Impact and Strategies on Joint Surgery Centers without Lockdowns during the Peak of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study

The real psychological impact of COVID-19 remains difficult to quantify and may differ between hospital sizes and levels. Taiwan’s response to COVID-19 differed in that it successfully prevented its spread, without implementing any lockdowns before May 2021. Patients’ fear would be the major reason for the reduction of surgeries. The daily data for patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty (TKA), total hip arthroplasty, and hemiarthroplasty were collected from two major joint surgery centers of a university hospital and a community hospital in Taiwan. Compared with the previous year, the initial impact of the pandemic evidently reduced the total number of patients (outpatient: 20–29%; admission: 22–37%; surgery: 18–35%) in both hospitals. During the study period, the total number of TKAs decreased by 56–61% in both hospitals. The reduction in arthroplasty surgeries was attributable to patients’ fear. Even with confirmed COVID-19 cases, the university hospital experienced less impact than the community hospital. The TKA was the most affected of all surgery types. Even without local epidemics and restrictions in Taiwan, the worldwide pandemic inevitably led to a reduction of approximately 60% of the total TKA operation volume, especially for community hospitals. The surgery scheduling strategies helped maintain the routine arthroplasty services.

241. A Comparison of Staphylococcal and Streptococcal Septic Arthritis with Lyme Arthritis

Background Septic arthritis is considered the most important differential diagnosis in suspected Lyme arthritis. The present study sheds light on the most frequent misdiagnoses in Lyme arthritis cases and clues for differentiation from Staphylococcal and Streptococcal septic arthritis. Methods We studied patients with positive joint fluid cultures with Staphylococcus aureus (SA) and streptococci and Lyme polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positive joint fluid in 9 hospitals in Eastern Pennsylvania and 1 in Warren county, New Jersey over a 3 year period. Results One hundred and thirty four out of 7000 SA and 21 out of 1321 streptococcal isolates were from joint fluid. Twenty nine had Lyme arthritis, ages 5-74 ( 24 males,5 females). Twelve out of 29 were ages 10-18 with 20/29 under age 40. Predominant joint affected was a single knee 27/29. All had pain with or without swelling and little erythema. Two had fever. One reported a tick bite. None had other manifestations of Lyme disease. The diagnosis at the initial visit was sprain or sports injury in 5, osteoarthritis in 5, inflammatory arthritis or gout in 2 each, i septic arthritis, 1 viral syndrome and 1 ruptured Baker's cyst. Joint fluid count range was 3500-77,360 with only 3 over 50,000. White blood cell count (wbc) range was 3200-14,580. SA arthritis involved knee in 66 (49.3%), hip 31(23.9%), elbow 19 (14.2%), shoulder 14 (10.4%) with 2 wrist, 1 ankle and 1 sterno-clavicular joint. Fifty seven had a history of joint surgery. Eighty six were male and 48 female. age range 14-95 with a median age 65. Synovial fluid cell count was 335-470,000 and wbc 5,200-28,410 . Streptococcal septic arthritis ( 13 male 8 female) involved the knee in 17/21 with one each of hip, elbow, shoulder. The ages were 36-86 with 15/21 over age 60. Synovial fluid count was15,242-641,425 . Wbc count 11,140-25,080 .Nine out 21 had prior joint surgery. Conclusion Lyme arthritis patients were younger, mostly involving 1 knee, majority male without other manifestations of Lyme disease. Highest synovial fluid count was 77,360 and highest wbc count 14,580. Most frequent misdiagnoses were sports injury/sprain or osteoarthritis. SA and Streptococcal arthritis were mostly in elderly, with higher joint fluid cell and wbc counts. Only 1/29 Lyme arthritis was initially misdiagnosed septic arthritis. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Effect of Observation of Shou Hui Tong Bian Capsule (Polygonum Multiflorum and Aloe-Based Herbal Capsule for Cathartic Effect) in Rapid Rehabilitation of Joint Surgery

Objective. To observe the effect of Shou Hui Tong Bian capsule (polygonum multiflorum and aloe-based herbal capsule for cathartic effect) in rapid rehabilitation of joint surgery. Methods. A total of 98 patients undergoing perioperative joint surgery in our hospital from July 2019 to March 2020 were included in the study. According to the situation of arthroscopy and joint replacement therapy, the patients were randomly divided into a control group and an observation group, with 49 cases in each group. The control group was treated with conventional therapy. On the basis of the control group, the patients in the observation group were orally administrated with Shou Hui Tong Bian capsule, 2 capsules/time, 3 times/day. Both groups received continuous treatment for 14 days. The clinical effects, awakening time, postoperative exhaust time, and the number of patients with different degrees of abdominal distension in the four groups before and after treatment were observed and compared. Results. After treatment, the total effective rate of arthroscopy in the control group was 66.7%, which was significantly lower than 83.3% in the observation group ( P < 0.05 ). The total effective rate of joint replacement in the control group was 64.0%, which was significantly lower than 84.0% in the observation group ( P < 0.05 ). After arthroscopic treatment and joint replacement treatment, the recovery time and postoperative exhaust time of borborygmus in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (both P < 0.05 ). After the treatment, the number of patients with different degrees of abdominal distension in the arthroscopic and joint replacement treatment group and the control group was significantly improved ( P < 0.05 ), and the observation group was significantly better than the control group ( P < 0.05 ). Conclusion. The curative effect of Shou Hui Tong Bian capsule on patients undergoing arthroscopic joint surgery and joint replacement during perioperative period is obviously superior to that of conventional treatment. It can effectively improve the total effective rate, shorten the first exhaust time, and increase the number of patients without abdominal distension after treatment. It was safe and effective, and worthy of clinical promotion.

Large joints are progressively involved in rheumatoid arthritis irrespective of rheumatoid factor status—results from the early rheumatoid arthritis study

This study aimed to examine the progression of large joint involvement from early to established RA in terms of range of movement (ROM) and time to joint surgery, according to the presence of rheumatoid factor (RF). We used a historical longitudinal cohort of early RA patients. Patients were deemed RF negative if all repeated assessments were negative. The rate of progression from normal to any loss of range of movement (ROM) from years 3 to 14 were modelled using generalized estimating equations, for elbows, wrists, hips, knees and ankle, adjusting for confounders. Time to joint surgery was analysed using multivariable Cox models. A total of 1458 patients were included (66% female, mean age 55 years) and 74% were RF-positive. The prevalence of any loss of ROM, from year 3 through to 14 was highest in the wrist followed by ankle, knee, elbow and hip. Odds of loss of ROM increased over time in all joint regions assessed, at around 7–13% per year from year 3 to 14. Time to surgery was similar according to RF-status for the wrist and ankle, but RF-positive cases had a lower hazard of surgery at the elbow (HR 0.37, 0.15–0.90), hip (HR 0.69, 0.48–0.99) and after 10 years at the knee (HR 0.41, 0.25–0.68). Large joints become progressively involved in RA, most frequently affecting the wrist followed by ankle, which is overlooked in composite disease activity indices. RF-negative and positive cases progressed similarly. Treat-to-target approaches should be followed irrespective of RF status.