing THA. Postoperative adverse events were decreased with NA administration with similar decreases observed across all patient preoperative risk levels. NA was also associated with a significant decrease in hospital LOS.

What are the Causes, Costs and Risk-Factors for Emergency Department Visits Following Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty? An Analysis of 1,018,772 Patients.

BACKGROUND: Well-powered studies analyzing the relationship and nature of emergency department (ED) visits following primary total hip arthroplasties (THAs) are limited. The aim of this study was to: 1) compare baseline demographics of patients with/without an ED visit; 2) determine leading causes of ED visits; 3) identify patient-related risk factors; and 4) quantify 90-day episode-of-care healthcare costs divided by final diagnosis. METHODS: Patients undergoing primary THA between January 1, 2010 and October 1, 2020 who presented to the ED within 90-days postoperatively were identified using the Mariner dataset of PearlDiver, yielding 1,018,772 patients. This included 3.9% (n = 39,439) patients who did and 96.1% (n = 979,333) who did not have an ED visit. Baseline demographics between the control/study cohorts, ED visit causes, risk-factors, and subsequent costs-of-care were analyzed. Using Bonferroni-correction, a P-value less than 0.002 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Patients who presented to the ED post-operatively were most often aged 65-74 years old (41.09%) or female sex (55.60%). Nonmusculoskeletal etiologies comprised 66.8% of all ED visits. Risk factors associated with increased ED visits included alcohol abuse, depressive disorders, congestive heart failure, coagulopathy, and electrolyte/fluid derangements (P < .001 for all). Pulmonary ($28,928.01) and cardiac ($28,574.69) visits attributed to the highest costs of care. CONCLUSION: Nonmusculoskeletal causes constituted the majority of ED visits. The top five risk factors associated with increased odds of ED visits were alcohol abuse, electrolyte/fluid derangements, congestive heart failure, coagulopathy, and depression. This study highlights potential areas of pre-operative medical optimization that may reduce ED visits following primary THA.

Orthopedic Surgery and Anesthesiology Surgical Improvement Strategies Project - Phase III Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Our institution initiated the Orthopedic Surgery and Anesthesiology Surgical Improvement Strategies (OASIS) project in 2017 to improve the quality and efficiency for hip and knee arthroplasties. Phase III of this project aimed to: 1) increase same-day discharge (SDD) of primary total joint arthroplasties (TJAs) to 20%; 2) maintain or improve 30-day readmission rates; and 3) realize cost savings and revenue increases. METHODS: All primary TJAs performed between 2021 and 2022 represented our study cohort, with those in 2019 (prepandemic) establishing the baseline cohort. A multidisciplinary team met weekly to track project tactics and metrics through the entire episode of care from preoperative surgical visit through 30 days postoperatively. RESULTS: The SDD rate increased from 4% at baseline to 37%, with mean lengths of stay (LOS) decreasing from 1.5 to 0.9 days for all primary TJAs. The 30-day readmission rate decreased to 1.2 from 1.3%. Composite changes in surgical volume and cost reductions equaled $5 million. CONCLUSION: Application of a multidisciplinary team with health systems engineering tools and methods allowed SDD to increase from 4 to 37% with a mean LOS <1 day, resulting in a $5 million incremental gain in profit at a major academic medical center. Importantly, patient safety was not compromised as 30-day readmission rates remained stable. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III Therapeutic.

Current Practice Trends in Primary Hip and Knee Arthroplasties Among Members of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons.

During the 2022 Annual Meeting of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons, an audience response poll was conducted to establish current practice patterns among American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons members. There were 49 multiple-choice questions pertaining to routine practices surrounding primary total hip arthroplasties and primary total knee arthroplasties posed to over 4,000 in-person and 400 virtual meeting attendees. Responses were submitted via a mobile application (ie, app). Poll responses were collated and results from the 2022 poll were compared to poll results from 2009, 2018, and 2020.