Peter M. Bonutti

Chronic Opioid Use Prior to Total Knee Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND Chronic use of opioid medications may lead to dependence or hyperalgesia, both of which might adversely affect perioperative and postoperative pain management, rehabilitation, and clinical outcomes after total knee arthroplasty. The purpose of this study was to evaluate patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty following six or more weeks of chronic opioid use for pain control and to compare them with a matched group who did not use opioids preoperatively. METHODS Forty-nine knees in patients who had a mean age of fifty-six years (range, thirty-seven to seventy-eight years) and who had regularly used opioid medications for pain control prior to total knee arthroplasty were compared with a group of patients who had not used them. Length of hospitalization, aseptic complications requiring reoperation, requirement for specialized pain management, and clinical outcomes were assessed for both groups. RESULTS Knee Society scores were significantly lower in the patients who regularly used opioid medications at the time of final follow-up (mean, three years; range, two to seven years); the opioid group had a mean of 79 points (range, 45 to 100 points) as compared with a mean of 92 points (range, 59 to 100 points) in the non-opioid group. A significantly higher prevalence of complications was seen in the opioid group, with five arthroscopic evaluations and eight revisions for persistent stiffness and/or pain, compared with none in the matched group. Ten patients in the opioid group were referred for outpatient pain management, compared with one patient in the non-opioid group. CONCLUSIONS Patients who chronically use opioid medications prior to total knee arthroplasty may be at a substantially greater risk for complications and painful prolonged recoveries. Alternative non-opioid pain medications and/or earlier referral to an orthopaedic surgeon prior to habitual opioid use should be considered for patients with painful degenerative disease of the knee.

Static progressive stretch to reestablish elbow range of motion.

Static progressive stretch (SPS) is a technique using the biomechanical principle of stress relaxation to restore range of motion (ROM) in joint contractures. Existing techniques such as dynamic splinting and traction rely on a time-dependent material property, creep, which applies a continuous load. Other techniques, such as serial casting and static splinting, are time intensive and usually require assistance by a therapist. This study evaluates SPS via a new orthosis that directly applies SPS incrementally through patient-controlled therapy, allowing for stress relaxation of contracted tissue. Patients used the device in 30-minute treatment protocols. The length of treatment time varied between one and three months. Twenty patients with elbow contractures who had limited success with other treatment modalities including serial casting, dynamic splinting, physical therapy, and/or surgery, underwent SPS using the new orthosis. The increase in motion for the 20 patients in the study averaged 31 degrees (69%). All patients expressed satisfaction, with no complications and no deterioration in ROM at the one-year follow-up evaluation.

Minimal incision total knee arthroplasty using the suspended leg technique.

This article describes an approach to minimize the soft-tissue trauma associated with total knee arthroplasty. A suspended leg technique provides full access to the knee by using flexion and the weight of the limb to stretch the incision. Violation of the extensor mechanism is minimized and soft-tissue balancing is enhanced with the suspended technique.

Surgical treatment of full-thickness rotator cuff tears in patients 40 years of age or younger

Full-thickness tears of the rotator cuff are uncommon in the first 4 decades of life. A retrospective analysis was conducted of 19 consecutive patients who were 40 years of age or younger and had been treated surgically for a full-thickness tear of the rotator cuff. Sixteen patients (84%) recalled an acute injury that heralded the onset of symptoms. Five of the patients had sustained an initial glenohumeral dislocation. At an average follow-up of 5.7 years, all patients were evaluated with regard to pain, function, range of motion, strength, return-to-work status, return-to-sport status, and overall postoperative satisfaction. After operation, 15 patients (79%) reported diminished pain relative to their preoperative level, and 12 (63%) of 19 were able to function with the extremity above shoulder level. Fourteen patients (74%) returned to full-time employment, and half returned to sporting activities. Thirteen patients (68%) reported subjective improvement with regard to daily functional activities after surgical intervention. The most favorable results were seen in those patients who had sustained an acute glenohumeral dislocation in conjunction with a full-thickness rotator cuff tear and underwent combined stabilization and repair. The outcome for patients who received workers compensation was less favorable.

Case report : femoral shaft fracture resulting from femoral tracker placement in navigated TKA.

Computer-assisted navigation is a surgical tool that may decrease malalignment outliers in TKA. With any new surgical technique, there is the possibility of unexpected complications that raise caution. We report two patients with displaced femoral fractures at optical tracker pin placement sites created for routine performance of navigated TKA. Our experience suggests single bicortical 5-mm pins placed in the femoral shaft have the added risk of creating a stress riser leading to the potential for fracture. Females may have a higher risk for this complication. We believe bicortical pin fixation in the femur or tibia no longer is indicated.

Treatment of symptomatic glenoid loosening following unconstrained shoulder arthroplasty.

Nine patients with symptomatic glenoid loosening were identified and ultimately underwent surgical revision. Preoperative assessment demonstrated that pain, decreased range of motion, and functional disability were common features. A painful clunking sensation with forward elevation of the arm was noted in four of the nine patients. At surgical revision, a grossly loose glenoid component was found in all cases and removed. Seven of the nine patients underwent revision using another cemented glenoid component, and two patients were left with a hemiarthroplasty due to glenoid bone deficiency. Results following revision surgery demonstrated increased range of motion, decreased pain, and increased functional ability with good overall patient satisfaction in seven of nine patients. Two patients in whom revision glenoid components were implanted were considered failures due to recurrent loosening. Although revision of the glenoid component is often technically feasible, recurrent loosening may occur. Revision to a hemiarthroplasty may be an acceptable alternative to glenoid replacement.

Functional problems and arthrofibrosis following total knee arthroplasty.

Improved surgical techniques and multidisciplinary rehabilitation protocols that involve coordination among surgeons, physical therapists, anesthesiologists, and social services personnel have led to excellent knee function and range of motion in a large percentage of patients following total knee arthroplasty. Nevertheless, there remains a small number of patients with persistent dysfunction that is difficult to treat1-4. Functional problems following total knee arthroplasty may be incapacitating as a result of persistent pain5, instability6, and a limited range of motion7. It has been shown recently that there is a direct correlation between a decreased range of motion following surgery and a lower perceived quality of life as evaluated with use of the Short Form-36 health survey questionnaire8. Continued dysfunction for any reason ultimately leads to decreased patient satisfaction. There is controversy about treatment methods for patients for whom initial rehabilitation efforts are unsuccessful following total knee arthroplasty. The reported efficacy of both noninvasive and invasive treatment modalities has been variable, with the percentage of patients obtaining improvement ranging from 0% to 90%3,9-12. Patients who have continued dysfunction despite initial rehabilitation efforts may require revision surgery. However, patients who have well-aligned, well-fixed prosthetic components will likely not benefit from a complete revision. Treatment of arthrofibrosis, scarring, soft-tissue contractures, and/or other soft-tissue dysfunction should involve less invasive treatment protocols before surgical options are considered. Nonoperative treatment modalities for restoring the range of motion include intensive rehabilitation protocols, static or dynamic splinting, injections, and application of serial casts13. Manipulation with the patient under anesthesia and invasive procedures, including arthroscopic debridement, open debridement with or without polyethylene exchange, and complete component revision, have been utilized when initial nonoperative rehabilitation efforts have failed. As a result of the …

Osteonecrosis of the Knee After Laser or Radiofrequency-Assisted Arthroscopy: Treatment with Minimally Invasive Knee Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND Osteonecrosis of the knee after various arthroscopic procedures associated with the use of laser or radiofrequency devices has been described in a few case reports. The purpose of this study was to report on a series of nineteen patients with osteonecrosis of the knee after arthroscopic procedures. A literature search was done to compare this series of patients to previously reported cases. In addition, we analyzed the outcome after treatment with minimally invasive knee arthroplasty. METHODS We studied patients who had development of osteonecrosis of the knee after a routine arthroscopic procedure. Preoperative and postoperative clinical notes, radiographs, and magnetic resonance images of patients were analyzed. Only those patients with no evidence of osteonecrosis on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging who later had development of osteonecrosis and subsequently required a knee arthroplasty were included. We conducted a search of the current literature to compare the results seen in our patient population with those seen in other patients with this entity. Patients were followed both clinically and radiographically for a mean of sixty-two months. RESULTS A total of nineteen patients met the inclusion criteria. There were fourteen women and five men with a mean age of sixty-nine years. Six patients underwent an arthroscopy with associated holmium or yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser treatment, ten patients had associated radiofrequency treatment, and three patients had microfracture surgery. Subsequent arthroplasty procedures included four unicompartmental knee arthroplasties and fifteen tricompartmental knee arthroplasties. At the time of final follow-up, the mean Knee Society objective score was 95 points. CONCLUSIONS Arthroscopic procedures may play a role in the development of osteonecrosis of the knee. To our knowledge, this is the largest series of patients to have development of this condition after arthroscopy with associated laser, radiofrequency, or microfracture surgery. The midterm results of knee arthroplasty in this unique patient population are comparable with those of patients undergoing knee arthroplasty for osteoarthritis of the knee. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions to Authors on jbjs.org for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Increased Revision Rates After Total Knee Arthroplasty in Patients Who Smoke

The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of total knee arthroplasty in patients who reported a history of tobacco use with those who were nonsmokers. Between 2006 and 2009, there were 131 total knee arthroplasties performed in patients who were smokers and 490 in patients who did not smoke. At a mean follow-up of 47 months (range, 24-79 months), the patients who were smokers had a statistically decreased overall survivorship of 90% (13 revisions) compared with 99% (5 revisions) in the nonsmokers. Surgical complication rates were not significantly different between the 2 groups; however, there was a significant difference in medical complications. Total knee arthroplasty in smokers has a higher risk of negative clinical outcomes compared with nonsmokers.

Outcomes of Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty Stratified by Body Mass Index

Patients who have high body mass indices can have disabling medial compartment knee osteoarthritis, which might benefit from unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA). The purpose of this study was to compare clinical and radiographic outcomes of UKAs in patients with body mass indices (BMIs) greater and less than 35 kg/m(2). Thirty-four patients (40 knees) had BMIs of 35 kg/m(2) or greater, whereas the remaining 33 patients (40 knees) had BMIs below 35 kg/m(2), with 2-year minimum follow-up. In the high-BMI group, 5 knees were revised to total knee arthroplasty, compared with none in the lower BMI group. Knee Society scores were lower in the surviving high-BMI knees. All surviving components were radiographically stable. The results suggest that UKA should be approached with caution in patients who have high BMIs.