Abstract Background In total joint arthroplasty (TJA) literature, there is a paucity of large cohort studies comparing chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) vs non-CKD/ESRD ...patients. Thus, the purposes of this study were (1) to identify inhospital complications and mortality in CKD/ESRD and non-CKD/ESRD patients and (2) compare inhospital complications and mortality between dialysis and renal transplantation patients undergoing TJA. Methods We queried the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database for patients with and without diagnosis of CKD/ESRD and those with a renal transplant or on dialysis undergoing primary or revision total knee or hip arthroplasty from 2007 to 2011. Patient comorbidities were identified using the Elixhauser comorbidity index. International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision , codes were used to identify postoperative surgical site infections (SSIs), wound complications, deep vein thrombosis, and transfusions. Results Chronic kidney disease/ESRD was associated with greater risk of SSIs (odds ratio OR, 1.4; P < .001), wound complications (OR, 1.1; P = .01), transfusions (OR, 1.6; P < .001), deep vein thrombosis (OR, 1.4; P = .03), and mortality (OR, 2.1; P < .001) than non-CKD/ESRD patients. Dialysis patients had higher rates of SSI, wound complications, transfusions, and mortality compared to renal transplant patients. Conclusion Chronic kidney disease/ESRD patients had a greater risk of SSIs and wound complications compared to those without renal disease, and the risk of these complications was even greater in CKD/ESRD patients receiving dialysis. These findings emphasize the importance of counseling CKD patients about higher potential complications after TJA, and dialysis patients may be encouraged to undergo renal transplantation before TJA.
Total hip arthroplasty (THA) has become one of the most reliable and patient-requested surgical interventions in all medicine. The procedure can be performed using a variety of surgical approaches, ...but the posterior approach, direct lateral approach, and direct anterior approach are by far the most common across the globe. This article highlights the history and technique for each of these common approaches. A review of outcomes and complications for each approach are also provided. Each approach has its own unique advantages and disadvantages, but all can be safely and successful utilized for THA. Strong, convincing, high-quality studies comparing the different approaches are lacking at this time. Surgeons are therefore recommended to choose whichever approach they are most comfortable and experienced using. Though not described here, THA can also be done using the anterolateral approach (also known as the Watson Jones approach) as well as the two-incision approach. In addition, recently, some surgeons are utilizing the so-called direct superior approach for THA. While these approaches are far less commonly utilized, they are recognized as viable alternatives to traditional approaches.
BACKGROUND:The ceramic-on-ceramic bearing for total hip arthroplasty has an extremely low wear rate and demonstrates minimal inflammatory response in comparison with other bearing choices. However, ...acoustic emissions such as squeaking and clicking are being reported as annoying complications related to its use. The cause or causes of this phenomenon have not been determined. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the possibility that design aspects of the femoral component may be a contributing factor to the etiology of squeaking associated with the ceramic-on-ceramic bearing total hip arthroplasty.
METHODS:We retrospectively reviewed 266 consecutive patients (304 hips) who had undergone total hip arthroplasty with use of ceramic-on-ceramic bearings. The first 131 consecutive patients (152 hips) (Group 1) received a hydroxyapatite-coated stem composed of titanium-aluminum-vanadium alloy with a C-taper neck geometry and robust midsection with an anteroposterior diameter of 13 mm. The second 135 consecutive patients (152 hips) (Group 2) also received a hydroxyapatite-coated stem, but in that group the stem was composed of titanium-molybdenum-zirconium-iron alloy, with a V-40 neck geometry and a midsection with an anteroposterior thickness of only 10 mm. All 304 hips received the same cup, composed of titanium-aluminum-vanadium alloy. Demographic characteristics, such as age, sex, height, weight, and body mass index, were similar in both groups. Data regarding the presence of squeaking were obtained prospectively. Patients who were seen for clinical follow-up either expressed the squeaking phenomenon themselves or were asked about it by the physician. Patients who were not seen at a recent clinical follow-up visit were contacted by telephone and were asked specifically about squeaking that might be associated with the hip replacement. Only patients with confirmed squeaking noise were included in the present study. Postoperative radiographs, the Short Form-36 health survey, the Harris hip score, and office or telephone interviews of the patient were used to determine the overall outcome of the procedure.
RESULTS:The prevalence of squeaking was seven times higher for patients who received the titanium-molybdenum-zirconium-iron-alloy stem (twenty-seven patients, twenty-eight hips 18.4%) than in those who received the titanium-aluminum-vanadium-alloy stem (three patients, four hips 2.6%); this difference was significant (p < 0.0001).
CONCLUSIONS:Our study suggests that different stem alloys, stem geometries, or neck geometries can have an impact on the frequency of squeaking following a ceramic-on-ceramic total hip arthroplasty.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Female surgeons, representing 6.5% of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, are particularly vulnerable to work-family conflict. This conflict may deter women from considering orthopaedic ...surgery as a specialty. The study objective was to identify differences in work-family integration between female and male orthopaedic surgeons in the United States.
An anonymous survey collecting data within the domains of work, family, and satisfaction was completed by 347 orthopaedic surgeons (153 female, 194 male). Differences in responses between males and females were identified.
Female surgeons were younger than males (mean, 41.1 versus 50.1 years; p < 0.001) and earlier in their careers, with 60.3% of males in practice >10 years compared with 26.1% of females (p < 0.001). Consulting (7.8% versus 31.4%; p < 0.001), course faculty positions (19.0% versus 39.2%; p < 0.001), and academic and leadership titles (30.7% versus 47.4%; p = 0.002) were significantly less common among females. There was a significant income disparity between females (mean yearly income, $300,000 to $400,000) and males (mean, $400,000 to $500,000; p < 0.001). Females were more likely to have never married (12.4% versus 2.6%; p < 0.001), or they married at a later mean age (30.2 ± 4.7 versus 28.3 ± 3.9 years; p < 0.001). Females were more likely to have no children (29.4% versus 7.8%; p < 0.001), require fertility treatment (32.0% versus 11.9%; p < 0.001), and not have children until after completing their medical training (63.0% versus 31.1%; p < 0.001). Female surgeons reported more responsibility in parenting (p < 0.001) and household duties (p < 0.001) than males. Work-family balance satisfaction was 72.3% in females and 82.1% in males (p = 0.081).
This study highlights deficiencies in work-family integration that appear to uniquely impact female orthopaedic surgeons. Female surgeons delay starting a family, more frequently require fertility treatments, carry more responsibility at home, have fewer academic and leadership roles, earn lower incomes, and are less satisfied with work-family balance relative to males. The discrepancy in work-family integration must be addressed to attract, support, and retain women as successful orthopaedic surgeons.
Abstract Background Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is an important cause of failure in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Irrigation and debridement with liner exchange (I&D/L) success rates have ...varied for acute PJI. The purpose of this study is to present results of a specific protocol for I&D/L with retention of TKA components. Methods Sixty-seven consecutive I&D/L patients were retrospectively evaluated. Inclusion criteria for I&D/L were: fewer than 3 weeks of symptoms, no immunologic compromise, intact soft tissue sleeve, and well-fixed components. I&D/L consisted of extensive synovectomy, irrigation with 3 liters each of Betadine, Dakin’s, bacitracin, and normal saline solutions, and exchange of the polyethylene component. Postoperatively, all patients were treated with intravenous antibiotics. Infection was considered eradicated if the wound healed without persistent drainage, there was no residual pain or evidence of infection. Results Forty-six patients (68.66%) had successful infection eradication regardless of bacterial strain. Those with MRSA had an 80% failure rate and those with Pseudomonas aeruginosa had a 66.67% failure rate. The success rate for bacteria other than MRSA and Pseudomonas was 85.25%1. Conclusion Our protocol for I&D/L was successful in the majority of patients who met strict criteria. We recommend that PJI patients with MRSA or Pseudomonas aeruginosa not undergo I&D/L and be treated with two-stage revision. For nearly all other patients our protocol avoids the cost and patient morbidity of a two-stage revision.
Abstract Sleep disturbance after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has not been studied 6 months after surgery. A prospective study was conducted on 34 primary, unilateral TKA patients preoperatively ...until 6 months postoperatively. Sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Pain was measured on a visual analog scale. Sleep quality worsened from baseline during the first 6 weeks postoperatively ( P = .03), but improved at 3 and 6 months ( P = .003). Pain scores decreased from baseline over all time points, and there was no correlation between sleep quality and pain. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale did not change over time. This study can be used to counsel TKA patients to expect initial sleep disturbances that improve by 3 months.
The forgotten joint score (FJS) is a recent scoring system that assesses how natural the prosthesis feels after total joint arthroplasty. Although the FJS has been extensively applied in populations ...with total hip prosthetics, less is known about the patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The purpose of this study is to investigate the temporal relationship between TKA and the FJS.
We evaluated 566 patients after TKA using the FJS questionnaire. Scores were calculated at the follow-up intervals of 1 (n = 79), 6 (n = 78), 12 (n = 81), 24 (n = 100), 36 (n = 76), 48 (n = 75), and 60 (n = 77) months. The scores ranged from 0-100, with a higher score indicating a more natural or “forgotten” joint.
Postoperative FJS averages were 39.3 ± 27.4 at 1 month, 59.4 ± 28.3 at 6 months, 72.5 ± 24.2 at 1 year, 76.4 ± 23.4 at 2 years, 75.1 ± 24.2 at 3 years, 68.6 ± 28.7 at 4 years, and 64.4 ± 29.0 at 5 years. The average score at 1 month was significantly lower than the average scores at all other intervals. The average score at 6 months was significantly lower than the average scores at 12, 24, and 36 months. The average score at 60 months was significantly lower than the average score at 24 months.
Based on the findings of this study, patients can expect marked improvement in the natural feel of the prosthesis during the first year after TKA, slight continued improvement at 2 and 3 years, and a decline after 4 years.
The rate of revision total joint arthroplasties is expected to increase drastically in the near future. Given the recent pandemic, there has been a general push toward early discharge. This study ...aimed to assess for predictors of early postoperative discharge after revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA) and revision total hip arthroplasty (rTHA).
There were 77 rTKA and 129 rTHA collected between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2021. Demographic data, comorbidities, a comorbidity index, the modified frailty index (mFI-5), and surgical history were collected. The Common Procedural Terminology codes for each case were assessed. Patients were grouped into 2 cohorts, early discharge (length of stay LOS <24 hours) and late discharge (LOS >24 hours).
In the rTHA cohort, age >65 years, a history of cardiac or liver disease, an mFI-5 of >1, a comorbidity index of >2.7, a surgical time >122 minutes, and the need for a transfusion were predictors of prolonged LOS. Only the presence of a surgical time of >63 minutes or an mFI-5 >1 increased patient LOS in the rTKA cohort. In both rTHA and rTKA patients, periprosthetic joint infection resulted in a late discharge for all patients, mean 4.8 and 7.1 days, respectively. Dual component revision was performed in 70.5% of rTHA. Only 27.6% of rTKA were 2-component revisions or placements of an antibiotic spacer.
Several patient and surgical factors preclude early discharge candidacy. For rTHA, an mFI-5 of >2/5, comorbidity index of >4, or a surgical time of >122 minutes is predictive of prolonged LOS. For rTKA, an mFI-5 of >2/5, Charlson Comorbidity Index of >5, or a surgical time of >63 minutes predicts prolonged LOS.