Nicholas A. Viens

The Impact of Glycemic Control and Diabetes Mellitus on Perioperative Outcomes After Total Joint Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND As the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in people over the age of sixty years is expected to increase, the number of diabetic patients who undergo total hip and knee arthroplasty should be expected to increase accordingly. In general, patients with diabetes are at increased risk for adverse events following arthroplasty. The goal of the present study was to determine whether the quality of preoperative glycemic control affected the prevalence of in-hospital peri-operative complications following lower extremity total joint arthroplasty. METHODS From 1988 to 2005, the Nationwide Inpatient Sample recorded over 1 million patients who underwent joint replacement surgery. The present retrospective study compared patients with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus (n = 3973), those with controlled diabetes mellitus (n = 105,485), and those without diabetes mellitus (n = 920,555) with regard to common surgical and systemic complications, mortality, and hospital course alterations. Additional stratification compared the effects of glucose control among patients with Type-I and Type-II diabetes. Glycemic control was determined by physician assessments on the basis of the American Diabetes Association guidelines with use of a combination of patient self-monitoring of blood-glucose levels, the hemoglobin A1c level, and related comorbidities. RESULTS Compared with patients with controlled diabetes mellitus, patients with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus had a significantly increased odds of stroke (adjusted odds ratio = 3.42; 95% confidence interval = 1.87 to 6.25; p < 0.001), urinary tract infection (adjusted odds ratio = 1.97; 95% confidence interval = 1.61 to 2.42; p < 0.001), ileus (adjusted odds ratio = 2.47; 95% confidence interval = 1.67 to 3.64; p < 0.001), postoperative hemorrhage (adjusted odds ratio = 1.99; 95% confidence interval = 1.38 to 2.87; p < 0.001), transfusion (adjusted odds ratio = 1.19; 95% confidence interval = 1.04 to 1.36; p = 0.011), wound infection (adjusted odds ratio = 2.28; 95% confidence interval = 1.36 to 3.81; p = 0.002), and death (adjusted odds ratio = 3.23; 95% confidence interval = 1.87 to 5.57; p < 0.001). Patients with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus had a significantly increased length of stay (almost a full day) as compared with patients with controlled diabetes (p < 0.0001). All patients with diabetes had significantly increased inflation-adjusted postoperative charges when compared with nondiabetic patients (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Regardless of diabetes type, patients with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus exhibited significantly increased odds of surgical and systemic complications, higher mortality, and increased length of stay during the index hospitalization following lower extremity total joint arthroplasty.

The Impact of Diabetes on Perioperative Patient Outcomes After Total Hip and Total Knee Arthroplasty in the United States

The purpose of this study was to determine whether patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) have a higher likelihood of immediate, inpatient complications following primary and revision total hip (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) than patients without DM. From 1988 to 2003, the Nationwide Inpatient Sample identified 751340 primary or revision THA or TKA patients. 64262 (8.55%) had DM. Comparisons of specific outcome measures between diabetic and nondiabetic cohorts were performed using bivariate and multivariate analyses with logistic regression modeling. Diabetic patients had fewer routine discharges and higher inflation-adjusted hospital charges for all procedures. Although complications were not uniformly increased, diabetic patients had significantly increased odds of pneumonia, stroke, and transfusion (P < .001) after primary arthroplasty. This analysis of a large patient database indicates clinically relevant information for patients and surgeons, suggesting that patients undergoing THA and TKA demonstrate more complications and utilize more resources if they have the comorbidity of DM level II evidence.

Early Prospective Clinical Results of a Modern Fixed-Bearing Total Ankle Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND Several fixed-bearing total ankle arthroplasty systems are available in the United States. We report on the early clinical results of the largest known cohort of patients in the United States who received a Salto Talaris total ankle replacement for the treatment of end-stage arthritis of the ankle. METHODS We prospectively followed sixty-seven patients with a minimum clinical follow-up of two years. Patients completed standardized assessments and underwent physical examination, functional assessment, and radiographic evaluation preoperatively and at six weeks, three months, and six months postoperatively and yearly thereafter through their most recent follow-up. RESULTS Implant survival at a mean follow-up time of 2.8 years was 96% when metallic component revision, removal, or impending failure was used as the end point. Three patients developed aseptic loosening, and all instances involved the tibial component. One of the three patients underwent revision to another fixed-bearing total ankle arthroplasty system, one patient is awaiting revision surgery, and the third patient has remained minimally symptomatic and fully functional without additional surgery. Forty-five patients underwent at least one additional procedure at the time of the index surgery. The most common concurrent procedure performed was a deltoid ligament release (n = 21). Eight patients underwent additional surgery following the index arthroplasty, most commonly debridement for medial and/or lateral impingement (n = 4). As of the most recent follow-up, patients demonstrated significant improvement in pain scores, American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society hindfoot score, and functional scores. CONCLUSIONS Early clinical results indicate that the Salto Talaris fixed-bearing total ankle arthroplasty system can provide significant improvement in pain, quality of life, and standard functional measures in patients with end-stage ankle arthritis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Midterm results of osteochondral lesions of the talar shoulder treated with fresh osteochondral allograft transplantation.

BACKGROUND With osteochondral lesions of the talar shoulder, their size, the articular cartilage geometry, and the loss of the medial or lateral articular buttress often preclude treatment with traditional osteochondral autograft techniques. We hypothesized that fresh, large osteochondral allograft transplantation is a viable treatment option for patients with such lesions. METHODS A retrospective review was conducted of patients who underwent fresh talar shoulder allograft transplantation between 2000 and 2007. All patients failed initial conservative management. Preoperatively, a visual analog pain scale of 0 to 10 (with 0 denoting no pain and 10 denoting the worst pain imaginable) and the Lower Extremity Functional Scale were administered. At the time of most recent follow-up, the visual analog pain scale, the Lower Extremity Functional Scale, the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society ankle-hindfoot scale, and the Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment questionnaire were administered. Radiographs were assessed for allograft incorporation and joint deterioration. RESULTS Eight patients with a mean age of thirty-one years and a mean follow-up of forty-eight months were included. There was a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in pain, from a mean of 6 points (range, 5 to 8 points) preoperatively to a mean of 1 point (range, 0 to 2 points) postoperatively. The mean Lower Extremity Functional Scale score improved from 37 points initially (range, 24 to 52 points) to 65 points (range, 31 to 75 points; p < 0.05) at the time of final follow-up. The mean postoperative American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society ankle-hindfoot score was 84 points. The mean Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment dysfunction index score was 13.3 points and the mean bother index score was 14.3 points. Radiographic lucencies at the graft-host interface were seen in five patients. Four patients required an additional surgical procedure. No patients needed to undergo subsequent arthrodesis or arthroplasty. CONCLUSIONS These midterm results in a small group of patients indicate that structural fresh allograft transplantation can be a successful surgical option in the treatment of large osteochondral defects of the talar shoulder [corrected].

Differences in Outcomes Following Total Ankle Replacement in Patients with Neutral Alignment Compared with Tibiotalar Joint Malalignment

BACKGROUND Excessive tibiotalar malalignment in the coronal plane has been considered by some to be a contraindication to total ankle replacement. The purpose of the present study was to compare clinical outcomes and physical performance measures according to preoperative tibiotalar alignment. METHODS One hundred and three patients undergoing total ankle replacement were grouped according to coronal plane tibiotalar alignment. Seventeen patients had an excessive deformity (>15° of varus or valgus), twenty-one had moderate valgus alignment (5° to 15° of valgus), twenty-seven had moderate varus alignment (5° to 15° of varus), and thirty-eight had neutral alignment (<5° of varus or valgus). Outcome measures, including the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) hindfoot score, the Foot and Ankle Disability Index (FADI), the Short Form-36 (SF-36), the timed up and go test (TUG), the four square step test (4SST), and walking speed, were assessed preoperatively and at one and two years after total ankle replacement. RESULTS Coronal plane alignment improved following the procedure, with 36.9% of patients having neutral alignment preoperatively as compared with 95% postoperatively. To achieve this alignment, adjunctive procedures, including deltoid ligament release, lateral ligament reconstruction, and posterior soft-tissue releases, were necessary. Significant improvements were seen for the Page: 3 AOFAS pain, function, alignment, and hindfoot scores (p < 0.001) and the SF-36 subscales of body pain, physical function, and role physical (p < 0.001) following total ankle replacement. Walking speed and the FADI, TUG, and 4SST scores also improved significantly (p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis demonstrated no significant differences in clinical outcomes and physical performance measures based on preoperative coronal plane alignment. CONCLUSIONS Total ankle replacement improves clinical and functional outcomes independent of preoperative tibiotalar alignment when postoperative alignment is restored to neutral at the time of arthroplasty. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Diabetes and perioperative outcomes following cervical fusion in patients with myelopathy

Study Design. Database study using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample administrative data from 1988 through 2004. Objective. To examine perioperative morbidity and mortality for patients diagnosed with myelopathy, with and without diabetes mellitus (DM) (and subclassifications) following cervical spinal fusion. Summary of Background Data. DM has been associated with worse outcomes in a variety of orthopedic procedures including spinal surgery. Evidence that patients with DM have more complications following cervical fusion, specifically those treated for myelopathy, has been suggested within the literature but has been poorly explored. Methods. Data from 37,732 patients within Nationwide Inpatient Sample database (1988–2004) with diagnostic codes specifying the presence of myelopathy and who underwent cervical fusion were included in the analysis. Patients were compared on the basis of the presence of DM, type of DM, and whether DM was controlled or uncontrolled. Bivariate statistical analyses compared postoperative complication rates while multivariate statistics were used to determine likelihood of complications with DM. Results. Multivariate regression modeling outlined higher likelihoods of complications and hospital discharge variables with DM, particularly if it was diagnosed as uncontrolled disease. Fewer significant discrepancies in complications were noted in comparison of Type I versus Type II DM. Conclusion. This nationally representative study of inpatients in the United States provides evidence that patients with DM who received cervical fusion secondary to myelopathy are associated with greater perioperative complications, nonroutine discharge, and increased total charges. Subanalyses suggest that uncontrolled DM is a significant associative factor in outcome.

Comparison of Extramedullary Versus Intramedullary Referencing for Tibial Component Alignment in Total Ankle Arthroplasty

Background: The majority of total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) systems use extramedullary alignment guides for tibial component placement. However, at least 1 system offers intramedullary referencing. In total knee arthroplasty, studies suggest that tibial component placement is more accurate with intramedullary referencing. The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy of extramedullary referencing with intramedullary referencing for tibial component placement in total ankle arthroplasty. Methods: The coronal and sagittal tibial component alignment was evaluated on the postoperative weight-bearing anteroposterior (AP) and lateral radiographs of 236 consecutive fixed-bearing TAAs. Radiographs were measured blindly by 2 investigators. The postoperative alignment of the prosthesis was compared with the surgeon’s intended alignment in both planes. The accuracy of tibial component alignment was compared between the extramedullary and intramedullary referencing techniques using unpaired t tests. Interrater and intrarater reliabilities were assessed with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Results: Eighty-three tibial components placed with an extramedullary referencing technique were compared with 153 implants placed with an intramedullary referencing technique. The accuracy of the extramedullary referencing was within a mean of 1.5 ± 1.4 degrees and 4.1 ± 2.9 degrees in the coronal and sagittal planes, respectively. The accuracy of intramedullary referencing was within a mean of 1.4 ± 1.1 degrees and 2.5 ± 1.8 degrees in the coronal and sagittal planes, respectively. There was a significant difference (P < .001) between the 2 techniques with respect to the sagittal plane alignment. Interrater ICCs for coronal and sagittal alignment were high (0.81 and 0.94, respectively). Intrarater ICCs for coronal and sagittal alignment were high for both investigators. Conclusions: Initial sagittal plane tibial component alignment was notably more accurate when intramedullary referencing was used. Further studies are needed to determine the effect of this difference on clinical outcomes and long-term survivability of the implants. Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective comparative study.

Role of diabetes type in perioperative outcomes after hip and knee arthroplasty in the United States.

The objective of this study was to determine whether the type of diabetes mellitus (DM) affected the incidence of immediate perioperative complications following joint replacement. From 1988 to 2003, the Nationwide Inpatient Sample recognized 65,769 patients with DM who underwent total hip and knee arthroplasty in the United States. Bivariate and multivariate analyses compared patients with type 1 (n = 8728) and type 2 (n = 57,041) DM regarding common perioperative complications, mortality, and hospital course alterations. Type 1 DM patients had increased length of stays and inflation-adjusted costs after surgery (p < .001). Type 1 patients also had significant increases in the incidence of myocardial infarction, pneumonia, urinary tract infection, postoperative hemorrhage, wound infection, and death (p < .02). Perhaps because of the differences in the duration of disease and their underlying pathologies, patients with type 1 diabetes carry more significant overall perioperative risks and require more health care resources compared with patients with type 2 diabetes following hip and knee arthroplasty.

Arthroscopic Treatment of Impingement after Total Ankle Arthroplasty: Technique Tip

Level of Evidence: V, Expert Opinion

Case Report: Neuropathic Arthropathy of the Hip as a Sequela of Undiagnosed Tertiary Syphilis

BackgroundNeuropathic arthropathy is characterized by rapidly progressive bone destruction in the setting of impaired nociceptive and proprioceptive innervation to the involved joint. It is seen most commonly in the foot and ankle, secondary to peripheral neuropathy in patients with diabetes mellitus. Other less common sites of involvement may include the knee, hip, shoulder, and spine, depending on the underlying etiology. Neuropathic arthropathy can be associated with tabes dorsalis, a unique manifestation of late, tertiary neurosyphilis that may arise in individuals with untreated syphilis many years after initial infection, and usually involves the knee, or less commonly, the hip.Case ReportWe report the case of a 73-year-old man with neuropathic arthropathy of the hip and tabes dorsalis attributable to previously undiagnosed tertiary syphilis. There was considerable delay in the diagnosis and unnecessary diagnostic testing owing to failure to consider syphilis as the cause.Literature ReviewWith the advent of effective antimicrobial therapy and public health campaigns, the relationship between untreated syphilis and neuropathic arthropathy has been primarily a historic point of interest. However, current epidemiologic research suggests a resurgence of syphilis in the United States, with an increased incidence of patients presenting with manifestations of tertiary syphilis from unidentified and untreated primary infections. Treatment options for neuropathic arthropathy of the hip are limited. Arthrodesis has had poor success and treatment with THA has had high complication rates.ConclusionsSyphilis is not merely a historic cause of neuropathic arthropathy. Neurosyphilis and tabes dorsalis should be considered in the differential diagnosis for patients presenting with rapid joint destruction consistent with Charcot arthropathy and no other apparent cause.