Editorial Commentary: Are We Running Out of Treatments for Osteoarthritis of the Knee?

Editorial Commentary: Denial of Payment Limits Patient Access to Musculoskeletal Procedures: What Can Willie Sutton Teach Us About the Decreasing Incidence of Acromioplasty?

Arthroscopic acromioplasty is one of the most commonly performed orthopedic surgical procedures. The indication for performing an acromioplasty has traditionally been based on the mechanical theory of impingement of the coracoacromial arch on the soft tissues of the rotator cuff footprint. Orthopedic surgeons have recommended surgically decompressing this phenomenon for six decades to eliminate shoulder pain and restore function. Recent high-level studies have cast doubt on the value of acromioplasty compared to other nonoperative treatment modalities. There is also an increased recognition and awareness that rotator cuff disease is as much a degenerative and senescent process as it is a mechanical one. There is now good evidence that the incidence of acromioplasty is falling significantly, especially in treatment scenarios that involve an intact rotator cuff. The cause of this decrease must be understood as multifactorial and related to both the clinical evidence and the economics and reimbursement policy concerning acromioplasty. Like many other high-volume and elective orthopedic surgical procedures, third-party reimbursement policy dictates patient access to treatments. Yet, current and future literature and clinical expertise determine proper indications for acromioplasty. Doctors are in the best position to indicate proper patient care.

Patients with lateral compartment knee osteoarthritis during arthroscopy are at highest risk of subsequent knee arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

Arthroscopic treatment of knee osteoarthritis has declined, in part due to concerns with conversion to arthroplasty. Some studies have investigated the demographic predictors for conversion to arthroplasty, few have assessed the risk factors within the knee itself. Our aim was to analyse the demographics and anatomical wear features of a large cohort of patients undergoing knee arthroscopy.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of 1760 cases spanning over 17 years undergoing knee arthroscopy was performed. Patients were 36 years or older at time of the index arthroscopy. Each patient received the International Cartilage Regeneration and Joint Preservation Society (ICRS) grade of all regions as well an estimate of the remaining meniscal percentage. Demographic factors as well as intraoperatively collected data were analysed as predictive variables for subsequent conversion to arthroplasty using a multi-step Cox regression analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 102 patients (6.2%) were converted to arthroplasty. Age at arthroscopy (hazard ratio (HR) 1.073; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.058-1.088) and ICRS grade of the lateral tibial plateau (HR 1.166; 95% CI 1.066-1.276) were statistically significant predicting variables for conversion to arthroplasty.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study indicate that higher ICRS grade of the lateral tibial plateau at arthroscopy is the most significant predictor for conversion to knee arthroplasty, with a hazard equal to an increase in age. The absence of these factors does not justify arthroscopic treatment of patients with knee osteoarthritis.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.