Antonia F. Chen

Staphylococcus aureus Screening and Decolonization in Orthopaedic Surgery and Reduction of Surgical Site Infections

BackgroundStaphylococcus aureus is the most common organism responsible for orthopaedic surgical site infections (SSIs). Patients who are carriers for methicillin-sensitive S. aureus or methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) have a higher likelihood of having invasive S. aureus infections. Although some have advocated screening for S. aureus and decolonizing it is unclear whether these efforts reduce SSIs.Questions/purposesThe purposes of this study were to determine (1) whether S. aureus screening and decolonization reduce SSIs in orthopaedic patients and (2) if implementing this protocol is cost-effective.MethodsStudies for this systematic review were identified by searching PubMed, which includes MEDLINE (1946–present), EMBASE.com (1974–present), and the Cochrane Library’s (John Wiley & Sons) Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE), Health Technology Assessment Database (HTAD), and the NHS Economic Evaluation Database (NHSEED). Comprehensive literature searches were developed using EMTREE, MeSH, and keywords for each of the search concepts of decolonization, MRSA, and orthopedics/orthopedic surgery. Studies published before 1968 were excluded. We analyzed 19 studies examining the ability of the decolonization protocol to reduce SSIs and 10 studies detailing the cost-effectiveness of S. aureus screening and decolonization.ResultsAll 19 studies showed a reduction in SSIs or wound complications by instituting a S. aureus screening and decolonization protocol in elective orthopaedic (total joints, spine, and sports) and trauma patients. The S. aureus screening and decolonization protocol also saved costs in orthopaedic patients when comparing the costs of screening and decolonization with the reduction of SSIs.ConclusionsPreoperative screening and decolonization of S. aureus in orthopaedic patients is a cost-effective means to reduce SSIs.Level of EvidenceLevel IV, systematic review of Level I–IV studies. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Preoperative Decolonization Effective at Reducing Staphylococcal Colonization in Total Joint Arthroplasty Patients

Staphylococcus decolonization prior to surgery is used to prevent surgical site infections (SSIs) after total joint arthroplasty (TJA). To determine if current treatment protocols result in successful decolonization of methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), 106 consecutive patients were screened for nasal MSSA/MRSA colonization pre-operatively and on the day of surgery. Colonized patients used intranasal mupirocin twice a day and chlorhexidine showers daily 5 days prior to surgery. Pre-operatively, 24 joints (22.0%) were positive for MSSA colonization and 5 joints (4.6%) were positive for MRSA colonization. On the day of surgery, 3 joints (2.8%) who underwent decolonization were positive for MSSA colonization and 0 joints were positive for MRSA colonization. The reduction in MSSA colonization was significant (P<0.001), while the eradication of MRSA colonization approached statistical significance (P=0.063). Current decolonization protocols using intranasal mupirocin and chlorhexidine washes are effective for reducing MRSA/MSSA colonization.

Long-Term Clinical Outcomes and Survivorship After Total Knee Arthroplasty Using a Rotating Platform Knee Prosthesis

A systematic search identified 29 papers reporting survivorship and clinical and function Knee Society Scores (KSS) of 6437 total knee replacements using the Low Contact Stress (LCS) Rotating Platform (RP) mobile bearing knee. Low Contact Stress RP survivorship and KSS outcomes were compared with non-LCS knees in the Swedish knee registry at comparable time periods and in 2 independent systematic reviews of knee arthroplasty outcomes. There is a substantial body of mainly observational evidence supporting the LCS RP knee. Knee Society Score outcomes were comparable for LCS RP and non-LCS RP knees at up to 15 years of follow-up, with mean clinical and function scores ranging from 72 to 96 and 58 to 90, respectively. Survivorship of LCS RP knees up to 14 years was higher than that for all knees in the Swedish Knee Registry.

2017 American College of Rheumatology/American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons Guideline for the Perioperative Management of Antirheumatic Medication in Patients With Rheumatic Diseases Undergoing Elective Total Hip or Total Knee Arthroplasty

This collaboration between the American College of Rheumatology and the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons developed an evidence‐based guideline for the perioperative management of antirheumatic drug therapy for adults with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), spondyloarthritis (SpA) including ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) undergoing elective total hip (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Better function for fusions versus above-the-knee amputations for recurrent periprosthetic knee infection.

BackgroundTreatment of chronic periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) after TKA is limited to fusions, above-the-knee amputations (AKAs), revision TKA, and antibiotic suppression and is often based on the patient’s medical condition. However, when both fusion and AKA are options, it is important to compare these two procedures with regard to function.Questions/purposesDo patients receiving a knee fusion for PJI after TKA have better function compared to patients receiving an AKA?MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed patients who were eligible for either fusion or AKA after PJI TKA. Thirty-seven patients underwent a fusion for PJIs after TKA between 1999 and 2010. Nine patients died postoperatively and eight patients were lost to followup, leaving 20 patients. Patients completed a specialized questionnaire about their fusion, and functional capability was assessed by the SF-12. We compared fusions to a previously published group of six patients who underwent AKA for recurrent PJI after TKA.ResultsFor patients with fusion, community ambulators increased from five to 10 and nonambulators decreased from three to one. For patients with AKA, nonambulatory patients increased from zero to two, and community ambulators decreased from four to one. The SF-12 physical component summary measurements were higher for fusions (51) than for AKAs (26). The mental component summary was also higher in fusions (60) than in AKAs (44). Seventy percent of patients indicated they would undergo a fusion again instead of undergoing an amputation if they were presented with both options after undergoing their operation.ConclusionsPatients receiving knee fusions for treating recurrent PJIs after TKA have better function and ambulatory status compared to patients receiving AKA.Level of EvidenceLevel III, therapeutic study. See the Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Recurrent periprosthetic joint infection: persistent or new infection?

It is unclear if recurrent periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a result of failed pathogen eradication. This study addresses this issue. We identified 92 patients from three institutions who failed two-stage exchange. Cultured organisms at each stage of treatment were compared to determine whether these were persistent or new infections. Only twenty-nine of the 92 patients (31.5%) had identical organisms at treatment failure. Of the failures associated with Staphylococcus as the original infecting organism, 37% (25 of 67) failed due to the same organism compared to only 16% (four of 25) caused by other organisms. Positive cultures at reimplantation and poor health status were associated with higher rates of recurrent infection due to new organisms. Successful management of PJI with a two-stage exchange must stress minimization of comorbid risk factors that may contribute to the low success rate of PJI treatment and recurrence of infection.

Effect of immediate postoperative physical therapy on length of stay for total joint arthroplasty patients.

The isolated effect of physical therapy (PT) on total joint arthroplasty hospital length of stay (LOS) has not been studied. A prospective cohort study was conducted on 136 primary total joint arthroplasties (58 hips, 78 knees). The LOS was determined by the operative start time until the time of discharge. On postoperative day (POD) 0, 60 joints remained in bed, 51 moved to a chair, and 25 received PT (22 ambulated, 3 moved to a chair). Length of stay differed for patients receiving PT on POD 0 (2.8 ± 0.8 days) compared with POD 1 (3.7 ± 1.8 days) (P = .02). There was no difference in PT treatment based on nausea/vomiting, pain levels, or discharge location. Isolated PT intervention on POD 0 shortened hospital LOS, regardless of the intervention performed.

Primary versus secondary distal femoral arthroplasty for treatment of total knee arthroplasty periprosthetic femur fractures.

Current methods of fixing periprosthetic fractures after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are variable, and include open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) via plating, retrograde nailing, or revision using standard revision TKA components or a distal femoral arthroplasty (DFA). The purpose of this study is to compare patients who failed plating techniques requiring subsequent revision to DFA to patients who underwent primary DFA. Of the 13 patients (9.2%) who failed primary ORIF, causes included nonunion (53.8%), infection (30.8%), loosening (7.7%), and refracture (7.7%). There were significantly more surgical procedures for ORIF revision to DFA compared to primary DFA. Complications for patients who underwent primary reconstruction with DFAs included extensor mechanism disruption (8.3%), infection (5.6%), and dislocation (2.8%). Primary reconstruction via ORIF is beneficial for preserving bone stock, but primary DFA may be preferred in osteopenic patients, or those at high risk for nonunion.

Patient-related medical risk factors for periprosthetic joint infection of the hip and knee.

Despite advancements and improvements in methods for preventing infection, periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a significant complication following total joint arthroplasty (TJA). Prevention is the most important strategy to deal with this disabling complication, and prevention should begin with identifying patient-related risk factors. Medical risk factors, such as morbid obesity, malnutrition, hyperglycemia, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), preoperative anemia, cardiovascular disorders, chronic renal failure, smoking, alcohol abuse and depression, should be evaluated and optimized prior to surgery. Treating patients to get laboratory values under a specified threshold or cessation of certain modifiable risk factors can decrease the risk of PJI. Although significant advances have been made in past decades to identify these risk factors, there remains some uncertainty regarding the risk factors predisposing TJA patients to PJI. Through a review of the current literature, this paper aims to comprehensively evaluate and provide a better understanding of known medical risk factors for PJI after TJA.

Blood Utilization After Primary Total Joint Arthroplasty in a Large Hospital Network

BackgroundSince a study in orthopedic hip fracture patients demonstrated that a liberal hemoglobin (Hb) threshold does not improve patient morbidity and mortality relative to a restrictive Hb threshold, the standard of care in total joint arthroplasty (TJA) should be examined to understand the variability of red blood cell (RBC) transfusion following TJA.Questions/purposesThe study aimed to answer the following questions: (1) What is the blood utilization rate after primary TJA for individual surgeons within a large hospital network? (2) What is the comparison of hospital charges, length of stay (LOS), and discharge locations among TJA patients who were and were not transfused?MethodsA retrospective study was conducted on 3,750 primary total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) and 2,070 primary total hip arthroplasties (THAs), and data was retrospectively collected over a 15-month period on the number of RBCs transfused per patient, along with demographic and cost details. The number of patients who received at least 1 RBC unit and the number of RBCs transfused per patient was calculated and stratified by surgeon.ResultsIn the postoperative period, 19.3% TKA patients and 38.5% THA patients received a RBC transfusion. Transfusion rates following TJA varied widely between surgeons (TKA 4.8–63.8%, THA 4.3–86.8%). Transfused TKA patients received an average of 1.65 ± 0.03 RBCs, and THA patients received an average of 1.97 ± 0.14 RBCs. LOS and hospital charges for blood transfusion patients were higher than nontransfused patients.ConclusionBlood utilization after primary TJA varies greatly among surgeons, suggesting that resources may be misallocated. These findings highlight the need to standardize RBC transfusion practice following TJA.