Reply to: Efficacy of intra-operative administration of iron isomaltoside for preventing postoperative anaemia after total knee arthroplasty

AbstractGiven increasing demand for primary knee arthroplasties, revision surgery is also expected to increase, with periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) a main driver of costs. Recent data on national trends is lacking. We aimed to assess trends in PJI in total knee arthroplasty revisions and hospitalization costs. From the National Inpatient Sample (2003–2016), we extracted data on total knee arthroplasty revisions (n = 782,449). We assessed trends in PJI prevalence and (inflation-adjusted) hospitalization costs (total as well as per-day costs) for all revisions and stratified by hospital teaching status (rural/urban by teaching status), hospital bed size (≤299, 300–499, and ≥500 beds), and hospital region (Northeast, Midwest, South, and West). The Cochran–Armitage trend test (PJI prevalence) and linear regression determined significance of trends. PJI prevalence overall was 25.5% (n = 199,818) with a minor increasing trend: 25.3% (n = 7,828) in 2003 to 28.9% (n = 19,275) in 2016; p < 0.0001. Median total hospitalization costs for PJI decreased slightly ($23,247 in 2003–$20,273 in 2016; p < 0.0001) while median per-day costs slightly increased ($3,452 in 2003–$3,727 in 2016; p < 0.0001), likely as a function of decreasing length of stay. With small differences between hospitals, the lowest and highest PJI prevalences were seen in small (≤299 beds; 22.9%) and urban teaching hospitals (27.3%), respectively. In stratification analyses, an increasing trend in PJI prevalence was particularly seen in larger (≥500 beds) hospitals (24.4% in 2003–30.7% in 2016; p < 0.0001), while a decreasing trend was seen in small-sized hospitals. Overall, PJI in knee arthroplasty revisions appears to be slightly increasing. Moreover, increasing trends in large hospitals and decreasing trends in small-sized hospitals suggest a shift in patients from small to large volume hospitals. Decreasing trends in total costs, alongside increasing trends in per-day costs, suggest a strong impact of length of stay trends and a more efficient approach to PJI over the years (in terms of shorter length of stay).

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Effect of Manipulation under Anesthesia of the First Knee in Staged Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty on Clinical Outcome and Satisfaction

The Journal of Knee Surgery ◽

10.1055/s-0040-1709675 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Jung-Won Lim ◽

Yong-Beom Park ◽

Dong-Hoon Lee ◽

Han-Jun Lee

Keyword(s):

Total Knee Arthroplasty ◽

Patient Satisfaction ◽

Clinical Outcome ◽

Clinical Outcomes ◽

Knee Arthroplasty ◽

Knee Flexion ◽

Functional Score ◽

Manipulation Under Anesthesia ◽

Total Knee

AbstractThis study aimed to evaluate whether manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) affect clinical outcome including range of motion (ROM) and patient satisfaction after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). It is hypothesized that MUA improves clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction after primary TKA. This retrospective study analyzed 97 patients who underwent staged bilateral primary TKA. MUA of knee flexion more than 120 degrees was performed a week after index surgery just before operation of the opposite site. The first knees with MUA were classified as the MUA group and the second knees without MUA as the control group. ROM, Knee Society Knee Score, Knee Society Functional Score, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) score, and patient satisfaction were assessed. Postoperative flexion was significantly greater in the MUA group during 6 months follow-up (6 weeks: 111.6 vs. 99.8 degrees, p < 0.001; 3 months: 115.9 vs. 110.2 degrees, p = 0.001; 6 months: 120.2 vs. 117.0 degrees, p = 0.019). Clinical outcomes also showed similar results with knee flexion during 2 years follow-up. Patient satisfaction was significantly high in the MUA group during 12 months (3 months: 80.2 vs. 71.5, p < 0.001; 6 months: 85.8 vs. 79.8, p < 0.001; 12 months: 86.1 vs. 83.9, p < 0.001; 24 months: 86.6 vs. 85.5, p = 0.013). MUA yielded improvement of clinical outcomes including ROM, and patient satisfaction, especially in the early period after TKA. MUA in the first knee could be taken into account to obtain early recovery and to improve patient satisfaction in staged bilateral TKA.

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A Comparative Analysis of Patient Satisfaction following Total Knee Arthroplasty and Total Hip Arthroplasty Using the Forgotten Joint Score

The Journal of Hip Surgery ◽

10.1055/s-0040-1712523 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 04 (02) ◽

pp. 084-089

Author(s):

Vivek Singh ◽

Stephen Zak ◽

Ran Schwarzkopf ◽

Roy Davidovitch

Keyword(s):

Total Knee Arthroplasty ◽

Patient Satisfaction ◽

Total Hip Arthroplasty ◽

Knee Arthroplasty ◽

Hip Arthroplasty ◽

Demographic Data ◽

Demographic Differences ◽

Total Hip ◽

Forgotten Joint Score ◽

Total Knee

AbstractMeasuring patient satisfaction and surgical outcomes following total joint arthroplasty remains controversial with most tools failing to account for both surgeon and patient satisfaction in regard to outcomes. The purpose of this study was to use “The Forgotten Joint Score” questionnaire to assess clinical outcomes comparing patients who underwent a total hip arthroplasty (THA) with those who underwent a total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We conducted a retrospective review of patients who underwent primary THA or TKA between September 2016 and September 2019 and responded to the Forgotten Joint Score-12 (FJS-12) questionnaire at least at one of three time periods (3, 12, and 21 months), postoperatively. An electronic patient rehabilitation application was used to administer the questionnaire. Collected variables included demographic data (age, gender, race, body mass index [BMI], and smoking status), length of stay (LOS), and FJS-12 scores. t-test and chi-square were used to determine significance. Linear regression was used to account for demographic differences. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Of the 2,359 patients included in this study, 1,469 underwent a THA and 890 underwent a TKA. Demographic differences were observed between the two groups with the TKA group being older, with higher BMI, higher American Society of Anesthesiologists scores, and longer LOS. Accounting for the differences in demographic data, THA patients consistently had higher scores at 3 months (53.72 vs. 24.96; p < 0.001), 12 months (66.00 vs. 43.57; p < 0.001), and 21 months (73.45 vs. 47.22; p < 0.001). FJS-12 scores for patients that underwent THA were significantly higher in comparison to TKA patients at 3, 12, and 21 months postoperatively. Increasing patient age led to a marginal increase in FJS-12 score in both cohorts. With higher FJS-12 scores, patients who underwent THA may experience a more positive evolution with their surgery postoperatively than those who had TKA.

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Total Hospital Costs and Readmission Rate of Patient-Specific Instrument in Total Knee Arthroplasty Patients

The Journal of Knee Surgery ◽

10.1055/s-0040-1713353 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Stephen Thomas ◽

Ankur Patel ◽

Corey Patrick ◽

Gary Delhougne

Keyword(s):

Total Knee Arthroplasty ◽

Knee Arthroplasty ◽

Hospital Cost ◽

Readmission Rate ◽

Hospital Costs ◽

Patient Specific ◽

P Value ◽

Total Hospital Cost ◽

Total Hospital ◽

Total Knee

AbstractDespite advancements in surgical technique and component design, implant loosening, stiffness, and instability remain leading causes of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) failure. Patient-specific instruments (PSI) aid in surgical precision and in implant positioning and ultimately reduce readmissions and revisions in TKA. The objective of the study was to evaluate total hospital cost and readmission rate at 30, 60, 90, and 365 days in PSI-guided TKA patients. We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent a primary TKA for osteoarthritis from the Premier Perspective Database between 2014 and 2017 Q2. TKA with PSI patients were identified using appropriate keywords from billing records and compared against patients without PSI. Patients were excluded if they were < 21 years of age; outpatient hospital discharges; evidence of revision TKA; bilateral TKA in same discharge or different discharges. 1:1 propensity score matching was used to control patients, hospital, and clinical characteristics. Generalized Estimating Equation model with appropriate distribution and link function were used to estimate hospital related cost while logistic regression models were used to estimate 30, 60, and 90 days and 1-year readmission rate. The study matched 3,358 TKAs with PSI with TKA without PSI patients. Mean total hospital costs were statistically significantly (p < 0.0001) lower for TKA with PSI ($14,910; 95% confidence interval [CI]: $14,735–$15,087) than TKA without PSI patients ($16,018; 95% CI: $15,826–$16,212). TKA with PSI patients were 31% (odds ratio [OR]: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.51–0.95; p-value = 0.0218) less likely to be readmitted at 30 days; 35% (OR: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.50–0.86; p-value = 0.0022) less likely to be readmitted at 60 days; 32% (OR: 0.68; 95% CI: 0.53–0.88; p-value = 0.0031) less likely to be readmitted at 90 days; 28% (OR: 0.72; 95% CI: 0.60–0.86; p-value = 0.0004) less likely to be readmitted at 365 days than TKA without PSI patients. Hospitals and health care professionals can use retrospective real-world data to make informed decisions on using PSI to reduce hospital cost and readmission rate, and improve outcomes in TKA patients.

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Should Sequential Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty Be Limited to Patients Younger than 80? A Two-Arm Propensity Matched Study

The Journal of Knee Surgery ◽

10.1055/s-0040-1712100 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Antonio Klasan ◽

Sven Edward Putnis ◽

Wai Weng Yeo ◽

Darli Myat ◽

Brett Andrew Fritsch ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Total Knee Arthroplasty ◽

Patient Selection ◽

Knee Arthroplasty ◽

Major Complication ◽

The Elderly ◽

Complication Rates ◽

Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty ◽

Proper Patient Selection ◽

Patient Reported ◽

Total Knee

AbstractDespite multiple studies, there remains a debate on the safety of bilateral total knee arthroplasty (BTKA) in the average age patient, with a paucity of data on the outcome of BTKA in an elderly population. This study included 89 patients aged 80 years and older undergoing sequential BTKA over 14 years were identified in a prospectively collected database. Two matched comparison groups were created: patients under 80 undergoing sequential BTKA and patients over 80 undergoing unilateral TKA (UTKA). An analysis of complications, mortality, revision, and patient-reported outcome measures was performed. Mean age of the elderly cohorts was similar: 82.6 for BTKA and 82.9 for UTKA. The average age BTKA cohort had a mean age of 69.1. Complication rates were higher in bilateral cohorts, more so in the elderly BTKA cohort. Pulmonary embolism (PE) was observed in bilateral cohorts only. In these patients, history of PE and ischemic heart disease was a strong predictive factor for developing a major complication. There was no difference in revision rates and infection rates between the three cohorts, and no difference in patient survivorship between the two elderly cohorts. Through the combination of low revision and high survivorship rates and comparable clinical outcomes, this article demonstrates that simultaneous BTKA is an appropriate option to consider for an elderly patient, with proper patient selection and perioperative management. The demonstrated risk groups show that emphasis on patient selection should be focused on medical history rather than chronological age.

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Blood Management in Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Nationwide Analysis from 2011 to 2018

The Journal of Knee Surgery ◽

10.1055/s-0040-1721414 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Jared A. Warren ◽

John P. McLaughlin ◽

Robert M. Molloy ◽

Carlos A. Higuera ◽

Jonathan L. Schaffer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Total Knee Arthroplasty ◽

Platelet Count ◽

Knee Arthroplasty ◽

Categorical Variables ◽

Bleeding Disorders ◽

Blood Management ◽

Improvement Program ◽

Preoperative Anemia ◽

High Incidence ◽

Total Knee

AbstractBoth advances in perioperative blood management, anesthesia, and surgical technique have improved transfusion rates following primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA), and have driven substantial change in preoperative blood ordering protocols. Therefore, blood management in TKA has seen substantial changes with the implementation of preoperative screening, patient optimization, and intra- and postoperative advances. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine changes in blood management in primary TKA, a nationwide sample, to assess gaps and opportunities. The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was used to identify TKA (n = 337,160) cases from 2011 to 2018. The following variables examined, such as preoperative hematocrit (HCT), anemia (HCT <35.5% for females and <38.5% for males), platelet count, thrombocytopenia (platelet count < 150,000/µL), international normalized ration (INR), INR > 2.0, bleeding disorders, preoperative, and postoperative transfusions. Analysis of variances were used to examine changes in continuous variables, and Chi-squared tests were used for categorical variables. There was a substantial decrease in postoperative transfusions from high of 18.3% in 2011 to a low of 1.0% in 2018, (p < 0.001), as well as in preoperative anemia from a high of 13.3% in 2011 to a low of 9.5% in 2016 to 2017 (p < 0.001). There were statistically significant, but clinically irrelevant changes in the other variables examined. There was a HCT high of 41.2 in 2016 and a low of 40.4 in 2011 to 2012 (p < 0.001). There was platelet count high of 247,400 in 2018 and a low of 242,700 in 201 (p < 0.001). There was a high incidence of thrombocytopenia of 5.2% in 2017 and a low of low of 4.4% in 2018 (p < 0.001). There was a high INR of 1.037 in 2011 and a low of 1.021 in 2013 (p < 0.001). There was a high incidence of INR >2.0 of 1.0% in 2012 to 2015 and a low of 0.8% in 2016 to 2018 (p = 0.027). There was a high incidence of bleeding disorders of 2.9% in 2013 and a low of 1.8% in 2017 to 2018 (p < 0.001). There was a high incidence of preoperative transfusions of 0.1% in 2011 to 2014 and a low of <0.1% in 2015 to 2018 (p = 0.021). From 2011 to 2018, there has been substantial decreases in patients receiving postoperative transfusions after primary TKA. Similarly, although a decrease in patients with anemia was seen, there remains 1 out 10 patients with preoperative anemia, highlighting the opportunity to further improve and address this potentially modifiable risk factor before surgery. These findings may reflect changes during TKA patient selection, optimization, or management, and emphasizes the need to further advance multimodal approaches for perioperative blood management of TKA patients. This is a Level III study.

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Low-Degree Tibial Slope Angle Prevents Component Overhang by Enlarging the Lateral Plateau Surface Area in Total Knee Arthroplasty

The Journal of Knee Surgery ◽

10.1055/s-0040-1718598 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Mehmet Emin Simsek ◽

Mustafa Akkaya ◽

Safa Gursoy ◽

Özgür Kaya ◽

Murat Bozkurt

Keyword(s):

Total Knee Arthroplasty ◽

Surface Area ◽

Knee Arthroplasty ◽

Tibial Plateau ◽

Slope Angle ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Tibial Slope ◽

Total Knee ◽

Lateral Plateau ◽

Gender Groups

AbstractThis study aimed to investigate whether overhang or underhang around the tibial component that occurs during the placement of tibial baseplates was affected by different slope angles of the tibial plateau and determine the changes in the lateral and medial plateau diameters while changing the slope angle in total knee arthroplasty. Three-dimensional tibia models were reconstructed using the computed tomography scans of 120 tibial dry bones. Tibial plateau slope cuts were performed with 9, 7, 5, 3, and 0 degrees of slope angles 2-mm below the subchondral bone in the deepest point of the medial plateau. Total, lateral, and medial tibial plateau areas and overhang/underhang rates were measured at each cut level. Digital implantations of the asymmetric and symmetric tibial baseplates were made on the tibial plateau with each slope angles. Following the implantations, the slope angle that prevents overhang or underhang at the bone border and the slope angle that has more surface area was identified. A significant increase was noted in the total tibial surface area, lateral plateau surface area, and lateral anteroposterior distance, whereas the slope cut angles were changed from 9 to 0 degrees in both gender groups. It was found that the amount of posteromedial underhang and posterolateral overhang increased in both the asymmetric and symmetric tibial baseplates when the slope angle was changed from 0 to 9 degrees. Although the mediolateral diameter did not change after the proximal tibia cuts at different slope angles, the surface area and anteroposterior diameter of the lateral plateau could change, leading to increased lateral plateau area. Although prosthesis designs are highly compatible with the tibial surface area, it should be noted that the component overhangs, especially beyond the posterolateral edge, it can be prevented by changing the slope cut angle in males and females.

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Isolated Liner Revision for Total Knee Arthroplasty Instability: A Road That Should Remain Less Taken

The Journal of Knee Surgery ◽

10.1055/s-0040-1721091 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Jason D. Tegethoff ◽

Rafael Walker-Santiago ◽

William M. Ralston ◽

James A. Keeney

Keyword(s):

Total Knee Arthroplasty ◽

Femoral Component ◽

Knee Arthroplasty ◽

Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty ◽

P Value ◽

Surgical Morbidity ◽

Exact Test ◽

Total Knee ◽

Component Revision

AbstractIsolated polyethylene liner exchange (IPLE) is infrequently selected as a treatment approach for patients with primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) prosthetic joint instability. Potential advantages of less immediate surgical morbidity, faster recovery, and lower procedural cost need to be measured against reoperation and re-revision risk. Few published studies have directly compared IPLE with combined tibial and femoral component revision to treat patients with primary TKA instability. After obtaining institutional review board (IRB) approval, we performed a retrospective comparison of 20 patients treated with IPLE and 126 patients treated with tibial and femoral component revisions at a single institution between 2011 and 2018. Patient demographic characteristics, medical comorbidities, time to initial revision TKA, and reoperation (90 days, <2 years, and >2 years) were assessed using paired Student's t-test or Fisher's exact test with a p-value <0.01 used to determine significance. Patients undergoing IPLE were more likely to undergo reoperation (60.0 vs. 17.5%, p = 0.001), component revision surgery (45.0 vs. 8.7%, p = 0.002), and component revision within 2 years (30.0 vs. 1.6%, p < 0.0001). Differences in 90-day reoperation (p = 0.14) and revision >2 years (p = 0.19) were not significant. Reoperation for instability (30.0 vs. 4.0%, p < 0.001) and infection (20.0 vs. 1.6%, p < 0.01) were both higher in the IPLE group. IPLE does not provide consistent benefits for patients undergoing TKA revision for instability. Considerations for lower immediate postoperative morbidity and cost need to be carefully measured against long-term consequences of reoperation, delayed component revision, and increased long-term costs of multiple surgical procedures. This is a level III, case–control study.

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