Simultaneous vs staged bilateral total knee arthroplasty among Medicare beneficiaries, 2000-2009

Beyond one step: unveiling optimal approach for bilateral knee arthroplasty - a comprehensive meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is an efficient and common procedure used to treat advanced osteoarthritis of the knee. Geriatric patients make up the majority of TKA patients. For the surgical management of bilateral knee arthritis, there is still debate regarding whether to do a simultaneous or staged TKA. We through this study have gathered data and aimed to assess the safety of simultaneous bilateral TKA in patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a study according to the PRISMA guidelines by searching through various databases for the following search terms: total knee arthroplasty (TKA), complications following TKA, bilateral TKA, and bilateral vs. unilateral TKA. The search included case series and clinical trials and excluded review articles, yielding 24 articles from the original search. We extracted data upon the outcomes in patients undergoing simultaneous bilateral TKA. We performed additional bias assessments to validate our search algorithm and results.

RESULTS

One hundred and three published articles were identified, and twenty-four that included a total of 2, 18,385 patients were included in the meta-analysis. 93,074 patients underwent simultaneous bilateral TKA and 125,311 patients underwent staged bilateral TKA. Simultaneous bilateral TKA was associated with significantly increased mortality rate (P < 0.00001, Odd's ratio [OR] 1.86, 95% Confidence interval [CI] 1.53-2.26), increased incidence of pulmonary embolism (P < 0.00001, OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.30-1.91), deep venous thrombosis (P < 0.00001, OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.17-1.46), and neurological complications (P < 0.002, OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.14-1.82). There were no significant differences in cardiac complications between both the procedures (P = 0.60, OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.70-1.23).

CONCLUSION

Staged bilateral TKA is associated with less complication rates as compared to simultaneous bilateral TKA. Hence, patients should be counselled and selected based on the risks respective to each strategy.

Age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index as an effective tool for the choice between simultaneous or staged bilateral total knee arthroplasty

INTRODUCTION

The choice between simultaneous and staged bilateral total knee arthroplasty (BTKA) remains controversial. Age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index(CCI) is a promising tool for risk-stratification. We aimed to compare the outcomes between patients who underwent simultaneous and staged BTKA, stratified by age-adjusted CCI scores.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted this retrospective, single-surgeon case series from 2010 to 2020. This study consisted of 1558 simultaneous BTKA and 786 staged BTKA procedures. The outcome domains included 30-day and 90-day readmission and 1-year reoperation events. We performed multivariate regression analysis to compare the risk of readmission and reoperation following simultaneous and staged BTKA. Other factors included age, sex, body mass index, diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, smoking, receiving thromboprophylaxis and blood transfusion.

RESULTS

The rates of 30-day, 90-day readmission and 1-year reoperation following simultaneous BTKA was 1.99%, 2.70% and 0.71%, respectively. The rates of 30-day, 90-day readmission and 1-year reoperation following staged BTKA was 0.89%, 1.78% and 0.89%, respectively. For patients with age-adjusted CCI ≥ 4 points, simultaneous BTKA was associated with a higher risk of 30-day (aOR:3.369, 95% CI:0.990-11.466) and 90-day readmission (aOR:2.310, 95% CI:0.942-5.668). In patients with age-adjusted CCI ≤ 3 points, the risk of readmission and reoperation was not different between simultaneous or staged BTKA.

CONCLUSION

Simultaneous BTKA was associated with an increased risk of short-term readmissions in patients with age-adjusted CCI ≥ 4 points but not in those with age-adjusted CCI ≤ 3 points. Age-adjusted CCI can be an effective index for the choice between simultaneous and staged BTKA procedures.

No differences in terms of complications, readmissions, reoperations, and patient-reported outcomes in simultaneous bilateral versus staged bilateral total knee arthroplasty in selected patients

BACKGROUND

The safety and the clinical success of simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty (BTKA) is controversial. The aim of this study was to compare complications and patient-reported outcomes following simultaneous BTKA (simBTKA) versus staged BKTA (staBTKA) in patients affected by bilateral symptomatic end-stage knee osteoarthritis (OA).

METHODS

Data from patients who underwent simBTKA or staBTKA at a single institution from January 2017 to December 2020, with a minimum 1-year follow up period were retrospectively collected. Differences in terms of complications and clinical success were compared among the simBTKA and staBTKA patient groups. Alpha was set at 0.05.

RESULTS

A total of 173 patients were included in this study. The results revealed no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of mortality, revision rate, readmission rate, local and systemic complications and patient-reported outcomes. SimBTKA group had a shorter operating room time (96 (73-119) vs. 195 (159-227); P < 0.0001), and length of hospital stay (4 (3-5) vs. 7 (6-9); P < 0.0001) compared with the staBTKA group.

CONCLUSIONS

SimBTKA performed in a selected patient population at a high-volume center can be considered comparable to staBTKA in terms of safety, postoperative complications, 30-day readmissions and patient satisfaction. Consequently, reduced operating room time and hospital stay renders simBTKA a cost-effective and advantageous option, not only for patients, but also for healthcare institutes. Furthermore, the current study also highlights the importance of correct patient selection based on clinical preoperative characteristics.

Incidence of Postoperative Infection Following Simultaneous Bilateral Knee Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Total knee arthroplasty is one of the most common orthopedic procedures. Simultaneous bilateral knee arthroplasty involves performing total knee arthroplasty on both knees in a single anesthetic session. This systematic review and meta-analysis followed the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020. A primary search was performed using PubMed, EBSCO, Scopus, Web of Science, Clarivate, and Google Scholar databases. Quantitative data synthesis was performed using MedCalc® Statistical Software version 20.115 to determine the pooled prevalence of the infection among patients who underwent simultaneous bilateral knee arthroplasty. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess study quality. We included 30 studies in our quantitative data synthesis, with a total population of 118,502 patients (237,004 knees). The pooled prevalence of superficial infection, deep infection, and unspecified surgical site infection was estimated to be 0.86% (95% confidence interval: 0.62-1.13%), 0.84% (95% confidence interval: 0.64-1.05%), and 1.18% (95% confidence interval: 0.45-2.27%), respectively. There was significant heterogeneity (I2 >50%) in all analyses, and inspection of funnel plots revealed a symmetrical distribution of plotted data. We found that the infection rates following simultaneous bilateral knee arthroplasty were relatively low but heterogeneous, as the data showed marked variability. Superficial infections were more common than deep infections; however, there was a small difference in their prevalence. Furthermore, the reliability of our findings was limited owing to significant heterogeneity.

Mortality Following Simultaneous Versus Staged Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Bilateral total knee arthroplasty (BTKA) is a common intervention for bilateral knee osteoarthritis, and the choice between simultaneous (SimBTKA) and staged (StaBTKA) procedures remains a critical decision. This meta-analysis systematically reviews and analyzes the existing literature to compare mortality outcomes associated with SimBTKA and StaBTKA. A comprehensive search was conducted across major databases for studies reporting mortality outcomes in SimBTKA and StaBTKA. Inclusion criteria encompassed studies published up to the cutoff date of January 2023, and a total of 37 studies were included in the quantitative synthesis. Meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model to calculate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using the Review Manage 5.4 software. The meta-analysis included 86,333 SimBTKA cases and 115,146 StaBTKA cases. The overall mortality rate in SimBTKA was 0.66%, while StaBTKA's was 0.43%. The pooled OR for mortality in SimBTKA versus StaBTKA was 1.55 [1.16, 2.08], indicating a statistically significant higher mortality risk in SimBTKA. Our findings suggest that SimBTKA is associated with an increased risk of mortality compared to StaBTKA. This meta-analysis provides valuable insights into the comparative mortality outcomes of SimBTKA and StaBTKA. While SimBTKA may offer potential advantages, including a single anesthesia event and shorter recovery time, clinicians should consider the increased mortality risk associated with this approach. Future research should focus on prospective studies with standardized reporting to further elucidate the nuanced factors influencing mortality outcomes in bilateral knee arthroplasty.

The impact of Charlson Comorbidity Index on surgical complications and reoperations following simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty

Simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) might be associated with higher postoperative morbidity and mortality rates compared with staged bilateral TKA. However, risk factors for surgical complications and reoperations following simultaneous bilateral TKA remain elusive. We conducted this retrospective, single-surgeon case series from 2010 through 2019. A total of 1561 patients who underwent simultaneous bilateral TKA procedures were included. The outcome domains included 30-day and 90-day readmission events for medical or surgical complications and 1-year reoperation events. We performed logistic regression analysis and backward stepwise selection to identify possible risk factors, including age, sex, body mass index, diabetes mellitus (DM), rheumatoid arthritis, American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) classification, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), receiving venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis, or blood transfusion. The overall 30-day, 90-day readmission, and 1-year reoperation rates were 2.11%, 2.88%, and 1.41%, respectively. Higher CCI score (CCI = 4+) was a risk factor for 90-day readmission (aOR: 2.783; 95% CI 0.621-12.465), 90 day readmission for surgical complications (aOR: 10.779; 95% CI 1.444-80.458), and 1 year reoperation (aOR: 4.890; 95% CI 0.846-28.260). Other risk factors included older age, higher ASA level, DM, and receiving VTE prophylaxis. In conclusion, high CCI scores were associated with increased risks of surgical complications and reoperations following simultaneous bilateral TKA procedures.

A Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing Analysis of Simultaneous Versus Staged Bilateral Total Hip Arthroplasty and Total Knee Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

Although studies have compared the claims costs of simultaneous and staged bilateral total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA), whether a simultaneous procedure is cost-effective to the facility remains unknown. This study aimed to compare facility costs and perioperative outcomes of simultaneous vs staged bilateral THA and TKA.

METHODS

We reviewed a consecutive series of 560 bilateral THA (170 staged and 220 simultaneous) and 777 bilateral TKA (163 staged and 451 simultaneous). Itemized facility costs were calculated using time-driven activity-based costing. Ninety-day outcomes were compared. Margin was standardized to unadjusted Medicare Diagnosis Related Group payments (simultaneous, $18,523; staged, $22,386). Multivariate regression was used to determine the independent association between costs/clinical outcomes and treatment strategy (staged vs simultaneous).

RESULTS

Simultaneous bilateral patients had significantly lower personnel, supply, and total facility costs compared with staged patients with no difference in 90-day complications between the groups. Multivariate analyses showed that overall facility costs were $1,210 lower in simultaneous bilateral THA (P < .001) and $704 lower in TKA (P < .001). Despite lower costs, margin for the facility was lower in the simultaneous group ($6,569 vs $9,225 for THA; $6,718 vs $10,067 for TKA; P < .001).

CONCLUSION

Simultaneous bilateral TKA and THA had lower facility costs than staged procedures because of savings associated with a single hospitalization. With the increased Medicare reimbursement for 2 unilateral procedures, however, margin was higher for staged procedures. In the era of value-based care, policymakers should not penalize facilities for performing cost-effective simultaneous bilateral arthroplasty in appropriately selected patients.

Staging Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasties Reduces Alignment Outliers

BACKGROUND

Patients frequently present with bilateral symptomatic knee osteoarthritis and request simultaneous total knee arthroplasties (TKAs). Technical differences between simultaneous and staged TKAs could affect clinical and radiographic outcomes. We hypothesized that staged TKAs would have fewer mechanical alignment outliers than simultaneous TKAs.

METHODS

We reviewed 87 simultaneous and 72 staged TKAs with at least 2 years of follow-up. Radiographic assessment was done using standing long leg and lateral radiographs of the knee. Coronal and sagittal measurements were performed by 4 blinded observers on 2 separate occasions with an intraobserver agreement of 0.95 and interobserver of 0.92.

RESULTS

The first simultaneous knee had no difference in the probability of establishing the mechanical axis outside 3° of neutral (45%) compared to the first staged knee (54%, P = .337). However, the second simultaneous knee (49%) was more likely to establish the axis outside mechanical neutral compared to the second staged knee (28%; odds ratio 2.54, confidence interval 1.31-4.94, P = .006). There was an increased risk of deep venous thrombosis with staged TKA (odds ratio 2.96, confidence interval 1.28-6.84, P = .011), but other perioperative complication rates were not significantly different. There were no clinically significant differences in range of motion or Knee Society Score.

CONCLUSION

There is a significantly increased risk of establishing the second knee outside mechanical neutral during a simultaneous TKA compared to staged bilateral TKAs, possibly related to a number of surgeon-related and system-related factors. The impact on clinical outcomes and radiographic loosening may become significant in long-term follow-up.

The Safety of Bilateral Simultaneous Hip and Knee Arthroplasty versus Staged Arthroplasty in a High-Volume Center Comparing Blood Loss, Peri- and Postoperative Complications, and Early Functional Outcome

Purpose: In recent years, there has been increasing interest in the use of simultaneous hip and knee arthroplasty compared to staged procedures in patients with bilateral pathology. The aim of this study was to compare simultaneous and staged hip and knee arthroplasty in patients with bilateral pathology by assessing the transfusion rate, postoperative hemoglobin drop, length of stay (LOS), in-hospital complications, 30-day readmissions and early functional outcome. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study that included all patients who were undergoing primary TKA, THA and UKA by a single surgeon in a high-volume arthroplasty center between 2015 and 2020 as simultaneous or staged procedures. Staged bilateral arthroplasties were performed within 12 months and were stratified by the time between procedures. Data were acquired through the electronic files at the Orthopädische Chirurgie München (OCM). For functional outcome, the ability of the patients to walk independently on the ward was compared with the ability to walk a set of stairs alone, which was recorded daily by the attending physiotherapist. Results: In total n = 305 patients were assessed for eligibility and included in this study. One hundred and forty-five patients were allocated to the staged arthroplasty group. This group was subdivided into a hip and a knee group, whereas the knee group was split into TKA and UKA. The second staged procedure was performed within 12 months of the first procedure. One hundred and sixty patients were allocated to the simultaneous arthroplasty group. This group was also subdivided into a hip and knee group, whereas the knee group was split again into a TKA and UKA group. No statistical difference was found between the two groups regarding demographic data. Primary outcome measurements: There was no significant difference in the transfusion rate or complication rate. Secondarily, no statistically significant difference was found between the postoperative hemoglobin drop and the functional outcome, or in the length of stay (LOS) between both groups. Walking the stairs showed a significant difference in the knee group. Conclusions: There were no significant differences observed in the transfusion rate in-hospital complications, or readmission rate between both groups. The early functional outcome showed no significant difference in mobility for all groups. Simultaneous arthroplasty for knee or hip is as safe as a staged procedure, with no higher risk for the patient, in a specialized high-volume center. Level of evidence: Level IV.

Simultaneous Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty Is Associated With Shorter Length of Stay but Increased Mortality Compared With Staged Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is associated with high patient satisfaction. However, controversy remains regarding the safety and efficacy of conducting simultaneous bilateral (simBTKA) versus staged bilateral TKA (staBTKA). The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the current evidence for simBTKA versus staBTKA and compare clinical outcomes including mortality, complications and length of stay (LOS).

METHODS

A search was performed of PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane central databases between January 2000 and March 2020. Search terms included "simultaneous," "staged," and "bilateral TKA." Inclusion criteria comprised studies comparing outcomes of simBTKA versus staBTKA. Quality of included studies was assessed and meta-analyses of pooled data was conducted.

RESULTS

29 articles published between 2001 and 2020 were included in qualitative synthesis from 927 potentially relevant titles, comprising 257,284 patients. 104,207 patients underwent simBTKA and 153,632 patients underwent staBTKA. simBTKA was associated with significantly increased 90-day mortality rate (P < .00001, OR 2.24, 95% CI 1.79-2.81), increased incidence of pulmonary embolism (P < .00001, OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.51-1.89), venous thrombosis (P < .00001, OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.23-1.43), and neurological complications (P = .002, OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.13-1.77). Incidence of superficial and deep infection was significantly increased with staBTKA (P = .02, P < .00001 respectively). Revision rate within one year was equivocal. Mean LOS was 2.1 days shorter for simBTKA.

CONCLUSION

SimBTKA was associated with decreased incidence of infection and LOS but increased incidence of 90-day mortality, venous thromboembolism and neurological complications. Revision rates were equivocal. Patients should be selected and counseled based on the risks respective to each strategy.

Same-day Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty Did Not Increase 90-day Hospital Returns

PURPOSE

Bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) can be performed in patients with bilateral knee arthritis. Outside of nationwide database studies, which have limitations, few studies have compared outcomes for same-day versus staged TKA. We sought to compare patient outcomes at a single tertiary referral center.

METHODS

The institutional database was queried from March 2014 to December 2017 for primary TKA. Patients undergoing bilateral procedures were stratified by same-day versus staged; length of stay (LOS), disposition, 90-day emergency department (ED) visits, and 90-day readmissions were examined through univariable and multivariable analyses.

RESULTS

A total of 676 patients were evaluated (113 same-day and 563 staged bilateral TKA patients) with mean age 66.0 (8.5) at first surgery and 292.1 (241.6) days between staged procedures. Same-day bilateral TKA patients were younger (p < 0.001), had lower body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.010), and had lower American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) scores (p = 0.030). They were more likely to have a prolonged LOS (p < 0.001) and be discharged to skilled nursing facility or rehab facility (p < 0.001). Total LOS for separate hospitalizations in staged procedures was greater than LOS for same-day bilateral TKAs (p < 0.001). There was no difference in 90-day ED visits (p = 0.623) or readmission (p = 0.286). In a multivariable model controlling for age, BMI, and ASA score, same-day bilateral TKA was not significantly associated with ED visits or readmissions.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients undergoing same-day bilateral TKAs were more likely to be discharged to post-acute care facilities, however they did not have increased 90-day readmissions.

Cost analysis of staged versus simultaneous bilateral total knee and hip arthroplasty using a propensity score matching

BACKGROUND

Total joint arthroplasty (TJA), including total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA), is required for many patients. This study aimed to evaluate the medical costs, length of stay (LOS), blood transfusion and in-hospital complications in patients undergoing simultaneous and staged TJA.

METHODS

All patients who underwent primary bilateral TJA from 2013 to 2018 in our institute were included. The propensity score matching analysis was performed between simultaneous and staged TJA patients. The difference in medical costs, LOS, blood transfusion and in-hospital complications was compared between simultaneous and staged groups.

RESULTS

Except for materials fees and general therapy fees, medical costs (bed fees, general therapy fees, nursing care fees, check-up and laboratory test fees, surgical fees and drug fees) were significantly lower in the simultaneous TKA, THA and TJA group. The total average medical costs in simultaneous and staged TKA groups were $15 385 and $16 729 (p<0.001), respectively; THA groups were $14 503 and $16 142 (p=0.016), respectively; TJA groups were $15 389 and $16 830 (p<0.001), respectively. The highest and lowest costs were materials fees and nursing care fees. No significant differences were found for five common comorbidities and postoperative complications between the two subgroups. The simultaneous groups had a shorter LOS and the differences from the staged group for TKA, THA and the TJA group were 8, 6 and 8 days, respectively. The incidence of blood transfusion is higher for simultaneous groups and the difference from the staged group for TKA, THA and TJA is 32.69%, 18% and 29.3%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that simultaneous TKA and THA with a shorter LOS would cost fewer (costs incurred during hospitalisation) than staged TKA and THA. Complication rates were not affected by the choice for staged or simultaneous arthroplasty, but the incidence of blood transfusion was higher in the simultaneous groups.

Usefulness of an accelerometer-based navigation system in bilateral one-stage total knee arthroplasty

Background

Bilateral one-stage total knee arthroplasty (BTKA) have increased because it provides a number of advantages. Recently, Accelerometer-based navigation (ABN) system which guide the cutting plane without intramedullary disturbance might result in less endothelial and microvascular damage. Therefore, we hypothesized that the ABN may reduce blood loss, reduce postoperative pain, and better restore BTKA alignment compared to conventional instruments.

Methods

We retrospectively compared 44 consecutive patients receiving ABN assisted BTKA (iBTKA) to 57 patients with conventional instruments (cBTKA). Identical pre- and post-operative care was utilized to all patients. The outcome measures assessed were hemoglobin (Hb), calculated blood loss (CBL), blood transfusion, VAS score for pain, morphine consumption, knee flexion angle, and length of stay (LOS). Radiographic assessment included mechanical axis (MA) and component positioning at 3–6 months of follow up.

Results

Both iBTKA and cTKA groups had equivalent demographic data. Postoperative Hb of the cBTKA group was significantly lower than those in the iBTKA group at 24 h (p = 0.02), but there was no significant difference in drain volume, CBL, and blood transfusion rate. For radiographic measures, the iBTKA group had more accurate MA and component orientation, and had a lower number of outliers than those in the cBTKA group (p ≤ 0.01), except for the sagittal femoral component angle.

Conclusion

The ABN assisted BTKA could not reduce blood loss or postoperative pain more than cBTKA, nor improve functional recovery. However, the ABN significantly improved the accuracy of MA and prostheses positioning.

Trial registration

The protocol of this study was registered in the Thai Clinical Trials Registry database No. TCTR20180731001# on 25 July 2018.

Impact of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease on Postoperative Complications Following Simultaneous Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty

For patients who qualify, simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a viable option for the treatment of bilateral symptoms. However, the incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been steadily rising over the past few decades and may impact those who qualify as candidates for bilateral TKA. As such, the aim of this study was to determine the impact of COPD on postoperative outcomes in patients who receive simultaneous bilateral TKA. A retrospective cohort study was conducted utilizing data provided through the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. All patients who had undergone simultaneous bilateral TKA between 2007 and 2016 were identified and further stratified into groups based upon the COPD status. Incidence of adverse events after TKA in the acute postoperative period was evaluated with univariate and multivariate analyses. COPD was found to be an independent risk factor for the development of major (odds ratio [OR]: 2.5; p = 0.015), renal (OR: 5.1; p = 0.02), and thromboembolic complications (OR: 2.5; p = 0.027). In addition, patients with COPD were at increased risk for having an extended hospital length of stay (LOS; p < 0.001) and development of urinary tract infections (p < 0.001). Patients with COPD are at higher risk for development of overall major complications, as well as renal and thromboembolic complications after simultaneous bilateral TKA. Interestingly, patients were not at increased risk for the development of pulmonary or wound complications. When considering a staged versus simultaneous bilateral TKA, surgeons should be aware of the impact COPD status has on the postoperative complication rate.

One stage bilateral unicompartmental knee replacement: Similar early clinical outcome with shorter rehabilitation and better resources utilization compared with two stage

Introduction:

There are a lot of debates on the advantages and safety profile of one stage bilateral knee arthroplasty. Most of the studies focus on total knee replacement, and it may not be applied directly to unicompartmental knee replacement (UKR). We would like to compare the early results of one and two stage bilateral UKR in our center.

Methods:

This is a retrospective review of all the bilateral medial UKR done in our center in 2018–2019. Patients’ demographic data, operative time, postoperative blood, length of stay (LOS) and complications were recorded. The number of admissions, pre-operative assessment sessions (PAS), and weeks of post-operative physiotherapy were analyzed. Clinical outcome was measured by Knee society knee score and range of motion (ROM).

Results:

Our center performed 97 UKR in 2018–2019, with 50 UKR performed in 25 patients, among which 16 received one stage while 9 received two stage bilateral UKR. Both groups had similar mean age, BMI, sex ratio, ASA grading, pre-operative knee score and ROM. Patient in the one stage group required only 1 PAS/admission/operation to treat both knees with a mean LOS of 7.3 days and 7.8 weeks of physiotherapy, while those in the two stage group required 2 PAS/admissions/operations with a mean cumulative LOS of 9.8 days and 14.1 weeks of physiotherapy. The mean cumulative operative time was similar for both groups but the one stage group only required 1 operative session. There was no difference in blood loss and there was no transfusion or complication. The post-operative knee score and ROM at 3 and 6 months were similar for both groups.

Conclusion:

In suitable patients with bilateral medial OA knee, one stage bilateral UKR offers simliar early clinical outcome with shorter rehabilitation duration but without increasing complications compared with two stage. Resources can therefore be better utilized.

Safety of one-stage bilateral total knee arthroplasty -one surgeon sequential vs. two surgeons simultaneous: a randomized controlled study

PURPOSE

This study aimed to examine the complications by comparing two surgeons simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty (two-surgeon bilateral TKA) to one surgeon sequential bilateral total knee arthroplasty (single-surgeon bilateral TKA).

METHODS

Two hundred forty-six participants were prospectively randomized into two groups: two-surgeon bilateral TKA and single-surgeon bilateral TKA. While two surgeons performed simultaneous total knee arthroplasty in the two-surgeon bilateral TKA group, one surgeon performed sequentially in the single-surgeon bilateral TKA group. Ninety-day major, and minor complications rate, operative time, estimated blood loss (EBL) and patient-reported outcome measures were analysed.

RESULTS

The two surgeons operated in two-surgeon bilateral TKA group 246 knees in 123 patients, while the single surgeon operated in single-surgeon bilateral TKA group 246 knees of 123 patients. The median operating time was 120 (range 70-151) minutes in the two-surgeon bilateral TKA group and 140 (range 75-190) minutes in the single-surgeon bilateral TKA group (p < 0.001). The median EBL was higher in the two-surgeon bilateral TKA group (p < 0.001). The 90-day complications were two major complications (1.6%) in the two-surgeon bilateral TKA group and 11 (8.9%) in the single-surgeon bilateral TKA group (p = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Two-surgeon simultaneous bilateral TKA is a safe method with lower complication rates compared with single-surgeon sequential bilateral TKA and can be preferred for experienced teams. However, peri- and post-operative care is required to decrease the risk of bleeding, particularly in patients undergoing two-surgeon simultaneous bilateral TKA.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This study was retrospectively registered in a public trials registry ( https://clinicaltrials.gov/ , NCT04299516).

One-Surgeon vs Two-Surgeon Single-Anesthetic Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty: Revision and Mortality Rates From the Australian Orthopedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry

BACKGROUND

Outcomes following 1-surgeon single-anesthetic sequential bilateral total knee arthroplasty (seq-BTKA) compared to 2-surgeon single-anesthetic simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty (sim-BTKA) are largely unknown. The current study compared revision rates and all-cause mortality following seq-BTKA vs sim-BTKA using data from the Australian Orthopedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry.

METHODS

Seq-BTKA and sim-BTKA procedures recorded within the registry between September 1, 1999 and December 31, 2018 were analyzed for subsequent revision and patient mortality. Cumulative percent revision and cumulative percent survival were determined using the Kaplan-Meier method. Revision and mortality rates for sim-BTKA and seq-BTKA were compared using Cox proportional hazards models, adjusting for age and gender.

RESULTS

Included in the analysis were 27,480 seq-BTKAs and 471 sim-BTKAs. There was no difference in the cumulative percent revision between the 2 groups (hazard ratio 1.23, 95% confidence interval 0.82-1.85). Cumulative percent patient survival was not significantly different between the 2 groups (hazard ratio 1.20, 95% confidence interval 0.93-1.54).

CONCLUSION

Revision rates and mortality were similar for seq-BTKA and sim-BTKA. Investigation of additional outcomes such as complications not requiring revision, pain, function, and cost is required to comprehensively understand the relative merits of each procedure.

Simultaneous single-stage versus two-staged bilateral total knee arthroplasty: a prospective comparative study

PURPOSE

The study aims to prospectively compare peri-operative morbidity and mortality of simultaneous single-stage bilateral total knee arthroplasty (SS BLTKA) with two-staged bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TS BLTKA) performed within 12 months of the first surgery. We hypothesized that SS BLTKA is as safe as TS BLTKA.

METHODS

Patients with a minimum follow-up of 12 months were included in this study. Oxford knee score and quality of life index SF12 was compared between the 2 groups at six weeks and six month follow-up.

RESULTS

SS BLTKA included 250 patients and TS BLTKA included 210 patients. The minimum time interval between two operations was three weeks (mean 1.6 months, range 3 weeks-12 months). There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in peri-operative mortality, surgical site infection, major peri-operative complications. There was no difference between the 2 groups in the Oxford knee score and quality of life index SF12 at 6-month follow-up. There was no difference in the range of knee flexion between the 2 groups at six months. Post-operative haemoglobin drop was significantly more in SS BLTKA patients and consequently, blood transfusion requirement was significantly higher in SS BLTKA. There was a significantly higher length of hospital stay and duration of surgery in TS BLTKA group.

CONCLUSION

There does not appear to be a difference in complication rates between the 2 groups. SS BLTKA seems to be a logical choice if both knees have severe osteoarthritis. Patients with severe cardiopulmonary compromise were excluded, and a unilateral procedure may be preferred in them.

Cost and Safety Evaluation of Simultaneous Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty versus Unilateral Knee

Objective  To measure the cost of simultaneous total knee arthroplasty, as well as the costs of total and intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay, perioperative complications and need for blood transfusion compared to the costs of unilateral procedure in a referral hospital, in Federal District, Brazil.

Method  The present article is a retrospective study analyzing the medical records of patients admitted for unilateral or bilateral total knee arthroplasty, performed between June 2011 and March 2017. Seventy-four medical records were included in the study for evaluation of data such as total cost of the procedure, comorbidities, complications, days of hospitalization, and need for blood transfusion.

Results  A significantly higher incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) was found in unilateral procedures. Compared to the other data, no statistically significant differences were found in the relative costs or in the need for blood transfusion.

Conclusion  There was no increase in the cost or in complications when comparing the simultaneous bilateral knee joint replacement procedure with the unilateral procedure, which corroborates most of the literature.

Comparing the Safety and Outcome of Simultaneous and Staged Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty in Contemporary Practice: A Systematic Review of the Literature

BACKGROUND

Although a variety of studies have assessed the outcomes of simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty (BTKA) and staged BTKA, there remains no definitive conclusion regarding the superiority of one technique in terms of safety.

METHODS

The US National Library of Medicine (PubMed/MEDLINE), EMBASE, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were queried utilizing keywords pertinent to BTKA, simultaneous and staged, and clinical or functional outcomes. In order to examine the contemporary relevant literature, studies published prior to 2009 were excluded from our search.

RESULTS

In total, 19 articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in this analysis. The overall quality of the studies included in this review was rated as moderate. Seven of the 19 studies reported no significant differences between the 2 groups in regards to baseline clinical and demographic characteristics (comorbidity index, American Society of Anesthesiologists grade, preoperative clinical subjective scores). Nearly all from these 7 studies with comparable initial characteristics documented no significant differences in the overall complication rates between the 2 groups in addition to no difference in mortality rate, cardiac complications, revision rate, thromboembolic events, and functional outcomes.

CONCLUSION

In contemporary studies involving comparable baseline demographics (including comorbidity index, American Society of Anesthesiologists grade), there was moderate evidence to show that simultaneous BTKA is as safe as the staged BTKA.

Unilateral versus bilateral total knee arthroplasty: A registry study on survival and risk factors

BACKGROUND

Bilateral cases, representing at least 25% of total knee arthroplasties (TKA), could convey a statistical bias linked to dependency. Registries allow exploring this issue, susceptible to question surgeon validated protocols. Do bilateral total knee arthroplasties behave differently than unilateral knees in terms of implant survival?

HYPOTHESIS

Bilateral TKA have a better survival than unilateral TKA.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A number of 14,652 bilateral and 27,440 unilateral TKAs were compared. Influencing factors were tested with hazard ratios applied on bilateral knees.

RESULTS

Bilateral knees had a better survival (p<0.001). Delay between first and second side surgeries had an influence on survival of the first knee: if below a year, the first knee survival was superior to the second knee; more than three years between both arthroplasties significantly decreased the survival of the first implant. If the first knee was revised, the hazard ratio for revision of the second implant was 3.5.

DISCUSSION

Series should include separate evaluations of bilateral cases, because they have a better survival than unilateral knees. A long delay between both knee replacements could impact both implant survivals. Level of Evidence III, Cohort Comparative Study.

Simultaneous vs staged bilateral total knee arthroplasty: a propensity-matched case-control study from nine fast-track centres

INTRODUCTION

Limited data exist on patient safety after simultaneous vs staged bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in matched groups. Hence, the aim of this study was to compare length of stay (LOS), in-hospital complications, 30-day readmissions and mortality after simultaneous and staged bilateral TKA in matched patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective case-control study of prospectively collected data in nine centres from February 2010 to November 2015. Propensity scores (PS) were used to match simultaneous and staged (1-6 months between stages) bilateral TKA patients with prospectively collected patient characteristics from the Lundbeck Foundation Centre for Fast-track THA and TKA Database. 30-day follow-up was acquired from the Danish Patient Registry and patient records.

RESULTS

A total of 344 (47.1%) simultaneous and 386 (52.9%) staged bilateral TKA procedures were performed. PS matching was possible in 232 simultaneous and 232 staged bilateral TKA patients. LOS was median 4 days (IQR 3-5) after simultaneous and cumulated 4 days (IQR 4-6) after staged procedures. The in-hospital complication rate was 15.5% after simultaneous vs 7.3% (p = 0.004) after staged procedures. Two cases (0.9%) of venous thromboembolic events were found in each group. Eight patients (3.4%) were re-operated after simultaneous vs one patient (0.4%) after staged bilateral TKA (p = 0.037). The 30-day readmission rate was 8.6% after simultaneous vs 5.6% after staged procedures (p = 0.281). No patients died in either group.

CONCLUSIONS

We found no significant differences in 30-day readmission rates and mortality between simultaneous and staged bilateral TKA, but the in-hospital complication rate and re-operation rate was higher after the simultaneous procedure calling for further matched investigations in larger cohorts.

Bilateral total knee arthroplasty: Simultaneous or staged? A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is one of the most successful orthopedic surgeries performed in recent decades. However, controversies still exist between conducting simultaneous or staged bilateral TKA. The objective of this study is to conduct a systematic review assessing the clinical outcome associated with simultaneous bilateral and staged bilateral total knee arthroplasty (BTKA).

METHODS

A search was applied to CNKI, Embase, Medline, and Cochrane central database (January 2000-July 2018). All studies that compared simultaneous bilateral TKA (simBTKA) with staged bilateral TKA (staBTKA) without language restriction were reviewed, and qualities of included studies were assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Data were pooled and a meta-analysis completed.

RESULTS

The 18 studies were identified to be eligible. The 18 comparative studies published from 2001 to 2018, covered 73617 participants in the simBTKA group and 61838 in the staBTKA group, respectively. Results of meta-analyses indicated that simBTKA showed a lower risk of deep infection and respiratory complications, but increased mortality, pulmonary embolism (PE), and deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) compared with staBTKA. There were no significant differences in revision, superficial infection, arthrofibrosis, cardiac complications, neurological complications and urinary complications between procedures.

CONCLUSIONS

Since there are risks and benefits to both procedures, these potential complications must be interpreted in light of each individual patient's needs and concerns. Further research must be conducted, in the form of a randomized clinical trial, to evaluate the outcomes mentioned in this review.

Combined total hip and knee arthroplasty during the same hospital admission: is it safe?

AIMS

The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes of combined total joint arthroplasty (TJA) (total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) performed during the same admission) versus bilateral THA, bilateral TKA, single THA, and single TKA. Combined TJAs performed on the same day were compared with those staged within the same admission episode.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Data from the National (Nationwide) Inpatient Sample recorded between 2005 and 2014 were used for this retrospective cohort study. Postoperative in-hospital complications, total costs, and discharge destination were reviewed. Logistic and linear regression were used to perform the statistical analyses. p-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Combined TJA was associated with increased risk of deep vein thrombosis, prosthetic joint infection, irrigation and debridement procedures, revision arthroplasty, length of stay (LOS), and in-hospital costs compared with bilateral THA, bilateral TKA, single THA, and single TKA. Combined TJA performed on separate days of the same admission showed no statistically significant differences when compared with same-day combined TJA, but trended towards decreased total costs and total complications despite increased LOS.

CONCLUSION

Combined TJA is associated with increased in-hospital complications, LOS, and costs. We do not recommend performing combined TJA during the same hospital stay. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2019;101-B:573-581.

No Difference in Total Episode-of-Care Cost Between Staged and Simultaneous Bilateral Total Joint Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

Due to concerns about higher complication rates, surgeons debate whether to perform simultaneous bilateral total joint arthroplasty (BTJA), particularly in the higher-risk Medicare population. Advances in pain management and rehabilitation protocols have called into question older studies that found an overall cost benefit for simultaneous procedures. The purpose of this study was to compare 90-day episode-of-care costs between staged and simultaneous BTJA among Medicare beneficiaries.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed a consecutive series of 319 simultaneous primary TJAs and 168 staged TJAs (336 procedures) at our institution between 2015 and 2016. We recorded demographics, comorbidities, readmission rates, and 90-day episode-of-care costs based upon Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services claims data. To control for confounding variables, we performed a multivariate regression analysis to identify independent risk factors for increased costs.

RESULTS

Simultaneous patients had decreased inpatient facility costs ($19,402 vs $23,025, P < .001), increased post-acute care costs ($13,203 vs $10,115, P < .001), and no difference in total episode-of-care costs ($35,666 vs $37,238, P = .541). Although there was no difference in readmissions (8% vs 9%, P = .961), simultaneous bilateral patients were more likely to experience a thromboembolic event (2% vs 0%, P = .003). When controlling for demographics, procedure, and comorbidities, a simultaneous surgery was not associated with an increase in episode-of-care costs (P = .544). Independent risk factors for increased episode-of-care costs following BTJA included age ($394 per year increase, P < .001), cardiac disease ($4877, P = .025), history of stroke ($14,295, P = .010), and liver disease ($12,515, P = .016).

CONCLUSION

In the Medicare population, there is no difference in 90-day episode-of-care costs between simultaneous and staged BTJA. Surgeons should use caution in performing a simultaneous procedure on older patients or those with a history of stroke, cardiac, or liver disease.

Complications and cost of single-stage vs. two-stage bilateral unicompartmental knee arthroplasty: A case-control study

BACKGROUND

Single-stage bilateral knee arthroplasty, even when unicompartmental, remains controversial, chiefly due to the risk of peri-operative complications. The primary objective of this study was to compare the short-term complication rate and cost of single- vs. two-stage bilateral unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UCA). The secondary objective was to compare total hospital stay lengths and motion-range recovery.

HYPOTHESIS

Single-stage bilateral UCA is a cost-saving alternative that is not associated with higher complication rates compared to two-stage bilateral UCA.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

This single-centre retrospective comparative study included 70 patients of any age managed between 2010 and 2016. Among them, 44 (88 UKAs) had single-stage surgery (1S group) and 26 (52 UCAs) two-stage surgery (2S group). The two groups were comparable for age, body mass index, gender distribution, compartment replaced, ASA score, and Charlson comorbidity index. The following were evaluated: operative time, haemoglobin level before and after surgery, major and minor complication rates, motion-range recovery, and the radiographic hip-knee-ankle (HKA) angle. Costs were estimated based on the standard codes assigned to the procedures by the national statutory health insurance system (GHM 08C24 for knee arthroplasty to treat knee osteoarthritis and NFKA006 for unicompartmental tibio-femoral or femoro-patellar arthroplasty), modulated according to the concomitant diagnoses.

RESULTS

No differences were found for the haemoglobin level change, time to motion-range recovery, or HKA angle. The complication rates per patient were not significantly different between the groups: major complications, 9.1% (n=4) in the 1S group and 15.4% (n=4) in the 2S group (p=1.00); minor complications, 4.5% (n=2) in the 1S group and 3.8% (n=1) in the 2S group (p=1.00). Cost of the total hospital stay was significantly higher in the 2S group than in the 1S group (11,766.7€) and 5626.4€, respectively; p<0.001). Mean total hospital stay duration per patient was 6.7 days with single-stage surgery and 13.4 days with two-stage surgery.

DISCUSSION

Single-stage bilateral UCA is not associated with a higher rate of peri-operative complications compared to the two-stage alternative and is substantially less costly. Financial incentives from the healthcare authorities are warranted to increase the use of the single-stage procedure.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III, case-control study.

Simultaneous, same-anaesthetic bilateral total knee arthroplasty has low mortality and complication rates

PURPOSE

The benefits of simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty (SBTKR) include reduced hospital costs, single anaesthetic exposure and in many cases is also the patient's preference. Despite these potential benefits, risk-adversity with respect to assumed complications and mortality make it difficult for the orthopaedic surgeon and patient to make an informed decision. This study aimed to address the inconsistencies and lack of consensus in previous literature regarding the short-term complications and clinical safety of SBTKR in patients with end-stage knee osteoarthritis (OA).

METHODS

A cohort of 950 knees (475 patients) undergoing surgery between 2008 and 2013 was extracted from a prospectively collected clinical database and retrospectively linked to the Australian Joint Replacement Registry and hospital records. Patients underwent sequential SBTKR by their treating surgeon under one anaesthetic. Basic demographic data and outcome data including complications and mortality were collected. All data were analyzed using descriptive statistics only.

RESULTS

A total of 413 patients and 826 knees were included. The average age of the cohort was 70 years with range between 46 and 88 years. 50% of patients were female. The overall mortality rate during the study follow-up period was 1.9%, with an average time to death postoperatively of 23.8 months. There were no cases of acute postoperative mortality (< 6 weeks). Medical complication rates were low.

CONCLUSIONS

In contrast to the higher mortality and complication rates suggested in previous literature, this study has demonstrated that SBTKR is safe, with low mortality and complication rates under the current surgical protocol.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV.

Comparing the 30-Day Risk of Venous Thromboembolism and Bleeding in Simultaneous Bilateral vs Unilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

Simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty (SBTKA) may offer certain benefits; however, its overall safety is still disputed. This study aimed at comparing the risk of thromboembolism and bleeding in patients who underwent SBTKA vs unilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

METHODS

The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database from 2008 to 2015 was used to investigate the short-term postoperative complications and their risk factors following SBTKA as compared to unilateral TKA. Demographics, comorbidities, and 30-day outcomes were analyzed. Complications with an increased incidence following SBTKA were stratified to identify subgroups of patients at high risk.

RESULTS

A total of 155,022 patients were identified, of which 150,581 underwent unilateral TKA and 4441 underwent SBTKA. The SBTKA group was found to be at a higher risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), bleeding, and composite morbidity. Stratification analysis revealed that SBTKA subgroups at higher risk of VTE include patients of black or Asian origin, obese patients, and those who underwent anesthesia other than general or spinal/epidural. SBTKA subgroups at higher risk of bleeding include patients older than 85 years, those with race other than white, underweight and obese patients, and patients who underwent anesthesia other than spinal/epidural. Although none of the subgroups were protected from bleeding, patients who underwent spinal/epidural anesthesia had a lower risk of bleeding compared to other types of anesthesia.

CONCLUSION

SBTKA confers an increased risk of postoperative VTE, bleeding, and composite morbidity at 30 days, with no increase in mortality.

Ninety-Day Morbidity and Mortality in Risk-Screened and Optimized Patients Undergoing Two-Team Fast-Track Simultaneous Bilateral TKA Compared With Unilateral TKA-A Prospective Study

BACKGROUND

Simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty (SBTKA) offers significant socioeconomic benefits. However, retrospective studies and public health data show increased mortality and morbidity rates in patients undergoing SBTKA compared with those undergoing unilateral TKA (UTKA), and there have been recommendations against the use of SBTKA. High-volume centers, which feature careful patient selection and fast-tracked surgery, continue to perform SBTKA and have published their results in favor of the procedure. However, the quality of evidence remains poor.

METHODS

We prospectively examined 90-day morbidity and mortality of SBTKA compared with UTKA in risk-screened and optimized patients in our high-volume joint replacement facility. A total of 1200 consecutive patients were recruited in each arm.

RESULTS

Ninety-day mortality was higher in SBTKA patients than in UTKA patients (0.58% vs 0.42%, respectively; P = .5646). Overall procedure-related complications were significantly higher in the SBTKA group (7.25% vs 4.42%, respectively; P = .0034). The relative risk of cardiovascular complications in SBTKA patients was 6.5 times higher than that in UTKA patients (1.08% vs 0.17%, respectively; P = .0136). Neurological complications were 9.5 times more common in the SBTKA group (1.58% vs 0.17%, respectively; P = .0024). All other complications were comparable in the 2 groups.

CONCLUSION

Risk screening and preoperative optimization reduce mortality and overall complication rates in SBTKA patients; however, overall procedure-related complications, specifically cardiovascular and neurological, remain significantly high in SBTKA patients, for which a guarded approach is recommended.

Changes in Markers of Thrombin Generation and Interleukin-6 During Unicondylar Knee and Total Knee Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is associated with a risk of thromboembolism requiring routine thromboprophylaxis, but there is debate about the risk with unicondylar knee arthroplasty (UKA) as it is a more minor procedure. We sought to investigate the relative risk of thromboembolism with UKA compared to TKA and one-staged bilateral TKA (BTKA) by measuring the increase in circulating biochemical markers of thrombin generation during the procedures. Degree of surgical trauma was also assessed by measuring interleukin-6, a marker of metabolic injury.

METHODS

We prospectively studied a total of 75 patients: 25 patients undergoing UKA, unilateral TKA, and BTKA, respectively. All patients had surgery performed with tourniquet and received no tranexamic acid. Blood samples were taken during surgery and assayed for circulating markers of thrombin generation: prothrombin fragment 1+2 (F1+2) and thrombin-antithrombin complexes plus interleukin-6.

RESULTS

Thrombin-antithrombin complexes, increased during all time points (P < .001) but was not significantly different between surgical treatment groups. F1+2 also rose significantly during surgery, with no significant difference between UKA and TKA. There was, however, a significant difference in F1+2 between BTKA and UKA or TKA (P < .02). Interleukin-6 rose minimally with UKA but rose significantly with TKA and BTKA (P < .001).

CONCLUSION

Based on these data of circulating biochemical markers, patients undergoing UKA are at similar risk of thromboembolism with respect to TKA despite a lower index of metabolic injury. We believe that UKA patients should receive thromboprophylaxis comparable to TKA patients.

Failure After Modern Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Prospective Study of 18,065 Knees

BACKGROUND

We sought is to determine the mechanism of failure among primary total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) performed at a single high-volume institution by asking the following research questions: (1) What are the most common failure modes for modern TKA designs? and (2) What are the preoperative risk factors for failure following primary TKA?

METHODS

From May 2007 to December 2012, 18,065 primary TKAs performed on 16,083 patients at a single institution were recorded in a prospective total joint arthroplasty registry with a minimum of 5-year follow-up. We retrospectively reviewed patient charts to determine a cause of failure for primary TKAs. A cox proportional hazard model was used to determine the risk of revision surgery following primary TKA.

RESULTS

The most common reasons for failure within 2 years after TKA were infection and stiffness. The multivariable regression identified the following preoperative risk factors for TKA failure: history of drug abuse (hazard ratio [HR] 4.68; P = 0.03), deformity/mechanical preoperative diagnosis (HR 3.52; P < .01), having a constrained condylar knee implant over posterior-stabilized implant (HR 1.99; P < .01), post-traumatic/trauma preoperative diagnosis (HR 1.78; P = .03), and younger age (HR 0.61; P < .01) CONCLUSION: These findings add to the growing data that primary TKAs are no longer failing from polyethylene wear-related issues. This study identified preoperative risk factors for failure of primary TKAs, which may be useful information for developing strategies to improve outcomes following TKA.

Postoperative Stiffness Requiring Manipulation Under Anesthesia Is Significantly Reduced After Simultaneous Versus Staged Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

For patients with symptomatic bilateral knee arthritis, it is unknown whether the risk of developing stiffness requiring manipulation under anesthesia postoperatively is higher or lower for those undergoing simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) compared with those having staged bilateral TKA. Therefore, we undertook this study to evaluate the risk of requiring manipulation under anesthesia in staged versus simultaneous bilateral TKA as well as patients undergoing unilateral TKA.

METHODS

We utilized the California Patient Discharge Database, which is linked with the California Emergency Department, Ambulatory Surgery, and master death file databases. Using a literature-based estimate of the number of patients who failed to undergo the second stage of a staged bilateral TKA, replacement cases were randomly selected from patients who had unilateral TKA and were matched on 8 clinical characteristics of the patients who had staged bilateral TKA. Hierarchical multivariate logistic regression was performed to determine the risk-adjusted odds of manipulation in patients undergoing unilateral TKA, staged bilateral TKA, and simultaneous bilateral TKA using yearly hospital TKA volume as a random effect. Adjustment was made to allow fair comparison of the outcome at 90 and 180 days of follow-up after staged compared with simultaneous bilateral TKA.

RESULTS

During the time period from 2005 through 2013, the cumulative incidence of manipulation within 90 days was 2.14% for unilateral TKA (4,398 events per 205,744 patients), 2.11% for staged bilateral TKA (724 events per 34,352 patients), and 1.62% for simultaneous bilateral TKA (195 events per 12,013 patients). At 180 days of complete follow-up, the cumulative incidence of manipulation was 3.07% after unilateral TKA (6,313 events per 205,649 patients), 2.89% after staged bilateral TKAs (957 events per 33,169 patients), and 2.29% after simultaneous bilateral TKA (267 events per 11,653 patients). With multivariate analyses used to adjust for relevant risk factors, the 90-day odds ratio (OR) of undergoing manipulation after simultaneous bilateral TKA was significantly lower than that for unilateral TKA (OR = 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.57 to 0.86) and staged bilateral TKA (OR = 0.71; 95% CI, 0.57 to 0.90). Similarly, at 180 days, the odds of undergoing manipulation were significantly lower after simultaneous bilateral TKA than after both unilateral TKA (OR = 0.71; 95% CI, 0.59 to 0.84) and staged bilateral TKA (OR = 0.76; 95% CI, 0.63 to 0.93). The frequency of manipulation was significantly associated with younger age, fewer comorbidities, black race, and the absence of obesity.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the ORs were small (close to 1), simultaneous bilateral TKA had a significantly decreased rate of stiffness requiring manipulation under anesthesia at 90 days and 180 days after knee replacement compared with that after staged bilateral TKA and unilateral TKA.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Life expectancy of osteoarthritic patients after primary total knee arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

Although an increased life expectancy has been previously reported in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) after undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA), the long-living Japanese population may provide a more accurate cohort for determining 10- and 15-year survival rates. The aims of the present study were to (1) determine the survival of patients after TKA, (2) identify the factors important for survival, and (3) compare the survival rate of the OA patients with that of the standardized general population.

METHODS

The 5-, 10-, and 15-year survival rates were assessed in 326 consecutive OA patients treated with TKA from January 1998 to December 2013. Eighty-six of the cases were staged bilateral TKAs. All patients were followed until December 31, 2014 or until the time of death. The survival rate of the patients was compared with that of the standardized general population using Kaplan-Meier survival curves.

RESULTS

Fifty-one of the patients died before the end of the follow-up. The cumulative 5-year patient survival was 93.5%, 10-year survival was 82.1%, and 15-year survival was 66.6%. The standardized mortality ratio was 0.916 (95% confidence interval: 0.682-1.204). A Cox proportional hazards model showed that increased age and unilateral TKA were factors related to higher patient mortality rates.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that patients undergoing TKA can expect similar life expectancy as the general population, with 66.6% of such patients surviving for at least 15-years. Additionally, patients undergoing bilateral TKAs may have a longer life expectancy than those undergoing unilateral TKA.

Simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty in hemophilia: is it recommended?

INTRODUCTION

Simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a potentially cost-saving manner of caring for patients with hemophilia who have bilateral symptomatic hemophilic knee arthropathy. Because factor VIII is used only once in bilateral TKA, it is performed in hemophilia to reduce costs. Areas covered: This article reviews the potential role of simultaneous bilateral TKA in patients with hemophilia. Expert commentary: Although two recent reports have mentioned the benefits of simultaneous bilateral TKA in patients with hemophilia, the data are still scant and preliminary. The two systematic reviews and the meta-analyses on bilateral TKA in patients without hemophilia have shown that there are more complications with bilateral TKA than with unilateral TKA. This article calls the potential risks of this technique to the attention of hemophilia specialists. The current use of simultaneous bilateral TKA in patients with hemophilia is unadvised, and raising false expectations in these patients should be avoided. Prospective studies in the specific field of TKA in patients with hemophilia are needed.

Outcome Assessment in Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review and Critical Appraisal

BACKGROUND

The Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) initiative developed a core outcome set (COS) of domains to assess effectiveness of interventions for knee osteoarthritis. These domains (pain, physical function, patient global assessment, imaging at 1 year) should be assessed in every trial to make research evidence meaningful and comparable. We systematically evaluated and critically appraised the use of measurement instruments and outcome domains in prospective studies evaluating patients with knee osteoarthritis undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and assessed their accordance with the OMERACT COS.

METHODS

Literature search was performed until August 26, 2014, in Medline and Embase. Clinical trials and prospective observational studies with ≥50 participants and a follow-up of ≥1 year were included. We collected general study characteristics, comprehensive information on measurement instruments, and corresponding domains used.

RESULTS

This systematic review identified low accordance of used outcome domains with the OMERACT COS of domains published in 1997. Only 4 of 100 included studies included all recommended core domains. Pain (85% of studies) and physical function (86%) were assessed frequently, whereas patient global assessment (21%) and joint imaging (≥1 year; 27%) were rarely assessed. There was substantial heterogeneity in the use of measurement instruments (n = 111) investigating TKA.

CONCLUSION

More efforts are required to implement the existing COS. In addition, a more consistent use of adequate measurement instruments is important to make research evidence on TKA more relevant, better comparable, and thus more useful for guideline developers and clinical decision makers.

Bilateral Simultaneous vs Staged Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Comparison of Complications and Mortality

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to compare the complications and mortality between bilateral simultaneous total knee arthroplasty (BTKA-Simultaneous) and bilateral staged TKA (BTK-Staged) while adjusting for differences in patient, surgeon, and hospital characteristics.

METHODS

An integrated health care system total joint registry was used to compare patients undergoing BTKA-Simultaneous to BTKA-Staged. For outcomes related to revision and infection, the sample included 11,118 patients, and for outcomes of death, acute myocardial infarction, stroke, and venous thromboembolism, a subsample of 7991 patients with comorbidity data was selected.

RESULTS

Overall death and complications in both groups were rare. The complication rates for BTKA-Simultaneous and BTKA-Staged were comparable: aseptic revision (1.17% vs 0.9%), septic revision/deep infection (0.8% vs 0.7%), death (0.28% vs 0.1%), and adverse events (2.49% vs 1.97%). In the adjusted models, there were no significant differences in any of the outcomes between the 2 groups.

CONCLUSION

There is a lack of evidence to support superiority of either BTKA-Simultaneous or BTKA-Staged.

Morbidity and mortality after bilateral simultaneous total knee arthroplasty in a fast-track setting

Background and purpose - The safety aspects of bilateral simultaneous total knee arthroplasty (BSTKA) are still debated. In this retrospective single-center study, we investigated early morbidity and mortality following BSTKA in a modern fast-track setting. We also identified risk factors for re-admission within 90 days and for a length of stay (LOS) of more than 5 days. Patients and methods - 284 patients were selected to receive BSTKA at our institution from 2008 through 2014 in a well-described, standardized fast-track setup (Husted 2012a, b). All re-admissions within 90 days were identified and mortality rates and time until death were recorded. Transfusion rates and numbers of transfusions were also recorded. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for re-admission within 90 days, and also for a LOS of more than 5 days. Results - 90-day mortality was 0%. 10% of the patients were re-admitted within 90 days. Median time to re-admission was 18 (3-75) days. 153 patients (54%) received postoperative blood transfusions. An ASA score of 3 was identified as an independent risk factor for re-admission within 90 days (OR = 5, 95% CI: 1.3-19) and for LOS of > 5 days (OR = 6, 95% CI: 1.6-21). Higher BMI was a weak risk factor for re-admission within 90 days. Interpretation - BSTKA in selected patients without cardiopulmonary disease in a fast-track setting appears to be safe with respect to early postoperative morbidity and mortality. Surgeons should be aware that patients with an ASA score of 3 have an increased risk of re-admission and a prolonged length of stay, while patients with higher BMI have an increased risk of re-admission following BSTKA.

The Need for a Step-up in Postoperative Medical Care is Predictable in Orthopedic Patients Undergoing Elective Surgery

BACKGROUND

The goal of elective orthopedic surgery is to return patients to their expected level of activity without an increased incidence of postoperative complications. The first step is identifying patient and/or surgical characteristics responsible for these complications.

QUESTIONS/PURPOSES

This study sought to identify predictors of a step-up in medical care after non-ambulatory elective orthopedic surgery.

METHODS

At a single specialty orthopedic hospital, we identified all in-hospital postoperative patients who were transferred to a higher level of medical care ((PACU) post-anesthesia care unit). The characteristics of both transferred and non-transferred patients were compared. A model was built which incorporated predictors of return to a higher level of care.

RESULTS

During a 1-year period, 155 of 7967 patients (1.95%) required transfer to the PACU within 5 days of surgery. Cardiac complications were the major reason for transfer (50.3%), followed by pulmonary (11.0%) and neurological complications (9.7%). Patients who returned to the PACU were older, had more Exlihauser comorbidities, and had obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). In a model adjusting for all patient characteristics: age, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) status, congestive heart failure (CHF), the Charlson comorbidity index and OSA predicted return to the PACU.

CONCLUSIONS

In an elderly population with multiple comorbidities undergoing elective common major orthopedic procedures, approximately 2% of patients required readmission to the PACU. The most common problems requiring this step-up in care were cardiac and pulmonary, which resulted in an increased length of hospital stay. Patients with OSA and multiple comorbidities undergoing total knee arthroplasty carry an increased risk for postoperative complications.

Severe Bilateral Fixed Flexion Deformity-Simultaneous or Staged Total Knee Arthroplasty?

Outcomes of 29 simultaneous (SimBTKA) and 38 staged bilateral total knee arthroplasty (StaBTKA) subjects with severe (≥16°) bilateral fixed flexion deformity (FFD) were retrospectively investigated. SimBTKA patients were significantly younger (63 ± 8 vs 68 ± 7, P > .01). At 2 years, SimBTKA subjects had significantly better residual FFD (2.5° ± 5.1° vs 5.4° ± 6.6°, P = .02) and Knee Society function score (75.7 ± 25.7 vs 69.3 ± 24.1, P = .02). However, Knee Society knee scores, Oxford Knee Scores, and Short Form-36 scores were similar. These suggest no large clinical advantage of SimBTKA over StaBTKA. We feel that severe bilateral FFD is not an absolute indication for SimBTKA.

Simultaneous Bilateral Versus Unilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Comparison of 30-Day Readmission Rates and Major Complications

We queried the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program to compare the rate of 30-day readmissions and major complications between simultaneous bilateral and unilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We identified 1771 patients who underwent simultaneous (same-day) bilateral TKA and matched them to a control group of 6790 patients who underwent unilateral TKA. The simultaneous bilateral TKA patients had longer surgery, were more commonly performed under general anesthesia, had a higher rate of postoperative transfusion, and a greater proportion of patients discharged to rehabilitation facilities. Simultaneous bilateral TKA has a low incidence of major complications and was not associated with more readmissions as compared to unilateral TKA (3.6% versus 3.5% respectively). Nonetheless, the odds of major complications was slightly higher following simultaneous bilateral TKA (OR=1.58).

Early morbidity after simultaneous and staged bilateral total knee arthroplasty

PURPOSE

The aim of this nationwide study was to investigate the early morbidity after bilateral simultaneous and staged total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in order to clarify potential benefits of a well-established fast-track regime.

METHODS

The Danish National Patient Registry was searched for all bilateral simultaneous and staged TKA procedures from 2010 to 2011. The staged procedures were defined as two separate procedures done within 0-6 months or within 7-18 months.

RESULTS

A total of 157 patients had bilateral simultaneous TKA, 346 patients had bilateral staged TKA within 0-6 months and 292 patients had bilateral staged TKA within 7-18 months. The median length of stay in hospital (LOS) was 4 days (interquartile range, IQR: 3) after bilateral simultaneous TKA versus cumulated LOS of 6 days (IQR: 3) in both of the bilateral staged groups (p < 0.001). There were no deaths after bilateral simultaneous TKA versus three deaths (0.9 and 1.0 %) in each of the bilateral staged groups within 90 days of surgery (n.s.). The total readmission rate within 30 days of surgery was lower after bilateral simultaneous TKA (7 %, CI 4.0-12.0) and bilateral staged TKA within 0-6 months (9 %, CI 6.4-12.4) compared with 14 % (CI 11.5-20.1) after bilateral staged TKA within 7-18 months.

CONCLUSIONS

The results from this nationwide study indicate that bilateral simultaneous TKA can safely be performed in a fast-track set-up.