Long-term Follow-up on Revisions of a Recalled Large Head Metal-on-metal Hip Prosthesis: A Single Surgeon Series.

Background: In 2010, a recall was issued for a specific monoblock large head metal-on-metal (MoM) hip prosthesis due to short-term revision rates of 12%-13% (articular surface replacement, DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc., Warsaw, IN). High complication, infection, and rerevision rates for revised MoM implants have been reported. The purpose of the study is to report long-term outcomes and trend metal ion levels of this recalled MoM prosthesis from a single surgeon series. Methods: Retrospective chart review was performed on all patients that underwent revision of large MoM hip replacements between 2010 and 2015. Pre- and post-revision Harris Hip Score (HHS), cup abduction angles, anteversion angles, and cup sizes were compared. Survivorship and HHS were the primary outcomes measured; serum cobalt and chromium levels were secondary outcomes. Multivariate linear regression was used to examine the correlation between prerevision serum metal ion levels and HHS. Results: A total of 24 hips (21 patients) met inclusion criteria. Mean time to revision was 4.12 years ± 1.1. Mean follow-up was 10.0 years (7-11.9 years). Mean HHS increased significantly after revision from 48.5 to 89.5 (P < .001). Higher prerevision cobalt levels were correlated with lower prerevision HHS (cobalt R = 0.25; chromium R = 0.3160). There was no correlation with prerevision cobalt (P = .2671) or chromium (P = .3160) with postrevision HHS. Most recent metal ion testing revealed a significant decrease in both cobalt (P = .0084) and chromium (P = .0115). Survival rate is 100%. Conclusions: Our study showed excellent survivorship and outcomes at 10 years. There were no failures for any reason including infection. This differs from previous studies and confirms excellent long-term results are possible with revision of this recalled MoM implant.

Seasonal Relationship of Prosthetic Joint Infection Following Primary Total Joint Arthroplasty in a Subtropical Climate: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: One devastating complication that leads to increased morbidity and mortality rates after total joint arthroplasty (TJA) is prosthetic joint infection (PJI). Evidence on the relationship between climate, seasonality, and the risk of developing a PJI conflicts. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of seasonality and climate change on the rate of PJI. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data of patients undergoing primary TJA at a single institution in a subtropical climate location from 2012 to 2015. Only primary TJAs with a minimum of 1-year follow-up were included in the analysis. Patient demographics and complications were extracted from the database, and monthly average temperature, humidity, and precipitation were obtained. The primary endpoint was PJI requiring revision surgery within 1 year of the index procedure. Results: A total of 3,696 TJAs met the inclusion criteria, with 28 PJIs requiring a second surgery within 1 year (0.76%). We found no significant difference in age, sex, or body mass index in patients who developed a PJI (P=0.9450, P=0.0989, and P=0.7942, respectively). The highest incidence of PJI occurred in August (1.49%), but the incidence of PJI by month was not significant (P=0.8996). July and August were the hottest (91 °F) and most humid (79%) months, and June had the most average precipitation (8.06 inches); however, these climate variables were not significant contributors to the incidence of PJI (P=0.4996, P=0.4999, and P=0.4957, respectively). Conclusion: We found no association between temperature, humidity, and development of PJI in a North American subtropical climate. Surgeons can use this information to counsel patients when planning for TJA.

Comparison of Self-reported Versus Actual Height and Weight in the Orthopaedic Population.

The purpose of our study was to determine the accuracy of orthopaedic patient's reported height, weight, and body mass index (BMI). We hypothesized that patient's age, sex and/or BMI may affect their accuracy. We performed a prospective, observational study in the setting of our orthopaedic clinic. Differences between self-reported and actual values were calculated. Patients were categorized based on their age (< 65 vs. ≥ 65), sex, and actual BMI (<30 vs. >30). Student t-test and chi-square test were used to compare groups. Our study included 329 patients. Patients were more likely to underestimate weight (p < 0.001) and overestimate height (p = 0.007). Comparing patients with a BMI < 30 and > 30, height overestimation (0cm vs. 1.14cm, p = 0.004) and weight underestimation (0.09kg vs. 1.29kg, p = 0.02) discrepancies were greater in the BMI > 30 group. Patients, particularly with a BMI >30 kg/m2, over-estimate their height and under-estimate their weight. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 30(3):176-180, 2021).

Effects of Preoperative Antiplatelet Agents and Anticoagulants on Total Joint Arthroplasty Outcomes.

Background: Postoperative total joint arthroplasty complications place a tremendous burden on the health care system. The purpose of this study was to compare 30-day postoperative complication rates for surgeries in patients who received preoperative antiplatelet agents and/or anticoagulants to surgeries in a control group that did not receive antiplatelet agents and/or anticoagulants in the 90 days prior to undergoing a total joint arthroplasty. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed total hip or knee arthroplasties from November 2012 to March 2016. Surgeries were categorized into 4 groups depending on their preoperative antiplatelet and anticoagulant status. Complications between the groups were compared using chi-square analysis and Fisher exact test. Results: In this study, 1,726 arthroplasties in 1,544 patients were included. Superficial wound complications were the most common complication in all 4 groups (3.8% of surgeries), with no significant difference between the groups. A statistically significant difference was found in the number of prosthetic joint infections in the group of surgeries with no antiplatelets or anticoagulants compared to surgeries with both medications administered during the 90 days preoperatively (0.82% vs 5.13%, P=0.0003). No significant difference was found between the groups with regard to stroke, myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, or deep venous thrombosis. Conclusion: Surgeries for which both antiplatelets and anticoagulants were administered in the 90 days preoperatively had a statistically significantly higher rate of prosthetic joint infections compared to surgeries with neither medication administered preoperatively. Surgeons can use this information to better inform and risk-stratify patients prior to surgery.

Perioperative population management for primary hip arthroplasty reduces hospital and postacute care utilization while maintaining or improving care quality.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Physician-led multidisciplinary care coordination decreases hospital-associated care needs. We aimed to determine whether such care coordination can show benefits through the posthospital discharge period for elective hip surgery. DESIGN: Time Series of prospectively recorded and historical data. SETTING: Academic tertiary care medical center and health system. PATIENTS: 449 patients undergoing elective primary hip surgery. INTERVENTIONS: For the intervention group we redesigned care with a comprehensive 14-16 week multidisciplinary standardized clinical pathway, the Ochsner hip arthroplasty perioperative surgical home (PSH). Essential pathway components were preoperative medical risk assessment, frailty scoring, home assessment, education and expectation setting. Collaborative team-based care, rigorous application of perioperative milestones, and proactive postoperative care coordination were key elements. MEASUREMENTS: The intervention group was compared to historical controls with regard to demographics, risk factors, quality metrics, resource utilization and discharge disposition, the primary outcomes were hospital length of stay and postacute facility utilization. MAIN RESULTS: Compared to historical controls, the intervention group had similar risk factors and the same or better quality outcomes. It had less combined skilled nursing facility (SNF) and inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) utilization compared to controls (16.5% vs. 27.5%). More intervention patients were discharged with home self-care compared to historical controls (10.7% vs 5.3%). During the intervention period combined SNF/IRF utilization decreased substantially from 19.8% early on, to 13.2% during a later phase. Intervention patients had fewer hospital days compared to historical controls (1.86 vs 3.34 days, respectively; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: A perioperative population management oriented care model redesign was effective in decreasing hospital days and postacute facility-based care utilization, while quality metrics were maintained or improved.

Prospective Evaluation of a Noninvasive Hemoglobin Measurement System in Total Joint Arthroplasty.

We sought to prospectively determine the efficacy of a noninvasive hemoglobin measurement system compared to a traditional blood draw in patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty. One hundred consecutive patients had their hemoglobin level measured by blood draw and the noninvasive device, simultaneously. Results were analyzed for the entire group and further stratified based on race and perfusion index measured by the device. The financial implications and patient satisfaction were compared. Hemoglobin measurements in the entire group and the two sub-groups were similar between the noninvasive device and the traditional blood draw. The noninvasive system was preferred by 100% of patients. Additionally, cost savings per patient using the noninvasive system was $16.50. This correlated to an 86% savings per case over the standard blood draw. The noninvasive hemoglobin monitoring system offers comparable measurements to a standard blood draw, while improving patient satisfaction and lowering costs. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 29(2):94-98, 2020).

Insulin-Dependent Diabetic Patients are at Increased Risk of Postoperative Hyperglycemia When Undergoing Total Joint Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic patients are at an increased risk of prosthetic joint infection (PJI) after total joint arthroplasty (TJA). The relationship between insulin-dependence and PJI has not been investigated. We aimed at evaluating whether insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) patients were more susceptible to postoperative hyperglycemia and PJI than their non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) counterparts. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of diabetic patients undergoing TJA (hip or knee) from January 2011 to December 2016. Preoperative hemoglobin A1c (A1c) and postoperative glucose measurements were observed. Patients were stratified as IDDM or NIDDM. The A1c values that predicted hyperglycemia >200 mg/dL for each group were calculated. Primary end point was postoperative hyperglycemia >200 mg/dL and secondary end point was PJI. RESULTS: There were 773 patients meeting inclusion criteria. The IDDM cohort had a higher preoperative A1c (6.97% vs 6.28%, P < .0001) and postoperative glucose (235.2 vs 163.5, P < .0001). IDDM patients were more likely to have postoperative hyperglycemia (63.84% vs 20.83%, P < .0001; odds ratio, 5.2; 95% confidence interval, 3.66-7.4). Overall, an A1c of >7.45% predicted postoperative hyperglycemia >200 mg/mL (odds ratio, 6.94; 95% confidence interval, 4.32-11.45). When separating our 2 cohorts, an A1c of >6.59% in IDDM, and >6.60% in NIDDM, was associated with an increased risk of postoperative hyperglycemia (P < .0001). PJI was similar between the 2 cohorts (2.52% vs 2.38%, P = .9034). CONCLUSION: IDDM patients undergoing TJA are 5.2 times more likely to have postoperative hyperglycemia >200 mg/dL than their NIDDM counterparts, although increased risk of PJI was not found in this study. Despite the higher A1c and postoperative hyperglycemia in IDDM patients, there was found to be no clinical difference between A1c cutoff values for postoperative hyperglycemia between IDDM and NIDDM patients.

Pseudotumor recurrence in a post-revision total hip arthroplasty with stem neck modularity: A case report.

BACKGROUND: This unique presentation of hip swelling is only the seventh reported case of pseudotumor recurrence in a non-metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasty (THA) construct. The constellation of patient symptoms and laboratory findings contradict the expected elevated serum metal ion levels associated with the formation of pseudotumor. The presentation, lab trends, and imaging findings contribute to the growing base of knowledge surrounding the effects of corrosion in arthroplasty constructs with stem-neck modularity. CASE SUMMARY: A 74-year-old man status post primary THA presented with left hip swelling and elevated serum metal ions five years after implantation of a modular stem-neck prosthesis. The swelling was diagnosed as pseudotumor based on laboratory trends and imaging findings and was treated with revision arthroplasty that completely resolved the initial hip swelling. The patient presented with recurrent hip swelling and recurrent pseudotumor findings on imaging in the same hip four months later. Non-operative management with ultrasound-guided hip aspiration resulted in symptom relief and resolution of the recurrent swelling. After one year of follow-up, the patient had no further recurrences of hip swelling. CONCLUSION: This case of post-revision pseudotumor recurrence elucidates attributable patient, surgical, and implant factors with a discussion of diagnostics, management, and prognosis for patients with pseudotumor in non-metal-on-metal arthroplasty constructs.

The Effect of the IPACK Block on Pain After Primary TKA: A Double-Blinded, Prospective, Randomized Trial.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine if infiltration of local anesthetic between the interspace between the popliteal artery and capsule of the knee (IPACK) provides benefit in total knee arthroplasty. METHODS: Patients were randomized into continuous adductor canal block with IPACK block or continuous adductor canal block with sham subcutaneous saline injection. Only the anesthesiologist performing the block was aware of randomization status. After surgery, a blinded assessor recorded opioid consumption, pain scores, and gait distance. RESULTS: There were 35 patients in the IPACK group and 34 in the NO IPACK group. There was no difference demographically between the groups. In the postanesthesia care unit (PACU), the average (P = .0122) and worst (P = .0168) pain scores at rest were statistically lower in the IPACK group. There was no difference in the pain scores during physical therapy (P = .2080). There was no difference in opioid consumption in the PACU (P = .7928), or at 24 hours (P = .7456). There was no difference in pain scores on POD 1 in the AM (P = .4597) or PM (P = .6273), or in the walking distance (P = .5197). There was also no difference in length of stay in the PACU (P = .9426) or hospital (P = .2141). CONCLUSION: The IPACK group had lower pain scores at rest in the PACU, but this is likely not clinically significant. The routine use of the IPACK is not supported by the results of this study. There may be indications for the use of the IPACK block as a rescue block or in patients who have contraindications to our standard multimodal treatment regimen or in patients with chronic pain or opioid dependence.

YouTube is a poor source of patient information for knee arthroplasty and knee osteoarthritis.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to assess the educational quality of YouTube videos pertaining to total knee arthroplasty and knee osteoarthritis. METHODS: A systematic search for the terms "knee replacement" and "knee arthritis" was performed using YouTube's search function. Data from the 60 most relevant videos were collected for each search term. Quality assessment checklists with a scale of 0 to 10 points were developed to evaluate the video content. Videos were grouped into poor quality (grade 0-3), acceptable quality (grade 4-7), and excellent quality (grade 8-10), respectively. RESULTS: Overall, 106 videos were categorized. For videos regarding total knee arthroplasty (n = 50), 64% of videos were of poor educational quality (32/50), 28% were of acceptable quality (14/50), and 8% were of good educational quality (4/50). Common missing information included discussion of surgical complications and implant duration. For videos regarding knee arthritis (n = 56), 66% of videos were of poor educational quality (37/56), 32% were of acceptable quality (18/56), and 2% were of good educational quality. Common missing information were causes and risk factors for knee arthritis and long-term prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that YouTube is a poor educational source for patients regarding knee arthroplasty and knee arthritis. Recognizing the limitations of YouTube as well as which topics are not commonly presented may better guide physicians to educate their patients.

Web-based patient portal access in an orthopedic adult reconstruction patient population.

BACKGROUND: We surveyed patients in an adult reconstruction practice as to their use of the Web-based portal provided by our electronic health record, seeking to reveal patterns of use and helpfulness. METHODS: A total of 150 completed surveys were received. The survey queried demographics, the number of clinic visits, Internet access, portal activation, portal use frequency, and portal information questions and how patients answered them. Helpfulness was rated from 1 (not helpful) to 5 (very helpful). Statistical analysis included bivariate analysis and logistic regression, with odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) reported. RESULTS: The mean age was 67.6 years. Most were females (n = 97, 65.1%). Most (68.7%) patients used the portal. Younger age (OR, 0.94; CI, 0.90-0.99) and access to Internet (OR, 31.8; CI, 8.5-119.4) predicted portal use (P < .005), whereas gender and number of clinic visits did not (P > .373). Of all, 47.5% of patients were unclear about online chart information. Older age indicated being unclear of portal information (68.5 vs 66, P = .0002). Of those who clarified doubts regarding information (n = 67), 23 used the Internet (34.3%), 32 (47.7%) called the physician, and 12 (17.9%) asked a friend and/or family member. Most (90.3%) patients felt the portal was helpful in gathering health information. CONCLUSIONS: Age and Internet access affected portal usage; ability to understand chart information decreased with age. Most patients used the Internet or a family member to clarify doubts regarding portal information. The use of portal data resulted in 32 extra communications to the physician.

The Effects of Peri-Operative Dexamethasone on Patients Undergoing Total Hip or Knee Arthroplasty: Is It Safe for Diabetics?

BACKGROUND: Peri-operative dexamethasone has been shown to effectively reduce post-operative nausea and vomiting and aide in analgesia after total joint arthroplasty (TJA); however, systemic glucocorticoid therapy has many adverse effects. The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of dexamethasone on prosthetic joint infection (PJI) and blood glucose levels in patients undergoing TJA. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of all patients receiving primary TJA from 2011 to 2015 (n = 2317) was conducted. Patients were divided into 2 cohorts: dexamethasone (n = 1426) and no dexamethasone (n = 891); these groups were subdivided into diabetic and non-diabetic patients. The primary outcome was PJI; secondary measures included glucose levels and pre-operative hemoglobin A1c (A1c) values. Statistics were carried out using logistic and regression models. RESULTS: Of the 2317 joints, 1.12% developed PJI; this was not affected by dexamethasone (P = .166). Diabetics were found to have higher rate of infection (P < .001); however, diabetics who received dexamethasone were not found to have a significantly higher infection rate that non-diabetics (P = .646). Blood glucose levels were found to increase post-operatively, and dexamethasone did not increase this change (P = .537). Diabetes (P < .001) and increasing hemoglobin A1c (P < .001) were also associated with increased serum glucose levels; however, this was not influenced by dexamethasone (P = .595). CONCLUSION: Although diabetic patients were found to have a higher infection rate overall, this was not affected by administration of intravenous dexamethasone, nor was the post-operative elevation in serum glucose levels. In this study population, peri-operative intravenous dexamethasone did not increase the rate of PJI and was safe to administer in patients undergoing TJA.

Effect of Obesity on Component Alignment in Total Knee Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is routinely cited as a negative predictive factor for outcomes after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), but the direct mechanism responsible for this relationship has not been described. One possible explanation is a propensity for component malalignment in obese patients that is attributable to difficulty with surgical exposure. METHODS: This study evaluated the effect of obesity on TKA component alignment in 251 primary TKAs during a 12-month period at a single center in 2009. Postoperative component alignment was retrospectively measured and compared between patients defined as obese (body mass index [BMI] ≥30 kg/m2) and patients defined as nonobese (BMI <30 kg/m2). Alignment was determined by measuring the coronal tibiofemoral angle, coronal femoral component angle, coronal tibial component angle, sagittal femoral component angle, and sagittal tibial component angle in all of the study patients. RESULTS: Statistical analysis failed to demonstrate a statistically significant relationship between obesity and component alignment in any of the measured parameters. CONCLUSION: The results of this study support that obesity does not negatively affect TKA component alignment; another factor must be associated with the worse outcomes in obese patients undergoing TKA.

Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Outcomes After Abdominal Organ Transplantation.

This case control study retrospectively compares patients who underwent solid organ transplantation and total joint replacement with a control group that only underwent joint replacement. The study compares 42 transplant patients who underwent liver or kidney transplantation and total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA) to a matched group of 42 nontransplant patients who underwent only THA or TKA. The transplant cohort had significantly more complications (18) than the nontransplant cohort (7) (p D .022). Renal transplant patients had 6.75 times higher odds (95% CI, 1.318-34.565) of experiencing a complication compared with liver transplant patients. The average time between transplant and joint replacement was 2 s 4.9 years. Transplant patients undergoing joint arthroplasty at an average of 2 years posttransplant are at higher risk for complications than a matched cohort of patients undergoing only joint arthroplasty, with renal transplant patients being more at risk for complications than liver transplant patients. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 27(2):119-124, 2018).

Preoperative Glycemic Control Predicts Perioperative Serum Glucose Levels in Patients Undergoing Total Joint Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty (TJA) with postoperative hyperglycemia >200 mg/dL have increased the risk of prosthetic joint infection (PJI). We investigated the correlation between preoperative hemoglobin A1c (A1c) and postoperative hyperglycemia in diabetic patients undergoing TJA. METHODS: A retrospective review of 773 diabetic patients undergoing TJA was conducted. A Youden's J computational analysis determined the A1c where postoperative glucose levels >200 mg/dL were statistically more likely. Patients were then stratified into 3 groups: A1c <7%, A1c 7.0-8.0%, and A1c >8.0%. Outcomes included the highest postoperative in-hospital serum glucose level and PJI. RESULTS: We determined an A1c >7.45% resulted in a greater chance of postoperative hyperglycemia >200 mg/dL. Average postoperative serum glucose increased with A1c (A1c < 7 = 167 mg/dL, A1c 7.0-8.0 = 240 mg/dL, and A1c > 8 = 276 mg/dL, P < .0001). PJI did not statistically increase with A1c (2.25%, 1.99%, and 4.55%, respectively, P = .4319). CONCLUSION: Preoperative hemoglobin A1c levels correlate with postoperative glucose levels. We recommend using an A1c cutoff of 7.45% for patients undergoing TJA and suggest that caution should be exercised in patients with elevated A1c levels undergoing TJA.

The Perioperative Surgical Home: Improving the Value and Quality of Care in Total Joint Replacement.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The perioperative surgical home (PSH) is a patient-centered, physician-led, multidisciplinary care pathway developed to deliver value-based care based on shared decision-making. Physician and hospital reimbursement will be tied to providing quality care at lower cost, and the PSH model has been used in providing care to patients undergoing lower extremity arthroplasty. The purpose of this review is to discuss the rationale, definition, development, current state, and future direction of the PSH. RECENT FINDINGS: The PSH model guides the patient throughout the pre and perioperative process and into the postoperative phase. It has been shown in multiple studies to decrease length of stay, improve functional outcomes, allow more home discharges, and lower costs. There is no increase in complications or readmission rates. The PSH pathway is a safe and effective method of providing value-based care to patients undergoing hip and knee arthroplasty.

Preoperative Acute Inflammatory Markers as Predictors for Postoperative Complications in Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: C-reactive protein (CRP) has been suggested as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular pathology in the nonsurgical setting. While postoperative CRP and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) have an established role in aiding the diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infections, some authors suggest a link between preoperative CRP and postoperative complications in patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 351 patients who underwent unilateral primary total knee arthroplasty by a single surgeon during a 28-month period (January 2013 through April 2015). Patient medical records were reviewed for the following complications occurring within 90 days postoperatively: myocardial infarction, arrhythmia, pulmonary embolism, wound infection, acute renal failure, and reoperation. RESULTS: We found no statistically significant link between postoperative complications and preoperative CRP levels (P=0.5005) or ESR levels (P=0.1610). CONCLUSION: The results of this study do not support the routine inclusion of CRP and ESR analysis as part of the preoperative evaluation for elective total knee arthroplasty.

Topical Tranexamic Acid Use in Knee Periprosthetic Joint Infection Is Safe and Effective.

Tranexamic acid (TXA) has been shown to decrease hemoglobin loss and reduce the need for transfusions in primary hip and knee arthroplasty. Our study evaluated the safety and efficacy of topical TXA in revision TKA for periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). We performed a retrospective review of patients who underwent removal of hardware with antibiotic spacer placement (stage 1) and/or revision TKA (stage 2) for PJI at our institution between September 2007 and July 2013. During that time, 49 patients underwent stage-1 procedures (20 knees with TXA, 29 without TXA) and 47 patients underwent stage-2 revisions (28 with TXA, 19 without TXA). We evaluated hemoglobin loss, need for transfusion, reinfection rate, length of stay (LOS), complications, and mortality with and without the use of TXA in these patients. All data sets were analyzed with a two-sample t-test. Average follow-up was 3.15 years (range, 1-7 years). TXA use led to a significantly lower percentage drop in the postoperative lowest hemoglobin compared with the preoperative hemoglobin in stage-1 surgeries (19.8 vs. 30.05%, p = 0.0004) and stage-2 revisions (24.5 vs 32.01%, p = 0.01). In both groups, TXA use was associated with a significant reduction in transfusion rates (stage-1, 25 vs 51.7%, p = 0.04; stage-2, 25 vs. 52.6%, p = 0.05). There was a nonstatistical decreased LOS in both groups in which TXA was used (stage 1, 5.15 vs. 6.72 days, p = 0.055; stage 2, 5.21 vs. 6.84 days, p = 0.09). There was no difference in the reinfection rate (4 vs. 4, p = 0.56) or mortality rate between groups (0 vs. 2 non-TXA group). A single upper extremity deep vein thrombosis occurred in a stage-1 patient who received TXA, and no pulmonary embolism occurred. We show that topical TXA is safe and effective for use in both stages of revision TKA for PJI. Previous studies have shown TXA to aggravate a staphylococcal infection in mice; however, topical TXA doesn't appear to negatively effect on the treatment of PJI in our patients and did not increase the reinfection, complication, or mortality rate.

Financial Analysis of Treating Periprosthetic Joint Infections at a Tertiary Referral Center.

BACKGROUND: Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a significant challenge to the orthopedic surgeon, patient, hospital, and insurance provider. Our study compares the financial information of self-originating and referral 2-stage revision hip and knee surgeries at our tertiary referral center for hip or knee PJI over the last 4 years. METHODS: We performed an in-house retrospective financial review of all patients who underwent 2-stage revision hip or knee arthroplasty for infection between January 2008 and August 2013, comparing self-originating and referral cases. RESULTS: We found an increasing number of referrals over the study period. There was an increased cost of treating hips over knees. All scenarios generated a positive net income; however, referral hip PJIs offered lower reimbursement and net income per case (although not statistically significant), whereas knee PJIs offered higher reimbursement and net income per case (although not statistically significant). CONCLUSION: With referral centers treating increased numbers of infected joints performed elsewhere, we show continued financial incentive in accepting referrals, although with less financial gain than when treating one's own hip PJI and an increased financial gain when treating referral knee PJIs.