Background

The number of anatomic total shoulder (TSA), hemiarthroplasty (HA), and reverse total shoulder arthroplasties (RTSA) is rapidly increasing in the United States. Stemless shoulder arthroplasty has numerous theoretical advantages, including preserved bone stock, decreased operating time, reduced rate of intraoperative humerus fracture, and flexibility of anatomic reconstruction. Only recently studies with more than 5 years of mean follow-up have become available.

Methods

The MEDLINE database was systematically queried to identify all studies reporting outcomes regarding anatomic or reverse stemless shoulder arthroplasty. Studies were categorized according to mean reported follow-up. Outcome scores and range of motion measurements were compiled. Complication and revision rates due to failure of the humeral or glenoid components were summarized.

Results

Nineteen TSA and HA studies with a total of 1115 patients were identified, with 4 studies and 162 patients with a mean follow-up between 60 and 120 months. Six RTSA studies with a total of 346 patients were identified, all with a mean follow-up between 18 and 60 months. There was a reliable improvement in outcomes compared with preoperative scores across studies. A cumulative 0.7% (8 of 1115) humeral component complication rate was found for TSA and HA components. There was a cumulative 1.7% (6 of 346) humeral complication rate for RTSA prostheses.

Conclusions

In the studies reporting similar outcome measures, there were reliable improvements on par with stemmed counterparts. Aggregate complication rates appear similar to those published in the literature for stemmed components. Evidence supporting the utility and safety of stemless designs would be strengthened by longer-term follow-up and additional prospective comparative studies.

Background

Pediatric musculoskeletal (MSK) infections broadly include isolated osteomyelitis (OM), septic arthritis (SA), and combined infections (OM+SA). These diagnoses are often monitored with serum inflammatory markers and serial radiographs to monitor treatment response and development of negative sequelae, despite limited data supporting these practices. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the utility of obtaining serial radiographic follow-up for pediatric osteoarticular infections.

Methods

An institutional review board-approved retrospective review was completed. Children 18 years and below admitted to a single institution with a culture/biopsy-proven diagnosis of OM, SA, or OM+SA. All postdischarge radiographs were reviewed and retrospectively categorized as either routine (scheduled) or reactive. Routine radiographs were obtained regardless of clinical presentation. Reactive radiographs were obtained in patients presenting with the sign of an altered clinical course. Negative sequelae, defined as growth arrest/disturbance, pathologic fracture, recurrent MSK infection, and underlying neoplastic process, were recorded and tracked. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize demographic and outcome variables. Number needed to screen (NNS) was defined as the inverse of the incidence of negative sequelae detected.

Results

A total of 131 patients were included for analysis, with a mean age of 11.9 years (SD: 4.96 y). Ninety (69%) patients were diagnosed and treated for OM, 25 (19%) for SA, and 16 (12%) for combined infections. A total of 329 radiographs were obtained following discharge. Of those obtained, 287 (88%) were routine, resulting in the detection of 2 (0.7%) negative sequelae and a resultant NNS of 143 radiographs (95% confidence interval: 36-573). The remaining 39 were reactive radiographs, resulting in the detection of 2 (5.1%) negative sequelae with an NNS of 20 radiographs (95% confidence interval: 5-78).

Conclusions

While radiographs remain a widely utilized tool to screen for the development of negative sequelae in pediatric osteoarticular infections, they rarely alter management in the absence of other concerning clinical signs or symptoms such as recurrent fevers, swelling of the extremity, or limb deformity. Moreover, routine radiographic surveillance should be replaced with a reactive radiographic protocol.

Level of evidence

Level III-retrospective comparative study.

Background

The purpose of our study was to investigate the association of race and ethnicity with the use of the newest technology and postoperative outcomes in total hip arthroplasty (THA) using the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) American Joint Replacement Registry (AJRR).

Methods

Adult THA procedures were queried from the AJRR from 2012 to 2020. A mixed-effects multivariate regression model was used to evaluate the association of race and ethnicity with the use of the newest technology (ceramic femoral head, dual-mobility implant, and robotic assist) at 30-day, and 90-day readmission. A proportional subdistribution hazard model was used to model a risk of revision THA.

Results

There were 85,188 THAs with complete data for an analysis of outcomes and 103,218 for an analysis of ceramic head usage. The median length of follow-up was 37.9 months (interquartile range [IQR] 21.6 to 56.3 months). In multivariate models, compared to White non-Hispanic patients, Black (odds ratio [OR] 0.79, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.69-0.92, P < .001), Hispanic (OR 0.76, CI 0.59-0.99, P = .037), Asian (OR 0.74, CI 0.55-1.00, P = .045), and Native American (OR 0.52, CI 0.30-0.87, P = .004) patients all had significantly lower rates of ceramic head use in THA. Compared to White non-Hispanic patients, Asian (hazard ratio [HR] 0.39, CI 0.18-0.86, P = .008) and Hispanic (HR 0.43, CI 0.19-0.98, P = .043) patients had significantly lower rates of revision. No differences in 30-day or 90-day readmission rates were seen.

Conclusion

Black, Hispanic, Native American, and Asian patients had lower rates of ceramic head use in THA when compared to White patients. These differences did not translate into worse clinical outcomes on a short-term follow-up. In fact, Asian patients had lower revision rates compared to non-Hispanic White patients. Additional study is necessary to evaluate the long-term consequence of lower ceramic head use in non-White patients in the United States.

Background

There is a paucity of data on long-term survivorship and outcomes for total humerus replacements (THR) with only two series reporting 10-year survival.

Patients and methods

A review of 769 consecutive, prospectively collected endoprosthetic reconstructions for oncological diagnoses at a single-center between 1980 and 2019 was performed. Patients with THRs were isolated and analyzed for outcomes, complications, and modes of failure.

Results

Eighteen patients with 20 THR implants were identified. The median follow-up for surviving patients was 148 months (interquartile range [IQR] = 74-194) and 60 months (IQR = 17-155 months) for all patients. Two prostheses required revision for failure, both for symptomatic shoulder dislocation. There were three local recurrences. Revision-free survival at 5, 10, and 15 years was 100%, 86% and 86%, respectively. There were no cases of ulnar component failure, radial nerve palsy, or periprosthetic infection.

Conclusions

THR prosthesis survivorship is comparable to the previous series, with a longer follow-up than has previously been reported. Symptomatic shoulder instability was common (25%), and was the only cause of revision. Reverse total shoulder could be an important way to address this in the future. Local recurrence rates were high, as has been reported elsewhere for THR.

BACKGROUND: Renal osteodystrophy predisposes renal disease patients to fracture. Proximal humerus fractures (PHFs) frequently undergo open reduction internal fixation (ORIF); however, the effect of renal disease on outcomes is unknown. METHODS: A retrospective review of the Nationwide Readmissions Database used International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, codes to identify patients who underwent ORIF for closed PHF from 2010 to 2014 with no renal disease, predialysis chronic renal disease (CRD), and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). RESULTS: A total of 85,433 patients were identified, including 5498 (6.4%) CRD and 636 (0.7%) ESRD. CRD and ESRD patients had increased age, comorbidities, and rates of Medicare insurance. After adjusting for differences, CRD and ESRD patients were at increased risk of any complication (odds ratio [OR] 2.48, 1.66), blood transfusion (OR 1.85, 3.31), respiratory complications (OR 1.14, 1.59), acute renal failure (OR 4.80, 1.67), systemic infection (OR 2.00, 3.14), surgical site infection (OR 1.52, 3.87), longer length of stay (7.1 and 12.9 days vs. 5.9 days), and higher cost ($21,669 and $35,413 vs. $20,394) during index hospitalization, as well as surgical site infection (OR 1.43, 3.03) and readmission (OR 1.61, 3.69) within 90 days of discharge, respectively, compared with no renal disease patients. During index hospitalization, CRD patients also had increased risk for periprosthetic fracture (OR 4.97) and cardiac complications (OR 1.47), whereas ESRD patients had increased risk of mortality (OR 5.79), wound complication (2.67), and deep vein thrombosis (OR 16.70). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest renal patients are at increased risk for complications after PHF ORIF, highlighting the importance of close perioperative monitoring and appropriate patient selection in this population, including strong consideration of nonoperative management.

Background

Biportal endoscopic spine surgery is an effective minimally invasive technique for treating common lumbar pathologies. We aim to evaluate the impact of intraoperative tranexamic acid (TXA) use on postoperative blood loss in biportal endoscopic decompression surgery.

Methods

Patients undergoing biportal endoscopic lumbar discectomies and decompressions either by same day surgery or overnight stay at a single institution beginning in October 2021 were prospectively enrolled. This study was non-randomized, non-blinded with the first cohort of consecutive patients receiving 1 g of intravenous TXA intra-operatively before closure and the second cohort of consecutive patients receiving no TXA. Exclusion criteria included any revision surgery, any surgery for the diagnosis of spinal instability, infection, tumor, or trauma, any contraindication for TXA.

Results

Eighty-four patients were included in the study, with 45 (54%) receiving TXA and 39 (46%) not receiving TXA. Median follow-up was 168 days [interquartile range (IQR), 85-368 days]. There were no differences in patient or surgical characteristics between cohorts. Estimated blood loss (EBL) was similar (P=0.20), while post-operative drain output was significantly lower in the TXA cohort (P=0.0028). Single level discectomies had significantly less drain output as compared to 2 level unilateral laminotomy, bilateral decompression (ULBD) cases (P<0.005). Post-operative complications were similar, with low rates of wound complication (1.2%) and transient postoperative weakness (2.4%, P>0.99 for both). Oswestry disability index (ODI), visual analog scale (VAS) back and VAS leg scores decreased significantly; the absolute decrease in scores did not differ between groups (P=0.71, 0.22, 0.86, respectively).

Conclusions

Systemic intraoperative TXA administration is associated with a significant decrease in post-operative blood loss in biportal spinal endoscopy, with no impact on the improvement in patient-reported outcomes (PROs) or rate of post-operative complications. Single level biportal discectomies had significantly less postoperative drainage with TXA and may not need drains postoperatively. Larger, randomized studies are necessary to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of TXA use in biportal spinal endoscopy.

Background

Little published data currently exist regarding the potential relationships between spondylolisthesis, mismatch deformity, and clinical outcomes following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We hypothesize that preexisting spondylolisthesis will result in decreased functional outcomes after TKA.

Methods

This retrospective cohort comparison of 933 TKAs was performed between January 2017 and 2020. TKAs were excluded if they were not performed for primary osteoarthritis (OA) or if preoperative lumbar radiographs were unavailable/inadequate to measure the degree of spondylolisthesis. Ninety-five TKAs were subsequently available for inclusion and divided into two groups: those with spondylolisthesis and those without. Within the spondylolisthesis cohort, pelvic incidence (PI) and lumbar lordosis (LL) were calculated on lateral radiographs to determine the difference (PI-LL). Radiographs with PI-LL > 10° were then categorized as having mismatch deformity (MD). The following clinical outcomes were compared between the groups: need for manipulation under anesthesia (MUA), total postoperative arc of motion (AOM) both pre-MUA or post-MUA/revision, incidence of flexion contracture, and a need for later revision.

Results

Forty-nine TKAs met the spondylolisthesis criteria, while 44 did not have spondylolisthesis. There were no significant differences in gender, body mass index, preoperative knee range of motion (ROM), preoperative AOM, or opiate use between the groups. TKAs with spondylolisthesis and concomitant MD were more likely to have MUA (p = 0.016), ROM < 0-120 (p < 0.014), and a decreased AOM (p < 0.02) without interventions.

Conclusion

Preexisting spondylolisthesis by itself may not have adverse effect clinical results following TKA. However, spondylolisthesis increases the likelihood of developing MD. In those with both spondylolisthesis and concomitant mismatch deformities, patients had statistically and clinically significantly decreased in postoperative ROM/AOM and increased need for MUA. Surgeons should consider clinical/radiographic assessments of patients with chronic back pain who present for total joint arthroplasty.

Level of evidence

Level 3.

Background

Continuous-infusion 5-fluorouracil (5FU) and calcium leucovorin plus nab-paclitaxel and oxaliplatin have been shown to be active in patients with pancreatic cancer. As a protracted low-dose infusion, 5FU is antiangiogenic, and has synergy with bevacizumab. As shown in the treatment of breast cancer, bevacizumab and nab-paclitaxel are also synergetic.

Objective

In this paper we retrospectively analyze the survival of 65 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer who were treated with low-dose continuous (metronomic) chemotherapy given in conjunction with conventional anti-VEGF therapy.

Patients and methods

Since July of 2008, we have treated 65 patients with 5FU (180 mg/m²/day × 14 days) via an ambulatory pump. Calcium leucovorin (20 mg/m² IV), nab-paclitaxel (60 mg/m²) IV as a 30-min infusion, and oxaliplatin (50 mg/m²) IV as a 60-min infusion were given on days 1, 8, and 15. Bevacizumab (5 mg/kg) IV over 30 min was administered on days 1 and 15. Cycles were repeated every 28-35 days. There were 42 women and 23 men, and the median age was 59 years. Forty-six patients had stage IV disease.

Results

The median survival was 19 months, with 82% of patients surviving 12 months or longer. The overall response rate was 49%. There were 28 patients who had received prior treatment, 15 of whom responded to therapy. Fifty-two patients had elevated CA 19-9 prior to treatment. Of these, 21 patients had 90% or greater reduction in CA 19-9 levels. This cohort had an objective response rate of 71% and a median survival of 27 months. Thirty patients stopped treatment due to disease progression, and an additional 22 stopped because of toxicity. One patient died while on therapy.

Conclusions

This non-gemcitabine-based regimen resulted in higher response rates and better survival than what is commonly observed with therapy given at conventional dosing schedules. Low-dose continuous (metronomic therapy) cytotoxic chemotherapy combined with antiangiogenic therapy is safe and effective.

BACKGROUND: Biportal spinal endoscopy is increasingly utilized for lumbar disc herniations and lumbar stenosis. The objective was to investigate the safety and effectiveness of the technique in the outpatient vs inpatient setting. METHODS: This is a comparative study of consecutive patients who underwent biportal spinal endoscopy by a single surgeon at a single institution. Demographics, surgical complications, and patient-reported outcomes were prospectively collected and retrospectively analyzed. Statistics were calculated among treatment groups using unpaired t test and χ 2 analysis where appropriate. Statistical significance was determined as P < 0.05. RESULTS: Eighty-four patients were included, 58 (69.0%) as outpatient, 26 (31.0%) as inpatient. Mean follow-up was 7.5 months. Statistically significant differences in age, American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, and Charleston Comorbidity Index scores were reported between cohorts, with younger and healthier patients undergoing outpatient surgery (P < 0.0001). Outpatients were more likely to have discectomies while inpatients were more likely to have decompressions for stenosis. No significant differences in postoperative complications were found between groups.Both cohorts demonstrated significant improvement in visual analog scale (VAS) back and leg pain scores and Oswestry Disability Index scores (P < 0.001). Outpatients had significantly lower postoperative VAS back pain (P = 0.001) and Oswestry Disability Index scores (P = 0.004) at 5-8 weeks compared with inpatients, but there was no significant difference for VAS leg pain scores at all time points between the cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: Early results demonstrate that biportal spinal endoscopy can safely and effectively be performed in both inpatient and outpatient settings. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Outpatient biportal spinal endoscopy can be performed successfully in well selected patients, which may reduce the financial burden of spine surgery to the U.S. healthcare system.

Background

As primary total knee arthroplasty volume continues to increase, so will the number of revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA) procedures. The purpose of this study is to provide an updated perspective on the incidence, indications, and financial burden of rTKA in the United States.

Material and methods

This was a retrospective epidemiologic analysis using the National Inpatient Sample. International Classification of Diseases ninth and tenth revision codes were used to identify patients who underwent rTKA and create cohorts based on rTKA indications from 2012 to 2019. National and regional trends for length of stay, cost, and discharge location were evaluated.

Results

A total of 505,160 rTKA procedures were identified. The annual number of rTKA procedures increased by 29.6% over the study period (56,490 to 73,205). The top 3 indications for rTKA were aseptic loosening (23.1%), periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) (20.4%), and instability (11.0%). Over the study period, the proportion of patients discharged to skilled nursing facility decreased from 31.7% to 24.1% (P < .001). Hospital length of stay decreased from 4.0 days in 2012 to 3.8 days in 2019 (P < .001). Hospital costs increased by $1300 from $25,730 to $27,077 (P < .001). The proportion of rTKA cases performed at urban academic centers increased (52.1% to 74.3%, P < .001) while that at urban nonacademic centers decreased (39.0% to 19.2%, P < .001).

Conclusion

The top 3 indications for rTKA were aseptic loosening, PJI, and instability, with PJI becoming the most common indication in 2019. These cases are increasingly being performed at urban academic centers and away from urban nonacademic centers.

Level of evidence

3 (Retrospective cohort study).