Changes in opioid discharge prescriptions after primary total hip and total knee arthroplasty affect opioid refill rates and morphine milligram equivalents

Aims Due to the opioid epidemic in the USA, our service progressively decreased the number of opioid tablets prescribed at discharge after primary hip (THA) and knee (TKA) arthroplasty. The goal of this study was to analyze the effect on total morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) prescribed and post-discharge opioid repeat prescriptions. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 19,428 patients undergoing a primary THA or TKA between 1 February 2016 and 31 December 2019. Two reductions in the number of opioid tablets prescribed at discharge were implemented over this time; as such, we analyzed three periods (P1, P2, and P3) with different routine discharge MME (750, 520, and 320 MMEs, respectively). We investigated 90-day refill rates, refill MMEs, and whether discharge MMEs were associated with represcribing in a multivariate model. Results A discharge prescription of < 400 MMEs was not a risk factor for opioid represcribing in the entire population (p = 0.772) or in opioid-naïve patients alone (p = 0.272). Procedure type was the most significant risk factor for narcotic represcribing, with unilateral TKA (hazard ratio (HR) = 5.62), bilateral TKA (HR = 6.32), and bilateral unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) (HR = 5.29) (all p < 0.001) being the highest risk for refills. For these three procedures, there was approximately a 5% to 6% increase in refills from P1 to P3 (p < 0.001); however, there was no significant increase in refill rates after any hip arthroplasty procedures. Total MMEs prescribed were significantly reduced from P1 to P3 (p < 0.001), leading to the equivalent of nearly 500,000 fewer oxycodone 5 mg tablets prescribed. Conclusion Decreasing opioids prescribed at discharge led to a statistically significant reduction in total MMEs prescribed. While the represcribing rate did not increase for any hip arthroplasty procedure, the overall refill rates increased by about 5% for most knee arthroplasty procedures. As such, we are now probably prescribing an appropriate amount of opioids at discharge for knee arthroplasty procedure, but further reductions may be possible for hip arthroplasty procedures. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2021;103-B(7 Supple B):103–110.

Time efficiency of direct anterior hip arthroplasty compared to postero-lateral approach in elderly patients

IntroductionPrimary arthroplasty of the hip joint is currently one of the most commonly performed procedures in orthopedics. In Poland we are observing significant changes in the age structure. With the prolonged life more and more elderly patients require musculoskeletal surgery to maintain comfortable and painless mobility. Reducing the duration of the procedure reduces the costs of anesthesiology, surgical and instrument teams, as well as the operating room technical team. The aim of the study was to compare the time required to perform hip joint arthroplasty by the direct anterior approach (DAA) with the postero-lateral approach (PLA) in our hospital.Material and methodsA retrospective analysis of 559 total and bipolar cemented and cementless hip replacement procedures based on two operative approaches – the minimally invasive DAA over the course of 2 years, and the standard PLA over the course of 3 years – was performed.ResultsStatistically significant differences were observed between the approaches used for cementless total arthroplasty with regard to the mean treatment times: 51.9 min for the 272 DAA cases, and 78.3 min for the 190 PLA cases (p < 0.0001). For the cementless hemi-arthroplasty procedure, the mean treatment times were 46.9 min in 36 patients for DAA, and 48.2 min for 61 patients for PLA (p = 0.57).ConclusionsMinimally invasive DAA significantly shortens the time of the procedure in elderly patients compared to PLA. Further study is needed to analyze other aspects of those two approaches.

Return to Golf After Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review

Background: The number of golfers aged ≥65 years has increased in recent years, and shoulder arthritis is prevalent in this age group. Guidelines for return to golf (RTG) after shoulder arthroplasty have not been fully established. Purpose: To review the data available in the current literature on RTG after shoulder arthroplasty. Study Design: Systematic review. Methods: A systematic review based on the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines was performed. Two independent reviewers searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library using the terms “shoulder,”“arthroplasty,”“replacement,” and “golf.” The authors sought to include all studies investigating RTG after total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA), shoulder hemiarthroplasty (HA), and reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA). Outcomes of interest included indications for shoulder arthroplasty, surgical technique, rehabilitation protocol, amount of time between surgery and resumption of golf activity, and patient-reported outcome measures. Results: A total of 10 studies were included, 2 of which reported on golf performance after shoulder arthroplasty. The other 8 studies described return to sports after shoulder arthroplasty with golf-specific data for our analysis. Three studies that included patients who underwent TSA reported RTG rates ranging from 89% to 100% after mean follow-up periods of 5.1 to 8.4 months. Two studies included patients who underwent TSA and HA and reported RTG rates of 77% and 100% after mean intervals of 5.8 and 4.5 months, respectively. Two studies included patients who underwent RSA, with RTG rates of 50% and 79% after mean postoperative intervals of 5.3 and 6 months, respectively. One study included only patients undergoing HA, with an RTG rate of 54% and a mean RTG time of 6.5 months. Varying surgical procedures and baseline patient characteristics precluded our ability to draw conclusions regarding surgical technique, rehabilitation protocol, or patient-reported outcome measures among studies reporting these data. Conclusion: Most patients who undergo a shoulder arthroplasty procedure can expect to resume playing golf approximately 6 months after the index procedure. The rate of return may be lower after RSA and HA as compared with anatomic TSA. The data presented in our review can help physicians counsel patients who wish to continue golf participation after a shoulder arthroplasty procedure.

Extensor Digitorum Communis (EDC) Anchor and Interposition Arthroplasty for the Metacarpo-Phalangeal Joint (MCPJ)

Replacing a destroyed MCPJ has always been a challenge. Few operations have resulted in consistent satisfactory results. Also, anchoring a subluxed EDC tendon from the metacarpal head has produced numerous corrective procedures, again indicating the difficulty to keep the extensor tendon aligned. The EDC anchor and interposition arthroplasty procedure addresses both these challenging problems.

Enhanced Recovery Protocol Reduces Transfusion Requirements and Hospital Stay in Patients Undergoing an Elective Arthroplasty Procedure

Background. Enhanced recovery (ER) for elective total hip or total knee replacement has become common practice. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of ER on transfusion rates and incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Methods. A comprehensive review was undertaken of all patients who underwent primary hip or knee arthroplasty surgery electively between January 2011 and December 2013 at our institution. ER was implemented in August 2012, thus creating two cohorts: the traditional protocol (TP) group and the ER group. Outcome measurements of length of stay, postoperative transfusion, thromboembolic complications, and number of readmissions were assessed. Main Findings. 1262 patients were included. The TP group contained a total of 632 patients and the ER group contained 630 patients. Postoperative transfusion rate in the ER group was reduced with 45% (P≤0.05). There was no statistical difference in postoperative VTE complications. The length of stay was reduced from 5.5 days to 4.8 days (P<0.05). Conclusions. There was no difference in the number of readmissions. ER has contributed to a significant decrease in transfusions after elective arthroplasty surgery, with no increase in the incidence of thromboembolic events. Furthermore, it has significantly reduced inpatient length of stay.

Transforaminal endoscopic decompression of a postoperative dislocated bone fragment after a 2-level lumbar total disc replacement: case report

The proposed advantages of total disc replacement (TDR) over fusion in the lumbar spine are the preservation of motion and the avoidance of adjacent-level disease. One of the complications inherent in TDR is the possibility of vertebral body fracture due to trauma or a malpositioned implant. The resulting dilemma is that posterior decompression of the displaced bone fragment could then have a destabilizing effect and possibly require fusion, thus obviating the benefit of an arthroplasty procedure. In this study, the authors describe the technical considerations and feasibility of the treatment of a postoperative L-5 paresis that resulted from a dislocated bone fragment at L4–5 during a 2-level lumbar TDR.

In-hospital mortality analysis in patients with proximal femoral fracture operatively treated by hip arthroplasty procedure

Background/Aim. Hip fracture remains the leading cause of death in trauma among elderly population and is a great burden to national health services. In-patient death analysis is important to evaluate risk factors, make appropriate selection and perform adequate treatment of infections for patients to be operated. The aim of this study was to analyze in-hospital mortality in proximal femoral fracture patients operatively treated with hip arthroplasty procedure. Methods. We followed 622 consecutive patients, and collected data about age, gender, the presence of infection preoperatively and postoperatively, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, diabetes mellitus and the type of surgical procedure. Postoperative infections included pneumonia, urinary tract infections, surgical site infections and sepsis. Results. We found a statistically significant influence of preoperative and postoperative infection presence for in-patient mortality with relative risk for lethal outcome of 4.53 (95% CI: 1.44-14.22) for patients with preoperative infection and 7.5 (95% CI: 1.90-29.48) for patients with postoperative infection. We did not confirm a statistically significant influence of age, gender, ASA score, diabetes mellitus or the type of surgical procedure for increased mortality rate. Conclusion. Adequate preoperative selection, risk evaluation and adequate treatment of infections are of the key importance for lowering the risk of death in patients operated due to proximal femoral fracture and treated by hip arthroplasty procedures. Special attention is to be paid for the presence of preoperative and postoperative infections in patients operatively treated due to the risk for increased in-hospital mortality.