Faculty Bibliography

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND:Previous studies have shown lower morbidity and mortality rates after total hip arthroplasty (THA) at academic teaching hospitals. This study sought to determine the relationship between hospital teaching status and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) following primary THA. METHODS:Using American Joint Replacement Registry data from 2012 to 2020, 4,447 primary, elective THAs with both preoperative and one-year postoperative Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, Joint Replacement (HOOS, JR) scores were analyzed. The main exposure variable was hospital teaching status, with three cohorts: major teaching hospitals; minor teaching hospitals; and non-teaching hospitals. Mean preoperative and one-year postoperative HOOS, JR scores were compared. RESULTS:Preoperative HOOS, JR scores (non-teaching: 49.69±14.42 vs. major teaching: 47.68±15.10 vs. minor teaching: 42.46±19.19, P<0.001) were significantly higher at non-teaching hospitals than major and minor teaching hospitals, and these differences persisted at one-year postoperatively (87.40±15.14 vs. 83.87±16.68 vs. 80.37±19.27, P<0.001). Both preoperative and postoperative differences in HOOS, JR scores were less than the Minimum Clinically Important Difference (MCID) at both time points. In multivariate regressions, non-teaching and minor teaching hospitals had similar odds of MCID achievement in HOOS, JR scores compared to major teaching hospitals. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Using the HOOS, JR score as a validated outcome measure, undergoing primary THA at an academic teaching hospital did not correlate with higher postoperative HOOS, JR scores or greater chances of MCID achievement in HOOS, JR scores compared to non-teaching hospitals. Further work is required to determine the most important factors that may lead to improvement in patient-reported outcomes following THA.

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND:The optimal administration of dexamethasone for postoperative pain management and recovery following primary, elective total joint arthroplasty (TJA) remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a second intravenous (IV) dose of dexamethasone on postoperative pain scores, inpatient opioid consumption, and functional recovery after total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). METHODS:A retrospective review was conducted of 2,256 primary elective THA, and 1,951 primary elective TKA between May 2020 and April 2021. Patients who received two perioperative doses (2D) of dexamethasone 10 mg IV were propensity-matched 1:1 to a control group who received one perioperative dose (1D). Primary outcomes were opiate consumption as morphine milligram equivalences (MMEs), postoperative pain as Verbal Rating Scale (VRS) pain scores, and functional status assessed by the Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care (AM-PAC) scores. RESULTS:The 2D THA and 2D TKA cohorts consumed significantly less opiates at the 24 to 48 hour and 48 to 72 hour intervals. The 2D TKA cohort had significantly lower total opiate consumption compared to the 1D TKA cohort. Compared to the 1D cohorts, the 2D THA cohort and 2D TKA cohorts had significantly lower pain scores at the 48 to 60 hour interval; additionally, the 2D TKA cohort had significantly lower pain scores in the 36 to 48 hour interval. AM-PAC scores did not differ between cohorts for both TKA and THA at any interval. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:The administration of a second perioperative dexamethasone dose significantly decreased opioid consumption in the immediate postoperative period. Inpatient opioid administration can be significantly reduced while maintaining comparable functional recovery and superior pain control.

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND:Arthrofibrosis remains a common cause of patient dissatisfaction and reoperation after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Losartan is an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) with inhibitory effects on transforming growth factor beta, previously implicated in tissue repair induced fibrosis, and has been studied to prevent stiffness following hip arthroscopy. This study aimed to evaluate pre- and postoperative range of motion (ROM) and the incidence of manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) following primary TKA in patients taking Losartan preoperatively for hypertension. MATERIALS AND METHODS/METHODS:A retrospective review of 170 patients from 2012 to 2020 who underwent a primary, elective TKA and were prescribed Losartan at least three months prior to surgery. All patients who were prescribed Losartan and had a preoperative and postoperative ROM in their chart were included and were matched to a control group of patients who underwent TKA and had no Losartan prescription. ROM, MUA, readmissions, reoperations, and revisions were assessed using chi-square and independent sample t tests. RESULTS:Seventy-nine patients met the inclusion criteria. Preoperative ROM was similar between patients on Losartan and the control group (103.59° ± 16.14° vs. 104.59° ± 21.59°, respectively; p = 0.745). Postoperative ROM and ΔROM were greater for patients prescribed Losartan (114.29° ± 12.32° vs. 112.76° ± 11.65°; p = 0.429 and 10.57° ± 14.95° vs. 8.17° ± 21.68°; p = 0.422), though this difference did not reach statistical significance. There was no difference in readmission, rate of manipulation for stiffness, or all-cause revision rates. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:In this study, we found that the use of Losartan did not significantly improve postoperative ROM, reduce MUA or decrease revision rates. Further prospective studies using Losartan are required to elucidate the potential effects on ROM and incidence of arthrofibrosis requiring MUA. LEVEL III EVIDENCE/METHODS:Retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND:Revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA) can be performed with isolated tibial, isolated femoral, and combined tibial and femoral component exchange for different indications. Replacement of only 1 fixed component in rTKA leads to shorter operative times and decreased complexity. We sought to compare functional outcomes and rates of rerevision in patients undergoing partial and full rTKA. METHODS:This retrospective study examined all aseptic rTKA patients with a minimum follow-up of 2 years in a single center between September 2011 and December 2019. Patients were divided into two groups: full rTKA (F-rTKA) if both components (femoral and tibial) were revised and partial rTKA (P-rTKA) if only 1 component was revised. A total of 293 patients (P-rTKA = 76, F-rTKA = 217) were included. RESULTS:P-rTKA patients had significantly shorter surgical time (109 ± 37 Versus. 141 ± 44 minutes, P < .001). At mean follow-up of 4.2 (range 2.2-6.2) years, rerevision rates did not significantly differ between groups (11.8 Versus. 16.1%, P = .358). Improvements in postoperative Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Scale (KOOS), Joint Replacement scores were similar as well (P = .100 and P = .140, respectively). For patients undergoing rTKA due to aseptic loosening, freedom from rerevision due to aseptic loosening was similar between groups (100 Versus. 97.8%, P = .321). For patients undergoing rTKA due to instability, freedom from rerevision due to instability did not significantly differ as well (100 Versus. 98.1%, P = .683). In the P-rTKA cohort, freedom from all-cause and aseptic revision of preserved components was 96.1% and 98.7% at the 2-year follow-up. CONCLUSION:Compared to F-rTKA, P-rTKA yielded similar functional outcomes and implant survivorship with shorter surgical time. When indications and component compatibility allow for such a procedure, surgeons can expect good outcomes when performing P-rTKA.

BACKGROUND:Metabolic syndrome (MetS) includes interrelated conditions such as insulin resistance, abdominal obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. This study sought to determine the association of MetS in morbidly obese patients (body mass index >40) on complications and clinical outcomes after primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). METHODS:A retrospective review was performed to include all morbidly obese patients who underwent primary elective TKA for osteoarthritis at a single academic institution. Patients who did and did not have MetS were propensity-matched 1:1 based on baseline characteristics. A total of 391 patients who did and 935 who did not have MetS were included having a mean body mass index of 44.2 (range, 40.0 to 68.9). RESULTS:The MetS patients had longer lengths of stay (LOS) (3.5 ± 2.4 versus 3.0 ± 1.5 days, P = .001) and were more likely to be discharged to skilled nursing facilities (23.8 versus 15.3%, P = .007). At 90 days postoperatively, major (P = .756) and minor (P = .652) complication rates and readmissions (P = .359) were similar. Revision rates as well as improvements in KOOS-JR, and VR-12 mental and physical component scores from preoperative to 1 year (P = .856, P = .524, and P = .727, respectively) postoperatively did not significantly differ between groups. MetS and non-MetS patients had similar 5-year freedom from all-cause revision (90.2 versus 94.2%, P = .791). CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Morbidly obese patients who have MetS had longer LOS and higher discharges to skilled nursing facilities. The 90-day complications, readmissions, revision rates, and patient-reported outcomes were similar, suggesting that resource allocation should be focused on perioperative protocols that can help optimize LOS and discharge dispositions in morbidly obese MetS patients undergoing TKA. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE/METHODS:III.

BACKGROUND:The impact of preoperative nasal colonization with methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) on total joint arthroplasty (TJA) outcomes is not well understood. This study aimed to evaluate complications following TJA based on patients' preoperative staphylococcal colonization status. METHODS:We retrospectively analyzed all patients undergoing primary TJA between 2011 and 2022 who completed a preoperative nasal culture swab for staphylococcal colonization. Patients were 1:1:1 propensity matched using baseline characteristics, and stratified into 3 groups based on their colonization status: MRSA positive (MRSA+), methicillin sensitive staphylococcus aureus positive (MSSA+), and MSSA/MRSA negative (MSSA/MRSA-). All MRSA+ and MSSA + underwent decolonization with 5% povidone iodine, with the addition of intravenous vancomycin for MRSA + patients. Surgical outcomes were compared between groups. Of the 33,854 patients evaluated, 711 were included in final matched analysis (237 per group). RESULTS:The MRSA + TJA patients had longer hospital lengths of stay (P = .008), were less likely to discharge home (P = .003), and had higher 30-day (P = .030) and 90-day (P = .033) readmission rates compared to MSSA+ and MSSA/MRSA-patients, though 90-day major and minor complications were comparable across groups. MRSA + patients had higher rates of all-cause (P = .020), aseptic (P = .025) and septic revisions (P = .049) compared to the other cohorts. These findings held true for both total knee and total hip arthroplasty patients when analyzed separately. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Despite targeted perioperative decolonization, MRSA + patients undergoing TJA have longer lengths of stay, higher readmission rates, and higher septic and aseptic revision rates. Surgeons should consider patients' preoperative MRSA colonization status when counseling on the risks of TJA.

BACKGROUND:Intra-articular hyaluronic acid (IAHA) has been commonly used in the management of knee osteoarthritis (OA). This study sought to assess patient-reported outcomes (PRO) following different formulations of hyaluronic acid injections for patients who have knee OA. METHODS:A retrospective analysis was performed on patients who have knee OA and received IAHA knee injections from October 2018 to May 2022 in sports medicine (SM) and adult reconstructive (AR) clinics. Patients completed PRO measures including the Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Mobility, Pain Interference, and Pain Intensity at baseline, 6-week, 6-month, and 12-month follow-up. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to evaluate changes in PRO measures between baseline and follow-up periods and to evaluate differences between the SM and AR divisions. A total of 995 patients received IAHA for knee OA and completed PRO assessments. RESULTS:There was no difference in the PROMIS measures based on molecular weight at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months. Except for 6-month Mobility scores between the SM and AR patients (-0.52 ± 5.46 versus 2.03 ± 6.95; P = .02), all other PROMIS scores were similar. Mobility scores at 6 months were significantly different based on Kellgren and Lawrence grade (P = .005), but all other PROMIS scores were similar. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Average change in PROMIS scores were significantly different only for 6-month Mobility scores based on divisions and Kellgren and Lawrence grade but did not achieve minimally clinical important difference at most timepoints. Further studies are needed to investigate whether improvement is observed in specific patient populations.

BACKGROUND:In response to physician and patient concerns, many institutions have adopted protocols aimed at reducing postoperative opioid consumption after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Thus, this study sought to examine how consumption of opioids has changed following TKA in the past 6 years. METHODS:We conducted a retrospective review of all 10,072 patients who received primary TKA at our institution from January 2016 to April 2021. We collected baseline demographic data including patient age, sex, race, body mass index (BMI), American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) classification, as well as dosage and type of opioid medication prescribed on each postoperative day while the patient was hospitalized following TKA. This data was converted to milligram morphine equivalents (MME) per day hospitalized to compare rates of opioid use over time. RESULTS:Our analysis found the greatest daily opioid use was in 2016 (43.2 ± 68.6 MME/day) and the least was in 2021 (15.0 ± 29.2 MME/day). Linear regression analyses found a significant linear downward trend in postoperative opioid consumption over time, with a decrease of 5.55 MME per day per year (Adjusted R-squared: 0.982, P < .001). The highest visual analog scale (VAS) score was 4.45 in 2016 and the lowest was 3.79 in 2021 (P < .001). CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Opioid reducing protocols have been implemented for patients recovering from primary TKA in an effort to decrease reliance on opioids for postoperative pain control. The results of this study demonstrate that such protocols have been successful in reducing overall opioid use during hospitalization following TKA. LEVEL III EVIDENCE/METHODS:Retrospective Cohort.

BACKGROUND:Airborne biologic particles (ABPs) can be measured intraoperatively to evaluate operating room (OR) sterility. Our study examines the role of OR size on air quality and ABP count in primary total hip arthroplasty (THA). METHODS:at a single academic institution from April 2019 to June 2020. Temperature, humidity, and ABP count per minute were recorded with a particle counter intraoperatively and cross-referenced with surgical data from the electronic health records using procedure start and end times. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate differences in variables. P-values were calculated using t-test and chi-squared test. RESULTS:A total of 116 primary THA cases were included: 18 (15.5%) in the "small" OR and 98 (84.5%) in the "large" OR. Between-group comparisons revealed significant differences in temperature (small OR: 20.3 ± 1.23 C versus large OR: 19.1 ± 0.85 C, P < .0001) and relative humidity (small OR: 41.1 ± 7.24 versus large OR: 46.9 ± 7.56, P < .001). Significant percent decreases in ABP rates for particles measuring 2.5 um (-125.0%, P = .0032), 5.0 um (-245.0%, P = .00078), and 10.0 um (-413.9%, P = .0021) were found in the large OR. Average time spent in the OR was significantly longer in the large OR (174 ± 33 minutes) compared to the small OR (151 ± 14 minutes) (P = .00083). CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Temperature and humidity differences and significantly lower ABP counts were found in the large compared to the small OR despite longer average time spent in the large OR, suggesting the filtration system encounters less particle burden in larger rooms. Further research is needed to determine the impact this may have on infection rates.

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND:The International Classification of Diseases-10 Procedure Code System (ICD-10-PCS) introduced oxidized zirconium and niobium (OxZi) procedural codes to the types of femoral head bearing surfaces in 2017. These codes aimed to increase procedural specificity in coding and improve data collection through administrative claims databases. This study aimed to assess the accuracy of ICD-10-PCS coding for femoral head bearing surfaces (cobalt chrome/metal, ceramic, and OxZi) in hip procedures. MATERIAL AND METHODS/METHODS:, 2021 at a large, urban academic hospital was conducted. Operative reports and implant logs were queried to determine the femoral head bearing surface, which was used during the THA. These results were then compared to the ICD-10-PCS codes in the billing records. Coding accuracy was subsequently determined and statistical differences between the three groups were evaluated. RESULTS:ICD-10-PCS coding was accurate for 90.8% (5634/6204) of cases. Coding accuracy for ceramic femoral heads (95.4%, 4171/4371) was significantly greater than that of both cobalt chrome/metal (73.7%, 606/822; p<0.001) and OxZi (84.8%, 857/1011; p<0.001) femoral heads. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:While coding for ceramic femoral heads was very accurate, OxZi and cobalt chrome/metal femoral heads were miscoded at a rate of approximately 20%. These inaccuracies call for further evaluation of the ICD-10-PCS coding process to ensure that conclusions drawn from clinical research performed through administrative claims databases are not subject to error.