Faculty Bibliography

Marked underutilization rates of total joint arthroplasty in minorities compared with nonminorities exist, with a paucity of literature surrounding inequities related to total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA). Using the Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System database, patients who underwent elective TSA in New York State (NYS) were identified and characterized by age, race, gender, medical comorbidities, and payor status. Patients were stratified into 4 separate 5-year periods from 1990 to 2009. Comorbidity severity was defined using the Elixhauser criteria. A total of 10,538 elective TSAs were identified, with half of the procedures occurring in the most recent time quartile. Whites accounted for 70% of the procedures, whereas blacks accounted for 5%. During the 20-year period, the age-adjusted incidence of TSA in white men and women increased by 417% and 421%, respectively, whereas the incidence for black men and women increased by 378% and 329%, respectively. Black men had the lowest utilization rate among all subgroups, and overall disparity between races continued to widen over time. Blacks had significantly more comorbid conditions (P<.001) than whites when undergoing TSA. Blacks were more likely to have Medicaid insurance and less participation in Medicare (P<.001). Racial and gender disparities clearly exist in TSA utilization rates in NYS and may be worsening. Although reasons for these disparities are likely multifactorial, a deeper understanding of the factors involved in patient selection and access to care is necessary to appropriately address these disparities and effect change at a system-wide patient and provider level. [Orthopedics. 2016; 39(3):e538-e544.].

BACKGROUND: Although increasing glenosphere diameter has been found to increase passive range of motion (ROM) in simulated models of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA), the clinical implications of glenosphere size are unclear. The purpose of our study was to determine the impact that glenosphere size had on short-term and midterm clinical outcomes, specifically American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) scores and ROM. METHODS: Prospectively collected data comparing patients receiving an rTSA with either a 38- or 42-mm glenosphere after a minimum 2-year follow-up were obtained. Clinical outcome measures included active ROM and ASES scores. RESULTS: We included 297 primary rTSAs in 290 patients: a 38-mm-diameter glenosphere was used in 160 shoulders and a 42-mm-diameter glenosphere in 137 shoulders. Of the patients, 191 were women and 99 were men. The mean age at the time of surgery was 72 years (range, 50-88 years). At last follow-up, improvements in active forward elevation (aFE) and active external rotation (aER) were significantly greater in shoulders with a 42-mm glenosphere (+59 degrees vs +44 degrees for aFE and +24 degrees vs +18 degrees for aER). Female shoulders treated with a 42-mm glenosphere had significantly greater improvements in aFE, aER, and functional scores. Male shoulders treated with a 38-mm glenosphere had significantly greater improvements in pain levels and ASES scores but less improvement in aFE. Complications and rates of scapular notching were similar between glenosphere sizes. CONCLUSIONS: Patients treated with 42-mm glenospheres had greater improvements in aFE and aER when compared with 38-mm glenospheres. Our results suggest a potential association among gender, glenosphere size, and improvement in clinical outcome scores. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III; Retrospective Cohort Design; Treatment Study.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of initial varus or valgus surgical neck alignment on outcomes of patients who sustained proximal humerus fractures treated with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). METHODS: An institutional review board approved database of proximal humerus fractures treated with locked plates was reviewed. Of 185 fractures in the database, 101 fractures were identified and met inclusion criteria. Initial varus displacement was seen in 47 fractures (OTA types 11.A2.2, A3.1, A3.3, B1.2, B2.2, C1.2, C2.2, or C2.3) and initial valgus displacement was observed in 54 fractures (OTA types 11.A2.3, B1.1, C1.1, or C2.1). All patients were treated in a similar manner and examined by the treating physician at standard intervals. Functional outcomes were quantified via the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire and physical examination data at 12 months. Radiographs were reviewed for complications of healing. Additionally, complication rate and reoperation rate were investigated. RESULTS: Patients who presented with initial varus displacement had an average age of 59.3 years, while patients in the valgus group had an average age of 62.4 years. Overall, there was no statistically significant difference in age, sex distribution, BMI, fracture parts, screws used, or implant plate type between the two groups. At a minimum 12 months follow up, there was no significant difference in DASH scores between those presenting with varus versus valgus fracture patterns. In addition, no significant differences were seen in final shoulder range of motion in any plane. Overall, 30 patients included in this study developed a complication. A significantly greater number of patients in the initial varus cohort developed complications (40.4%), as compared to 20.3% of patients in the initial valgus cohort (P=0.03). Fourteen patients in this study underwent reoperation. Nine of these patients were in the varus cohort, while 5 were in the valgus cohort (P=0.15). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, initial surgical neck displacement in varus or valgus was found to not significantly affect functional outcome. Based upon our findings, patients with varus displaced proximal humerus fractures are at a greater risk of developing postoperative complications than those who present with initial valgus displaced fracture patterns.

OBJECTIVES: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is known to be associated with multiple comorbidities and, therefore, overall management is critical for those patients undergoing elective major orthopaedic surgeries, such as total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The purpose of this study was to compare in-hospital outcomes of elective THA and TKA between patients with and without RA in the US during the last decade. We hypothesised that patients with RA would have similar perioperative outcomes after elective THA and TKA. METHODS: Clinical data were derived from the US Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) between 2000 and 2009. Patients who underwent elective THA and TKA were identified. Data regarding patient- and healthcare system-related characteristics, comorbidities, in-hospital complications, and mortality were retrieved. In-hospital outcomes of the procedures were compared between patients with and without RA. RESULTS: Comparison between patients with and without RA showed that patients with RA had significantly lower overall in-hospital complication rates following THA and TKA, and lower in-hospital mortality rate following THA. Patients with RA undergoing THA and TKA had decreased risk of overall in-hospital complications compared to those without RA. CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to our hypothesis, perioperative outcomes of elective THA and TKA in patients with RA were better than those in patients without RA. These results may indicate that patient selection and pre- and perioperative management of patients with RA undergoing elective THA and TKA were well conducted in the US during the last decade.

Leg length discrepancy (LLD) is one of the most common complications of total hip arthroplasty. It may cause pain and disability to the patient, and it is the number one reason for filing a lawsuit against an orthopaedic surgeon. This manuscript reviews the preparation for and execution of the operative plan with emphasis on avoiding pitfalls leading to LLD. It also considers the treatment of LLD in the postoperative period.

BACKGROUND: In 2011 Medicare initiated a Bundled Payment for Care Improvement (BPCI) program with the goal of introducing a payment model that would "lead to higher quality, more coordinated care at a lower cost to Medicare." METHODS: A Model 2 bundled payment initiative for Total Joint Replacement (TJR) was implemented at a large, tertiary, urban academic medical center. The episode of care includes all costs through 90 days following discharge. After one year, data on 721 Medicare primary TJR patients were available for analysis. RESULTS: Average length of stay (LOS) was decreased from 4.27 days to 3.58 days (Median LOS 3 days). Discharges to inpatient facilities decreased from 71% to 44%. Readmissions occurred in 80 patients (11%), which is slightly lower than before implementation. The hospital has seen cost reduction in the inpatient component over baseline. CONCLUSION: Early results from the implementation of a Medicare BPCI Model 2 primary TJR program at this medical center demonstrate cost-savings. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV economic and decision analyses-developing an economic or decision model.

Although the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement (BPCI) Initiative began generating data in January 2013, it may be years before the data can determine if the BPCI Initiative enhances value without decreasing quality. Private insurers have implemented other bundled payment arrangements for the delivery of total joint arthroplasty in a variety of practice settings. It is important for surgeons to review the early results of the BPCI Initiative and other bundled payment arrangements to understand the challenges and benefits of healthcare delivery systems with respect to total joint arthroplasty. In addition, surgeons should understand methods of cost control and quality improvement to determine the effect of the BPCI Initiative on the value-quality equation with respect to total joint arthroplasty.

INTRODUCTION: Achieving glenoid fixation with posterior bone loss can be challenging. The purpose of this study was to quantify the impact of two different sizes of posterior glenoid defects (10 degrees and 20 degrees ) on reverse shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA) glenoid baseplate fixation and determine if utilizing different sizes of posterior augmented baseplates (8 degrees and 16 degrees ) with off-axis reaming provides comparable fixation to using a standard baseplate with different amounts of eccentric reaming. METHODS: We quantified the impact of 10 degrees and 20 degrees posterior glenoid defects on rTSA baseplate fixation in composite scapulae using the ASTM F2028-14 rTSA glenoid loosening test method. Forty-two total implants (N = 7 for each size defect and for each type of baseplate) were tested at 750 N for 10,000 cycles. Baseplate displacement was measured before and after cyclic loading in the superior-inferior and anterior-posterior directions. Statistical analysis was performed with a two-tailed unpaired Student's t-test (significance defined as p < 0.05) to compare prosthesis displacements relative to each scapula (10 degrees and 20 degrees posterior defects for each type of baseplate versus the non-defect control) before and after cyclic loading. RESULTS: All glenoid baseplates remained well-fixed after cyclic loading in composite scapulae without a defect and in scapulae with posterior defects. Increased pre- and post-cyclic displacement was observed with increased posterior defect size and differences in displacement were observed between standard and augmented baseplates. Augmented baseplates were observed to remove significantly less bone than standard baseplates when correcting posterior defects, regardless of size. DISCUSSION: Both standard baseplates with eccentric reaming and two different sizes of augmented baseplates with off-axis reaming successfully maintained fixation following cyclic loading in composite scapula with corrected 10 degrees and 20 degrees posterior glenoid defects. Augmented glenoids may be more advantageous long-term from a fixation perspective as they preserve more subchondral glenoid bone due to the minimal reaming occurring by the off-axis method. Mid and long-term clinical follow-up comparisons of outcomes are necessary between these two techniques.

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND:Indications for anatomic (aTSA) and reverse (rTSA) total shoulder arthroplasty are well defined and dependent on the function of the rotator cuff; however, indications for rTSA have gradually extended to complex fractures, revisions, and primary arthritis in very elderly patients. The risk of secondary rupture of a weakened or degenerative rotator cuff is difficult to assess and can lead the orthopaedic surgeon to hesitate between aTSA or rTSA. It, therefore, seems appropriate to compare these two types of prostheses in terms of pain, functional, clinical outcome metric scores, and complications, despite suspected differences between populations and the respective diseases. METHODOLOGY/METHODS:1,145 patients (69.2 ± 8.9 years) were treated by 12 orthopaedic surgeons in France and in the USA, using either aTSA or rTSA with one platform shoulder system. Five hundred twenty-eight patients received aTSA (66.2 ± 9.0 years; 283 female, 245 male) for treatment of degenerative arthritis, and 617 patients received rTSA (71.8 ± 8.0 years; 392 female, 225 male) for treatment of cuff tear arthroplasty, rotator cuff tear, and osteoarthritis. Each patient was scored preoperatively and at latest follow-up using the SST, UCLA, ASES, Constant, and SPADI metrics; active range of motion was also measured. The average follow-up for all patients was 39.7 ± 18.7 months (aTSA: 42.7 ± 21.9 months; rTSA: 37.1 ± 15.1 months). Improvements in outcome using each metric score were normalized on a 100 point scale, correlated, and compared. A Student's two-tailed, unpaired t-test was used to identify differences in preoperative, postoperative, and pre-to-postoperative improvements, where p < 0.05 denoted a significant difference. RESULTS:Preoperatively, rTSA patients had significantly lower mean outcome scores and significantly lower mean active range of motion as compared to aTSA patients. Post-operatively, rTSA and aTSA patients showed no significant difference in active forward flexion or in mean outcome scores as measured by four of the five metrics. rTSA patients had significantly lower active abduction, internal rotation, and active and passive external rotation than aTSA patients. However, they had significantly better strength (9.7 vs. 7.3 lbs, p < 0.0001). Preoperative to postoperative mean improvements were compared between both cohorts. rTSA patients were associated with significantly larger improvements in outcomes and also had significantly better improvements in active forward flexion and strength. Conversely, aTSA patients had significantly better improvement in active and passive external rotation and active internal rotation. Analysis of complications demonstrated a very similar rate between cohorts, with aTSA patients associated with a slightly lower rate (6.6 vs. 7.3%). CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:This retrospective analysis of prospectively acquired data from 1,145 patients who received either a primary aTSA or rTSA prosthesis demonstrates that each device provides significant improvements with very similar mean results. In fact, the mean clinical outcomes associated with the reverse shoulder prostheses approach that of the "gold standard" anatomic device for their respective indications. Furthermore, the complication rates in this series are very similar and also favorable relative to the clinical literature. Findings, such as these, may at some point extend the indications of the reverse prosthesis to patients for whom an anatomical prosthesis could lead to a premature deterioration of the result.