Alison K. Klika

Predicting Patient Discharge Disposition After Total Joint Arthroplasty in the United States

The purpose of this study was to develop an easily administered tool to preoperatively predict patient discharge disposition after total joint arthroplasty in the United States. Data were collected in a retrospective review of 517 medical charts and analyzed using logistic regression to develop a model for predicting the likelihood that a patient will not be discharged directly home. The resulting regression model was the basis for the nomogram, named the Predicting Location after Arthroplasty Nomogram. This model demonstrated a bootstrap-corrected concordance index of 0.867, excellent calibration, and external validation as demonstrated by a concordance index of 0.861. Preoperative knowledge that a patient is likely to require an extended care facility allows the clinical care team to make appropriate arrangements and avoid potential delays in patient discharge.

The Preoperative Prediction of Success Following Irrigation and Debridement With Polyethylene Exchange for Hip and Knee Prosthetic Joint Infections

Although the criterion standard for the treatment of prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) is 2-stage revision with interim placement of an antibiotic-loaded spacer, irrigation and debridement with polyethylene exchange offer advantages such as fewer surgeries, reduced potential for intraoperative complications, and lower direct costs. The purpose of this study was to develop a tool to preoperatively predict the probability of successful infection eradication following irrigation and debridement with polyethylene exchange for hip or knee PJIs. A total of 10,411 surgical cases were retrospectively reviewed, and data were collected from 309 charts. Overall, 149 (48.2%) cases failed to eradicate the infection following irrigation and debridement with polyethylene exchange. Univariate analysis identified multiple variables independently associated with reinfection including duration of symptoms, preoperative inflammatory markers, and infecting organism. Logistic regression was used to generate a model (bootstrap-corrected concordance index of 0.645) to predict successful eradication of the infection, which was the basis for a nomogram. Using commonly obtained preoperative variables, the nomogram can be used to predict the probability of infection-free survival at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years. Preoperative knowledge of the probability that a treatment strategy will eradicate a patients PJI may improve risk assessment.

The Use of Navigation in Total Knee Arthroplasty for Patients With Extra-Articular Deformity ☆

Computer-assisted navigation for total knee arthroplasty provides high technology instrumentation that may improve the technique for restoring the normal lower limb mechanical axis. This study evaluated the use of computer-assisted navigation in 7 patients (9 total knee arthroplasties) with a radiographic femoral extra-articular deformity. Postoperatively, the mechanical axis deviated medially by a mean of 1.3 degrees +/- 0.9 degrees (range, -0.2 degrees to 2.5 degrees ). Early patient outcomes showed an increase in the average preoperative to postoperative Knee Society Scores (from 62 to 92, P < .05), function scores (from 52 to 83, P < .05), and range of motion (from 4 degrees -74 degrees to 0.6 degrees -98 degrees , P < .05). These results support the use of computer-assisted navigation as effective high technology instrumentation in recreating an acceptable mechanical axis in patients with distorted anatomical landmarks.

Allogenic Blood Transfusion Following Total Hip Arthroplasty: Results from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, 2000 to 2009

BACKGROUND The large-scale utilization of allogenic blood transfusion and its associated outcomes have been described in critically ill patients and those undergoing high-risk cardiac surgery but not in patients undergoing elective total hip arthroplasty. The objective of this study was to determine the trends in utilization and outcomes of allogenic blood transfusion in patients undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty in the United States from 2000 to 2009. METHODS An observational cohort of 2,087,423 patients who underwent primary total hip arthroplasty from 2000 to 2009 was identified in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample. International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification procedure codes 99.03 and 99.04 were used to identify patients who received allogenic blood products during their hospital stay. Risk factors for allogenic transfusions were identified with use of multivariable logistic regression models. We used propensity score matching to estimate the adjusted association between transfusion and surgical outcomes. RESULTS The rate of allogenic blood transfusion increased from 11.8% in 2000 to 19.0% in 2009. Patient-related risk factors for receiving an allogenic blood transfusion include an older age, female sex, black race, and Medicaid insurance. Hospital-related risk factors include rural location, smaller size, and non-academic status. After adjusting for confounders, allogenic blood transfusion was associated with a longer hospital stay (0.58 ± 0.02 day; p < 0.001), increased costs (

MRI and gross anatomy of the iliopsoas tendon complex

1731 ±

Primary total knee arthroplasty allogenic transfusion trends, length of stay, and complications: nationwide inpatient sample 2000-2009.

49 [in 2009 U.S. dollars]; p < 0.001), increased rate of discharge to an inpatient facility (odds ratio, 1.28; 95% confidence interval, 1.26 to 1.31), and worse surgical and medical outcomes. In-hospital mortality was not affected by allogenic blood transfusion (odds ratio, 0.97; 95% confidence interval, 0.77 to 1.21). CONCLUSIONS The increase in allogenic blood transfusion among total hip arthroplasty patients is concerning considering the associated increase in surgical complications and adverse events. The risk factors for transfusion and its impact on costs and inpatient outcomes can potentially be used to enhance patient care through optimizing preoperative discussions and effective utilization of blood-conservation methods.

Prospective Randomized Evaluation of the Need for Blood Transfusion During Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty with Use of a Bipolar Sealer

ObjectiveThe objective was to explain the anatomic basis of a longitudinal cleft of increased signal in the iliopsoas tendon seen on hip MR arthrograms.Materials and methodsA prospective review of 20 MR hip arthrograms was performed using standard and fat-suppressed T1-weighted images to establish whether or not the cleft was composed of fatty tissue and to define the anatomy of the iliopsoas tendon complex. Three cadaver dissections of the hip region were then performed for anatomic correlation.ResultsFourteen out of 20 MR hip arthrograms demonstrated a longitudinal cleft of increased T1 signal adjacent to the iliopsoas tendon, which suppressed on frequency selective fat-suppressed images, indicating fatty composition. Gross anatomic correlation demonstrated this fatty cleft to represent a fascial plane adjacent to the iliopsoas tendon, in one case separating the iliopsoas tendon medially from a thin intramuscular tendon within the lateral portion of the iliacus muscle. Also noted was a direct muscular insertion of the lateral portion of the iliacus muscle onto the anterior portion of the proximal femoral diaphysis in all 3 cadavers.ConclusionThe anatomy of the iliopsoas tendon complex is more complicated than typically illustrated and includes the iliopsoas tendon itself attaching to the lesser trochanter, the lateral portion of the iliacus muscle attaching directly upon the anterior portion of the proximal femoral diaphysis, and a thin intramuscular tendon within this lateral iliacus muscle that is separated from the iliopsoas tendon by a cleft of fatty fascia that accounts for the MRI findings of a cleft of increased T1 signal.

Chronic Suppression of Periprosthetic Joint Infections with Oral Antibiotics Increases Infection-Free Survivorship.

Perioperative blood loss leading to blood transfusion continues to be an issue for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients. The US Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) was used to determine annual trends in allogenic blood transfusion rates, and effects of transfusion on in-hospital mortality, length of stay (LOS), costs, discharge disposition, and complications of primary TKA patients. TKA patients between 2000 and 2009 were included (n = 4,544,999) and categorized as: (1) those who received a transfusion of allogenic blood, and (2) those who did not. Transfusion rates increased from 7.7% to 12.2%. For both transfused and not transfused groups, mortality rates and mean LOS declined, while total costs increased. Transfused patients were associated with adjusted odds ratios of in-hospital mortality (AOR 1.16; P = 0.184), 0.71 ± 0.01 days longer LOS (P < 0.0001), and incurred (

The Influence of Psychiatric Comorbidity on Perioperative Outcomes Following Primary Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty; A 17-year Analysis of the National Hospital Discharge Survey Database

1777 ± 36; P < 0.0001) higher total costs per admission.

Influence of technique with distally fixed modular stems in revision total hip arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND Blood loss during total hip arthroplasty can be substantial and may lead to adverse patient outcomes and increased health-care costs. Many blood-management options are available for these procedures. The purpose of the present study was to test the hemostatic efficacy of a bipolar sealer used during total hip arthroplasty in order to determine whether its use results in significantly lower transfusion requirements and/or improved clinical, functional, and health-related quality-of-life outcomes in healthy patients. METHODS This prospective, single-center, randomized, double-blinded study was designed to enroll a total of 140 patients. Patients with a low preoperative hemoglobin level or a history of bleeding abnormalities and other medical conditions were excluded. Patients were randomized to either the treatment arm (radiofrequency energy with use of the Aquamantys 6.0 bipolar sealer) or control arm (standard Bovie electrocautery). The primary outcome measure was the transfusion requirement, and the secondary outcome measures were intraoperative estimated blood loss, postoperative hemoglobin levels, perioperative narcotic usage, length of hospital stay, postoperative pain scores, and postoperative function as measured with the Harris hip score and the Short Form-12 quality-of-life score. RESULTS Seventy-one patients were assigned to the treatment arm, and sixty-nine were assigned to the control arm. The mean number of units of blood transfused for all patients in the study and control arms were 0.38 and 0.44, respectively (p = 0.72). The transfusion requirements were similar in the two groups, with fifteen of seventy-one patients in the treatment arm and fourteen of sixty-nine patients in the control arm requiring a transfusion (p = 0.9). No significant differences were detected between the groups in terms of estimated blood loss, postoperative hemoglobin levels, perioperative narcotic usage, length of hospital stay, postoperative pain scores, Harris hip scores, or Short Form-12 scores. CONCLUSIONS In this patient population, there were no significant differences between the treatment and control groups in terms of the need for blood transfusions or overall blood loss. Given these findings, we have discontinued the use of this bipolar sealing device in uncomplicated primary total hip arthroplasty patients at our institution. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.