Performing region-specific tasks does not improve lower extremity patient-reported outcome scores.

BACKGROUND: Patient-reported outcome measures quantify outcomes from patients' perspective with validated instruments. QuickDASH (Quick Disability of Arm, Shoulder and Hand, an upper extremity PROM) scores improve after completing instrument tasks, suggesting patient-reported outcome results can be modified. We hypothesized that performing lower extremity tasks on the knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score for joint reconstruction (KOOS-JR) and hip disability and osteoarthritis outcome score for joint reconstruction (HOOS-JR) instruments would similarly improve the scores. METHODS: Forty seven hip and 62 knee osteoarthritis patients presenting to a suburban academic center outpatient osteoarthritis and joint replacement clinic were enrolled and randomized to an intervention or a control group. Inclusion criteria were age over 18 years and English competency. Patients completed a HOOS-JR or KOOS-JR instrument, completed tasks similar to those of the instrument (intervention) or the QuickDASH (control), and then repeated instruments again. Paired and unpaired t-tests were used to compare the intervention and control group scores before and after tasks. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in total or individual scores after task completion compared to baseline in either the HOOS-JR or the KOOS-JR groups. There was no significant difference in the scores between the intervention or control groups. CONCLUSIONS: Disability may be less modifiable in the lower extremity than in the upper extremity, perhaps because upper extremity activities are more easily compensated by the contralateral limb, or because lower extremity activities are more frequent. Thorough evaluation of factors influencing patient-reported outcome measures is necessary before their extensive application to quality control and reimbursement models.

Total knee arthroplasty and patelloplasty in a patient with phocomelia caused by thalidomide.

The treatment of osteoarthritis in patients with phocomelia with total knee arthroplasty is challenging due to the unusual anatomy and severe deformities. The authors present a case of phocomelia caused by thalidomide with end-stage osteoarthritis and grossly medialized patella. The patient was treated with a cemented constrained non-hinged prosthesis and patelloplasty. Six months later, the patient had complete relief of pain and was able to walk without walking assistance. To our knowledge, total knee replacement in a patient with phocomelia caused by thalidomide has not been described in literature.

A Physician Assistant Is Associated With Higher Patient Satisfaction With Outpatient Orthopedic Surgery.

Patient satisfaction is increasingly used to assess the quality of care and determine physician reimbursement. Patient characteristics influence patient satisfaction, but the effect of physician practice parameters on satisfaction has not been studied in detail. Outpatient satisfaction scores from 11,059 patients who rated 24 orthopedic surgeons from a single institution were studied. Practice-related parameters were collected in a provider-reported survey. Univariate logistic regressions were used to test the associations between each provider characteristic and the likelihood of receiving a 5-star rating on a selection of 16 Press Ganey patient satisfaction questions. The presence of a physician assistant in the clinic positively affected the 5-star rating for all but 1 of the patient satisfaction questions examined, including overall satisfaction (odds ratio [OR], 1.38; 95% CI, 1.03-1.85; P=.031); the likelihood of being recommended to others (OR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.16-2.14; P=.004); and friendliness/courtesy (OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.17-2.13; P=.003). However, having a fellow or nurse practitioner in the clinic, treating children, productivity (measured as total relative value units), taking trauma call, and provider distance from home were not associated with higher scores for any of the Press Ganey patient satisfaction questions. Having a physician assistant in the clinic is an actionable, practice-specific characteristic that positively affects patient satisfaction on many levels and may ultimately improve the perception of care. [Orthopedics. 2022;45(5):e252-e256.].

Case-Controlled Analysis of the Direct Superior and Mini-Posterior Approach for Total Hip Arthroplasty at a Minimum of Two Years of Follow Up.

INTRODUCTION: The direct superior approach to total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a recently developed technique aimed at sparing the iliotibial band, obturator externus tendon, and quadratus femoris muscle while working within the familiar anatomical landscape of the posterior approach. While the direct superior approach has been used for more than a decade, there is a lack of midterm outcomes and safety data. This study elaborates on promising short-term results and aims to investigate the midterm outcomes of the direct superior approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We present a unicentric, retrospective case-controlled analysis of a minimum two-year follow up of the direct superior approach in comparison to those of the more conventional and established mini-posterior approach. RESULTS: The results indicate that patient recovery, as measured by Harris Hip Score and timed-up-and-go at three months and two years, are virtually identical. There was no difference in gait aid utilization or frequency of narcotic use. However, there was a statistically significant reduction in length of stay by over one day associated with the direct superior approach (p=0.003). There was no compromise in acetabular component position or observed lucencies over time. CONCLUSION: Overall, the direct superior approach appears to be safe and warrants longer-term study to evaluate its effect on hospital-related cost, same-day discharge, and hip stability.

Excellent Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes with Direct Superior Total Hip Arthroplasty with a Minimum of Two-Year Follow Up.

This study aims to establish the midterm safety and performance for the direct superior approach to minimally invasive surgery total hip arthroplasty (MIS-THA). We used a unicentric, single-surgeon, retrospective, consecutive case series analysis of the first 40 patients who received primary unilateral direct superior MIS-THA. Special attention was given to functional recovery by measuring Harris Hip Score (HHS) and timed-up-and-go (TUG) with a mean follow up of 2.2 ± 0.4 years. A radiologic evaluation was performed. HHS and TUG improved significantly at three months and one year (p < 0.001). All components were placed within the Lewinnek safe zone with no change position or signs of loosening at two years. With a minimum of two years of follow up, the direct superior approach appears to be safe without any obvious or consistent postoperative complications-clinically or radiographically-with excellent functional recovery. Additionally, our subgroup analysis supported no late learning curve effect.