To compare hip survivorship and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) after primary hip arthroscopy at 5-year follow-up between patients with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) with ...radiographic signs of global acetabular retroversion and those without.
A retrospective matched-cohort study was conducted using a single-surgeon hip arthroscopy database. Patients were included if they underwent primary hip arthroscopy for treatment of FAIS, had preoperative hip x-rays, and had a minimum 5-year follow-up. Global retroversion was defined as the presence of ischial spine sign, posterior wall sign, and crossover sign on anteroposterior view. Patients with FAIS with global retroversion were matched 1:1 on age, sex, and body mass index to FAIS controls. The modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS) and Non-Arthritic Hip Score (NAHS) were administered preoperatively and at follow-up. Hip survivorship and PROMs were compared between the 2 groups using the paired t test, Wilcoxon signed rank test, and/or Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test as appropriate. P values <.05 were considered significant.
Thirty-eight patients with global retroversion (mean age 40.6 ± 10.8 years, 60.5% female) were matched to 38 controls (mean age 41.3 ± 13.6 years, 60.5% female). Reoperation rates were the same in both groups (5.3%). On average, both groups reported significant pre- to postoperative improvement in mHHS (P < .001) and NAHS (P < .001), and there was no significant intergroup differences in the change in mHHS (P = .86) or NAHS (P = .90). Achievement rates for the patient acceptable symptom state on the mHHS were higher among males compared to females (P = .04) in both the global retroversion group (93.3% vs 73.9%) and the control group (93.3% vs 73.9%).
Patients with FAIS with and without global acetabular retroversion had no significant difference in outcomes after primary hip arthroscopy at a minimum 5-year minimum follow-up.
Level III, retrospective comparative prognostic trial.
Racial health disparities across orthopaedic surgery subspecialties, including spine surgery, are well established. However, the underlying causes of these disparities, particularly relating to ...social determinants of health, are not fully understood.
(1) Is there a racial difference in 90-day mortality, readmission, and complication rates ("safety outcomes") among Medicare beneficiaries after spine surgery? (2) To what degree does the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), a community-level marker of social determinants of health, account for racial disparities in safety outcomes?
To examine racial differences in 90-day mortality, readmission, and complications after spine surgery, we retrospectively identified all 419,533 Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 or older who underwent inpatient spine surgery from 2015 to 2019; we excluded 181,588 patients with endstage renal disease or Social Security disability insurance entitlements, who were on Medicare HMO, or who had missing SVI data. Because of the nearly universal coverage of those age 65 or older, Medicare data offer a large cohort that is broadly generalizable, provides improved precision for relatively rare safety outcomes, and is free of confounding from differential insurance access across races. The Master Beneficiary Summary File includes enrollees' self-reported race based on a restrictive list of mutually exclusive options. Even though this does not fully capture the entirety of racial diversity, it is self-reported by patients. Identification of spine surgery was based on five Diagnosis Related Groups labeled "cervical fusion," "fusion, except cervical," "anterior-posterior combined fusion," "complex fusion," and "back or neck, except fusion." Although heterogeneous, these cohorts do not reflect inherently different biology that would lead us to expect differences in safety outcomes by race. We report specific types of complications that did and did not involve readmission. Although complications vary in severity, we report them as composite measures while being cognizant of the inherent limitations of making inferences based on aggregate measures. The SVI was chosen as the mediating variable because it aggregates important social determinants of health and has been shown to be a marker of high risk of poor public health response to external stressors. Patients were categorized into three groups based on a ranking of the four SVI themes: socioeconomic status, household composition, minority status and language, and housing and transportation. We report the "average race effects" among Black patients compared with White patients using nearest-neighbor Mahalanobis matching by age, gender, comorbidities, and spine surgery type. Mahalanobis matching provided the best balance among propensity-type matching methods. Before matching, Black patients in Medicare undergoing spine surgery were disproportionately younger with more comorbidities and were less likely to undergo cervical fusion. To estimate the contribution of the SVI on racial disparities in safety outcomes, we report the average race effect between models with and without the addition of the four SVI themes.
After matching on age, gender, comorbidities, and spine surgery type, Black patients were on average more likely than White patients to be readmitted (difference of 1.5% 95% CI 0.9% to 2.1%; p < 0.001) and have complications with (difference of 1.2% 95% CI 0.5% to 1.9%; p = 0.002) or without readmission (difference of 3.6% 95% CI 2.9% to 4.3%; p < 0.001). Adding the SVI to the model attenuated these differences, explaining 17% to 49% of the racial differences in safety, depending on the outcome. An observed higher rate of 90-day mortality among Black patients was explained entirely by matching using non-SVI patient demographics (difference of 0.00% 95% CI -0.3% to 0.3%; p = 0.99). However, even after adjusting for the SVI, Black patients had more readmissions and complications.
Social disadvantage explains up to nearly 50% of the disparities in safety outcomes between Black and White Medicare patients after spine surgery. This argument highlights an important contribution of socioeconomic circumstances and societal barriers to achieving equal outcomes. But even after accounting for the SVI, there remained persistently unequal safety outcomes among Black patients compared with White patients, suggesting that other unmeasured factors contribute to the disparities. This is consistent with evidence documenting Black patients' disadvantages within a system of seemingly equal access and resources. Research on racial health disparities in orthopaedics should account for the SVI to avoid suggesting that race causes any observed differences in complications among patients when other factors related to social deprivation are more likely to be determinative. Focused social policies aiming to rectify structural disadvantages faced by disadvantaged communities may lead to a meaningful reduction in racial health disparities.
Level III, therapeutic study.
To compare hip survivorship and patient-reported outcomes after primary hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) in patients with versus without comorbid borderline hip ...dysplasia (BHD) at 2-year follow-up.
A retrospective matched-cohort study was conducted involving patients who underwent primary hip arthroscopy for FAIS with a single surgeon from 2010 to 2019. BHD was defined as lateral center edge angle (LCEA) of 20 to 25°. Subjects with BHD were matched 1:2 to controls without BHD on age, sex, body mass index, and preoperative modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS). Alpha angle, LCEA, Tönnis angle, and acetabular retroversion signs were measured on preoperative and/or postoperative hip radiographs. Patient-reported outcomes were assessed using the mHHS and the Non-Arthritic Hip Score. Hip survivorship, outcome scores, and achievement of the minimum clinically important difference were compared between groups using the Mann–Whitney U test or Fisher exact test, as appropriate. P values <.05 were considered significant.
Thirty-one BHD subjects (mean age 36.8 years, 71.0% female) and 62 controls (mean age 38.0 years, 71.0% female) were included. There were no significant intergroup differences in demographics or preoperative radiographic measurements besides LCEA and Tönnis angle (all P > .05). Intraoperatively, subjects with BHD were found to have significantly shorter labral tears (mean 2.6 vs 2.8 clock-face hours, P = .048), but there were no significant intergroup differences in acetabular or femoral cartilage status (all P > .05). Postoperatively, there were no significant intergroup differences in rates of revision arthroscopy (BHD 6.5% vs control 11.3%) or conversion to total hip arthroplasty (BHD 9.7% vs control 1.6%), in 2-year improvement of the mHHS and Non-Arthritic Hip Score, or in minimum clinically important difference achievement rates (all P > .05).
BHD is not associated with a significant difference in hip survivorship or patient-reported outcomes following primary hip arthroscopy for FAIS.
Level III, retrospective comparative study.
To examine the associations between hip labral width and patient-reported outcomes, clinical threshold achievement rates, and rate of reoperation among patients with femoroacetabular impingement ...syndrome (FAIS) who underwent hip arthroscopy and labral repair at minimum 5-year follow-up.
Patients were identified from a prospective database who underwent primary hip arthroscopy for treatment of labral tears and FAIS. Modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS) and Nonarthritic Hip Score (NAHS) were recorded preoperatively and at 5-year follow-up. Achievement of the minimal clinically important difference (MCID), substantial clinical benefit (SCB), and patient-acceptable symptom state (PASS) was determined using previously established values. Labral width magnetic resonance imaging measurements were performed by 2 independent readers at standardized “clockface” locations. Patients were stratified into 3 groups at each position: lower-width (<½ SD below mean), middle-width (within ½ SD of mean), and upper-width (>½ SD above mean). Multivariable regression was used to evaluate associations of labral width with patient-reported outcomes and reoperation rate.
Seventy-three patients (age: 41.0 ± 12.0 years; 68.5% female) were included. Inter-rater reliability for labral width measurements was high at all positions (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.94-0.96). There were no significant intergroup differences in mHHS/NAHS improvement (P > .05) or in achievement rates of MCID/SCB/PASS at each clockface position (P > .05). Eleven patients (15.1%) underwent arthroscopic revision and 4 patients (5.5%) converted to total hip arthroplasty. Multivariable analysis found lower-width groups at 11:30 (odds ratio 1.75, P = .02) and 3:00 (odds ratio 1.59, P = .04) positions to have increased odds of revision within 5 years; however, labral width was not associated with 5-year improvement in mHHS/NAHS, achievement of MCID/PASS/SCB, or conversion to total hip arthroplasty (P > .05).
Hip labral width <½ SD below the mean measured on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging at 11:30- and 3:00-clockface positions was associated with increased odds of reoperation after arthroscopic labral repair and treatment of FAIS. Labral width was not associated with 5-year improvement of mHHS, NAHS, achievement of clinical thresholds, or conversion to arthroplasty.
Level IV, case series.
To determine if radiographic cam location is associated with hip survivorship and postoperative patient-reported outcomes (PROs) at 5-year follow-up.
We conducted a review of prospectively collected ...data of patients with cam lesions who underwent hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome. Cam lesions were categorized into 3 locations: superolateral, anterolateral, or anterior. Conversion to total hip arthroplasty (THA), revision rates, and reoperation rates were assessed. Patient-reported outcome measures, including modified Harris Hip Scores (mHHS) and Non-Arthritic Hip Scores (NAHS), were collected preoperatively and at 5-year follow-up.
Of the 156-patients, 125 met the final criteria (80.1%). Mean age was 41.1 ± 12.7 years. Seventy-one patients (56.8%) had superolateral cam lesions, 41 (32.8%) had anterolateral lesions, and 13 (10.4%) had anterior lesions. Revision rates within 5 years were 7.7% for anterior, 24.4% for anterolateral, and 14.1% for superolateral lesions; conversions to THAs were 15.4% for anterior), 7.3% for anterolateral, and 8.5% for superolateral. Reoperations were 23.1% for anterior, 29.3% for anterolateral, and 21.1% for superolateral. The superolateral cohort was younger than the anterior and anterolateral cohorts (anterior, 46.6 ± 12.2 years; anterolateral, 44.7 ± 12.2 years; superolateral, 38.1 ± 12.3 years; P = .006). Multivariable analysis showed the anterolateral group was significantly predictive of lower odds of undergoing THA compared to the superolateral group (odds ratio, 0.01; 95% CI, <0.01-0.72; P = .03). There were no differences in the 5-year improvement in mHHS (anterior, 32.4; anterolateral, 36.8; superolateral, 33.0; P = .29) or NAHS (anterior, 34.8; anterolateral, 39.0; superolateral, 37.3; P = .65).
A superolateral cam lesion increases the odds of conversion to THA within 5 years of hip arthroscopy compared to those with anterolateral lesions on multivariable analysis. Those with superolateral lesions were significantly younger compared to those with anterior or anterolateral lesions. Cam lesion location did not affect improvement in PROs at 5-year follow-up.
Level III, retrospective comparative prognostic trial.
The purpose of this study was to identify sex differences in postoperative outcomes and return-to-sport rates after fasciotomy for treatment of chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) of the ...lower leg. It was hypothesised that male CECS patients would have a higher rate of return to sport than female CECS patients.
A retrospective cohort study was conducted involving patients who underwent primary fasciotomy of one to four leg compartments for treatment of CECS at a single centre from 2010 to 2020. Each affected leg was treated as a separate subject. Postoperative outcomes included CECS pain frequency and severity, return to sport and Tegner activity level. Multivariable regression was used to determine if sex was an independent predictor of outcomes after adjusting for demographic and clinical covariates. p < 0.05 were considered significant.
Eighty-one legs (44 M, 37 F) of 47 unique patients (34 of whom had bilateral symptoms) were included with a mean follow-up time of 51.5 ± 31.4 months. Male subjects were older (p < 0.001) and had higher body mass index (p < 0.001) compared to female subjects. Most subjects (84.0%) underwent two- or four-compartment fasciotomies. Female sex was found to be predictive of lower overall postoperative pain severity (p = 0.007), higher odds of return to sport (p = 0.04) and higher postoperative Tegner score (p = 0.005). However, female sex was not predictive of postoperative pain frequency, odds of reoperation or odds of return to sport to at least the presymptomatic level (all p < 0.05).
Female sex is independently predictive of reduced overall pain severity, higher odds of return to sport and higher postoperative improvement in Tegner score following fasciotomy for treatment of lower-limb CECS.
III.
Background:
Exertional compartment syndrome (ECS) is an underdiagnosed cause of lower extremity pain among athletes. The condition can be managed operatively by fasciotomy to relieve excess ...compartment pressure. However, symptom recurrence rates after fasciotomy are considerable, ranging from 3% to 17%.
Hypothesis:
Leg paresthesia and its distribution during ECS episodes would be a significant predictor of outcomes after fasciotomy.
Study Design:
Retrospective cohort study.
Level of Evidence:
Level 4.
Methods:
We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients who underwent fasciotomy for ECS at our center from 2010 to 2020 (institutional review board no. 21-00107). We measured postoperative outcomes including pain frequency and severity, Tegner activity level, and return to sport. Significant predictors of outcomes were identified using multivariable linear and logistic regression. P values <0.05 were considered significant.
Results:
A total of 78 legs (from 42 male and 36 female participants) were included in the study with average follow-up of 52 months (range, 3-126 months); 33 participants (42.3%) presented with paresthesia. Paresthesia was an independent predictor of worse outcomes, including more severe pain at rest (P = 0.05) and with daily activity (P = 0.04), reduced postoperative improvement in Tegner scores (P = 0.04), and lower odds of return to sport (P = 0.05). Those with paresthesia symptoms in the tibial nerve distribution had worse outcomes than those without paresthesia in terms of preoperative-to-present improvement in pain frequency (P < 0.01), pain severity at rest (P < 0.01) and with daily activity (P = 0.04), and return to sport (P = 0.04).
Conclusion:
ECS patients who present with paresthesia have worse pain and activity outcomes after first-time fasciotomy, but prognosis is worst among those with tibial nerve paresthesia.
Clinical Relevance:
Paresthesia among ECS patients is broadly predictive of more severe recurrent leg pain, reduced activity level, and decreased odds of return to sport after fasciotomy.
Patient-reported allergies (PRAs) are often stigmatized as a potential nonmodifiable risk factor for increased pain and worse functional outcomes following surgery. However, there is a dearth of ...literature directly assessing the impact of PRAs on outcomes in sport surgeries such as medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction (MPFLR). The purpose of our study was to determine whether PRAs were associated with worse outcomes following MPFLR.
We conducted a retrospective review of patients who underwent MPFLR at our institution from 2011 to 2019. Patients were included if they had at least 12 months of follow-up. PRAs were obtained from preoperative medical assessments and categorized by drug class. Demographic and perioperative data were obtained from electronic medical records. Postoperative outcomes were measured using a telephone survey and included recurrent instability, Visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, VAS for sports, Kujala score, MPFL-Return to Sport after Injury (MPFL-RSI) score, and overall satisfaction score. Multiple linear regression was used to determine association between PRAs and outcome measures, and p-values less than 0.05 were considered significant.
The cohort included 141 MPFLR. Most patients were female (98, 70%) with an average age of 25 years (range 12-56 years). Average follow-up time was 47 months. Forty-seven patients (33%) reported at least one PRA. There were no significant differences in postoperative pain, functional outcomes, satisfaction, or return to sport between patients with or without PRAs (all p > 0.05). Absence of antibiotic PRAs was predictive of higher VAS (p < 0.007), but there were no other differences. There were no significant differences in outcomes between patients without PRAs, PRAs without a concomitant psychiatric disorder, or PRAs with a concomitant psychiatric disorder (all p > 0.05).
In conclusion, PRAs with or without concomitant psychiatric diagnoses are not associated with worse postoperative pain, functional outcomes, or satisfaction following MPFLR with allograft, dispelling common misconceptions that increased number of allergies or psychiatric diagnoses lead to inferior surgical outcomes. Presence of antibiotic allergies was associated with lower VAS postoperative pain score. Future research should investigate the relationship between PRAs and other surgeries in the field of sports medicine.
Background:
The purpose of this study was to compare opioid analgesic use and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) between patients with and without ...cannabis use disorder (CUD).
Hypothesis:
We hypothesized that patients with CUD would have greater postoperative opioid usage with comparable improvement in PROs.
Study Design:
Retrospective matched-cohort study.
Level of Evidence:
Level 3.
Methods:
We identified patients with CUD who underwent primary ACLR at a single center and had minimum 3-month follow-up. Patients with CUD were propensity score matched 1:1 to non-CUD controls with respect to age, sex, and follow-up time. Total refills, days supply, and morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) of opioid analgesics prescribed were calculated for up to 1 year postoperatively. Patient-Reported Outcome Information System (PROMIS) instruments were used to assess PROs. Opioid use and outcomes were compared between CUD and control groups using Mann-Whitney U test and Fisher’s exact test. P values <0.05 were considered significant.
Results:
A total of 104 patients with CUD were matched to 104 controls. Both groups were majority male (65.4% male, 34.6% female). The CUD group had a mean age of 29.9 years and mean follow-up time of 16.1 months. There was no significant intergroup difference in opioid prescription rates (CUD 82.7% vs control 83.7%, P ≥ 0.99). Among patients prescribed opioids, there were no significant intergroup differences in total days supply ( P = 0.67), total MMEs ( P = 0.71), or MMEs per day ( P = 0.65). There were no significant differences in pre- to postoperative improvement in PROMIS Pain Intensity ( P = 0.51), Pain Interference ( P = 0.81), Mobility ( P = 0.90), Mental Health ( P = 0.74), or Physical Health ( P = 0.94).
Conclusion:
There were no significant differences detected in opioid usage or PRO improvement after ACLR between patients with CUD and those without. However, because a sample size was not determined a priori, a larger sample may show a difference.
Clinical Relevance:
CUD does not appear to correlate with inferior outcomes after ACLR.
The purpose of this study was to identify socioeconomic predictors of time to initial evaluation, time to surgery, and postoperative outcomes among lateral patellar instability patients undergoing ...medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction (MPFLR).
We conducted a retrospective review of patients at our institution who underwent primary MPFLR with allograft from 2011 to 2019 and had minimum 12-month follow-up. Patients were administered an email survey in January 2022 to assess symptom history, socioeconomic status, and postoperative outcomes including VAS satisfaction and Kujala score. Predictors of time to initial evaluation, time to surgery, and postoperative outcomes were identified using multivariable linear and logistic regression with stepwise selection.
Seventy patients were included in the cohort (mean age 24.8 years, 72.9% female, mean follow-up time 45.7 months). Mean time to evaluation was 6.4 months (range 0-221) and mean time to surgery was 73.6 months (range 0-444). Having a general health check-up in the year prior to surgery was predictive of shorter time to initial evaluation (β = - 100.5 - 174.5, - 26.5, p = 0.008). Home ownership was predictive of shorter time to surgery (β = - 56.5 - 104.7, 8.3, p = 0.02). Full-time employment was predictive of higher VAS satisfaction (β = 14.1 4.3, 23.9, p = 0.006) and higher Kujala score (β = 8.7 0.9, 16.5, p = 0.03).
Markers of higher socioeconomic status including having a general check-up in the year prior to surgery, home ownership, and full-time employment were predictive of shorter time to initial evaluation, shorter time to surgery, and superior postoperative outcomes.
IV, retrospective case series.
