The impact of surgical trainee involvement in total knee arthroplasty: a systematic review of surgical efficacy, patient safety, and outcomes

Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the most ubiquitous joint disorders which cause tremendous loss of life quality and impose an economic burden on society. At present, the treatment options for these two diseases comprise non-operative and surgical treatments, amongst those total knee arthroplasties (TKA). Various studies have recognized smoking as a significant risk factor for postoperative complications. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the impact of smoking on the incidence and postoperative complications after a total knee arthroplasty by a systematic review and meta-analysis. The research was performed using PUBMED, Cochrane Library and EMBASE, extracting data from thirteen suitable studies and incorporating 2,109,482 patients. Cohort studies evaluating the impact of smoking on TKA with sufficient data were included for the study, and cohort studies without a proper control group and complete data were excluded. A fixed-effects or random-effects model was used to measure the pooled risk ratio (RR) or hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Compared to non-smokers, smokers had a significantly lower incidence of TKA (p<0.01). However, smokers had a higher incidence of total complications (p=0.01), surgical complications (p<0.01), pneumonia (p<0.01) and revision surgery (p=0.01). No significant difference in the risk of blood transfusion (p=0.42), deep vein thrombosis (p=0.31), pulmonary embolism (p=0.34), urinary tract infection (p=0.46) or mortality (p=0.39) was found between smokers and non-smokers. In conclusion, the study indicated that tobacco has two diametrically opposite effects on TKA patients: 1. Tobacco increases the incidence of surgical complications, pneumonia and revision after TKA; 2. It decreases the overall risk of being a candidate for TKA.

Download Full-text

Clinical and Radiological Changes of Ankle in Knee Osteoarthritis With Varus After Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review

Frontiers in Surgery ◽

10.3389/fsurg.2021.713055 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Zhiwei Feng ◽

Ming Ma ◽

Yaobin Wang ◽

Chenfei Yang ◽

Zhongcheng Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Total Knee Arthroplasty ◽

Knee Osteoarthritis ◽

Ankle Joint ◽

Knee Arthroplasty ◽

Varus Deformity ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Total Knee ◽

Radiological Changes ◽

The Impact

Background: Arthritis with severe varus deformity remains a challenge in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Until recently, surgeons aimed at a neutral lower limb alignment when performing a TKA. However, the impact of TKA on the ankle joint has been ignored. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review to assess the clinical and radiological changes in the ankle joint after TKA on knees with severe varus deformity.Methods: A systematic search was conducted in four English (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science) and four Chinese (CBM, VIP, CNKI, and Wan Fang Database) databases. Screening of literature and extraction of data were independently performed by two researchers. The modified methodological index for non-randomized studies (MINORS) was used to assess the quality.Results: A total of eight studies were eligible, namely, four prospective and four retrospective studies. TKA resulted in a negative clinical effect in the ankle joint in patients with ankle osteoarthritis. Seven studies reported changes in the mechanical tibiofemoral angle, and four studies reported radiological changes in the hindfoot. The mean score of the MINORS was 9.8 out of eight (9–11).Conclusion: As a result of the correction of the knee osteoarthritis with severe varus deformity following mechanically aligned TKA, the radiological malalignment of the ankle joint was improved. However, some patients experience increased ankle pain after undergoing TKA, especially, if there was a residual knee varus deformity, a stiff hindfoot with varus deformity, or ankle arthritis.

Download Full-text

Clinical impact of component placement in manually instrumented total knee arthroplasty

The Bone & Joint Journal ◽

10.1302/0301-620x.103b9.bjj-2020-1639.r2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 103-B (9) ◽

pp. 1449-1456

Author(s):

Gregory S. Kazarian ◽

Elizabeth G. Lieberman ◽

Erik J. Hansen ◽

Ryan M. Nunley ◽

Robert L. Barrack

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Total Knee Arthroplasty ◽

Knee Arthroplasty ◽

Femoral Rotation ◽

Limited Evidence ◽

Implant Placement ◽

Implant Size ◽

Total Knee ◽

Placement Accuracy ◽

The Impact

Aims The goal of the current systematic review was to assess the impact of implant placement accuracy on outcomes following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods A systematic review was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines using the Ovid Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central, and Web of Science databases in order to assess the impact of the patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMs) and implant placement accuracy on outcomes following TKA. Studies assessing the impact of implant alignment, rotation, size, overhang, or condylar offset were included. Study quality was assessed, evidence was graded (one-star: no evidence, two-star: limited evidence, three-star: moderate evidence, four-star: strong evidence), and recommendations were made based on the available evidence. Results A total of 49 studies were identified for inclusion. With respect to PROMs, there was two-star evidence in support of mechanical axis alignment (MAA), femorotibial angle (FTA), femoral coronal angle (FCA), tibial coronal angle (TCA), femoral sagittal angle (FSA), femoral rotation, tibial and combined rotation/mismatch, and implant size/overhang or offset on PROMs, and one-star evidence in support of tibial sagittal angle (TSA), impacting PROMs. With respect to survival, there was three- to four-star evidence in support FTA, FCA, TCA, and TSA, moderate evidence in support of femoral rotation, tibial and combined rotation/mismatch, and limited evidence in support of MAA, FSA, and implant size/overhang or offset impacting survival. Conclusion Overall, there is limited evidence to suggest that PROMs are impacted by the accuracy of implant placement, and malalignment does not appear to be a significant driver of the observed high rates of patient dissatisfaction following TKA. However, FTA, FCA, TCA, TSA, and implant rotation demonstrate a moderate-strong relationship with implant survival. Efforts should be made to improve the accuracy of these parameters in order to improve TKA survival. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2021;103-B(9):1449–1456.

Download Full-text

A commentary on “The optimal dosage, route and timing of glucocorticoids administration for improving knee function, pain and inflammation in primary total knee arthroplasty: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of 34 randomized trials” [Int. J. Surg. 82 (2020 Oct) 182–191]

International Journal of Surgery ◽

10.1016/j.ijsu.2021.01.014 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 87 ◽

pp. 105888

Author(s):

Shijie Lin ◽

Baojin Wu ◽

Yufei Li

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Total Knee Arthroplasty ◽

Knee Arthroplasty ◽

Randomized Trials ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty ◽

Knee Function ◽

Optimal Dosage ◽

Total Knee ◽

Primary Total Knee

Download Full-text

Higher body mass index is associated with larger postoperative improvement in patient-reported outcomes following total knee arthroplasty

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽

10.1186/s12891-021-04512-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

Author(s):

K Giesinger ◽

JM Giesinger ◽

DF Hamilton ◽

J Rechsteiner ◽

A Ladurner

Keyword(s):

Body Mass Index ◽

Total Knee Arthroplasty ◽

Pain Relief ◽

Body Mass ◽

Knee Arthroplasty ◽

Normal Weight ◽

World Health ◽

Obese Patients ◽

Total Knee ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background Total knee arthroplasty is known to successfully alleviate pain and improve function in endstage knee osteoarthritis. However, there is some controversy with regard to the influence of obesity on clinical benefits after TKA. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of body mass index (BMI) on improvement in pain, function and general health status following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods A single-centre retrospective analysis of primary TKAs performed between 2006 and 2016 was performed. Data were collected preoperatively and 12-month postoperatively using WOMAC score and EQ-5D. Longitudinal score change was compared across the BMI categories identified by the World Health Organization. Results Data from 1565 patients [mean age 69.1, 62.2% women] were accessed. Weight distribution was: 21.2% BMI < 25.0 kg/m2, 36.9% BMI 25.0–29.9 kg/m2, 27.0% BMI 30.0–34.9 kg/m2, 10.2% BMI 35.0–39.9 kg/m2, and 4.6% BMI ≥ 40.0 kg/m2. All outcome measures improved between preoperative and 12-month follow-up (p < 0.001). In pairwise comparisons against normal weight patients, patients with class I-II obesity showed larger improvement on the WOMAC function and total score. For WOMAC pain improvements were larger for all three obesity classes. Conclusions Post-operative improvement in joint-specific outcomes was larger in obese patients compared to normal weight patients. These findings suggest that obese patients may have the greatest benefits from TKA with regard to function and pain relief one year post-op. Well balanced treatment decisions should fully account for both: Higher benefits in terms of pain relief and function as well as increased potential risks and complications. Trial registration This trial has been registered with the ethics committee of Eastern Switzerland (EKOS; Project-ID: EKOS 2020–00,879)

Download Full-text