The Psychology of Total Joint Arthroplasty

Biopsychosocial based machine learning models predict patient improvement after total knee arthroplasty

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is an effective treatment for end stage osteoarthritis. However, biopsychosocial features are not routinely considered in TKA clinical decision-making, despite increasing evidence to support their role in patient recovery. We have developed a more holistic model of patient care by using machine learning and Bayesian inference methods to build patient-centred predictive models, enhanced by a comprehensive battery of biopsychosocial features. Data from 863 patients with TKA (mean age 68 years (SD 8), 50% women), identified between 2019 and 2022 from four hospitals in NSW, Australia, was included in model development. Predictive models for improvement in patient quality-of-life and knee symptomology at three months post-TKA were developed, as measured by a change in the Short Form-12 Physical Composite Score (PCS) or Western Ontario and McMasters Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), respectively. Retained predictive variables in the quality-of-life model included pre-surgery PCS, knee symptomology, nutrition, alcohol consumption, employment, committed action, pain improvement expectation, pain in other places, and hand grip strength. Retained variables for the knee symptomology model were comparable, but also included pre-surgery WOMAC, pain catastrophizing, and exhaustion. Bayesian machine learning methods generated predictive distributions, enabling outcomes and uncertainty to be determined on an individual basis to further inform decision-making.

Preoperative Depression Screening for Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty: An Evaluation of Its Modifiability on Outcomes in Patients Who Have Depression

BACKGROUND

Few studies have evaluated preoperative depression screenings in patients who have depression. We studied whether depression screenings before total knee arthroplasty (TKA) were associated with lower: 1) medical complications; 2) emergency department (ED) utilizations and readmissions; 3) implant complications; and 4) costs.

METHODS

A nationwide sample from January 1, 2010, to April 30, 2021, was collected using an insurance database. Depression patients were 1:1 propensity-score matched based on those who had (n = 29,009) and did not have (n = 29,009) preoperative depression screenings or psychotherapy visits within 3 months of TKA. A case-matched population who did not have depression was compared (n = 144,994). A 90-day period was used to compare complications and health-care utilization and 2-year follow-up for periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) and implant survivorship. Costs were 90-day reimbursements. Logistic regression models computed odds ratios (ORs) of depression screening on dependent variables. P values less than .001 were significant.

RESULTS

Patients who did not receive preoperative screening were associated with higher medical complications (18.7 versus 5.2%, OR: 4.15, P < .0001) and ED utilizations (11.5 versus 3.2%, OR: 3.93, P < .0001) than depressed patients who received screening. Patients who had screening had lower medical complications (5.2 versus 5.9%, OR: 0.88, P < .0001) and ED utilizations compared to patients who did not have depression (3.2 versus 3.8%, OR: 0.87, P = .0001). Two-year PJI incidences (3.0 versus 1.3%, OR: 2.63, P < .0001) and TKA revisions (4.3 versus 2.1%, OR: 2.46, P < .0001) were greater in depression patients who were not screened preoperatively versus screened patients. Depression patients who had screening had lower PJIs (1.3 versus 1.8%, OR: 0.74, P < .0001) compared to nondepressed patients. Reimbursements ($13,949 versus $11,982; P < .0001) were higher in depression patients who did not have screening.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative screening was associated with improved outcomes in depression patients.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.

PLGA nanoparticles engineering extracellular vesicles from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells ameliorates polyethylene particles induced periprosthetic osteolysis

The wear particle-induced dissolution of bone around implants is a significant pathological factor in aseptic loosening, and controlling prosthetic aseptic loosening holds crucial social significance. While human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (HucMSCs-Exos, Exos) have been found to effectively promote osteogenesis and angiogenesis, their role in periprosthetic osteolysis remains unexplored. To enhance their in vivo application, we engineered HucMSCs-Exos-encapsulated poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles (PLGA-Exos). In our study, we demonstrate that PLGA-Exos stimulate osteogenic differentiation while inhibiting the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and subsequent osteoclast differentiation in vitro. In vivo imaging revealed that PLGA-Exos released exosomes slowly and maintained a therapeutic concentration. Our in vivo experiments demonstrated that PLGA-Exos effectively suppressed osteolysis induced by polyethylene particles. These findings suggest that PLGA-Exos hold potential as a therapeutic approach for the prevention and treatment of periprosthetic osteolysis. Furthermore, they provide novel insights for the clinical management of osteolysis.

Resilience in Residency and Beyond

» Distinct from the burnout and wellness continuum, resilience is a developed and refined characteristic that propels an individual toward personal and professional success.» We propose a clinical resilience triangle consisting of 3 components that define resilience: grit, competence, and hope.» Resilience is a dynamic trait that should be built during residency and constantly fortified in independent practice so that orthopaedic surgeons may acquire and hone the skills and mental fortitude required to take on the overwhelming challenges that we all inevitably face.

Cutting-Edge Approaches in Arthroplasty: Before, during and after Surgery

Personalised medicine was introduced in arthroplasty a long time ago with the aim of respecting each individual person for their unique personal characteristics in order to further improve outcomes [...].

Effect of Patient Resilience and the Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) Score on Return to Sport Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Surgery

Background

This study aims to determine the effect of resilience, as measured by the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), and perceived self-efficacy of knee function, as measured by the Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) score on return to sport outcomes following ACL Reconstruction (ACLR) surgery.

Methods

Seventy-one patients undergoing ACLR surgery were followed up for a minimum of one year. At six-months post-op, ACLR patients completed the BRS and the SANE score. Patients were stratified into low, normal, and high resilience groups, and outcome scores were calculated.

Results

The median return to sports participation, in months post-operatively, for the low, normal, and high resiliency groups were 7.1, 7.3, and 7.2 months, respectively (P=0.78). A multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the SANE score was a significant predictor of return to sport at nine months when adjusted for age, sex, and BRS score (P=0.01). Patients that returned to sport by nine months demonstrated a mean SANE score of 92.7, compared to a mean of 85.7 (P=0.08). In patients who had returned to sport, neither the BRS resilience group nor the SANE score were significant predictors of the returned level of competition status (P=0.06; P=0.18).

Conclusion

The SANE score may serve as a significant predictor of return to sport when adjusted for age, sex, and BRS score. Resilience, as measured by the BRS, was not significantly associated with return to sport, but may have utility in specific patient populations.

Patient Resilience Has Moderate Correlation With Functional Outcomes, but Not Satisfaction, After Primary Unilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

As many as 20% of patients who undergo total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are dissatisfied. Psychological factors have been shown to play a role in outcomes after TKA. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of patient resilience on functional outcomes and satisfaction after primary unilateral TKA.

METHODS

Eighty-six patients who underwent primary unilateral TKA by a single surgeon were studied. Primary outcomes were the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), mental health component of the Veterans Rand 12-Item Health Survey (VR-12 MCS), Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Joint Replacement, and New Knee Society Score. Correlations between BRS and dependent variables were found by using Spearmen's Rho Correlation testing. Unadjusted and adjusted regressions were run using the delta values as the dependent outcome and the BRS score as the main independent value, with data presented as an estimate of 95% confidence interval P value.

RESULTS

Resilience significantly correlated with male sex (P = .031), preoperative VR-12 MCS scores (P = .013), and postoperative VR-12 MCS scores (P < .001). BRS had moderate correlation with postoperative Knee Society Scores (KSS) Functional Activity Scores, as this approached, but did not achieve statistical significance (P = .062). There was no correlation between BRS and postoperative KSS Patient Expectations score, KSS Patient Satisfaction score, or total postoperative opioid usage.

CONCLUSIONS

Primary TKA patients with greater resilience are more likely to be male and have better mental health characteristics than those with lower resilience. Patients with greater resilience also tended to have improved knee function after TKA, although this was not statistically significant. Resiliency did not correlate with postoperative opioid consumption or patient satisfaction after TKA.

Predicting dissatisfaction following total hip arthroplasty using a Bayesian model averaging approach: Results from the Australian Arthroplasty Clinical Outcomes Registry National (ACORN)

BACKGROUND

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) provides excellent pain relief and improved function in patients with painful arthritis. The aim of this study was to identify rates and predictors of dissatisfaction following THA.

METHODS

Data were collected prospectively from the Australian Arthroplasty Clinical Outcomes Registry National (ACORN) database between 2014 and 2016 from 2096 patients who underwent THA. Data included baseline demographics, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and postoperative clinical outcomes. Patients were dichotomized into two groups based on their 6-month response to the satisfaction question answered on a Likert scale. Eighteen predefined variables were analyzed. PROMs included full Oxford Hip Score, EQ-5D, and patient satisfaction. A Bayesian model averaging approach was used to build the best predictive model for dissatisfaction. Multiple logistic regression techniques were applied to quantify the effect size of the best model.

RESULTS

At 6 months following THA, 95.4% of patients (n = 2000) were satisfied with surgical outcome and 4.6% (n = 96) were dissatisfied. The only variable that was significantly associated with dissatisfaction after THA was "complications after discharge." This result was consistent for both the complete and imputed dataset (odds ratio 4.78, 95% confidence interval 2.60-8.80, P < 0.001 and odds ratio 3.8, 95% confidence interval 2.60-5.60, P < 0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Our study confirms the high rates of patient satisfaction following THA, with postoperative complications being the only determinant of dissatisfaction. Optimization of patients prior to surgery, reducing postoperative complications, may further improve satisfaction rates after THA.

Simulation of preoperative flexion contracture in a computational model of total knee arthroplasty: Development and evaluation

Preoperative flexion contracture is a risk factor for patient dissatisfaction following primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Previous studies utilizing surgical navigation technology and cadaveric models attempted to identify operative techniques to correct knees with flexion contracture and minimize undesirable outcomes such as knee instability. However, no consensus has emerged on a surgical strategy to treat this clinical condition. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a computational model of TKA with flexion contracture that can be used to devise surgical strategies that restore knee extension and to understand factors that cause negative outcomes. We developed six computational models of knees implanted with a posteriorly stabilized TKA using a measured resection technique. We incorporated tensions in the collateral ligaments representative of those achieved in TKA using reference data from a cadaveric experiment and determined tensions in the posterior capsule elements in knees with flexion contracture by simulating a passive extension exam. Subject-specific extension moments were calculated and used to evaluate the amount of knee extension that would be restored after incrementally resecting the distal femur. Model predictions of the extension angle after resecting the distal femur by 2 and 4 mm were within 1.2° (p ≥ 0.32) and 1.6° (p ≥ 0.25), respectively, of previous studies. Accordingly, the presented computational method could be a credible surrogate to study the mechanical impact of flexion contracture in TKA and to evaluate its surgical treatment.

Modifiability of Depression's Impact on Early Revision, Narcotic Usage, and Outcomes After Total Hip Arthroplasty: The Impact of Psychotherapy

BACKGROUND

Depression is known to negatively influence functional recovery, patient satisfaction, narcotic requirements, implant survivorship, and perioperative resource utilization after total hip arthroplasty (THA). The degree to which this effect is modifiable is largely unknown, with mixed results on preoperative pharmacological intervention, and concomitant concerns over side effects. We aim to investigate the influence of psychotherapy before THA on surgical outcomes, medical complications, and resource utilization.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review of Truven MarketScan Databases was performed to generate 3 cohorts: patients without depression, patients with depression who did not receive preoperative psychotherapy, and patients with depression who received psychotherapy before surgery. Outcomes of interest were resource utilization, surgical and medical complications, narcotic requirements, and 1-year and 3-year revision rates.

RESULTS

On multivariate analysis, depressed patients who did not receive psychotherapy were more likely to be discharged to inpatient rehabilitation facility (odds ratio [OR] 1.28, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.10-1.48, P < .001) and require 2 or more postoperative narcotic prescriptions (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.06-1.37, P = .004) than depressed patients who received psychotherapy. Patients who did not receive psychotherapy were more likely to have continued narcotic requirements within 1 year after surgery (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.08-1.39, P < .001) and undergo revision at 1 year (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.17-2.58, P = .006) and 3 years (OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.10-3.34, P = .021) than depressed patients who received psychotherapy.

CONCLUSION

The negative influence of depression on narcotic requirements, resource utilization, and implant survivorship after THA appears to be modifiable with preoperative psychotherapy.