Mhamad Faour

Serum biomarkers in periprosthetic joint infections

Objectives The diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is difficult and requires a battery of tests and clinical findings. The purpose of this review is to summarize all current evidence for common and new serum biomarkers utilized in the diagnosis of PJI. Methods We searched two literature databases, using terms that encompass all hip and knee arthroplasty procedures, as well as PJI and statistical terms reflecting diagnostic parameters. The findings are summarized as a narrative review. Results Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were the two most commonly published serum biomarkers. Most evidence did not identify other serum biomarkers that are clearly superior to ESR and CRP. Other serum biomarkers have not demonstrated superior sensitivity and have failed to replace CRP and ESR as first-line screening tests. D-dimer appears to be a promising biomarker, but more research is necessary. Factors that influence serum biomarkers include temporal trends, stage of revision, and implant-related factors (metallosis). Conclusion Our review helped to identify factors that can influence serum biomarkers’ level changes; the recognition of such factors can help improve their diagnostic utility. As such, we cannot rely on ESR and CRP alone for the diagnosis of PJI prior to second-stage reimplantation, or in metal-on-metal or corrosion cases. The future of serum biomarkers will likely shift towards using genomics and proteomics to identify proteins transcribed via messenger RNA in response to infection and sepsis. Cite this article: A. Saleh, J. George, M. Faour, A. K. Klika, C. A. Higuera. Serum biomarkers in periprosthetic joint infections. Bone Joint Res 2018;7:85–93. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.71.BJR-2017-0323.

Gallstone-related abdominal cystic mass presenting 6 years after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A case report

Highlights • Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the gold standard for gallbladder disease.• Complications of gallstones spillage in the peritoneum are uncommon.• We report a case of spilled gallstones presenting 6 years after LC with uncharacteristic clinical presentation.• The diagnosis of gallstone abscess after years of LC is usually a diagnostic challenge.

Same-Day Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty Candidacy Criteria Decrease Length of Stay and Facility Discharge

Simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty (SBTKA) may present a higher risk for postoperative complications than unilateral surgery. The authors retrospectively identified 561 patients who underwent SBTKA between 2013 and 2015. The cohort was stratified according to the following appropriateness of care criteria (AOCC): (1) age younger than 70 years; (2) absence of cardiac disease; (3) controlled diabetes; and (4) body mass index less than 30 kg/m2. The authors created an AOCC score, with 0 representing the most ideal candidates and 4 representing the least ideal candidates. The cohort included 140 (25%) ideal candidates with a score of 0; the cohort also included 299 (53%) non-ideal candidates with a score of 1, 105 (19%) with a score of 2, 14 (2%) with a score of 3, and 3 (1%) with a score of 4. Ideal candidates had the shortest mean length of stay at 3.6±1.2 days. Length of stay was longer for patients with an AOCC score of greater than 2 compared with those with an AOCC score of 2 or less (5.2±4.3 vs 3.8±1.6 days, P<.001). Ideal candidates were discharged to home more often than other patients (26% vs 13%, P<.001). Although there was no difference in 90-day all-cause complications between ideal and non-ideal candidates (13% vs 16%, P=.400), medical complications trended strongly (6% vs 11%, P=.086). Appropriateness of care criteria for SBTKA patients were associated with shorter length of stay, higher rates of home discharge, and a trend toward lower complication rates. Simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty can offer better outcomes in a subgroup of patients appropriately selected for surgery. Physicians can use these results to counsel their patients about risks and benefits of undergoing SBTKA. [Orthopedics. 2018; 41(5):293-298.].

Overlapping Lower Extremity Total Joint Arthroplasty Does Not Increase the Risk of 90-Day Complications

Although total hip arthroplasty and total knee arthroplasty commonly overlap, there are concerns about the safety and quality of this scenario. The objectives of this study were to (1) compare the operative time and the incidence of 90-day complications between overlapping and nonoverlapping total joint arthroplasties; and (2) evaluate the effect of the duration of overlap on operative time and the incidence of 90-day complications. A total of 9192 patients who underwent primary total hip arthroplasty or total knee arthroplasty at a large academic hospital from 2005 to 2014 were identified. A surgery was defined as overlapping if it had an incision to closure overlap time of at least 1 minute with any other surgery performed by the same surgeon. A total of 2669 (29%) patient procedures were classified as overlapping. Operative times and 90-day complications were compared between overlapping and nonoverlapping surgeries. Mixed effects regression models were used to assess the independent effects of overlapping surgeries. After adjusting for baseline characteristics, operative times were longer for the overlapping surgery group (P<.001). Overlapping surgeries had fewer thromboembolic events (P=.003) and periprosthetic joint infections (P=.039). Wound dehiscence (P=.662), superficial infection (P=.161), and wound hematoma (P=.511) were similar between the 2 groups. Operative times increased with increasing duration of overlap (P<.001); however, there was no association between duration of overlap and 90-day complications (P>.05 for all). Although overlapping surgeries had increased operative times, they did not appear to increase the risk of perioperative complications. This information may be helpful for scheduling overlapping procedures and counseling patients. [Orthopedics. 2018; 41(5):e695-e700.].

Knee Position during Surgical Wound Closure in Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Review

Abstract Study areas concerning maximizing knee range of motion (ROM) following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) have come under focus by surgeons. Among the perioperative factors that were identified to affect ROM after TKAs is knee position during surgical wound closure. Therefore, the aim of this study was to review the impact of knee position during TKA wound closure on: (1) postoperative ROM, (2) wound‐related complications, (3) Knee Society Score (KSS), (4) postoperative pain, and (5) muscle strength and home functional recovery. A literature search was performed using PubMed, Ovid, and Google Scholar using various combinations of the following search terms: “wound closure,” “knee position,” “surgical closure,” and “knee arthroplasty.” The studies were evaluated for outcomes after TKA and stratified based on the knee position at surgical closure. After application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, seven studies were analyzed. The total number of patients included was 516 patients (259 patients in the flexion group and 257 patients in the full extension group). Based on the reviewed literature, wound closure in flexion was associated with significant improvement in ROM recovery at earlier follow‐ups after TKA (four positive and three neutral studies), better early postoperative pain scores (two positive and one neutral study), and faster physical recovery (two positive studies) (better muscle strength and early achievement of physical therapy milestones) compared with wound closure in extension. No difference was found between wound closure in flexion compared with closure in extension in terms of long‐term ROM recovery, long‐term postoperative pain scores, wound‐related complications (seven neutral studies), knee function measured by KSS (five neutral studies), or patient satisfactions after TKA. Although the current review is limited by the number of studies that are available in the literature, it demonstrates that overall, compared with extension, surgical wound closure in flexion may provide better ROM, faster recovery, comparable patient satisfaction, and no risk of higher wound complications.

The Role of Barbed Sutures in Wound Closure Following Knee and Hip Arthroplasty: A Review

Abstract Lower extremity joint arthroplasty procedures often require a large incision to have an adequate exposure, which subsequently leads to lengthy wounds that may contribute to long closure, anesthesia, and overall operative times. The recently introduced knotless barbed suture may provide better outcomes, faster closure time, and decreased material utilization. Therefore, the aim of this study was to review the impact of barbed sutures on: (1) wound‐related complications; (2) closure and operative time; (3) patient outcomes (range of motion and Knee Society Scores [KSS]); and (4) effects on cosmesis and patients’ satisfaction. A literature search was performed using up to February 2017. Barbed sutures were associated with shorter closure times, shorter operative times, and larger cost savings per procedure as well as comparable wound complication rates after total joint arthroplasty. Although the current review is limited by the number of studies included, it demonstrates that overall, barbed sutures contribute to surgical efficiency when compared with conventional skin closure modalities.

What are the Short-Term Outcomes in Multiple Sclerosis Patients after Total Knee Arthroplasty?

Abstract Due to the paucity of evidence, this study was conducted to evaluate: (1) unique characteristics of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and (2) short‐term clinical outcomes, of primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in patients with MS (MS‐TKA) compared with matched non‐MS patients. MS patients who underwent TKA were identified using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. The study sample consisted of 10,884 patients with MS and 56,45,227 control cohort. Various patient factors were compared. To control for potential confounders, with the use of propensity scores, MS‐TKA patients were matched (1:3) to non‐MS‐TKA patients and regression analyses were performed to compare perioperative complications, length of stay (LOS), and discharge dispositions. Patients with MS were younger, more likely to be females, on corticosteroids, and more likely to have muscle spasms and gait abnormalities. Annual frequency of TKAs in MS patients increased from 1.16/1,000 TKAs in 2002 to 2.48/1,000 TKAs in 2013 (p < 0.001). Compared with the matched cohort, MS patients had significantly greater odds for any medical complication (odds ratio [OR] = 1.26; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11‐1.44), longer mean LOS (mean difference: 0.15; 95% CI, 0.09‐0.22), and had a greater chance of being discharged to a care facility (OR = 2.17; 95% CI, 1.96‐2.40). In this study, we identified specific characteristics of patients with MS who had TKA and analyzed and compared their short‐term TKA outcomes to non‐MS patients. It was demonstrated that more patients with MS are undergoing TKA, and these patients were at a higher risk of perioperative complications, had longer LOS, and were more likely to be discharged to a sub‐acute or inpatient facility. Orthopaedic surgeons should be cognizant of the increased risks and provide proper counseling to MS patients who are candidates for TKA.

Emergency Department Visits Within Thirty Days of Discharge After Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Hidden Quality Measure

BACKGROUND Thirty-day hospital readmissions following total hip arthroplasty (THA) have received increasing scrutiny by policy makers and hospitals. Emergency department (ED) visits may not necessarily result in an inpatient readmission but can be a measure of performance and can incur costs to the health system. The purpose of this study is to describe the following: (1) the frequency and subsequent disposition; (2) patient characteristics; (3) reasons; and (4) potential risk factors for ED visits that did not result in a readmission within 30 days of discharge after THA. METHODS All primary THAs performed at a large healthcare system between 2013 and 2015 were identified. Patients who received unplanned hospital services for complications within 30 days following surgery were identified and analyzed. A multiple regression analysis was utilized to identify risk factors predisposing for returning to the ED without readmission. RESULTS From a total of 6270 primary THAs, 440 patients (7%) had an unplanned return to the hospital within 30 days. Of those, 227 (3.6%) patients presented to the ED and were not readmitted. Higher percentage of African Americans was noted among patients who returned to the ED versus those who did not (20.2% vs 9.8%, P < .01). The most common medical diagnoses were nonspecific medical symptoms (24.8%) followed by minor gastrointestinal problems (10.5%). The most common surgery-related diagnoses were pain and swelling (35%), followed by wound complications (12%) and hip dislocations (7.3%). Nearly 50% of wound complications and 40% of hip dislocations were managed and discharged from the ED without a readmission. Both African Americans (odds ratio 2.28, 95% confidence interval 1.55-3.36) and home discharge (odds ratio 1.90, 95% confidence interval 1.28-2.82) were independent risk factors for return to the ED without readmission. CONCLUSION ED visits that do not result in hospital readmissions, many of which may be due to serious complications, are more frequent than inpatient readmission. This is extremely relevant to policy makers and quality metrics, especially as comprehensive and bundled payment initiatives become more prevalent.

Validation of a Novel Surgical Data Capturing System Following Total Hip Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND The OrthoMiDaS (Orthopedic Minimal Data Set) Episode of Care (OME) database was developed in an effort to advance orthopedic outcome measurements on a national scale. This study was designed to evaluate if the OME data capture system would increase the quality of data collected in the context of primary and revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) compared to conventional operative notes. METHODS This study includes data from the first 100 primary THAs and 100 revision THAs performed by 15 surgeons at a single institution from January through April 2016. Surgeons prospectively entered procedural details into OME following surgery. The OME database and operative notes were compared to evaluate completion rates and agreement. Completion rates were compared using McNemars test (with continuity correction), while agreement was analyzed using Cohens kappa (κ) and concordance correlation coefficient. RESULTS The OME database had significantly higher completion rates for 41% (39/96) of the variables. Proportion of data points that matched between the operative notes and OME data revealed that 54% (52/96) had a proportion agreement >0.90, and 79% (76/96) had a proportion agreement >0.80. In regard to measured agreement, 25% (24/96) of variables had almost perfect agreement, 29% (28/96) had substantial agreement, and 14% (13/96) had moderate agreement. Only 4% (4/96) had fair agreement, 8% (8/96) had slight agreement, and 6% (6/96) had poor agreement. CONCLUSION The OME data capture system is an efficient tool to document procedural details following THA. The system is user-friendly, comprehensive, and accurate. It has the potential to be a valuable tool for future orthopedic research.

Implementation of a Total Hip Arthroplasty Care Pathway at a High-Volume Health System: Effect on Length of Stay, Discharge Disposition, and 90-Day Complications

BACKGROUND Standardized care pathways are evidence-based algorithms for optimizing an episode of care. Despite the theoretical promise of care pathways, there is an inconsistent literature demonstrating improvements in patient care. The authors hypothesized that implementing a care pathway, across 11 hospitals, would decrease hospital length of stay (LOS), decrease postoperative complications at 90 days, and increase discharges to home. METHODS A multidisciplinary team developed an evidence-based care pathway for total hip arthroplasty (THA) perioperative care. All patients receiving THA in 2013 (pre-protocol, historical control), 2014 (transition), and 2015 (full protocol implementation) were included in the analysis. Multivariable regression assessed the relationship of the care pathway to 90-day postoperative complications, LOS, and discharge disposition. Cost savings were estimated using previously published postarthroplasty episode and per diem hospital costs. RESULTS A total of 6090 primary THAs were conducted during the study period. After adjusting for the covariates, the full protocol implementation was associated with a decrease in LOS (mean ratio, 0.747; 95% confidence interval [CI; 0.727, 0.767]) and an increase in discharges to home (odds ratio, 2.079; 95% CI [1.762, 2.456]). The full protocol implementation was not associated with a change in 90-day complications (odds ratio, 1.023; 95% CI [0.841, 1.245]). Payer-perspective-calculated theoretical cost savings, including both index admission and postdischarge costs, were