Faculty Bibliography

BACKGROUND:The use of perioperative adductor canal blocks (PABs) continues to be a highly debated topic for total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Here, we evaluate the effect of PABs on immediate postoperative subjective pain scores, opioid consumption, and objective functional outcomes. METHODS:On December 1, 2019, an institution-wide policy change was begun to use PABs in primary elective TKAs. Patient demographics, immediate postoperative nursing documented pain scores, opioid administration events, and validated physical therapy functional scores were prospectively collected as part of the standard of care and retrospectively queried through our electronic data warehouse. A historical comparison cohort was derived from consecutive patients undergoing TKA between July 1, 2019 and November 30, 2019. RESULTS:405 primary TKAs received PABs, while 789 patients were in the control cohort. Compared with controls, average verbal rating scale pain scores were lower among PAB recipients from 0-12 hours (2.42 ± 1.60 vs 2.05 ± 1.60; <.001) and 24-36 hours (4.92 ± 2.00 vs 4.47 ± 2.27; <.01). PAB recipients demonstrated significantly lower opioid consumption within the first 24 hours (44.34 ± 40.98 vs 36.83 ± 48.13; P < .01) and during their total inpatient stay (92.27 ± 109.81 vs 77.52 ± 123.11; <.05). AM-PAC scores within the first 24 hours were also higher for PABs (total scores: 20.28 ± 3.06 vs 20.71 ± 3.12; <.05). CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:While the minimal clinically important differences in pain scores and functional status were comparable between both cohorts, patients demonstrated a significant reduction in overall inpatient opiate consumption after the introduction of PABs. Surgeons should consider these findings when evaluating for perioperative pain management, opioid-sparing, and rapid discharge protocols.

BACKGROUND:There is debate regarding the benefit of liposomal bupivacaine (LB) as part of a periarticular injection (PAI) in total hip arthroplasty (THA). Here, we evaluate the effect of discontinuing intraoperative LB PAI on immediate postoperative subjective pain, opioid consumption, and objective functional outcomes. METHODS:On July 1, 2019, an institutional policy discontinued the use of intraoperative LB PAI. A consecutive cohort that received LB PAI and a subsequent cohort that did not were compared. All patients received the same opioid-sparing protocol. Nursing documented verbal rating scale pain scores were averaged per patient per 12-hour interval. Opiate administration events were converted into morphine milligram equivalences per patient per 24-hour interval. The validated Activity Measure for Postacute Care (AM-PAC) tool was used to evaluate functional outcomes. RESULTS:Six hundred thirty eight primary THAs received LB followed by 939 that did not. In the non-LB THAs, BMI was higher (30.06 vs 29.43; P < .05). Besides marital status, the remaining baseline demographics were similar between the two cohorts (P > .05). The non-LB THA cohort demonstrated a marginal increase in verbal rating scale pain scores between 12 to 24 hours (4.42 ± 1.70 vs 4.20 ± 1.87; P < .05) and 36 to 48 hours (4.49 ± 1.72 vs 4.21 ± 1.83; P < .05). There was no difference in inpatient opioid administration up to 96 hours postoperatively (P > .05) or AM-PAC functional scores within the first 24 hours (P > .05). CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:A small statistical, but not clinically meaningful, difference was observed in subjective pain scores with LB PAI discontinuation. Opioid consumption and postoperative AM-PAC functional scores were unchanged after LB PAI discontinuation.

Isolated lateral compartment osteoarthritis of the knee is a rare condition affecting approximately 1% of the population, which is ten times less common than osteoarthritis affecting only the medial compartment. Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) has many potential advantages over total knee arthroplasty. The benefits of UKA include a smaller incision, preservation of more native tissue (including cruciate ligaments and bone), decreased blood loss, and better overall proprioception. When UKA was first introduced in the 1970s, the outcomes of medial UKA (MUKA) were poor, but the few cases of lateral UKA (LUKA) showed promise. Since that time, there has been a relative paucity of literature focused specifically on LUKA given it is a rare procedure. Refinements in patient selection criteria, implant design, and surgical technique have been made leading to increased popularity. A review of the recent literature reveals that LUKA is associated with excellent long-term clinical outcomes and implant survivorship when performed in properly selected patients. Implant design options include fixed vs mobile bearing as well as metal backed vs all polyethylene tibial component, with improved outcomes noted with fixed bearing designs. Three reasons cited for revision (i.e., fracture of the femoral component, fracture of the tibial component, and valgus malalignment) had been reported in past literature but not recently. Presently, while rare, the most common cause of failure and need for revision are osteoarthritis progression and aseptic loosening. Despite the need for an occasional revision procedure, the survivorship of LUKA is comparable to MUKA, although it should be noted that outcomes of MUKA have been notably varied. Continued pursuit of improved techniques and implant designs will continue to show LUKA to be an excellent procedure for appropriately indicated patients.

Background/UNASSIGNED:Failure of cementless acetabular osseointegration is rare in total hip arthroplasty. Nevertheless, new fixation surfaces continue to be introduced. Novel implants may lack large diameter, constrained bearings, or dual mobility (DM) bearings to address instability. We compared clinical and radiographic outcomes for acetabular components with differing fixation surfaces and bearing options, focusing on the relationship between fixation surface and osseointegration and the relationship between bearing options and dislocation rate. Methods/UNASSIGNED:We retrospectively reviewed 463 total hip arthroplasties implanted with 3 different acetabular components between 2012 and 2016. Records were reviewed for demographics, clinical scores, and complications. Radiographs were examined for evidence of acetabular osteointegration. Analysis of variance and chi-square tests were used to compare cohorts. Results/UNASSIGNED:All cohorts had 100% survivorship free of acetabular fixation failure with no differences in clinical scores. Dislocation occurred in 1.3% of cases (n = 6). Analysis of the "transition" sizes, for which brand determined the maximum bearing diameter, revealed a significantly higher dislocation rate (3/50, 6%) in implants with limited bearing options. All 4 revisions for recurrent dislocation involved well-positioned components that did not accept large diameter, constrained bearings, or DM bearings, resulting in 3 shell revisions to expand bearing options. Femoral revisions were associated with dislocation risk but did not vary between cohorts. Conclusion/UNASSIGNED:Dislocation was the primary mechanical cause for acetabular revision, while acetabular fixation failure was not encountered. We caution against selecting "new and improved" acetabular components without options for large diameter, constrained bearings, or DM bearings, even when enabling technology makes component positioning reliable.

Same-day discharge (SDD) surgery in total hip arthroplasty (THA) has been shown to have similar outcomes to non-SDD THA in select patient populations. Hip resurfacing arthroplasty (HRA) is an alternative to THA for young, active patients, making them ideal candidates for SDD. This study compared the safety and efficacy of non-SDD HRA and SDD HRA for specific postoperative outcomes. An electronic data warehouse query was performed for procedures labeled "hip resurfacing." Data collected included demographics, surgical factors, and quality metrics. Statistical analyses were evaluated using a graphing and statistics software program. Categorical variables were analyzed with chi-square tests and continuous variables with Student's t tests, with P<.05 deemed significant. Sixty-three of 274 total HRAs were enrolled in this SDD HRA protocol. No significant difference was observed between SDD HRA and non-SDD HRA baseline characteristics. On postoperative day 0, 98.41% of SDD HRA recipients were discharged successfully. The SDD HRA recipients had shorter stays, with 1.59% requiring a hospital stay of 2 days or more compared with 56.87% of non-SDD HRA recipients (P<.0001). The non-SDD HRA recipients were found to have shorter surgical times than SDD HRA recipients (104.74 vs 125.51 minutes, P=.01). Rates of infection, periprosthetic fractures, emergency department visits, and hospital readmissions were equivalent (P=.99). Same-day discharge HRA is a safe and effective procedure with similar outcomes to non-SDD HRA regarding infections, fractures, emergency department visits, and readmissions. The major benefit of SDD is a shorter hospital stay that may lead to decreased cost while preserving and enhancing quality of care and patient satisfaction. [Orthopedics. 2020;43(6):e595-e600.].

BACKGROUND:Total hip arthroplasty (THA) candidates have historically received high doses of opioids within the perioperative period; however, the amounts are being continually reduced as awareness of opioid abuse spreads. Here we seek to evaluate the effectiveness of a novel opiate-sparing protocol (OSP) for primary THAs in reducing opiate administrations, while maintaining similar levels of pain control and postoperative function. METHODS:All patients undergoing primary THA between January 1, 2019 and June 30, 2019 were placed under a novel OSP. Data were prospectively collected as part of standard of care. To assess the primary outcome of opiate consumption, nursing documented opiate administration events were converted into morphine milligram equivalences (MMEs) per patient encounter per 24-hour interval. Postoperative pain and functional status were assessed as secondary outcomes using the Verbal Rating Scale for pain and the Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care scores, respectively. RESULTS:One thousand fifty primary THAs had received our institution's OSP, and 953 patients were utilized as our historical control. OSP patients demonstrated significantly lower 0-24, 24-48, and 48-72 hours with less opiate administration variance (total MME: Control 75.55 ± 121.07 MME vs OSP 57.10 ± 87.48 MME; 24.42% decrease, P < .001). Although pain scores reached statistical significance between 0 and 12 (Control 2.09 vs OSP 2.36, P < .001), their differences were not clinically significant. Finally, OSP patients demonstrated a trend toward higher Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care scores across all 6 domains (total scores: Control 20.53 ± 3.67 vs OSP 20.76 ± 3.64, P = .18). CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Implementation of an OSP can significantly decrease the utilization of opioids in the immediate postoperative period. Inpatient opioid administration can be significantly reduced while maintaining a comparable and non-inferior level of pain and function.

BACKGROUND:The Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) model was implemented to address the 2 most commonly billed inpatient surgical procedures, total hip arthroplasty and total knee arthroplasty. The primary purpose of this study was to review the economic implications of 1 institution's mandatory involvement in the CJR in comparison with prior involvement in the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement (BPCI) initiative. METHODS:The mean cost per episode of care was calculated using our institution's historical data. The target prices, projected savings or losses per episode of care, and projected annual savings for both BPCI and CJR were established and were comparatively analyzed. RESULTS:The CJR target prices will decrease in comparison with BPCI target prices by 24.0% for Medicare Severity-Diagnosis Related Group (MS-DRG) 469 without fracture, 22.8% for MS-DRG 469 with fracture, 26.1% for MS-DRG 470 without fracture, and 27.7% for MS-DRG 470 with fracture, resulting in a reduction in savings per episode of care by 92.8% for MS-DRG 469 without fracture, 166.0% for MS-DRG 469 with fracture, 94.9% for MS-DRG 470 without fracture, and 61.7% for MS-DRG 470 with fracture. Our institution's projected annual savings under CJR will decrease by 83.3%. CONCLUSIONS:These results suggest that the margin for savings in the CJR will be substantially reduced compared with the margin for savings in the BPCI. In hospitals that had previously devoted resources, these will have far less impact in the CJR, and hospitals new to the CJR that have not made these investments previously will require even greater resources for developing cost reduction and quality control strategies to remain financially solvent. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE/METHODS:Economic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

BACKGROUND:No study has yet assessed the efficacy of virtual reality (VR) simulation for teaching orthopedic surgery residents. In this blinded, randomized, and controlled trial, we asked if the use of VR simulation improved postgraduate year (PGY)-1 orthopedic residents' performance in cadaver total hip arthroplasty and if the use of VR simulation had a preferentially beneficial effect on specific aspects of surgical skills or knowledge. METHODS:Fourteen PGY-1 orthopedic residents completed a written pretest and a single cadaver total hip arthroplasty (THA) to establish baseline levels of knowledge and surgical ability before 7 were randomized to VR-THA simulation. All participants then completed a second cadaver THA and retook the test to assess for score improvements. The primary outcomes were improvement in test and cadaver THA scores. RESULTS:There was no significant difference in the improvement in test scores between the VR and control groups (P = .078). In multivariate regression analysis, the VR cohort demonstrated a significant improvement in overall cadaver THA scores (P = .048). The VR cohort demonstrated greater improvement in each specific score category compared with the control group, but this trend was only statistically significant for technical performance (P = .009). CONCLUSIONS:VR-simulation improves PGY-1 resident surgical skills but has no significant effect on medical knowledge. The most significant improvement was seen in technical skills. We anticipate that VR simulation will become an indispensable part of orthopedic surgical education, but further study is needed to determine how best to use VR simulation within a comprehensive curriculum. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE/METHODS:Level 1.