Increased patient resilience scores are related to positive postoperative outcomes in rotator cuff repairs

HYPOTHESIS

We sought to determine whether patients' preoperative resilience scores predict postoperative outcomes in arthroscopic rotator cuff repair surgery.

METHODS

Patients were prospectively enrolled and underwent data collection preoperatively and at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. Data collected included demographic characteristics and the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) score, visual analog scale score, Veterans RAND 12-Item Health Survey scores (mental component [VR-12M] and physical component [VR-12P]), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment Form score, Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation score, and Simple Shoulder Test (SST) score.

RESULTS

In total, 131 patients had complete 1- or 2-year postoperative outcome measures. Female patients comprised 56.5% of our sample, and the average age was 57.6 years. Between the low, normal, and high resilience groups, there were significant differences in the VR-12M scores at 0, 12, and 24 months postoperatively (P < .01 for all). The VR-12P scores at 12 months were 44.2, 47.4, and 49.8 in the low, normal, and high resilience groups, respectively, showing a trend upward, but this failed to reach the level of significance (P = .08). The SST scores of the low, normal, and high resilience groups at 12 months were 69.1, 79.9, and 85.1, respectively, again showing a trend upward, but this failed to reach the level of significance (P = .07). The SST scores at 0 and 24 months did not differ between groups. There were no significant differences in American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, visual analog scale, and Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation scores at 0, 12, or 24 months postoperatively. We found a significant positive correlation between the BRS score and SST score at 12 months (R = 0.18), VR-12M score at 12 months (R = 0.38), VR-12M score at 24 months (R = 0.31), and VR-12P score at 12 months (R = 0.21).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study provides evidence that BRS scores in patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair are related to postoperative outcomes, measured through the VR-12M and SST scores at 2-year follow-up.

Preoperative Low Resilience Is Associated With Female Patients, Whereas High Resilience Is Associated With Improved Mental Health Scores During Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

PURPOSE

To evaluate the relationship between resilience, as measured by the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) after primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR).

METHODS

A cohort of 72 patients undergoing primary ACLR were followed for a minimum of 2 years. Preoperative BRS scores were collected, and patients were categorized into low resilience (LR), normal resilience (NR), and high resilience (HR). PROMs including the visual analog scale (VAS), measuring overall pain level from 0 to 10, the Veterans Rand (VR) 12-Item Health Survey Physical Component and Mental Components, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcomes Score, and Marx Activity Rating Scale were collected preoperatively as well as up to 2 years postoperatively and compared among the various resilience groups.

RESULTS

BRS scores were significantly associated with VAS, VR 12-Item Health Survey Mental Component, and KOOS outcome scores. There was a significant difference among all 3 resilience groups (P = .0382) in change of VAS score from baseline to 2 years postoperatively, with a mean difference of 2.5 points, 1.1 points, and 0.7 points for LR, NR, and HR groups, respectively. There was a significant association of greater VR 12-Item Health Survey Mental Component scores, with greater resilience scores preoperatively (P < .0001) and at both 1 (P = .0034) and 2 years (P = .0235) postoperatively. Greater resilience scores were associated with greater KOOS scores at 1 year postoperatively (P = .0270). Female patients were more likely to fall into the LR group (80%).

CONCLUSIONS

In this cohort of patients undergoing ACLR, low resilience is positively associated with greater improvement in pain, and female patients tend to fall more into the LR group. At 1 year postoperatively, greater resilience scores were positively associated with greater aggregated KOOS scores. At 1 and 2 years postoperatively, greater resilience was positively associated with improved VR-12M scores.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level II, prospective cohort study.

Preoperative Predictors of Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy Outcomes: The APM Index Score

BACKGROUND

Preoperative risk factors contributing to poor outcomes after arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (APM) have not yet been consolidated and codified into an index scoring system used to predict APM success.

PURPOSE

To create an index score using available preoperative factors to predict the likelihood of favorable postoperative outcomes after APM.

STUDY DESIGN

Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3.

METHODS

A consecutive cohort of patients undergoing primary APM were enrolled in this study. Patients completed pre- and postoperative patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) questionnaires that included the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, Veterans RAND 12-Item Health Survey (VR-12 Physical and Mental), and Marx Activity Rating Scale (MARS). Multivariable logistic regression models were performed to evaluate independent predictors of KOOS Pain, Symptoms, and Activities of Daily Living scores and achievement of the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) and substantial clinical benefit (SCB). The authors assigned points to each variable proportional to its odds ratio, rounded to the nearest integer, to generate the index score.

RESULTS

In total, 468 patients (mean age, 49 years [SD, 10.4 years; range, 19-81 years]) were included in this study. In the univariate analysis, shorter symptom duration, lower Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grade, lower preoperative KOOS Pain value, and lower VR-12 Physical score were associated with a higher likelihood of clinical improvement at 1 year. In the multivariable model for clinical improvement with MCID, symptom duration (<3 months: OR, 3.00 [95% CI, 1.45-6.19]; 3-6 months: OR, 2.03 [95% CI, 1.10-3.72], compared with >6 months), KL grade (grade 0: OR, 3.54 [95% CI, 1.66-7.54]; grade 1: OR, 3.04 [95% CI, 1.48-6.26]; grade 2: OR, 2.31 [95% CI, 1.02-5.27], compared with grade 3), and preoperative KOOS Pain value (score <45: OR, 3.00 [95% CI, 1.57-5.76]; score of 45-60: OR, 2.80 [95% CI, 1.47-5.35], compared with score >60) were independent significant predictors for clinical improvement. The scoring algorithm demonstrated that a higher total score predicted a higher likelihood of achieving the MCID: 0 = 40%, 1 = 68%, 2 = 80%, 3 = 89%, and 4 = 96%.

CONCLUSION

Using this model, the authors developed an index score that, using preoperative factors, can help identify which patients will achieve clinical improvement after APM. Longer symptom duration and higher KL grade were associated with a decreased likelihood of clinical improvement as measured by KOOS Pain at 1 year postoperatively.

Resilience of Patients Undergoing Knee and Shoulder Arthroscopy Procedures

INTRODUCTION

Resilience is a person's capacity to overcome adversity. The purpose was to determine what patient factors correlate with resilience using the Brief Resilience Score. We hypothesize that characteristics of female sex, younger age, Workers' Compensation status, and preoperative opioid use are predictors of a lower preoperative resilience score and that patients with positive psychosocial factors would have higher resilience scores.

METHODS

Eight hundred nine patients undergoing knee or shoulder arthroscopy were preoperatively categorized into low, normal, and high-resilience groups. Preoperative patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and demographics were assessed. Statistical analyses evaluated differences in demographics and PROMs between resilience groups.

RESULTS

Analysis disclosed notable differences between low, normal, and high-resilience groups regarding demographics and PROMs. High resilience was seen in older patients, male patients, and patients with positive psychosocial factors. Low resilience scores were discovered in Workers' Compensation patients and those with a history of preoperative opioid use. No difference in resilience scores was observed between smokers and nonsmokers.

DISCUSSION

Preoperative resilience score is associated with age, sex, preoperative opioid use, Workers' Compensation status, and smoking status of patients undergoing knee or shoulder arthroscopy.

Sports Medicine Considerations When Caring for the Transgender Athlete

Orthopaedic surgeons and other orthopaedic care providers have expressed a desire to care for transgender patients but have a self-perceived knowledge deficit. Transgender athletes experience many psychosocial barriers to sport that are useful for clinicians to understand. Medical and surgical gender-affirming care can impact musculoskeletal physiology and pathophysiology. Transgender women (TW) have demonstrated an increased risk of insufficiency fractures and thromboembolism in patients receiving exogenous estrogen therapy. The impact of gender-affirming care on sex-based differences in athletic injuries is less well studied.

Technique for All-Inside Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Using Quadrupled Semitendinosus and Gracilis Autograft

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are common to athletes and non-athletes alike. Whereas the literature has historically supported bone-patellar tendon-bone as the gold standard for active patients who elect to undergo ACL reconstruction, other studies have suggested that soft-tissue grafts do not increase the risk of rerupture. Because graft diameter has a direct effect on revision rates, we share a technique for all-inside ACL reconstruction using quadrupled semitendinosus and gracilis autograft that allows for a predictable, robust graft. Reproducible steps of graft harvesting, tunnel preparation, graft passage, and fixation are shared to achieve a robust anatomic reconstruction.

Resolution of Sleep Disturbance and Improved Functional Outcomes After Rotator Cuff Repair

BACKGROUND

Most patients experience sleep disturbances before rotator cuff repair, with these symptoms largely improving postoperatively. However, the relationship between the resolution or persistence of sleep disturbance and patient-reported outcomes after rotator cuff repair remains unknown.

PURPOSE

To compare outcomes after rotator cuff repair between patients who reported a preoperative sleep disturbance and those who did not. Outcomes at various time points after surgery were also assessed in relation to the persistence or resolution of sleep disturbance.

STUDY DESIGN

Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3.

METHODS

Patients undergoing primary arthroscopic rotator cuff repair at a tertiary academic center were prospectively enrolled in a registry database. Patient characteristics were obtained preoperatively and validated patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) were obtained pre- and postoperatively, including the visual analog scale for pain, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation, Simple Shoulder Test, and Veterans RAND 12-Item Health Survey Physical and Mental components. Sleep disturbance was evaluated via responses to Simple Shoulder Test question 2. Patients with and without sleep disturbance were compared before and after surgery.

RESULTS

In total, 293 patients were prospectively enrolled. A total of 262 (89.8%) patients reported a sleep disturbance preoperatively. Of these, 221 (84.4%) reported a resolution of sleep disturbance by 2 years postoperatively. After adjustment for age, workers' compensation status, and Cofield tear size, patients with a preoperative sleep disturbance reported significantly worse baseline PROMs, apart from the Veterans RAND 12-Item Health Survey Mental component, before surgery. However, postoperatively, these patients had greater improvement in PROMs, and no significant remaining differences were seen at follow-up between patients with and without preoperative sleep disturbance. Among patients who reported a preoperative sleep disturbance, those whose symptoms resolved postoperatively had superior PROM scores as well as significantly greater improvements from preoperative baseline values compared with patients with persistent sleep disturbances after surgery.

CONCLUSION

Patients with preoperative sleep disturbances reported worse baseline functional scores before rotator cuff repair compared with patients without sleep disturbance. These disturbances largely resolved after surgery, with postoperative outcomes comparable with those of patients who reported no preoperative sleep concerns. Patients whose sleep disturbances resolved postoperatively also reported superior PROM scores compared with patients whose sleep disturbances persisted postoperatively.

Grinding, Clicking, and Pivot Pain Resolve in Most Patients After Knee Arthroscopy

PURPOSE

To determine whether knee arthroscopy alleviates the symptom constellation of knee grinding/clicking, catching/locking, and pivot pain.

METHODS

One-year follow-up data from 584 consecutive subjects who underwent knee arthroscopy from August 2012 to December 2019 were collected prospectively. Subjects reported frequency of knee grinding/clicking, catching/locking, and/or pivot pain preoperatively and 1 and 2 years postoperatively. A single surgeon performed each procedure and documented all intraoperative pathology. We measured the postoperative resolution or persistence of these symptoms and used multivariable regression models to identify preoperative demographic and clinical variables that predicted symptom persistence. We also assessed changes in the Pain, Activities of Daily Living, and Quality of Life subscales of the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS).

RESULTS

Postoperative symptom resolution was more likely for grinding/clicking (65.6%) and pivot pain (67.8%) than for catching/locking (44.1%). Smoking status, overweight/obesity, absence of meniscal tear, and number of compartments with focal cartilage lesions predicted persistence of 1 or more patient-reported knee symptoms. KOOS subscale scores consistently improved by at least one standard deviation. Individuals who had resolution of patient-reported knee symptoms exhibited roughly 2-fold improvements in KOOS Pain, ADL and Quality of Life scores compared with those whose symptoms persisted. Persistence of pivot pain was associated with the least improvement of the 3 KOOS subscales.

CONCLUSIONS

Two in three patients with grinding/clicking or pivot pain experience symptom resolution after knee arthroscopy, although catching/locking is more likely to persist. Smoking status, overweight/obesity, absence of meniscal tear, and number of compartments with focal cartilage lesions predict symptom persistence after knee arthroscopy.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic Level IV, retrospective cohort analysis of prospective data.

Majority of patients find sleep patterns return to normal 6 months following rotator cuff repair

BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS

Rotator cuff tears have a wide variability in presentation, with some causing pain and reduced function but others remaining completely asymptomatic. Sleep disturbances are a primary driver for patients with rotator cuff tears to see a physician, and one of the main goals of rotator cuff repair (RCR) surgery is to restore normal sleep patterns in these patients. The primary purpose of this study aimed to determine the percentage of patients undergoing RCR who report preoperative sleep disturbances. Second, this study sought to identify at what postoperative follow-up intervals patients stopped reporting sleep disturbances and how the percentages change over time. It was hypothesized that the majority of patients undergoing arthroscopic RCR would report preoperative and initial postoperative sleep disturbances and that 75% of patients would report resolution of sleep disturbances by 1 year postoperatively.

METHODS

A total of 326 patients undergoing primary arthroscopic RCR were prospectively enrolled in this study. Validated patient-reported outcome measures were obtained preoperatively and postoperatively, including the visual analog pain scale score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation score, Simple Shoulder Test (SST) score, and Veterans RAND 12-Item Health Survey physical and mental component scores.

RESULTS

According to question 2 of the SST, 291 patients (89%) reported preoperative sleep disturbances. Within the cohort of patients who reported resolution of sleep disturbances, 46% reported resolution by 3 months postoperatively; an additional 31%, by 6 months; a further 14%, by 12 months; and the final 8%, by 24 months. Age ≥ 65 years was significantly associated with increased reporting of resolution compared with age < 65 years. All patient-reported outcome measures, including the visual analog pain scale score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation score, SST score, and Veterans RAND 12-Item Health Survey (physical component) score, showed statistically significant improvements after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Eighty-nine percent of patients reported preoperative sleep disturbances. Seventy-seven percent of patients reported resolution of sleep disturbances by 6 months postoperatively, and 81% of patients reported resolution of sleep disturbances by 2 years postoperatively.

Up to One-Half of Runners Return to Running One Year After Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Level of Evidence

Satisfactory Pain Management With Minimal Opioid Use After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair

PURPOSE

To evaluate patient use of opioids following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, including the number of days and number of pills when used in combination with non-opioid medications and to determine whether patients were satisfied with their pain management and if variables such as age, sex, body mass index, duration of symptoms, anticipation of postoperative pain, preoperative opioid consumption, size of the rotator cuff tear, or anxiety/depression affected pain management.

METHODS

This was a prospective cohort study of 117 prospectively enrolled patients older than the age of 18 years undergoing primary arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. All patients completed preoperative and 2-week postoperative questionnaires to assess their pain and satisfaction with pain management. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the association of patient characteristics with satisfaction of pain control and amount/duration of opioids postoperatively.

RESULTS

Patients required a median of 18 opioid pain pills or 135 morphine milligram equivalents (interquartiles, 6-35 pills) postoperatively over 6.9 ± 5.1 days. In total, 65% of patients took opioid pain medications for 7 days or fewer. On postoperative day 2, patients reported a VAS pain score of 6.6 ± 2.8 and at the 2-week postoperative visit, mean visual analog scale pain score was 3.5 ± 2.5. Differences in age, sex, body mass index, duration of symptoms, anticipation of postoperative pain, preoperative 2-item Patient Health Questionnaire, 2-item Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire, current opioid use, and surgical characteristics had no effect on, or association with, satisfaction with pain management postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS

Following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, patients can achieve satisfactory pain control using a multimodal approach with a median of 18 opioid pills (range 6-35 pills) over 6.9 ± 5.1 days when used in combination with non-opioid pain medications. Overall, 74.4% of patients were satisfied with their postoperative pain management.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level II; Prospective cohort study.

Patients with diabetes mellitus experience poorer outcomes after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair

Hypothesis

The purpose of this study was to identify potential differences using validated clinical outcome instruments between patients with and without diabetes mellitus (DM) after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (RCR).

Methods

Six-hundred eighty-four patients (32 with and 652 without DM) who underwent arthroscopic RCR were prospectively followed using the visual analog pain scale, Simple Shoulder Test, Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, and Veterans RAND 12-item Health Survey (mental and physical component scores) preoperatively and at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively.

Results

Patients with DM experienced significantly more pain (P = .0172) and had lower Simple Shoulder Test (P = .0458) and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (P = .0200) scores than patients without DM 6 months after surgery. Although differences between groups are seen at other postoperative time points, none are statistically significant.

They also exhibited lower self-rated mental health status at 12 months (P = .0034) and 24 months (P = .0077), as well as lower self-rated physical health status at 12 months (P = .0223) and 24 months (P = .0077). Changes in scores from preoperatively to postoperatively were not different for patients with DM vs. without DM.

Conclusion

Patients with DM experience significantly more pain, exhibit significantly poorer shoulder function, and report persistently diminished mental and physical health status compared with their counterparts without DM after undergoing arthroscopic RCR. Although these differences did not reach the minimal clinically important difference, orthopedic surgeons should be cognizant of DM as an outcome-modifying variable when selecting, counseling, and treating patients with rotator cuff tears. Glycemic control should be scrutinized and optimized during the perioperative medical evaluation and ultimately factored into the surgical risk profile and prognosis.

All-Inside Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Using Quadrupled Semitendinosus: Comparable 2-Year Outcomes in Male and Female Patients

PURPOSE

To determine 2-year functional outcomes using an all-inside quadrupled semitendinosus anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction technique in male and female patients.

METHODS

A total of 100 patients who underwent quadrupled semitendinosus all-inside hamstring ACL reconstruction by a single surgeon were enrolled. Patient-reported outcome scores collected preoperatively and postoperatively included visual analog scale, Veterans Rand 12-Item Health Survey (VR-12; Physical and Mental), Marx Activity Scale, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Scores (KOOS), and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC).

RESULTS

A total of 100 ACL reconstructions comprising 62 female, and 38 male patients were included in this study. Mean graft diameter was 9.4 mm in female and 9.8 mm in male patients (range, 9-11). Outcome scores demonstrated improvement from preoperative to 2-year postoperative respectively: visual analog scale pain 3.18, 1.07, VR-12 physical 36.35, 52.64, VR-12 mental 53.96, 54.65, KOOS pain 59.17, 89.03, KOOS symptoms 52.64, 80.79, KOOS Activities of Daily Living 69.38, 95.4, KOOS Sport 28.97, 81.25, KOOS Quality of Life 27.54, 71.56, WOMAC Pain 71.56, 92.65, WOMAC Stiffness 60.55, 84.13, and WOMAC Function 69.38, 95.4. Marx activity score decreased from baseline (10.98) to 2 years' postoperatively (8.75). At 2 years, patient expectations were met or exceeded with regards to pain (94%), motion and strength (91%), normal function of daily living (95%), and return to sport (79%).

CONCLUSIONS

Anatomic all-inside quadrupled semitendinosus ACL reconstruction improves functional outcomes similarly to previous studies between baseline and clinical follow-up at 1-year and 2-years postoperatively and is comparable in both male and female patients.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, retrospective comparative study.

Impact of smoking on patient-reported outcome measures after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: a 2-year comparative cohort study

Background and Hypothesis

Smoking is a well-established risk factor for tendon healing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differences in patient-reported outcome measures between smokers and nonsmokers who have undergone arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. It was hypothesized that smokers would have worse self-reported outcomes at 1 and 2 years postoperatively.

Methods

A total of 560 consecutive patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair were divided into 2 groups: group I (smokers) n = 25 and group II (nonsmokers) n = 535. All participants were administered preoperative and postoperative surveys consisting of the following outcome-measuring tools: (i) visual analog scale, (ii) Veterans Rand 12-Item Health Survey, (iii) American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons shoulder score, (iv) standard preoperative form consisting of 4 questions regarding their expectations of recovery, (v) Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation shoulder score, and (vi) Simple Shoulder Test.

Results

At 1 and 2 years postoperative, nonsmokers reported statistically significant differences in Veterans Rand 12-Item Health Survey mental scores (56.2 vs. 51.9, P = .0162 and 56.3 vs. 49.5, P = .0004, respectively). American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Shoulder scores showed no differences until the 2-year mark, at which time nonsmokers reported higher scores than smokers (87.9 vs. 79.0, P = .0212). Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation scores also remained similar up until 2-year follow-up, at which time nonsmokers reported statistically significant improvement (80.0 vs. 68.5, P = .0339). Nonsmokers reported higher Simple Shoulder Test scores at baseline and at 2-year follow-up (43.3 vs. 37.0, P = .0417 and 83.7 vs. 68.1, P = .0046, respectively).

Conclusion

At 2 years postoperatively, nonsmokers had significantly higher patient-reported outcome measure scores than smokers. In elective surgery, smoking status should be considered as a risk factor for poorer patient-reported outcomes after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. However, smokers continue to report a clinical benefit at 2 years postoperatively.

Meniscal and Mechanical Symptoms Are Associated with Cartilage Damage, Not Meniscal Pathology

BACKGROUND

Traditionally defined "meniscal" and "mechanical" symptoms are thought to arise from meniscal tears. Yet meniscal tears and cartilage damage commonly coexist in symptomatic knees. To better characterize the primary driver of these symptoms, we investigated whether the presence of preoperative patient-reported knee symptoms (PRKS), including knee catching/locking, grinding/clicking/popping, and pain with pivoting, are associated with various intra-articular pathological conditions diagnosed at knee arthroscopy.

METHODS

We collected prospective data from 565 consecutive patients who underwent knee arthroscopy from 2012 to 2019 and had PRKS collected via the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) questionnaire. The diagnosis of meniscal pathology and concomitant cartilage damage was confirmed and classified intraoperatively. We used multivariable regression models, adjusting for possible confounders, to examine the association of specific pathological conditions of the knee with the presence of preoperative PRKS.

RESULTS

Tricompartmental cartilage damage was strongly associated with significantly worse PRKS, with an increase of 0.33 point (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.08 to 0.58; p = 0.01) on a 0 to 4-point scale. We did not observe an association between meniscal pathology and preoperative PRKS.

CONCLUSIONS

Contrary to current dogma, this study demonstrates that traditionally defined "meniscal" and "mechanical" knee symptoms are strongly associated with the burden and severity of underlying cartilage damage rather than with specific meniscal pathology.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

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

Smoking Negatively Effects Patient-Reported Outcomes Following Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy

Purpose

To determine whether active smokers have different patient-reported outcomes relative to nonsmokers for pain, function, and overall health at baseline and 1 or 2 years after an arthroscopic partial meniscectomy.

Methods

Patients who underwent arthroscopic partial meniscectomy were identified. Demographic data, including smoking status and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), were prospectively collected preoperatively and 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years postoperatively. Statistical analysis was performed using the mixed-effects model to compare PROMs preoperatively and 1 or 2 years postoperatively between nonsmokers and active smokers.

Results

509 knees undergoing arthroscopic partial meniscectomy were divided into 2 cohorts: group I, nonsmokers (n = 470) and group II, active smokers (n = 39). There were statistically significant baseline differences in PROMs for nonsmokers versus smokers: visual analog scale (VAS), 5.0 ± 0.4 versus 6.3 ± 0.7, respectively (P = .001); Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) Pain scale, 50.3 ± 3.2 versus 42.5± 5.5 (P = .005); KOOS Symptoms scale, 50.0 ± 3.2 versus 43.6 ± 5.4 (P = .019); and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) Pain scale, 57.5 ± 3.4 versus 48.2 ± 6.1 (P = .003). There were also statistically significant differences in nonsmokers versus smokers regarding knee function at baseline shown by the KOOS Activites of Daily Living (ADL) scale: (61.1 ± 3.3 versus 53.5 ± 6.1; P = .015). Baseline mental health, as assessed by the Veterans Rand 12-Item Health Survey (VR-12) Mental Health questionnaire, was also statistically different between nonsmokers (55.4 ± 0.8) and smokers (51.5 ± 3.3; P = .020). Importantly, PROMs for pain and function were lower at all time points for smokers.

Conclusion

Patients who were active smokers at the time of partial meniscectomy had significantly worse baseline and postoperative PROMs compared with nonsmokers. Changes from baseline for smokers and nonsmokers were relatively consistent between groups 1 and 2 years postoperatively. Smokers will improve a relatively similar amount as nonsmokers after partial meniscectomy, but their overall PROM scores are lower.

Level of Evidence

III, retrospective comparative study.

Sex differences in outcomes after arthroscopic bankart repair

Objectives

Risk factors for anterior shoulder dislocation include young age, contact activities and male sex. The influence of sex on patient-reported outcomes of arthroscopic Bankart repair (ABR) is unclear, with few studies reporting potential differences. This study’s purpose was to compare patient-reported outcomes of males and females following ABR.

Methods

Prospectively collected data was analysed for 281 patients (males: 206, females: 75) after ABR with preoperative, 1-year and 2-year follow-up responses. The Wilcoxon signed-rank and χ² tests, preoperative, 1 year and 2 year follow-up results were examined to determine differences of scores in males versus females.

Results

No statistically significant sex differences were observed in Simple Shoulder Test (SST), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) or Single Assessment Numerical Evaluation (SANE) Scores at 1-year or 2-year follow-up. Females had lower Veterans RAND 12-item health survey (VR-12) mental health subscores at 2-year follow-up (females: 52.3±9.0, males: 55.8±7.6, p=0.0016). Females were more likely to report that treatment had ‘exceeded expectations’ at 2-year follow-up regarding motion, strength, function and normal sports activities.

Conclusion

Results of study demonstrate that ABR has similar outcomes for both males and females. There were no statistically significant sex-related differences in SST, ASES, VAS or SANE scores following ABR. VR-12 mental health subscores showed a minimal difference at 2-year follow-up, with lower scores in females.

Level of evidence

Retrospective cohort study; level II.

Resilience as a Predictor of Patient Satisfaction With Nonopioid Pain Management and Patient-Reported Outcome Measures After Knee Arthroscopy

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Brief Resilience Score (BRS) as a predictor for patient satisfaction with nonopioid pain management and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) after arthroscopic partial meniscectomy or chondroplasty.

METHODS

One hundred seventy-five patients undergoing arthroscopic partial meniscectomy and/or chondroplasty were recruited from a single clinic and were preoperatively stratified into low-to-normal resilience or high resilience groups as measured by the BRS. Satisfaction with nonopioid pain control was assessed at a 2-week follow-up visit using the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Provider and Systems questionnaire, and various PROMs were measured at 3 and 6 months postoperatively. Statistical analysis was performed to assess for differences in satisfaction with pain control or PROMs between resilience groups.

RESULTS

Analysis revealed no statistically significant differences between the low-to-normal resilience group and the high resilience group with regard to satisfaction with nonopioid pain control or PROMs assessed at 3- or 6-month follow-ups. Outcome measures [visual analog scale pain, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) Pain, KOOS Activities of Daily Living, KOOS Quality of Life, Single Assessment Numerical Evaluation (SANE) Knee, and Veterans Rand 12-Item Health Survey Physical and Mental Component Scores] all followed expected trajectories after surgery, without a statistically significant difference between resilience groups.

CONCLUSION

This study provides evidence that preoperative resilience score, as measured by the BRS, does not correlate with postoperative patient-reported functional outcome or satisfaction with a nonopioid pain regimen after knee arthroscopy.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

II.