Max Greenky

Preoperative Anemia in Total Joint Arthroplasty: Is It Associated with Periprosthetic Joint Infection?

BackgroundAnemia is common in patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty (TJA). Numerous studies have associated anemia with increased risk of infection, length of hospital stay, and mortality in surgical populations. However, it is unclear whether and to what degree preoperative anemia in patients undergoing TJA influences postoperative periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) and mortality.Questions/PurposesWe therefore (1) determined the incidence of preoperative anemia in patients undergoing TJA; (2) assessed the possible association between preoperative anemia and subsequent PJI; and (3) explored the relationship between preoperative anemia with postoperative mortality.MethodsWe identified 15,722 patients who underwent TJA from January 2000 to June 2007. Anemia was defined as hemoglobin < 12 g/dL in women and hemoglobin < 13 g/dL in men. We determined the effect of preoperative anemia, demographics, and comorbidities on postoperative complications.ResultsOf the 15,222 patients, 19.6% presented with preoperative anemia. PJI occurred more frequently in anemic patients at an incidence of 4.3% in anemic patients compared with 2% in nonanemic patients. Thirty-day (0.4%), 90-day (0.6%), and 1-year (1.8%) mortality rates were not higher in patients with preoperative anemia. Forty-four percent of anemic patients received an allogenic transfusion compared with only 13.4% of nonanemic patients. Anemic patients had increased hospital stays averaging 4.3 days compared with 3.9 days in nonanemic patients. Anemia did not predict cardiac complications.ConclusionOur data demonstrate that preoperative anemia is associated with development of subsequent PJI. Preoperative anemia was not associated with 30-day, 60-day, or 1-year mortality in this cohort.Level of EvidenceLevel III, diagnostic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

The Effect of Malnutrition on Patients Undergoing Elective Joint Arthroplasty

Malnutrition has been linked to serious complications in patients undergoing elective total joint arthroplasty (TJA). This study prospectively evaluated 2,161 patients undergoing elective TJA for malnutrition as defined by either an abnormal serum albumin or transferrin. The overall incidence of malnutrition was 8.5% (184 of 2,161) and the rate of overall complications in the malnourished group was 12% as compared to 2.9% in patients with normal parameters (P<0.0001). Malnutrition predicted serious complications involving hematoma formation, infection, renal and cardiac complications. Obesity, defined by a body mass index (BMI) of 30kg/m(2) was present in 42.9% of malnourished patients with a significantly higher complication rate in this cohort. Malnutrition remains prevalent in patients >55years-old undergoing TJA and is associated with a significant increase in post-operative complications.

Total hip arthroplasty after prior surgical treatment of hip fracture is it always challenging

Salvage total hip arthroplasty (THA) presents a viable solution for failed open reduction internal fixation. This study compares salvage THA in patients with prior femoral neck fractures vs patients with prior intertrochanteric fractures. One hundred fifty-four hips in 152 patients underwent conversion from open reduction internal fixation to THA. Eighty-three patients had previous femoral neck fractures, and 69 patients (71 hips) had prior intertrochanteric fractures. Salvage THA in patients with prior intertrochanteric fractures presented a more technically demanding procedure with longer operative times and larger amounts of blood loss. Although conversion THA presents a technically challenging procedure, it is safe and yields relatively few orthopedic complications.

Spinal anesthesia: should everyone receive a urinary catheter?: a randomized, prospective study of patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND The objective of this randomized prospective study was to determine whether a urinary catheter is necessary for all patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty under spinal anesthesia. METHODS Consecutive patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty under spinal anesthesia were randomized to treatment with or without insertion of an indwelling urinary catheter. All patients received spinal anesthesia with 15 to 30 mg of 0.5% bupivacaine. The catheter group was subjected to a standard postoperative protocol, with removal of the indwelling catheter within forty-eight hours postoperatively. The experimental group was monitored for urinary retention and, if necessary, had straight catheterization up to two times prior to the placement of an indwelling catheter. RESULTS Two hundred patients were included in the study. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the prevalence of urinary retention, the prevalence of urinary tract infection, or the length of stay. Nine patients in the no-catheter group and three patients in the catheter group (following removal of the catheter) required straight catheterization because of urinary retention. Three patients in the catheter group and no patient in the no-catheter group had development of urinary tract infection. CONCLUSIONS Patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty under spinal anesthesia appear to be at low risk for urinary retention. Thus, a routine indwelling catheter is not required for such patients.

Intraoperative Blood Salvage in Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty: Who Benefits Most?

The purpose of the present study was to identify factors that predict reinfusion following intraoperative blood salvage (IOBS). We retrospectively identified 298 patients who underwent aseptic revision total hip arthroplasty at our institution between February 2005 and January 2007. Of these, 160 (53.7%) received reinfusion from IOBS. In the reinfusion group, an average of 850 mL (range, 300-4300) of fluid was collected and an average of 270 mL (range, 135-1350) of red blood cells was returned. Exchange of both the femoral and acetabular components, use of a trochanteric osteotomy, increased body mass index, and advanced age were associated with reinfusion. Based on these results, surgeons may consider using IOBS on patients with these preoperative characteristics.

Who Goes to Inpatient Rehabilitation or Skilled Nursing Facilities Unexpectedly Following Total Knee Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND Inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) and skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) represent a significant portion of post-operative expenses of bundled payments for total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Although many surgeons no longer routinely send patients to IRFs or SNFs, some patients are unable to be discharged directly home. This study identified patient factors for discharge to post-acute care facilities with an institutional protocol of discharging TKA patients home. METHODS A retrospective review of patients undergoing primary unilateral TKA at a single institution from 2012 to 2017 was performed. All surgeons discharged patients home as a routine protocol. An electronic query followed by manual review identified discharge disposition, demographic factors, co-morbidities, and other patient factors. In total, 2281 patients were identified, with 9.6% discharged to SNFs or IRFs and 90.4% discharged home. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to create 2 predictive models for patient discharge: pre-operative visit and hospital course. RESULTS Among 43 variables studied, 6 were found to be significant pre-operative risk factors for a discharge disposition other than home. In descending order, age 75 or greater, female, non-Caucasian race, Medicare status, history of depression, and Charlson Comorbidity Index were predictors for patients going to IRFs. In addition, any in-hospital complications led to a higher likelihood of being discharged to IRFs and SNFs. Both models had excellent predictive assessments with area under curve values of 0.79 and 0.80 for pre-operative visit and hospital course. CONCLUSION This study identifies pre-operative and in-hospital factors that predispose patients to non-routine discharges, which allow surgeons to better predict patient post-operative disposition.

Total Joint Arthroplasty in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: Survivorship, Outcomes, and Reasons for Failure

BACKGROUND Gait instability and muscle rigidity are known characteristics of Parkinsons disease (PD), putting PD patients at risk for complications following total joint arthroplasty (TJA). The outcomes of Parkinsons patients undergoing TJA are largely unknown. This study evaluated the outcomes of TJA in this population. METHODS A single institution retrospective cohort of 123 TJAs (52 hips, 71 knees) from 2000 to 2016 was reviewed. An electronic chart query was performed using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth revision codes to identify this population. A manual chart review was performed to confirm the diagnosis of PD, survivorship, and reason for failure. A control cohort was matched 2:1 based on age, body mass index, joint, and comorbidities. Outcomes were assessed using revision for any reason as the primary endpoint. Functional outcomes were assessed using Short-Form 12 scores. RESULTS At an average follow-up of 5.3 years, 23.6% of patients required revision surgery. The most common reasons for revision for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) were periprosthetic infection and for total hip arthroplasty (THA) were periprosthetic fracture and dislocation. Overall survivorship of TJA at years 2, 5, and 10 respectively were 94.9%, 87.9%, and 72.3%. The survivorship of TKA was 95.2%, 89.8%, and 66.2%. THA implant survivorship was 94.3%, 85.3%, and 78.7%. Functional score improvement was less in PD cohort than the control. CONCLUSION Patients with PD are at increased risk for complications, particularly periprosthetic infection following TKA and periprosthetic fracture and dislocation following THA. Despite this increased risk of complications, patients with PD can demonstrate improved functional outcomes but not as high as patients without PD. Patients with PD should be counseled appropriately prior to undergoing TJA.