Perioperative Complications and Length of Stay After Revision Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasties: An Analysis of the NSQIP Database

Liver Disease Increases the Risk of Postoperative Complications in Patients Undergoing Aseptic Revision Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty

Background

Due to the multiorgan effects of liver disease, surgical patients with liver disease have an increased risk of perioperative complications. With revision total hip and knee arthroplasty surgeries increasing, it is important to determine the effects of liver disease in this patient population. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of underlying liver disease on postoperative outcomes following revision total joint arthroplasty (TJA).

Methods

The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was used to identify patients undergoing aseptic revision TJA from 2006-2019 and group them based on liver disease. The presence of liver disease was assessed by calculating the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease-Sodium score. Patients with a Model for End-Stage Liver Disease-Sodium score of > 10 were classified as having underlying liver disease. In this analysis, differences in demographics, comorbidities, and postoperative complications were assessed.

Results

Of 7102 patients undergoing revision total hip arthroplasty, 11.6% of the patients had liver disease. Of 8378 patients undergoing revision total knee arthroplasty, 8.4% of the patients had liver disease. Following adjustment on multivariable regression analysis, patients with liver disease undergoing revision total hip arthroplasty or revision total knee arthroplasty had an increased risk of major complications, wound complications, septic complications, bleeding requiring transfusion, extended length of stay, and readmission compared to those without liver disease.

Conclusions

Patients with liver disease have an increased risk of complications following revision TJA. A multidisciplinary team approach should be employed for preoperative optimization and postoperative management of these vulnerable patients to improve outcomes and decrease the incidence and severity of complications.

Level of evidence

This is retrospective cohort study and is level 3 evidence.

Periprocedural clinical outcomes of revision hip arthroplasty: a multi-centric comparison of current strategies based on the NSQIP

INTRODUCTION

Recent projections suggest a substantial rise in demand for revision total hip arthroplasties, emphasizing the need for optimized perioperative care. Various revision techniques, such as isolated acetabular or femoral component revisions and total replacements, have garnered attention. Further research is needed to establish the most effective strategies for improving clinical outcomes.

METHODS

This retrospective analysis utilized data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) Participant Use File from 2016 to 2021. The study aimed to compare clinical characteristics and 30-day outcomes among patients undergoing combined acetabular and femoral (A + F) revision,  acetabulum-only (A) revision, and femoral side-only (F) revision surgeries.

RESULTS

The analysis of 18,888 patients revealed crucial differences in preoperative and postoperative outcomes among various revision strategies. Specifically, there were notable variations in patient demographics, comorbidities, and emergency procedures. Postoperative data showed distinct rates of mortality, complications, and readmissions across the groups. Notably, femoral component revisions were associated with increased risks of mortality, transfusion, and urinary tract infections, underscoring the need for careful evaluation and consideration when opting for this revision approach.

CONCLUSION

The study's significance lies in its extensive patient cohort and multifaceted evaluation of revision strategies. Although consensus is lacking on single-component revisions, targeting the acetabulum component appears relatively safer. Continued research and individualized evaluations are crucial for refining revision strategies and optimizing outcomes in THA revisions.

Early Discharge for Revision Total Knee and Hip Arthroplasty: Predictors of Success

BACKGROUND

The rate of revision total joint arthroplasties is expected to increase drastically in the near future. Given the recent pandemic, there has been a general push toward early discharge. This study aimed to assess for predictors of early postoperative discharge after revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA) and revision total hip arthroplasty (rTHA).

METHODS

There were 77 rTKA and 129 rTHA collected between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2021. Demographic data, comorbidities, a comorbidity index, the modified frailty index (mFI-5), and surgical history were collected. The Common Procedural Terminology codes for each case were assessed. Patients were grouped into 2 cohorts, early discharge (length of stay [LOS] <24 hours) and late discharge (LOS >24 hours).

RESULTS

In the rTHA cohort, age >65 years, a history of cardiac or liver disease, an mFI-5 of >1, a comorbidity index of >2.7, a surgical time >122 minutes, and the need for a transfusion were predictors of prolonged LOS. Only the presence of a surgical time of >63 minutes or an mFI-5 >1 increased patient LOS in the rTKA cohort. In both rTHA and rTKA patients, periprosthetic joint infection resulted in a late discharge for all patients, mean 4.8 and 7.1 days, respectively. Dual component revision was performed in 70.5% of rTHA. Only 27.6% of rTKA were 2-component revisions or placements of an antibiotic spacer.

CONCLUSIONS

Several patient and surgical factors preclude early discharge candidacy. For rTHA, an mFI-5 of >2/5, comorbidity index of >4, or a surgical time of >122 minutes is predictive of prolonged LOS. For rTKA, an mFI-5 of >2/5, Charlson Comorbidity Index of >5, or a surgical time of >63 minutes predicts prolonged LOS.

Prevalence of anemia and association with outcome in joint arthroplasty - is there a difference between primary and revision cases?

PURPOSE

Anemia has been shown to be a modifiable pre-operative, patient factor associated with outcome following arthroplasty. The aims of this retrospective study were to (1) ascertain the prevalence of preoperative anemia in patients undergoing primary and revision hip and knee arthroplasty at a tertiary referral center and (2) to test the association with outcome and whether it differs between primary and revision cases.

METHODS

All hip and knee primary and revision arthroplasties performed at a Canadian academic, tertiary-care, arthroplasty center between 2012 and 2017 were included in this study. The study group consisted of 5944 patients, of which 5251 were primary Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasties or Hip Resurfacings and 693 were revision arthroplasties (65% hip revisions/35% knee revisions). Anemia was classified as per WHO definition (hemoglobin < 130 g/L for men and < 120 g/L for women). All anemic patients were grouped into mild, moderate or severe anemia. Length-of-stay, perioperative transfusion-rate, 90-day readmission, overall complication rate and reoperation rates were recorded. The effect of preoperative anemia and the effect of severity of the anemia was evaluated through multivariable regression analysis controlling for relevant covariates.

RESULTS

Preoperatively, 15% (786/5251) of the primary patients and 47% (322/693) of the revision arthroplasty patients were anemic preoperatively. Anemic revision patients were 3.1 times more likely (95% CI: 1.47-6.33) to obtain blood transfusions during the hospital stay, compared to a 4.9 times higher risk in primary patients. The odds ratio to sustain any postoperative complication if anemic was 1.5 times higher (95% CI: 0.73-3.16) in revision patients and 1.7 in primary cases. In addition, the 90-day readmission rate among both groups was 1.6 times higher in anemic patients. Furthermore, anemic revision patients had a 5.3 days longer length of stay (95% CI: 2.63-7.91), compared to only 1 additional day in anemic primary patients (95% CI: 0.69-1.34).

CONCLUSION

In this study cohort, the prevalence of anemia in patients awaiting revision arthroplasty was 3 times higher (46.6%) than in primary arthroplasty patients (18.7%). Preoperative anemia was associated with similarly, inferior outcomes in both groups. To reduce postoperative complications and the "burden" associated with anemia, these findings strongly recommend optimizing the preoperative hemoglobin in all arthroplasty patients. However, revision patients are affected more frequently, and particular attention must therefore be taken to this growing group in the future.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III.

Allogeneic Blood Transfusion and Risk of Postoperative Complications in Patients with Mild and Moderate Anemia of Any Cause? A Retrospective Cohort Study in Total Revision Hip Surgery

Introduction

Patients undergoing revision total hip surgery (RTHS) have a high prevalence of mild and moderate preoperative anemia, associated with adverse outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of perioperative allogeneic blood transfusions (ABT) and postoperative complications in preoperatively mild compared to moderate anemic patients undergoing RTHS who did not receive a diagnostic anemia workup and treatment before surgery.

Methods

We included 1,765 patients between 2007 and 2019 at a university hospital. Patients were categorized according to their severity of anemia using the WHO criteria of mild, moderate, and severe anemia in the first Hb level of the case. Patients were grouped as having received no ABT, 1-2 units of ABT, or more than 2 units of ABT. Need for intraoperative ABT was assessed in accordance with institutional standards. Primary endpoint was the compound incidence of postoperative complications. Secondary outcomes included major/minor complications and length of hospital and ICU stay.

Results

Of the 1,765 patients, 31.0% were anemic of any cause before surgery. Transfusion rates were 81% in anemic patients and 41.2% in nonanemic patients. The adjusted risks for compound postoperative complication were significantly higher in patients with moderate anemia (OR 4.88, 95% CI: 1.54-13.15, p = 0.003) but not for patients with mild anemia (OR 1.93, 95% CI: 0.85-3.94, p < 0.090). Perioperative ABT was associated with significantly higher risks for complications in nonanemic patients and showed an increased risk for complications in all anemic patients. In RTHS, perioperative ABT as a treatment for moderate preoperative anemia of any cause was associated with a negative compound effect on postoperative complications, compared to anemia or ABT alone.

Discussion

ABT is associated with adverse outcomes of patients with moderate preoperative anemia before RTHS. For this reason, medical treatment of moderate preoperative anemia may be considered.

The utilization of US-based large data in arthroplasty research: Bibiliometric analysis of trends and hotspots

Background

The accessibility of digital information has expanded orthopaedic surgery with expanded role of Big Databases. The increasing interest have led to creation of large databases with increasing utilization in retrospective studies. The aim of this study is to identify Big Database research and predict future hotspots.

Methods

Big Database publications between 1982 and 2022 were identified from the Web of Science Core Collection of Clarivate Analytics. Bibliometric indicators were obtained and imported for further analysis with VOSviewer and Bibliometrix to identify previous and ongoing trends within this field.

Results

Bibliometric sourcing identified 811 total articles that was associated with major databases. Twenty-eight countries published manuscript in the field with the United States as the largest contributor. The most relevant institutions were Cleveland Clinic and Harvard University. Mont MA was the most productive and influential author. Co-occurrence visualization and thematic map identified niche and major themes within the literature.

Conclusions

Large Database research continue to show an increasing trend since 2011 with contributions globally. United States institutions and authors are the leading contributors in big database research. This study identifies previous, current, and developing trends within this field for future hotspot development.

The Association between Bleeding Disorders and Postoperative Complications Following Operative Treatment of Distal Radius Fracture

Background  While previous studies have investigated the association between bleeding disorders and outcomes with hip or knee surgeries, no studies have investigated the association between bleeding disorders and outcomes in upper extremity surgery. Questions/Purposes  The purpose of this study was to investigate if a past history of bleeding disorders is associated with which, if any postoperative complications for patients receiving distal radius fracture open reduction internal fixation. Patients and Methods  Patients undergoing operative treatment for distal radius fracture from 2007 to 2018 were identified in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Patients were stratified into two cohorts: patients with a bleeding disorder and patients without a bleeding disorder. In this analysis, 30-day postoperative complications were assessed, as well as mortality, extended length of stay, reoperation, and readmission. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Results  Of the 16,489 total patients undergoing operative treatment for distal radius fracture, 16,047 patients (97.3%) did not have a bleeding disorder, whereas 442 (2.7%) had a bleeding disorder. Following adjustment on multivariate analyses, an increased risk of postoperative transfusion requirement (odds ratio [OR] 17.437; p  = 0.001), extended length of hospital stay more than 3 days (OR 1.564; p  = 0.038), and readmission (OR 2.515; p  < 0.001) were seen in patients with a bleeding disorder compared to those without a bleeding disorder. Conclusion  History of bleeding disorders is an independent risk factor for transfusions, extended length of stay, and readmission. We recommend a multidisciplinary team approach to addressing bleeding disorders before patients receive distal radius fracture open reduction internal fixation. Level of Evidence  Level III, retrospective study.

Diabetes status and postoperative complications for patients receiving open rotator cuff repair

Background

Diabetic patients are known to have poor wound healing and worse outcomes following surgeries. The purpose of this study is to evaluate diabetes status and complications for patients receiving open rotator cuff repair.

Methods

Patients undergoing open rotator cuff repair from 2006 to 2018 were identified in a national database. Patients were stratified into 3 cohorts: no diabetes mellitus, non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), and insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Differences in demographics, comorbidities, and complications were assessed with the use of bivariate and multivariate analyses.

Results

Of 7678 total patients undergoing open rotator cuff repair, 6256 patients (81.5%) had no diabetes, 975 (12.7%) had NIDDM, and 447 (5.8%) had IDDM. Bivariate analyses revealed that IDDM patients had increased risk of mortality, extended length of stay, and readmission compared to non-diabetic patients (p < 0.05 for all). IDDM patients had higher risks of major complications and readmission relative to NIDDM patients (p < 0.05 for both). On multivariate analysis, there were no differences in any postoperative complications between the non-diabetic, NIDDM, and IDDM groups.

Discussion

Diabetes does not affect postoperative complications following open rotator cuff repairs. Physicians should be aware of this finding and counsel their patients appropriately.Level of Evidence: III.

The association between anesthesia type and postoperative outcomes in patients receiving primary total shoulder arthroplasty

PURPOSE

There has been interest to investigate optimal anesthetic techniques for primary total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA). In this study, we investigate if there are differences in postoperative complications in patients receiving (1) regional alone; (2) general alone; and (3) regional plus general anesthesia for primary TSA.

METHODS

Patients undergoing primary TSA from 2014 to 2018 were identified in a national database. Patients were stratified into 3 cohorts: general anesthesia, regional anesthesia, and general anesthesia combined with regional anesthesia. Thirty-day complications were assessed using bivariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

Of 13,386 total patients undergoing TSA, 9079 patients (67.8%) had general anesthesia, 212 (1.6%) had regional anesthesia, and 4095 (30.6%) had general anesthesia combined with regional anesthesia. There were no significant differences in postoperative complications between the general anesthesia group and the regional anesthesia group. Following adjustment, an increased risk of extended length of hospital stay was seen in the combined general and regional anesthesia group compared to those who only had general anesthesia (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

General versus regional versus general plus regional anesthesia have no difference in postoperative complications in patients receiving primary total shoulder arthroplasty. However, addition of regional anesthesia to general anesthesia is associated with increased length of stay.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.

The Effect of Steroid Use on Complications after Distal Radius Fracture Repair

Background  Distal radius fractures (DRFs) are the most common fracture of the upper extremity. Given that steroids are one of the most commonly prescribed drugs and are usually prescribed for chronic conditions, steroid use represents a key factor to consider in how to optimize perioperative outcomes. Questions/Purposes  The purpose of this study was to investigate if there are differences in perioperative outcomes for patients undergoing DRF open reduction and internal fixation based on preoperative steroid use. Patients and Methods  Adult patients who underwent operative treatment for DRF from 2007 to 2018 were identified in a national database. Patients were divided into two cohorts as follows: (1) no steroid usage and (2) preoperative steroid usage. In this analysis, various postoperative complications, as well as extended length of stay and reoperation, were assessed. Bivariate analyses and multivariable logistical regression were performed. Results  Among a total of 16,505 patients undergoing operative treatment for DRF, 16,145 patients (97.8%) did not have steroid usage and 360 (2.2%) had steroid usage. Following adjustment, an increased risk of extended length of hospital stay greater than 3 days (odds ratio [OR] = 1.646; p  = 0.012) was seen in the steroid usage group compared with those who did not use steroids within 30 days of surgery. Conclusion  Preoperative steroid use is associated with increased length of stay over 3 days after DRF open reduction and internal fixation surgery but is not associated with any of the other complications that were assessed in this study. Level of Evidence  This is a Level III, retrospective study.

Spinal Versus General Anesthesia in Contemporary Revision Total Hip Arthroplasties

BACKGROUND

Spinal anesthesia is increasingly used in complex patient populations including revision total hip arthroplasties (THAs). This study aimed to investigate the pain control, length of stay (LOS), and complications associated with spinal versus general anesthesia in a large institutional series of revision THAs.

METHODS

We retrospectively identified 4,767 revision THAs (4,533 patients) from 2001 to 2016 using our institutional total joint registry. Of these cases, 86% had general and 14% had spinal anesthesia. Demographics between groups were similar with mean age of 66 years, 52% women, and mean body mass index of 29. Complications including all-cause rerevisions and reoperations were studied. Data were analyzed using an inverse probability of treatment weighted model based on propensity score that accounted for patient and surgical factors. The mean follow-up was 7 years.

RESULTS

Patients treated with spinal anesthesia required fewer postoperative oral morphine equivalents (P < .001) and had lower numeric pain rating scale scores (P < .001). Spinal anesthesia had a decreased LOS (4.2 versus 4.8 days; P = .007), fewer cases of altered mental status (odds ratio (OR) 3.1, P = .001), fewer blood transfusions (OR 2.3, P < .001), fewer intensive care unit admissions (OR 2.3, P < .001), fewer rerevisions (OR 1.6, P = .04), and fewer reoperations (OR 1.5, P = .02).

CONCLUSION

Spinal anesthesia was associated with lower oral morphine equivalent use and reduced LOS in this large cohort of revision THAs. Furthermore, spinal anesthesia was associated with fewer cases of altered mental status, transfusion, intensive care unit admission, rerevision, and reoperation after accounting for numerous patient and operative factors.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, Retrospective Comparative Study.

A mapping review on preoperative prognostic factors and outcome measures of revision total knee arthroplasty

To map literature on prognostic factors related to outcomes of revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA), to identify extensively studied factors and to guide future research into what domains need further exploration. We performed a systematic literature search in MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science. The search string included multiple synonyms of the following keywords: "revision TKA", "outcome" and "prognostic factor". We searched for studies assessing the association between at least one prognostic factor and at least one outcome measure after rTKA surgery. Data on sample size, study design, prognostic factors, outcomes, and the direction of the association was extracted and included in an evidence map. After screening of 5,660 articles, we included 166 studies reporting prognostic factors for outcomes after rTKA, with a median sample size of 319 patients (30 to 303,867). Overall, 50% of the studies reported prospectively collected data, and 61% of the studies were performed in a single centre. In some studies, multiple associations were reported; 180 different prognostic factors were reported in these studies. The three most frequently studied prognostic factors were reason for revision (213 times), sex (125 times), and BMI (117 times). Studies focusing on functional scores and patient-reported outcome measures as prognostic factor for the outcome after surgery were limited (n = 42). The studies reported 154 different outcomes. The most commonly reported outcomes after rTKA were: re-revision (155 times), readmission (88 times), and reinfection (85 times). Only five studies included costs as outcome. Outcomes and prognostic factors that are routinely registered as part of clinical practice (e.g. BMI, sex, complications) or in (inter)national registries are studied frequently. Studies on prognostic factors, such as functional and sociodemographic status, and outcomes as healthcare costs, cognitive and mental function, and psychosocial impact are scarce, while they have been shown to be important for patients with osteoarthritis.

Accelerated Discharge After Aseptic Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty Does Not Predict Inferior 30-Day Outcomes

BACKGROUND

Perioperative advancements have made outpatient primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) a viable option for patients. This study evaluated the feasibility of expedited discharge after revision THA and compared 30-day outcomes to patients who had prolonged inpatient hospitalizations. The authors hypothesized that expedited discharge would not result in inferior 30-day outcomes.

METHODS

Aseptic revision THAs in a national database were reviewed from 2013 to 2020. THAs were stratified by hospital length of stay (LOS) more or less than 24 hours. Demographics, comorbidities, preoperative laboratory values, American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) scores, operative times, components revised, 30-day readmissions, and reoperations were compared. Multivariable analyses evaluated predictors of discharge prior to 24 hours, 30-day readmissions, and reoperations. Of 17,044 aseptic revision THAs, 211 were discharged within 24 hours.

RESULTS

Accelerated discharge patients were younger, mean age 63 years (range, 20-92) versus 66 years (range, 18-94) (P < .01) had lower body mass index, mean 28.7 (range, 18.3-46.4) versus 29.9 (range, 17.3-52.5) (P = .01), and ASA scores (ASA, 1-2; 40.4-57.8%) (P < .01). Components revised had no association with LOS (P = .39); however, operative times were shorter and mean 100 minutes (range, 35-369) versus 139 minutes (range, 24-962) (P < .01) in accelerated discharge patients. Accelerated discharge patients had lower readmission rates (P < .01) but no difference in reoperation rates (P = .06).

CONCLUSION

Discharge less than 24 hours after revision THA is a feasible option for the correct patient and further efforts to decrease LOS should be evaluated.

Impaired renal function is an independent risk factor for complications after surgery for femoral neck fracture

BACKGROUND

The metabolic abnormalities that occur secondary to chronic kidney disease (CKD) increase the risk of femoral neck fractures compared to the general population. The purpose of this study is to determine whether impaired renal function is an independent risk factor for complications after surgery for femoral neck fracture.

METHODS

The ACS-NSQIP database was reviewed for patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty, hemiarthroplasty and open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) for femoral neck fractures between 2007 and 2018. Patients were split into cohorts based on calculated estimated glomerular filtration rate. Demographic information, comorbidities, and 30-day complications were analysed with univariate and multivariate analyses using chi-square, Fischer's exact and analysis of variance testing.

RESULTS

The total number of patients for the study was 163,717. Patients with CKD stage 4 and 5 had an increased rate of any complication (39.1 and 36.7% respectively) compared with higher eGFRs (p < 0.001). Similarly, 30-day mortality was increased at 6.0% and 6.7% for both stage 4 and 5 (p < 0.001). By multivariate regression, those with CKD Stage 4 and 5 were at increased risk for any complication compared to patients with a normal preoperative eGFR of 90-120 (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that patients with CKD Stage 4 and 5 are at increased risks of all complications, including death, renal, pulmonary and thromboembolic disease. Therefore, these patients should be cared for from a multidisciplinary approach with close attention to postoperative medications and fall prevention to help mitigate the risk of complications in the immediate postoperative period.

[The costs of preoperative anemia in hip joint revision surgery]

BACKGROUND

Anemia is highly prevalent in patients before hip joint revision surgery (HJRS) and is associated with an increased complication rate. This paper is the first to investigate costs, real diagnosis-related group (DRG) revenues and case coverage of preoperative anemia in elective HJRS.

METHODS

Medical data, transfusions, costs, and revenues of all patients undergoing HJRS at two campuses of the Charité -Universitätsmedizin Berlin between 2010 and 2017 were used for subgroup analyses and linear regressions.

RESULTS

Of 1187 patients included 354 (29.8%) showed preoperative anemia. A total of 565 (47.6%) patients were transfused with a clear predominance of anemic patients (72.6% vs. 37.0%, p < 0.001). Costs (12,318€ [9027;20,044€] vs. 8948€ [7501;11,339€], p < 0.001) and revenues (11,788€ [8992;16,298€] vs. 9611€ [8332;10,719€], p < 0.001) were higher for preoperatively anemic patients and the coverage was deficient (-1170€ [-4467;1238€] vs. 591€ [-1441;2103€], p < 0.001). In anemic patients, case contribution margins decreased with increasing transfusion rates (p ≤ 0.001). Comorbidities had no significant economic impact.

CONCLUSION

Preoperative anemia and perioperative transfusions in HJRS are associated with increased treatment costs and a financial undercoverage for healthcare providers and health insurance companies. Concepts for the treatment of preoperative anemia (e.g. patient blood management) could reduce treatment costs in the medium term.

Machine-learning Models Predict 30-Day Mortality, Cardiovascular Complications, and Respiratory Complications After Aseptic Revision Total Joint Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

Aseptic revision THA and TKA are associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes compared with primary THA and TKA. Understanding the risk profiles for patients undergoing aseptic revision THA or TKA may provide an opportunity to decrease the risk of postsurgical complications. There are risk stratification tools for postoperative complications after aseptic revision TKA or THA; however, current tools only include nonmodifiable risk factors, such as medical comorbidities, and do not include modifiable risk factors.

QUESTIONS/PURPOSES

(1) Can machine learning predict 30-day mortality and complications for patients undergoing aseptic revision THA or TKA using a cohort from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database? (2) Which patient variables are the most relevant in predicting complications?

METHODS

This was a temporally validated, retrospective study analyzing the 2014 to 2019 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database, as this database captures a large cohort of aseptic revision THA and TKA patients across a broad range of clinical settings and includes preoperative laboratory values. The training data set was 2014 to 2018, and 2019 was the validation data set. Given that predictive models learn expected prevalence of outcomes, this split allows assessment of model performance in contemporary patients. Between 2014 and 2019, a total of 24,682 patients underwent aseptic revision TKA and 17,871 patients underwent aseptic revision THA. Of those, patients with CPT codes corresponding to aseptic revision TKA or THA were considered as potentially eligible. Based on excluding procedures involving unclean wounds, 78% (19,345 of 24,682) of aseptic revision TKA procedures and 82% (14,711 of 17,871) of aseptic revision THA procedures were eligible. Ten percent of patients in each of the training and validation cohorts had missing predictor variables. Most of these missing data were preoperative sodium or hematocrit (8% in both the training and validation cohorts). No patients had missing outcome data. No patients were excluded due to missing data. The mean patient was age 66 ± 12 years, the mean BMI was 32 ± 7 kg/m 2 , and the mean American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Physical Score was 3 (56%). XGBoost was then used to create a scoring tool for 30-day adverse outcomes. XGBoost was chosen because it can handle missing data, it is nonlinear, it can assess nuanced relationships between variables, it incorporates techniques to reduce model complexity, and it has a demonstrated record of producing highly accurate machine-learning models. Performance metrics included discrimination and calibration. Discrimination was assessed by c-statistics, which describe the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. This quantifies how well a predictive model discriminates between patients who have the outcome of interest versus those who do not. Relevant ranges for c-statistics include good (0.70 to 0.79), excellent (0.80 to 0.89), and outstanding (> 0.90). We estimated 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for c-statistics by 500-sample bootstrapping. Calibration curves quantify reliability of model predictions. Reliable models produce prediction probabilities for outcomes that are similar to observed probabilities of those outcomes, so a well-calibrated model should demonstrate a calibration curve that does not deviate substantially from a line of slope 1 and intercept 0. Calibration curves were generated on the 2019 validation data. Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) visualizations were used to investigate feature importance to gain insight into how models made predictions. The models were built into an online calculator for ongoing testing and validation. The risk calculator, which is freely available ( http://nb-group.org/rev2/ ), allows a user to input patient data to calculate postoperative risk of 30-day mortality, cardiac, and respiratory complications after aseptic revision TKA or THA. A post hoc analysis was performed to assess whether using data from 2020 would improve calibration on 2019 data.

RESULTS

The model accurately predicted mortality, cardiac complications, and respiratory complications after aseptic revision THA or TKA, with c-statistics of 0.88 (95% CI 0.83 to 0.93), 0.80 (95% CI 0.75 to 0.84), and 0.78 (95% CI 0.74 to 0.82), respectively, on internal validation and 0.87 (95% CI 0.77 to 0.96), 0.70 (95% CI 0.61 to 0.78), and 0.82 (95% CI 0.75 to 0.88), respectively, on temporal validation. Calibration curves demonstrated slight over-confidence in predictions (most predicted probabilities were higher than observed probabilities). Post hoc analysis of 2020 data did not yield improved calibration on the 2019 validation set. Important risk factors for all models included increased age and higher ASA, BMI, hematocrit level, and sodium level. Hematocrit and ASA were in the top three most important features for all models. The factor with the strongest association for mortality and cardiac complication models was age, and for the respiratory model, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Risk related to sodium followed a U-shaped curve. Preoperative hyponatremia and hypernatremia predicted an increased risk of mortality and respiratory complications, with a nadir of 138 mmol/L; hyponatremia was more strongly associated with mortality than hypernatremia. A hematocrit level less than 36% predicted an increased risk of all three adverse outcomes. A BMI less than 24 kg/m 2 -and especially less than 20 kg/m 2 -predicted an increased risk of all three adverse outcomes, with little to no effect for higher BMI.

CONCLUSION

This temporally validated model predicted 30-day mortality, cardiac complications, and respiratory complications after aseptic revision THA or TKA with c-statistics ranging from 0.78 to 0.88. This freely available risk calculator can be used preoperatively by surgeons to educate patients on their individual postoperative risk of these specific adverse outcomes. Unanswered questions that remain include whether altering the studied preoperative patient variables, such as sodium or hematocrit, would affect postoperative risk of adverse outcomes; however, a prospective cohort study is needed to answer this question.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, therapeutic study.

Preoperative Hypoalbuminemia Is Associated With Early Morbidity and Mortality After Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty

Hypoalbuminemia is associated with early morbidity and mortality in revision total knee arthroplasty. We evaluated the effect of preoperative hypoalbuminemia on 30-day morbidity and mortality in revision total hip arthroplasty (THA). The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database was queried from 2015 to 2018 to identify patients who underwent revision THA. Patients were stratified based on the presence or absence of preoperative hypoalbuminemia and their odds of a major complication or death within 30 days of revision THA with multivariate logistic regression. After Bonferroni correction for these 2 primary outcomes, statistical significance was defined as P<.025. A total of 2492 revision THAs with complete data were identified, of which 486 (20%) had preoperative hypoalbuminemia. Preoperative hypoalbuminemia increased the absolute risk of a major complication by 15.3% compared with patients with revision THA without hypoalbuminemia (30% vs 14.7%, P<.001). Patients with preoperative hypoalbuminemia also had nearly a 7-fold higher incidence of death (3.3%) compared with those with revision THA without preoperative hypoalbuminemia (0.5%, P<.001). After logistic regression, the odds of having a major complication after revision THA with preoperative hypoalbuminemia within 30 days were increased by 80% (odds ratio, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.4-2.3; P<.001), and the odds of death within 30 days were increased by 210% (odds ratio, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.2-7.8; P=.020). Hypoalbuminemia is associated with early morbidity and mortality after revision THA. [Orthopedics. 2022;45(5):281-286.].

Evaluating the Association of Anesthesia Type With Postoperative Complications in Patients Undergoing Ankle Fracture Repair

General and neuraxial anesthesia are both successful anesthesia techniques used in many orthopedic procedures. The purpose of this study was to compare the complications and length of hospital stay between patients who underwent general anesthesia versus neuraxial anesthesia during the repair of ankle fractures. Patients undergoing open reduction and internal fixation for ankle fracture from 2014 to 2018 were identified in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Patients were stratified into 2 cohorts: general anesthesia and neuraxial anesthesia. In this analysis, demographics data, comorbidities, and postoperative complications were collected and compared between the two cohorts. Bivariate analyses and multivariable logistical regression were performed. Of 3585 patients who underwent operative treatment for ankle fracture, 3315 patients (92.5%) had general anesthesia and 270 (7.5%) had neuraxial anesthesia. On bivariate analyses, patients who had neuraxial anesthesia were more likely to develop pulmonary complications (p = .173) or extended length of stay more than 5 days (p = .342) compared to the general anesthesia group. Following adjustment on multivariate analyses, the neuraxial anesthesia cohort no longer had increased likelihood of pulmonary complications or extended length of stay compared to the general anesthesia group. Healthy ankle fracture patients could also benefit from neuraxial anesthetic methods, and they should be considered for this anesthetic type regardless of their lack of comorbidities.

Relationship between Preoperative Hemoglobin and Hospital Stays in Patients Receiving Prime Total Knee Arthroplasty

Previous evidence has shown that preoperative hemoglobin is related to poor prognosis after primary total knee arthroplasty. Reviewing cohort research was conducted at the third-level academic medical center in Singapore and involved 2,676 patients. Population statistics, complications, preoperative hemoglobin (Hb) levels, length of hospital stay (LOS), and readmission information of thirty days were obtained. Anemia was defined based on the World Health Organization (WHO). LOS extension was with the definition as no less than six days with >1/75 LOS corresponding to the data. According to the study requirements, we finally collected 2273 patients. We plotted the relationship between hemoglobin levels and length of stay. We analyzed 2273 patients, with 140 cases of Hb ≤ 11.0 g/dL, 831 cases of Hb 11.0–12.9 g/dL, and the other 1320 cases of Hb ≥ 13.0 g/dL. The mean age of patients with prolonged LOS (68.4 ± 8.2 years) was higher than that of patients with familiar LOS (65.9 ± 8.0 years). In addition, patients with extended LOS had higher ASA-PS values, a history of cerebrovascular accidents (CVA), diabetes mellitus (DM), and ischemic heart disease (IHD) (P < 0.001), repeated surgery within 30 days, HB, and operative time (min) (P < 0.01). Variables independently related to increased risk of extended LOS included general anesthesia (GA) (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.4, P=0.005, P=0.005), CVA (aOR 3.0, P < 0.001), DM (aOR 1.4, P=0.032), and HB < 11 g/dL. Variables increased LOS included HB ≥ 13 g/dL (aOR 0.4, P < 0.001) and Hb 11.0–12.9 g/dL (aOR 0.5, P=0.001). Hb was 14 g/dL, and LOS decreased by at least 0.24 days for each 1 g increase in preoperative Hb before the inflection point (95%CI 0.12 to 0.36, P=0.0001). Anemia is familiar in patients receiving elective total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in Singapore. Thus, this study describes that the preoperative hemoglobin was associated with length of stay. We found that on the left where HB was 14, length of stay decreased with increased hemoglobin values. We recommend preoperative correction of anemia to determine the diagnosis.

Preoperative Activity Level an Indicator of Postoperative Functional Outcomes with a Contemporary Revision Total Knee System

As the population requiring revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA) grows, varying preoperative conditions may need to be considered when attempting to predict postoperative outcomes. Considering preoperative activity levels may help manage the expectations of patients. The purpose of this study was to analyze the outcomes of low- and high-activity subgroups of patients receiving a contemporary rTKA. One hundred and eighty-one rTKA patients enrolled in a prospective multicenter study were evaluated over a minimum follow-up of 2 years postoperatively. Patients were divided into two groups based on the preoperative activity level using the Lower Extremity Activity Scale. Patients scoring between 1 and 7 were classified as "Low Activity" (LA; N = 105) and patients scoring 8 to 18 were classified as "High Activity" (HA; N = 76). Clinical outcomes were evaluated, with an additional quality-of-life analysis completed utilizing SF-6D (6-dimension short form) scores obtained through a method described by Brazier et al and analyzed for effect size. There were no significant differences in age or body mass index between the groups. Postoperative improvement in both groups were similar in the Knee Society score (KSS), but the LA group showed larger increases in the KSS functional assessment at 6 months (16.2) and 2 years (34.8). There was a statistically significant effect (0.96, p = 0.0006) seen in the LA group at 1 year, in conjunction with a higher SF-6D outcome. The current study population displayed significant improvement in functional patient outcomes following rTKA regardless of preoperative activity level and function. Patients with lower preoperative activity levels demonstrated greater cumulative functional and quality-of-life improvements. This suggests that a lower preoperative activity level may be related to a poorly functioning knee and that rTKA has the potential to improve overall activity levels and function. Low preoperative function should not disqualify patients for rTKA.

Evaluating the Association between Anesthesia Type and Postoperative Complications for Patients Receiving Total Ankle Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) is performed for ankle arthritis and there has been interest investigating which anesthetic method is the best choice in order to optimize perioperative outcomes. In this study, we compared postoperative complications after TAA for patients receiving either 1) general anesthesia alone or 2) general anesthesia plus regional anesthesia.

METHODS

Patients undergoing primary TAA from 2007 to 2018 were identified in a national database. Patients were stratified into 2 cohorts: general anesthesia and general anesthesia combined with regional anesthesia. In this analysis, 30-day wound, cardiac, pulmonary, renal, thromboembolic, and sepsis complications, as well mortality, postoperative transfusion, urinary tract infection, extended length of stay, and reoperation were assessed. Bivariate analyses and multivariable logistical regression were performed.

RESULTS

Of 1,084 total patients undergoing TAA, 878 patients (81.0%) had general anesthesia and 206 (19.0%) had general anesthesia combined with regional anesthesia. Following adjustment, there were no increased risk of postoperative complications in the combined general and regional anesthesia group compared to those who only underwent general anesthesia.

CONCLUSION

Compared to general anesthesia alone, the addition of regional anesthesia to general anesthesia for TAA is not associated with increased risk of complications in the perioperative period. Level of Evidence: III.

Preoperative opioid use is a risk factor for complication following revision total hip arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

The demand for revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) procedures continues to increase. A growing body of evidence in primary THA suggests that preoperative opioid use confers increased risk for complication. However, it is unknown whether the same is true for patients undergoing revision procedures. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether or not there was a relationship between preoperative opioid use and surgical complications, medical complications, and healthcare utilisation following revision THA.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study using the Truven Marketscan database. Patients undergoing revision THA were identified. Preoperative opioid prescriptions were queried for 1 year preoperatively and were used to divide patients into cohorts based on temporality and quantity of opioid use. This included an opioid naïve group as well as an "opioid holiday" group (6 months opioid naïve period after chronic use). Demographic and complication data were collected and both univariate and multivariate analysis was then performed.

RESULTS

62.5% of patients had received an opioid prescription in the year preceding surgery. Patients with continuous preoperative opioid use had higher odds of the following: infection (superficial or deep surgical site infection; OR 1.29; 95% CI, 1.03-1.62, p = 0.029), wound complication (OR 1.36; 95% CI, 1.02-1.82, p = 0.037), sepsis (OR 1.90; 95% CI 1.08-3.34, p = 0.026), and revision surgery (OR 1.54, 95% CI, 1.28-1.85, p < 0.001). This group also had higher care utilisation including extended length of stay, non-home discharge, 90-day readmission, and emergency room visits (p < 0.001). An opioid holiday mitigated some of this increased risk as this cohort has baseline (i.e. same as opioid naïve) risk (p > 0.05 for all comparison).

CONCLUSIONS

Opioid use prior to revision THA is common and is associated with increased risk of postoperative complication. Given that risk was reduced by a preoperative opioid holiday, this represents a modifiable risk factor which should be discussed and addressed preoperatively to optimise outcomes.

Association of Bleeding Disorders and Risk of Complications Following Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of the Ankle

BACKGROUND

Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of the ankle is a common procedure performed to correct ankle fractures in many different patient populations. Diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, and osteoporosis have been identified as risk factors for postoperative complications following surgery for ankle fractures. To date, there have not been any studies evaluating postoperative outcomes in patients with bleeding disorders undergoing operative treatment for ankle fractures. The aim of this study was to determine the postoperative complication rate following ORIF of the ankle in patients with a bleeding disorder vs those without a bleeding disorder.

METHODS

From 2006 to 2018, patients undergoing operative treatment for ankle fracture were identified in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Two patient cohorts were defined: patients with a bleeding disorder and patients without a bleeding disorder. Patients who underwent either inpatient or outpatient ORIF of the ankle were included in this study. In this analysis, demographics, medical comorbidities, and postoperative complications variables were assessed between the 2 cohorts. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Of 10 306 patients undergoing operative treatment for ankle fracture, 9909 patients (96.1%) had no bleeding disorder whereas 397 patients (3.9%) had a bleeding disorder. Following adjustment on multivariate analysis, compared to patients who did not have a bleeding disorder, those with a bleeding disorder had an increased risk of any postoperative complications (odds ratio [OR] 1.48, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-2.08, P = .024), requirement for postoperative blood transfusion (OR 2.86, 95% CI 1.53-5.36, P = .001), and extended length of hospital stay greater than 5 days (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.10-1.93, P = .010).

CONCLUSION

Patients with bleeding disorders are associated with increased risk of postoperative complications following ORIF for ankle fractures. Determining patient risk factors and creating optimal preoperative and perioperative management plans in patients with bleeding disorders undergoing ORIF can be beneficial in reducing postoperative complications, improving patient outcomes, and reducing overall morbidity.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, retrospective cohort study.

Association of Anesthesia Type with Postoperative Outcome and Complications in Patients Undergoing Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty

Revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is an increasingly common procedure and is effective in treating knee osteoarthritis, but it has higher complication rates than primary TKA. Anesthetic choice poses perioperative risk that has been extensively studied in primary TKA, showing favorable results for regional anesthesia compared with general anesthesia. The impact of anesthetic choice in revision TKAs is not well studied. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Patients who underwent revision TKAs between 2014 and 2017 were divided into three anesthesia cohorts: (1) general anesthesia, (2) regional anesthesia, and (3) combined general-regional anesthesia. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to analyze patient characteristics and 30-day postoperative outcomes. Bonferroni correction was applied for post hoc analysis. In total, 8,820 patients were identified. Of whom, 3,192 patients underwent general anesthesia, 3,474 patients underwent regional anesthesia, and 2,154 patients underwent combined anesthesia. After multivariate analyses, regional anesthesia was associated with decreased odds for any complication (p = 0.008), perioperative blood transfusion (p < 0.001), and extended length of stay (p < 0.001) compared with general anesthesia. In addition, regional anesthesia was associated with decreased odds for perioperative blood transfusion (p < 0.001) and extended length of stay (p = 0.006) compared with combined anesthesia. However, following multivariate analysis, regional anesthesia was not associated with decreased odds of wound, pulmonary, renal, urinary tract, thromboembolic, and cardiac complications, and was not associated with return to operating room, extended length of stay, minor and major complications, and mortality. Retrospective analysis of a large surgical database suggests that patients receiving general anesthesia have increased likelihood for developing adverse postoperative outcomes relative to patients receiving regional anesthesia. Prospective and controlled trials should be conducted to verify these findings.

Neuraxial anaesthesia is associated with improved outcomes and reduced postoperative complications in patients undergoing aseptic revision total hip arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

As the incidence of primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) continues to increase, revision THA (rTHA) is becoming an increasingly common procedure. rTHA is widely regarded as a more challenging procedure, with higher complication rates and increased medical, social and economic burdens when compared to its primary counterpart. Given the complexity of rTHA and the projected increase in incidence of these procedures, patient optimisation is becoming of interest to improve outcomes. Anaesthetic choice has been extensively studied in primary THA as a modifiable risk factor for postoperative outcomes, showing favourable results for neuraxial anaesthesia compared to general anaesthesia. The impact of anaesthetic choice in rTHA has not been studied previously.

METHODS

A retrospective study was performed using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Patients who underwent rTHA between 2014 and 2017 were divided into 3 anaesthesia cohorts: general anaesthesia, neuraxial anaesthesia, and combined general-regional (neuraxial and/or peripheral nerve block) anaesthesia. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to analyse patient characteristics and 30-day postoperative outcomes. Bonferroni correction was applied for post-hoc analysis.

RESULTS

In total, 5759 patients were identified. Of these, 3551 (61.7%) patients underwent general anaesthesia, 1513 (26.3%) patients underwent neuraxial anaesthesia, and 695 (12.1%) patients underwent combined general-regional anaesthesia. On multivariate analysis, neuraxial anaesthesia was associated with decreased odds for any-one complication (OR 0.635; p < 0.001), perioperative blood transfusion (OR 0.641; p < 0.001), and extended length of stay (OR 0.005; p = 0.005) compared to general anaesthesia.

CONCLUSIONS

Relative to those receiving general anaesthesia, patients undergoing neuraxial anaesthesia are at decreased risk for postoperative complications, perioperative blood transfusions, and extended length of stay. Prospective controlled trials should be conducted to verify these findings.

30-Day Outcomes for Total Ankle Arthroplasty in Patients With Anemia

BACKGROUND

While anemia has been associated with poor surgical outcomes in total knee arthroplasty and total hip arthroplasty, the effects of anemia on total ankle arthroplasty remain unknown. This study examines how preoperative anemia affects postoperative outcomes in total ankle arthroplasty.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was performed using the American College of Surgeons National Surgery Quality Improvement Project database from 2011 to 2018 for total ankle arthroplasty procedures. Hematocrit (HCT) levels were used to determine preoperative anemia.

RESULTS

Of the 1028 patients included in this study, 114 patients were found to be anemic. Univariate analysis demonstrated anemia was significantly associated with an increased average hospital length of stay (2.2 vs 1.8 days, P < .008), increased rate of 30-day readmission (3.5% vs 1.1%, P = .036), increased 30-day reoperation (2.6% vs 0.4%, P = .007), extended length of stay (64% vs 49.9%, P = .004), wound complication (1.75% vs 0.11%, P = .002), and surgical site infection (2.6% vs 0.6%, P = .017). Multivariate logistic regression analysis found anemia to be significantly associated with extended hospital length of stay (odds ratio [OR], 1.62; 95% CI, 1.07-2.45; P = .023) and increased reoperation rates (OR, 5.47; 95% CI, 1.15-26.00; P = .033). Anemia was not found to be a predictor of increased readmission rates (OR, 3.13; 95% CI, 0.93-10.56; P = .066) or postoperative complications (OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 0.35-4.56; P = .71).

CONCLUSION

This study found increasing severity of anemia to be associated with extended hospital length of stay and increased reoperation rates. Providers and patients should be aware of the increased risks of total ankle arthroplasty with preoperative anemia.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, retrospective comparative study.

Increased severity of anemia is associated with postoperative complications following primary total shoulder arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

Anemia has been demonstrated as a modifiable risk factor for postoperative complications following various types of primary and revision total joint arthroplasties. However, at present, we are not aware of any studies assessing postoperative complications following total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) in patients with varying severity of anemia. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of preoperative anemia severity on 30-day postoperative complications following primary TSA.

METHODS

Adult patients undergoing primary TSA from 2012 to 2018 were identified in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Patients undergoing TSA were substratified into 3 cohorts: nonanemia (hematocrit >36% for women, >39% for men), mild anemia (hematocrit 33%-36% for women, 33%-39% for men), and moderate to severe anemia (hematocrit <33% for both women and men), based on World Health Organization definitions of anemia. In this analysis, 30-day wound, cardiac, pulmonary, renal, and thromboembolic complications, as well as sepsis, mortality, postoperative transfusion, extended length of stay, and reoperation were assessed. Bivariate analyses, including χ² and analysis of variance, and multivariable logistical regression were performed.

RESULTS

Of 13,921 total patients undergoing TSA, 11,330 patients (81.4%) did not have anemia, 1934 (13.9%) had mild anemia, and 657 (4.7%) had moderate to severe anemia. Following adjustment, patients with mild anemia were more likely to have a postoperative blood transfusion (odds ratio [OR] 4.7, P < .001), extended length of stay (OR 1.7, P = .002), and reoperation (OR 1.5, P = .028). Patients with moderate to severe anemia were at increased risk of cardiac complications (OR 3.0, P = .012), pulmonary complications (OR 2.2, P = .015), postoperative blood transfusion (OR 23.8, P < .001), extended length of stay (OR 6.6, P < .001), reoperation (OR 2.2, P = .003), and death (OR 3.8, P = .034).

CONCLUSION

From mild anemia to moderate to severe anemia, there was a stepwise and approximately 2-fold increase in the odds of postoperative complications for patients undergoing primary TSA. Patients with moderate to severe anemia should be medically optimized before they undergo TSA.

Conversion total knee arthroplasty: A case complexity between primary and revision total knee arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

Conversion total knee arthroplasty (TKA) may represent a more complex procedure compared with primary TKA. The purpose of this study was to compare 30-day complications between conversion TKA and primary, non-conversion TKA as well as between conversion TKA and revision TKA on a national scale using a multi-center surgical registry.

METHODS

Adult patients undergoing conversion TKA from 2006 to 2018 were identified in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database and were compared with patients who underwent primary TKA and aseptic revision TKA. In this analysis, 30-day complications were assessed. Bivariate analyses, including chi-squared and analysis of variance, and multivariate logistic regressions were performed.

RESULTS

Of 299,065 total patients undergoing knee arthroplasty, 1,310 (0.4%) underwent conversion TKA, 275,470 (92.1%) underwent primary TKA, and 22,285 (7.5%) underwent revision TKA. Following adjustment, patients who underwent conversion TKA were more likely to have increased risks of any complications (P < 0.001), mortality (P = 0.021), wound complications (P < 0.001), cardiac issues (P = 0.018), bleeding requiring transfusion (P < 0.001), and reoperation (P = 0.002) relative to primary TKA patients. Compared with patients who underwent revision TKA, conversion TKA patients were less likely to have septic complications (P = 0.009).

CONCLUSION

Conversion TKA is associated with significantly higher rates of complications compared with primary, non-conversion TKA, but less risk of sepsis compared with revision TKA. Because current reimbursement classifications do not account for the case complexity of a conversion TKA, new classifications should be implemented with reimbursements for conversion TKA approximating reimbursements for revision TKA.

Preoperative Anemia in Primary Arthroplasty Patients-Prevalence, Influence on Outcome, and the Effect of Treatment

BACKGROUND

This study aims to: 1) Determine the prevalence of preoperative anemia in arthroplasty; 2) Assess whether preoperative anemia is associated with inferior outcomes; and 3) Ascertain whether optimization in a dedicated blood management program (BMP) is associated with improved outcomes.

METHODS

All primary arthroplasties performed at an academic, tertiary-care, arthroplasty center between 2012 and 2017 were reviewed. Hemoglobin level obtained in the preoperative assessment clinic was recorded. Patients with anemia were then considered for further review in BMP. Outcomes included improvement in hemoglobin level post-BMP; length of stay; perioperative transfusion; 90-day readmission, complication, and reoperation rates. The effect of preoperative anemia and the effect of treatment at the BMP on outcomes were evaluated through multivariable regression analysis controlling for relevant covariates.

RESULTS

17% of patients (932/5384) were found to have anemia; 115/357 patients who attended the BMP were no longer anemic. Thus, at time of operation, 15% of patients (817/5384) had anemia. Anemic patients were 4.09 times more likely (95% CI: 2.64-6.35) to require a transfusion; 1.42 times more likely (95% CI: 0.99-2.03) to sustain complications and had 19% longer (95% CI: 13%-26%) length of stay. Those who attended the BMP were less likely to receive a transfusion (OR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.16-0.66), suffer from postoperative complications (OR = 0.30, 95% CI: 0.14-0.63), or require readmission compared with anemic patients not seen in the BMP (OR = 0.25, 95% CI: 0.09-0.71).

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of anemia in this arthroplasty cohort was 15%. Preoperative, timely, optimization of anemia should be strongly considered as it is likely to reduce "anemia-associated burden" after arthroplasty.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is an independent risk factor for postoperative complications following operative treatment of distal radius fracture

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and postoperative complications for patients receiving distal radius fracture (DRF) open reduction internal fixation (ORIF).

METHODS

From 2007 to 2018, patients undergoing operative treatment for distal radius fracture were identified in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Patients were separated into 2 cohorts: non-COPD and COPD patients. In this analysis, thirty-day postoperative complications evaluated included wound, cardiac, pulmonary, renal, thromboembolic, sepsis, mortality, urinary tract infections, postoperative transfusion, extended length of stay, reoperation, and readmission. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Of 12,424 total patients who underwent operative treatment for distal radius fracture, 11,957 patients (96.2%) did not have a diagnosis of COPD and 467 (3.8%) had COPD. Following adjustment, compared to patients who did not have COPD, those with COPD had an increased risk of any postoperative complications (OR 2.160; p = 0.010), postoperative transfusion requirement (OR 17.437; p = 0.001), extended length of hospital stay greater than 3 days (OR 1.564; p = 0.038), and readmission (OR 2.515; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

COPD is an independent risk factor for any postoperative complication including transfusions, extended length of stay, and readmission for patients receiving DRF ORIF. Pulmonary evaluation would be a critical step in preoperative management and counseling of these patients before DRF ORIF.

Intraoperative blood loss as indicated by haemoglobin trend is a predictor for the development of postoperative spinal implant infection-a matched-pair analysis

Background

With a reported rate of 0.7–20%, postoperative spinal implant infection (PSII) is one of the most common complications after spine surgery. While in arthroplasty both haematoma formation and perioperative blood loss have been identified as risk factors for developing periprosthetic joint infections and preoperative anaemia has been associated with increased complication rates, literature on the aetiology of PSII remains limited.

Methods

We performed a matched-pair analysis of perioperative haemoglobin (Hb) and haematocrit (Hct) levels in aseptic and septic spine revision surgeries. 317 patients were included, 94 of which were classified as septic according to previously defined criteria. Patients were matched according to age, body mass index, diabetes, American Society of Anesthesiologists score and smoking habits. Descriptive summaries for septic and aseptic groups were analysed using Pearson chi-squared for categorical or Student t test for continuous variables.

Results

Fifty patients were matched and did not differ significantly in their reason for revision, mean length of hospital stay, blood transfusion, operating time, or number of levels operated on. While there was no significant difference in preoperative Hb or Hct levels, the mean difference between pre- and postoperative Hb was higher in the septic group (3.45 ± 1.25 vs. 2.82 ± 1.48 g/dL, p = 0.034).

Conclusions

We therefore show that the intraoperative Hb-trend is a predictor for the development of PSII independent of the amount of blood transfusions, operation time, number of spinal levels operated on and hospital length of stay, which is why strategies to reduce intraoperative blood loss in spine surgery need to be further studied.

Comparison of Two-level Cervical Disc Replacement Versus Two-level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion in the Outpatient Setting

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of two-level cervical disc replacement (CDR) in the outpatient setting.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Despite growing interest in CDR, limited data exist evaluating the safety of two-level CDR in the outpatient setting.

METHODS

The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database was queried for all two-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) and CDR procedures between 2015 and 2018. Demographics, comorbidities, and 30-day postoperative complication rates of outpatient two-level CDR were compared to those of inpatient two-level CDR and outpatient two-level ACDF. Radiographic data are not available in the NSQIP.

RESULTS

A total of 403 outpatient CDRs were compared to 408 inpatient CDRs and 4134 outpatient ACDFs. Outpatient CDR patients were older and more likely to have pulmonary comorbidities compared to inpatient CDR (P < 0.03). Outpatient CDR patients were less likely to have an American Society of Anesthesiologists class ≥2 and have hypertension compared to outpatient ACDF patients (P < 0.0001). Outpatient CDR had a lower 30-day readmission rate (0.5% vs. 2.5%, P = 0.02) and lower 30-day reoperation rate (0% vs. 1%, P = 0.047) compared to inpatient CDR. Outpatient CDR had a lower readmission rate (0.5% vs. 2.1%, P = 0.03) compared to outpatient ACDF, but there was no difference in reoperation rates between the two procedures (0% vs. 0.8%, P = 0.07). Outpatient CDR had an overall complication rate of 0.2%, inpatient CDR had a complication rate of 0.9%, and outpatient ACDF had a complication rate of 1.3%. These differences were not significant.

CONCLUSION

To our knowledge, this is the largest multicenter study examining the safety of two-level outpatient CDR procedures. Outpatient two-level CDR was associated with similarly safe outcomes when compared to inpatient two-level CDR and outpatient two-level ACDF. This suggests that two-level CDR can be performed safely in the outpatient setting.Level of Evidence: 3.

Preoperative Anemia Independently Predicts Significantly Increased Odds of Short-Term Complications Following Aseptic Revision Hip and Knee Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

Preoperative anemia is an important risk factor for developing complications following revision hip (rTHA) and knee (rTKA) arthroplasty. We aim to determine the effect of anemia severity on 30-day postoperative complications following revision hip and knee arthroplasty.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the American College of Surgeons National Quality Improvement Program Database. All patients who underwent revision joint arthroplasty (rTJA) between 2006 to 2017 were identified and grouped based upon the hematocrit (Hct) level. Anemia was defined as Hct <36% for women and <39% for men, and further stratified into mild anemia (Hct 33% to 36% for women, Hct 33% to 39% for men), and moderate to severe anemia (Hct <33% for both men and women). Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to evaluate the incidence of multiple adverse events within 30 days after TJA.

RESULTS

A total of 8932 patients undergoing rTHA and 13,313 patients undergoing rTKA were included for analysis. On multivariate adjustment, patients undergoing rTHA with moderate to severe anemia had an increased odds of 5.437 (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 4.604 to 6.421; P < .001) of developing any postoperative complication. On multivariate adjustment, patients undergoing rTKA with moderate to severe anemia had increased odds of 6.731 (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 5.540 to 8.179; P < .001) of developing any postoperative complication.

CONCLUSION

The increasing severity of anemia was associated with an increasing risk of developing any postoperative complication and death following revision hip and knee arthroplasty. There is a significant trend between diminishing preoperative hematocrit levels and increasing odds of postoperative complication.

Increasing severity of anemia is associated with poorer 30-day outcomes for total shoulder arthroplasty

Background

Total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) has increased in utilization over the past several decades. Anemia is a common preoperative condition among patients undergoing TSA and has been associated with poorer outcomes in other surgical procedures. To the best of our knowledge, no study has analyzed the association between anemia severity and TSA outcomes. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine the effects that increasing severity of anemia may have on the postoperative outcomes in patients receiving primary TSA.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was performed using the American College of Surgeons National Surgery Quality Improvement Project database from the years 2015 to 2018. Current Procedure Terminology code 23472 was used to identify all primary TSA procedures recorded during this time frame. Patients with greater than 38% preoperative hematocrit (HCT) were classified as having normal HCT levels. Patients with HCT values between 33% and 38% were classified as having mild anemia. All patients with less than 33% HCT were classified as having moderate/severe anemia. Patient demographic information, preoperative risk factors, and postoperative outcomes were compared among the 3 cohorts. A multivariate logistic regression including demographic factors and comorbidities was performed to determine whether increasing severity of anemia is independently associated with poorer postoperative outcomes.

Results

Of the 15,185 patients included in this study, 11,404 had normal HCT levels, 2962 patients were mildly anemic, and 819 patients had moderate to severe anemia. With increasing severity of anemia, there was an increased average hospital length of stay (1.6 vs. 2.1 vs. 3.0 days, P < .001), rate of readmissions (2.3% vs. 4.8% vs. 7.0%, P < .001), and rate of all reoperations (1.1% vs. 1.8% vs. 3.1%, P < .001). There was a statistically significant increase in both minor (1.9% vs. 2.7% vs. 4.4%, P < .001) and major (1.2% vs. 2.4% vs. 4.3%, P < .001) postoperative complication rates as well. Multivariate analysis identified anemia as an independent predictor of readmissions, reoperations, minor complications, and major complications.

Conclusion

We found increasing severity of anemia to be associated with progressively worse 30-day postoperative outcomes. This is consistent with the outcomes found for increasing severity of anemia in patients receiving other total joint procedures. Using preoperative HCT levels may be a useful tool for predicting the risk of postoperative complications in patients undergoing TSA. This information could be used to further optimize patient selection for primary TSA.

Comorbidities Associated With Poor Outcomes Following Operative Hammertoe Correction in a Geriatric Population

Background:

Although complications following hammertoe correction surgery are rare, older patients with comorbid conditions are often considered poorer operative candidates compared with younger, healthier patients because of a suspected increased risk of adverse outcomes. The aim of this study was to determine if the presence of multiple comorbidities was associated with increased complications or unsuccessful patient-reported outcomes following operative hammertoe correction in geriatric patients.

Methods:

Prospectively collected data was reviewed on 78 patients aged 60 years or older who underwent operative correction of hammertoe deformity. Patient demographics, comorbidities, and postoperative complications were recorded. Patient-reported outcomes were assessed using preoperative and postoperative visual analog scale for pain and Short Form Health Survey Physical and Mental Component Summary with 1 year of follow-up. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on number of comorbidities (0 or 1 vs > 2) and then compared. The average age of patients was 69.4 years and the prevalence of comorbidities in the study population was as follows: 11.5% smokers, 25.6% on blood thinners, 15.4% with rheumatoid arthritis, 7.7% with diabetes mellitus, 2.6% with peripheral arterial disease, 6.4% with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 11.5% with coronary artery disease, and 23.1% with osteoporosis.

Results:

Fifty-three patients (67.9%) had 0 or 1 comorbidity and 25 (32.1%) had 2 or more comorbidities. Compared to the 0 or 1 comorbidity group, the presence of multiple comorbidities was associated with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) for superficial wound infection of 4.18 (P = .045) and deformity recurrence requiring surgery OR of 23.15 (P = .032). Patient-reported outcomes were similar between comorbidity groups.

Conclusions:

This study further informs foot and ankle specialists to maintain increased surveillance for postoperative complications and unsuccessful outcomes in patients with multiple comorbidities. Although geriatric patients still report significant improvements in both pain and function, patients with underlying medical conditions should be counseled about their increased risks when pursuing operative hammertoe correction.

Level of Evidence:

Level III, retrospective comparative series.

The impact of long-term corticosteroid use on acute postoperative complications following lumbar decompression surgery

BACKGROUND

Corticosteroids have a negative impact on the human immune system's ability to function at an optimal level. Studies have shown that patients on long-term corticosteroids have higher infection rates. However, the rates of infection and other complications following lumbar decompression surgery remains under-investigated. The aim of our study was to determine the impact of preoperative long-term corticosteroid usage on acute, 30-day postoperative complications in a subset of patients undergoing lumbar spine decompression surgery, without fusion or instrumentation. We hypothesize that patients on long-term corticosteroids will have higher rates of infection and other postoperative complications after undergoing lumbar decompression surgery of the spine.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data collected from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database data from 2005 to 2016. Lumbar decompression surgeries, including discectomies, laminectomies, and others were identified using CPT codes. Chi-square analysis was used to evaluate differences among the corticosteroid and non-corticosteroid groups for demographics, preoperative comorbidities, and postoperative complications. Logistic regression analysis was done to determine if long-term corticosteroid use predicts incidence of postoperative infections following adjustment.

RESULTS

26,734 subjects met inclusion criteria. A total of 1044 patients (3.9%) were on long-term corticosteroids prior to surgical intervention, and 25,690 patients (96.1%) were not on long-term corticosteroids. Patients on long-term corticosteroids were more likely to be older (p < 0.001), female (p < 0.001), nonsmokers (p < 0.001), and have a higher American Society of Anesthesiologist class (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that long-term corticosteroid usage was associated with increased overall complications (odds ratio [OR]: 1.543; p < 0.001), and an independent risk factor for the development of minor complications (OR: 1.808; p < 0.001), urinary tract infection (OR: 2.033; p = 0.002), extended length of stay (OR: 1.244; p = 0.039), thromboembolic complications (OR: 1.919; p = 0.023), and sepsis complications (OR: 2.032; p = 0.024).

CONCLUSION

Long-term corticosteroid usage is associated with a significant increased risk of acute postoperative complication development, including urinary tract infection, sepsis and septic shock, thromboembolic complications, and extended length of hospital stay, but not with superficial or deep infection in patients undergoing lumbar decompression procedures. Spine surgeons should remain vigilant regarding postoperative complications in patients on long-term corticosteroids, especially as it relates to UTI and propensity to decompensate into sepsis or septic shock. Thromboembolic risk attenuation is also imperative in this patient group during the postoperative period and the surgeon should weigh the risks and benefits of more intensive anticoagulation measures.

Tranexamic Acid Reduces the Rate of Periprosthetic Joint Infection After Aseptic Revision Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

Revision total joint arthroplasty (TJA) has a higher rate of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) compared with primary TJA, possibly as the result of increased allogeneic blood transfusion. Tranexamic acid (TXA) is gaining popularity in revision TJA to minimize blood loss and the need for transfusion; however, its effect on PJI reduction has yet to be investigated. The hypothesis of this study was that the administration of TXA during revision arthroplasty is protective against subsequent PJI.

METHODS

A prospectively maintained institutional database was used to identify patients who underwent revision TJA for aseptic failure from 2009 to 2018 and had a minimum follow-up of 90 days. Patients who developed PJI following revision arthroplasty were identified. All patients with PJI met Musculoskeletal Infection Society (MSIS) criteria. A multivariate analysis was performed to identify variables independently associated with PJI after aseptic revision TJA.

RESULTS

Overall, 1,731 patients who underwent aseptic revision were identified; of these patients, 83 (4.8%) developed PJI. Patients who received TXA had significantly lower rates (p = 0.029) of PJI postoperatively at 3.30% compared with those who did not receive TXA at 5.73%. After controlling for relevant confounding variables, TXA remained a significant independent factor that protected against PJI (odds ratio [OR], 0.47 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.23 to 0.90]; p = 0.030). Female sex was also identified as a significant independent factor that protected against PJI (OR, 0.52 [95% CI, 0.30 to 0.88]; p = 0.016). However, preoperative anemia was independently associated with an increased risk of subsequent PJI (OR, 2.37 [95% CI, 1.34 to 4.16]; p = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

Based on this study conducted at a single institution, the use of TXA during aseptic revision arthroplasty was independently associated with a reduced risk of subsequent acute PJI after adjusting for multiple patient characteristics and surgical factors.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

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

Preoperative opioid use is a risk factor for complication and increased healthcare utilization following revision total knee arthroplasty

INTRODUCTION

Prior literature suggests that opioid use prior to primary arthroplasty procedures results in increased risk for complication. Despite this, it is unknown whether preoperative opioid use increases risk following revision TKA. The purpose of this study was to examine this relationship.

METHODS

The Truven Marketscan® database was used to conduct this retrospective cohort study. Patients undergoing revision TKA for aseptic indication were identified. Opioid prescriptions were collected for one-year preoperatively. Patients were divided into cohorts based on the number of prescriptions received preoperatively. Patients who had an "opioid holiday" (six months opioid naïve period after prior use) were also analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to assess the relationship between preoperative opioids and postoperative complications.

RESULTS

In the year preceding surgery, 84% of patients received an opioid prescription. Compared to opioid naïve patients, continuous preoperative use was associated with higher odds of every examined complication (p ≤ .008). This included PJI (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.34-2.35, p < .001), VTE (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.26-1.93, p < .001), opioid overdose (OR 5.03, 95% CI 1.64-15.42, p = .005), and revision surgery (OR 1.80, 95%CI 1.50-2.16, p < .001). Similarly, health care utilization was higher in this group including the following: extended length of stay, non-home discharge, 90-day readmission, and emergency room visits (p ≤ .01). The opioid holiday appeared to confer risk reduction.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative opioid use preceding revision TKA is common and is associated with complications following surgery. An opioid holiday appears to provide risk reduction and suggests that opioid use may be a modifiable risk factor.

Hemiarthroplasty vs Total Hip Arthroplasty for Femoral Neck Fractures: 2010-2017 Trends in Complication Rates

BACKGROUND

Optimal treatment of femoral neck fractures (FNFs) remains debated. Recent data suggest that total hip arthroplasty (THA) confers improved functional outcomes compared to hemiarthroplasty (HA) in active patients. However, temporal trends in complication rates between these treatments lack study.

METHODS

The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was retrospectively queried to compare differences between HA and THA over time (2010-2012, 2013-2015, and 2016-2017) in blood transfusions, operation time, major complications, minor complications, and 30-day readmission, among FNF patients aged ≥50 years. Analyses adjusted for age, gender, anesthesia type, smoking, body mass index, hypertension, bleeding disorder, steroid use, and American Society of Anesthesiologists classification.

RESULTS

In total, 16,213 patients were identified. THA was associated with higher transfusion rates in 2010-2012 (mean = 0.34 vs 0.28, P = .001) and 2013-2015 (mean = 0.21 vs 0.19, P = .002), but not in 2016-2017 (mean = 0.13 vs 0.14, P = .146). Operation time was significantly higher for THA across all periods (P's < .001), but declined over time. In recent years, THA was associated with less major (2016-2017: 5.4% vs 10.2%, P = .02; 2013-2015: 5.3% vs 10.3%, P < .001) and minor (2016-2017: 6.2% vs 9.8%, P = .02; 2013-2015: 7.2% vs 12.4%, P < .001) complications compared to 2010-2012 (major: 7.2% vs 10.6%, P = .87; minor: 12.6% vs 10.1%, P = .89). No differences in 30-day readmission were noted.

CONCLUSION

THA was associated with less major and minor complications in recent time periods compared to HA for the treatment of FNF, controlling for comorbidities. THA trends in transfusions and operation duration have improved over time compared to HA.

Is preoperative anemia a significant risk factor for splenectomy patients? A NSQIP analysis

Background

Prior literature has examined the association between preoperative anemia and complications across surgical settings; however, evidence is lacking for splenectomy patients. We investigated the association between preoperative hematocrit and 30-day postoperative outcomes in this population using a national database.

Methods

Patients who underwent splenectomy (2012–2017) were identified from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Analyses were performed for the overall cohort and elective versus emergent subsets, adjusting for transfusion among other covariates.

Results

Our sample included 5,580 patients. As hematocrit decreased, complication rates increased incrementally in both the univariate and multivariate analyses. Adjusted odds ratios (and 95% confidence intervals) for moderate anemia (26% ≤ hematocrit < 30%) as compared to no anemia (hematocrit ≥ 38%) were readmission = 1.5 (1.1–1.8), sepsis = 2.2 (1.6–3.0), and composite outcome = 1.8 (1.0–3.2). Parameter estimates (standard error, P value) for the moderate versus no anemia group were length of stay = 3.0 (0.5, P < .001) and days to discharge = 1.2 (0.3; P < .001).

Conclusion

Our results demonstrate a dose-response relationship between increasing degree of anemia and odds of various postoperative adverse outcomes after adjusting for several potential confounders. The subset analysis further suggests that elective splenectomy cases are more likely to have poor outcomes when in the presence of anemia or when transfusions are performed as compared to emergent cases. This suggests that the harm associated with transfusion may offset the benefit of optimizing anemia in an elective splenectomy case.

Increased severity of anaemia is associated with 30-day complications following total joint replacement

Aims

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of the severity of anaemia on postoperative complications following total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the American College of Surgeons National Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database. All patients who underwent primary TKA or THA between January 2012 and December 2017 were identified and stratified based upon hematocrit level. In this analysis, we defined anaemia as packed cell volume (Hct) < 36% for women and < 39% for men, and further stratified anaemia as mild anaemia (Hct 33% to 36% for women, Hct 33% to 39% for men), and moderate to severe (Hct < 33% for both men and women). Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to evaluate the incidence of multiple adverse events within 30 days of arthroplasty.

Results

Following adjustment, patients in the THA cohort with moderate to severe anaemia had an increased odds of 6.194 (95% confidence interval (CI) 5.679 to 6.756; p < 0.001) for developing any postoperative complication. Following adjustment, patients in the TKA cohort with moderate to severe anaemia had an increased odds of 5.186 (95% CI 4.811 to 5.590; p < 0.001) for developing any postoperative complication. Among both cohorts, as severity increased, there was an increased risk of postoperative complications.

Conclusion

Preoperative anaemia is a risk factor for complications following primary arthroplasty. There is a significant relationship between the severity of anaemia and the odds of postoperative complications. Patients who had moderate to severe anaemia were at increased risk of developing postoperative complications relative to patients with mild anaemia. When considering elective primary THA or TKA in a moderately or severely anaemic patient, surgeons should strongly consider correcting anaemia prior to surgery if possible. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2020;102-B(4):485–494.

Preoperative Depression Is Associated With Increased Risk Following Revision Total Joint Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

The incidence of revision total hip (rTHA) and knee (rTKA) arthroplasty continues to increase. Preoperative depression is known to influence outcomes following primary arthroplasty. Despite this, it remains unknown whether the same relationship exists for patients undergoing revision procedures. The purpose of this study, therefore, is to investigate this relationship.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study. Patients undergoing rTHA and rTKA were identified from the Truven MarketScan database. Patients with a diagnosis of prosthetic joint infection were excluded. Two cohorts were created: those with preoperative depression and those without. We included patients who were enrolled in the database for 1 year preoperatively and postoperatively. Demographic and complication data were collected, and statistical analysis was then performed comparing complications between cohorts.

RESULTS

A total of 10,017 patients undergoing rTHA and 13,973 patients undergoing rTKA were included in this study. Of these, 1305 (13.1%) and 2012 (14.4%) had depression, respectively. Multivariate analysis found that, after rTHA, preoperative depression was associated with extended length of stay, nonhome discharge, 90-day readmission, 90-day emergency department visit, prosthetic joint infection, revision surgery, and increased costs (P < .001). Similarly, following rTKA, depression was associated with extended length of stay, nonhome discharge, 90-day readmission, 90-day emergency department visit, revision surgery, and increased costs (P < .001).

CONCLUSION

Depression before revision total joint arthroplasty is common and is associated with increased risk of complication and increased healthcare resource utilization following both rTHA and rTKA. Further research will be needed to delineate to what degree this represents a modifiable risk factor.

Highlighting the Roles of Anemia and Aspirin in Predicting Ninety-Day Readmission Following Aseptic Revision Total Joint Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

Revision total joint arthroplasties (TJAs) are associated with an increased rate of complications. To date, it is unclear what drives readmission after aseptic revision arthroplasty and what measures can be taken to possibly avoid them. The purpose of this study is to (1) determine the reasons for readmission after aseptic revision TJA and (2) identify patient-specific or postoperative risk factors through a multivariate analysis.

METHODS

A retrospective study examined 1503 cases of aseptic revision TJA between 2009 and 2016 at an urban tertiary care hospital. Eighty-seven cases (5.8%) of readmission within 90 days of index surgery were identified. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess independent risk factors for readmission.

RESULTS

The reasons for readmission were infection (38%), wound complications (22%), and dislocation/instability of the prosthetic joint (13%). Only preoperative anemia was associated with an increased odds ratio (OR) of readmission (OR 1.82, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.126-2.970, P = .015), whereas postoperative venous thromboembolism prophylaxis with aspirin (OR 0.58, 90% CI 0.340-0.974, P = .039) and discharge to an inpatient rehab facility (OR 0.22, 95% CI 0.051-0.950, P = .042) were associated with significantly lower odds of readmission.

CONCLUSION

Based on this single institutional study, addressing preoperative anemia and considering the implementation of aspirin for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis may be 2 targets to potentially reduce readmission after aseptic revision TJA.

Is Spinal Anesthesia Safer than General Anesthesia for Patients Undergoing Revision THA? Analysis of the ACS-NSQIP Database

BACKGROUND

The incidence of revision THA continues to increase and there is a need to identify risk factors contributing to postoperative complications. Anesthesia type has been shown to be associated with complication rates in patients who undergo primary THA, but it is not clear whether the same is true among patients undergoing revision THA.

QUESTIONS/PURPOSES

(1) After controlling for confounding variables, in the setting of a large-database analysis, is spinal anesthesia associated with a lower risk of death, readmission, reoperation, postoperative transfusion, thromboembolic events, surgical site infection (SSI), and re-intubation among patients undergoing revision THA?

METHODS

The American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement (ACS-NSQIP) database was queried for patients undergoing aseptic, revision THA with either spinal or general anesthesia. Coarsened exact matching was used to match patients based on several baseline characteristics, including age, sex, body mass index, surgery type (Current Procedural Terminology code), and the modified Frailty Index score. Coarsened exact matching is a statistical method of exact matching that matches on chosen characteristics, in which continuous variables may be temporarily coarsened (such as, into discrete categorical variables) to facilitate matching. This method is an alternate to and requires less estimation than traditional propensity score matching. Then, using a model controlling for baseline patient characteristics and operative time, we performed multivariate logistic and linear regression analyses of matched cohorts to examine differences in mortality, readmission, reoperation, thromboembolic events, transfusion, SSI, and re-intubation.

RESULTS

After statistical matching and controlling for baseline demographic variables, surgery type (one- or two-component revision), surgical time and modified Frailty Index we found that patients receiving general anesthesia had higher odds of mortality (OR 3.72 [95% CI 1.31 to 10.50]; p = 0.013), readmission (OR 1.49 [95% CI 1.24 to 1.80]; p < 0.001), reoperation (OR 1.40 [95% CI 1.13 to 1.73]; p = 0.002), thromboembolic events (OR 2.57 [95% CI 1.37 to 4.84]; p = 0.003), SSI (OR 1.32 [95% CI 1.01 to 1.72]; p = 0.046), postoperative transfusion (OR 1.57 [95%CI 1.39 to 1.78]; p < 0.001) and unplanned intubation or failure to wean off intubation (OR 5.95 [95% CI 1.43 to 24.72]; p = 0.014).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients undergoing revision THA, spinal anesthesia is associated with a decreased risk of several complications. The current investigation suggests that, when practical (such as when long surgical times or changes to the surgical plan are not anticipated), spinal anesthesia should be considered for use during revision THA.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, therapeutic study.

Venous Thromboembolism Rates Did Not Decrease in Lower Extremity Revision Total Joint Arthroplasty From 2008 to 2016

BACKGROUND

In revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA) and revision total hip arthroplasty (rTHA), venous thromboembolism (VTE) has been reported to be a relatively common and potentially serious complication. To mitigate this risk, strategies such as rapid recovery programs and thromboprophylaxis guidelines have been utilized. This study sought to identify the annual incidence and recent trends of VTE (defined as the presence of deep vein thrombosis [DVT] and/or pulmonary embolism [PE] in the same patient), DVT, PE, and mortality in the 30-day period after rTKA and rTHA.

METHODS

We identified 30,406 rTKA and rTHA patients from 2008 to 2016 using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Thirty-day incidences for VTE, DVT, PE, and mortality for each year and the overall study period were calculated. Bivariate and multivariate regressions were performed using patient demographics and comorbidities to assess trends in the outcomes of interest.

RESULTS

The overall incidences of 30-day VTE, DVT, PE, and mortality for rTKA were 1.2%, 0.9%, 0.4%, and 0.5%. Bivariate analysis revealed no significant change over the study period for VTE (P = .137), DVT (P = .406), PE (P = .121; 99% confidence interval 0.112-0.129), and mortality (P = .463). The incidences over the study period of VTE, DVT, PE, and mortality in rTHA were 1.0%, 0.7%, 0.4%, and 0.7%. Bivariate analysis revealed no changes in VTE (P = .393), DVT (P = .376), and PE (P = .602). However, bivariate analysis revealed significant decrease in mortality (P = .010) over the study period.

CONCLUSION

Within 30 days of surgery, approximately 1 in 83 rTKA patients and 1 in 100 rTHA patients experienced a VTE. Furthermore, the rates of VTE remained largely unchanged from 2008 to 2016. Further research regarding the optimal individualized prophylaxis algorithm in rTKA and rTHA is warranted to prevent this complication. This study represents the first investigation of thromboembolic events in rTHA and rTKA.

Are Patients Who Undergo THA for Infection at Higher Risk for 30-day Complications?

BACKGROUND

Value-based payment models, such as bundled payments, continue to become more widely adopted for total joint arthroplasty. However, concerns exist regarding the lack of risk adjustment in these payment and quality reporting models for THA. Providers who care for patients with more complicated problems may be financially incentivized to screen out such patients if reimbursement models fail to account for increased time and resources needed to care for these more complex patients.

QUESTIONS/PURPOSES

(1) Are patients who undergo revision THA for infectious causes at greater adjusted risk of 30-day short-term major complications, return to the operating room, readmission, and mortality compared with patients undergoing aseptic revision? (2) What are other independent factors associated with the risk of 30-day major complications, readmission, and mortality in this patient population?

METHODS

We queried the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) database for all patients undergoing revision THA from 2012 to 2015. The NSQIP database allows for the analysis of 30-day surgical outcomes, including postoperative complications, return to the operating room, readmission, and mortality of patients from approximately 400 participating institutions. The NSQIP was selected over other larger databases, such as the National Impatient Sample (NIS), because the NSQIP includes readmission data and 30-day complications rates that were relevant to our study. Patients undergoing aseptic revision THA and those undergoing revision THA with a diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection were identified. We identified 8973 patients who underwent revision THA and excluded six patients due to a diagnosis of malignancy leaving 8967 patients; 726 (8%) of these were due to infection. Demographic variables, medical comorbidities, and 30-day major complications, hospital readmissions, reoperations, and mortality were compared among patients undergoing aseptic and infected revision THA. A major complication was defined as myocardial infarction, postoperative mortality, sepsis, septic shock, and stroke. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was then performed to identify factors independently associated with the primary outcome of 30-day hospital readmission, and secondary endpoints of 30-day major complications, return to operating room, and mortality.

RESULTS

Controlling for medical comorbidities and demographic factors, the patients who underwent THA for infection were more likely to experience a major complication (odds ratio [OR], 4.637; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.850-7.544; p < 0.001) within 30 days of surgery and more likely to return to the operating room (OR = 1.548; 95% CI, 1.062-2.255; p = 0.023). However, there were no greater odds of 30-day readmission (OR, 1.354; 95% CI, 0.975-1.880; p = 0.070) or 30-day mortality (OR, 0.661; 95% CI, 0.218-2.003; p = 0.465). Preoperative malnutrition was associated with an increased risk of return to the operating room (OR, 1.561; 95% CI, 1.152-2.115; p = 0.004), 30-day readmission (OR, 1.695; 95% CI, 1.314-2.186; p < 0.001), and 30-day mortality (OR, 7.240; 95% CI, 2.936-17.851; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients undergoing revision THA for infection undergo reoperation and experience major complications more frequently in a 30-day episode of care than patients undergoing aseptic revision THA. Without risk adjustment to existing alternative payment and quality reporting models, providers may experience a disincentive to care for patients with infected THAs, who may face difficulties with access to care.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, therapeutic study.

General vs Spinal Anesthesia for Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty: Do Complication Rates Differ?

BACKGROUND

The incidence of both primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and revision TKA is increasing. Data from primary arthroplasty patients suggest a risk reduction with the use of spinal anesthesia when compared with general anesthesia. However, the same relationship has not been examined in the revision knee arthroplasty patient.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study using the American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement database. Patients undergoing revision TKA with either spinal or general anesthesia were identified from the database. Baseline characteristics were compared, and ultimately patients were matched using coarsened exact matching. Multivariate analysis was then performed on matched cohorts controlling for baseline patient and operative characteristics. This model was used to look for any differences in rates of complications, operative time, length of stay, and readmission.

RESULTS

Patients undergoing revision TKA with general anesthesia had increased risk of several postoperative complications, even after controlling for baseline patient characteristics. Specifically, there were significantly increased rates of the following: unplanned readmission (OR = 1.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.18-1.72, P < .001), nonhome discharge (OR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.46-1.76, P < .001), transfusion (OR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.41-1.88, P < .001), deep surgical site infection (OR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.01-2.03, P = .043), and extended length of stay (OR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.11-1.34, P < .001). General anesthesia was additionally associated with increased operative time.

CONCLUSION

General anesthesia is associated with increased risk of numerous postoperative complications in patients undergoing revision TKA. This study is retrospective in nature, and while causality cannot be definitively determined, the results suggest that spinal anesthesia is preferential to general anesthesia in the revision TKA patient.