Strategies to improve end-of-life decision-making and palliative care following hip fracture in frail older adults: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Although surgery is the gold standard following a hip fracture, the potential for rehabilitation and survival rates are low in frail older patients. Some patients may derive more benefit from palliative care. The objectives of this review were to identify the available strategies to improve end-of-life decision-making and palliative care for frail patients with hip fractures and to synthetise their level of support. METHODS: We conducted a scoping review of the scientific and grey literature, searching seven databases and websites of associations. We included all study designs, expert opinion articles and clinical practice guidelines (CPGs). Data were synthetised according to the Approach to Patient with Limited Life Expectancy and Hip Fracture framework. The number of research items and their level of evidence were tabulated for each of the recommended strategies. RESULTS: Of the 10 591 items identified, 34 were eligible. The majority of included articles were original research studies (n = 15). Half of the articles and CPGs focused on intervention categories (55%) such as goals of care discussion and comfort care, followed by factors to consider in the end-of-life decision-making process (25%) and prognosis assessments (20%), mainly through the estimation of life expectancy. The level of evidence for these strategies remains low, given the limited number of prospective studies supporting them. CONCLUSIONS: This scoping review highlighted that end-of-life care in frail older patients with a hip fracture remains understudied. The strategies identified could be prioritised for future research to improve the well-being of the target population while promoting sustainable resource management.

Sleep Apnea is Not an Obstacle for Outpatient Hip and Knee Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Up to 25% of patients requiring hip or knee arthroplasty have sleep apnea (SA), and these patients have historically been excluded from outpatient programs. The objectives of this study were to evaluate same-day discharge failure as well as 30-day complications, readmissions, and unexpected visits. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study comparing patients who have and do not have SA matched for age, sex and arthroplasty type (total hip arthroplasty, total knee arthroplasty, unicompartimental knee arthroplasty) who underwent primary outpatient surgery between February 2019 and December 2022 in 2 academic hospitals was conducted. Cases with mild SA, moderate SA with a body mass index (BMI) <35, and SA of all severity treated by continuous positive airway pressure machines were eligible. There were 156 patients included (78 cases). Complications were assessed according to the Clavien-Dindo Classification and the Comprehensive Complication Index. Continuous variables were evaluated by Student's T or Mann-Whitney tests, while categorical data were analyzed by Chi-square or Fisher tests. Univariate analyses were performed to determine discharge failure risk factors. RESULTS: There were 6 cases (7.7%) and 5 controls (6.4%) who failed to be discharged on surgery day (P = .754), with postoperative hypoxemia (6, [3.8%]) and apnea periods (3, [1.9%]) being the most common causes. Higher BMI (odds ratio = 1.19, P = .013) and general anesthesia (odds ratio = 11.97, P = .004) were found to be risk factors for discharge failure. No difference was observed on 30-day readmissions (P = .497), unexpected visits (P = 1.000), and complications on the Clavien-Dindo Classification (P > .269) and Comprehensive Complication Index (P > .334) scales. CONCLUSIONS: Selected patients who have SA can safely undergo outpatient hip or knee arthroplasty. Higher BMI and general anesthesia increased the odds of same-day discharge failure. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, Case-control Study.

Incidence of venous thromboembolism in pediatric orthopedics: A systematic review.

BACKGROUNDS: Children undergoing orthopedic procedures often present numerous risk factors for thromboembolism. A recent survey, conducted by the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA), indicates that pediatric orthopedic surgeons are unaware of venous thromboembolism (VTE) prevention protocols and feel that certain procedures should require thromboprophylaxis. The aim of this systematic review was to properly assess the incidence of VTE in pediatric orthopedics. By using a thorough and broad search of the literature, the incidence according to different subspecialties of pediatric orthopedics was evaluated. METHODS: A systematic review on VTE in pediatric orthopedics was conducted. Four databases were searched for articles reporting these events. Three major search concepts: "pediatrics", "orthopedic surgery/trauma" and "VTE complications" were used and broken down in MeSH, EmTree and their free vocabulary synonyms for proper literature review. Two independent authors screened 8467 titles and abstracts. Seventy articles reporting VTE in children treated by orthopedic surgeons were selected for data extraction. We reported median incidences by orthopedic subtypes and by study characteristics with a semi-quantitative review model. RESULTS: The 70 articles yielded a total of 845,010 participants. Spine articles (33/70) provided 25,2% of the children included in the review. Trauma studies (16/70) accounted for 47.5% of the participants. The overall VTE median incidence was 0.16% [95% CI: 0.0-1.01%]. Musculoskeletal infections had a noticeably higher median incidence of 3.5% [CI: 0.0-13.8%]. Small variations were seen for the other subtypes: trauma, spine and elective surgeries. Subgroups by article characteristics did not differ significantly either. CONCLUSION: Thrombotic complications are rare events in pediatric orthopedics, but knowledge epidemiologic is important because its potential severity. In this review, VTE median incidence for all orthopedic subtypes was around 0.16% [CI: 0.0-1.01%]. According to subspecialty assessment, musculoskeletal infections were associated with greater risk of VTE occurrence. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III - Systematic review.

Gait pattern analysis before and after periacetabular osteotomy in unilaterally affected dysplastic patients.

BACKGROUND: Patients with acetabular dysplasia have an abnormal acetabular geometry which results in insufficient coverage of the femoral head. This coverage deficiency reduces contact surfaces within the joint, accelerating the wear of the articular cartilage and predisposing patients to early osteoarthritis. Periacetabular osteotomy is a surgical treatment of acetabular dysplasia that aims to reorient the acetabulum relative to the femoral head, increasing coverage. METHODS: Pelvic kinematics and lower limbs joint kinematics and kinetics during the stance phase of gait were recorded using a 3D motion capture system and force plates, then compared pre- to post- and between limbs with a repeated measures 2-way ANOVA. Radiographic measurements and gait parameters were compared pre- to post-surgery using a t-test for dependant samples. To identify predictors of pelvic symmetry improvements during gait, a multivariate analysis was performed using a forward stepwise linear regression. FINDINGS: Radiographic measurements improved for all participants while gait parameters remained unchanged. Hip flexion symmetry was improved following surgery. The external rotation moment of the healthy hip was reduced after surgery (-29%) resulting in increased asymmetry. Pelvic tilt was significantly greater on the affected side (+0.5°) during the loading response, and the difference tended to be greater after surgery (+0.8°). INTERPRETATION: Unilaterally affected dysplastic patients have an asymmetrical gait pattern that is only partially corrected by periacetabular osteotomy even when radiographic and clinical targets are met. Differences between the limbs could be explained in part by a learned antalgic pattern and muscle weaknesses leading to complex compensation mechanisms.

Lateral knee laxity increases the risk of excessive joint line obliquity after medial opening-wedge high tibial osteotomy.

BACKGROUND: Medial opening-wedge high tibial osteotomy (HTO) is a well-recognized treatment for patient with varus knee osteoarthritis. Joint line obliquity has recently been suggested to negatively impact clinical outcomes following HTO, but little is known about what factors lead to increased joint line obliquity. The purpose of the current study was (1) to evaluate whether increased preoperative lateral knee laxity, represented by the joint line convergence angle, results in increased joint line obliquity in a consecutive series of patients treated with HTO and (2) to determine the effect of advanced arthritic changes on joint line obliquity. HYPOTHESIS: Increased joint line convergence angle would be associated with increased joint line obliquity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All HTOs performed at our center between 2010-2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were excluded if pre- and postoperative standing alignment radiographs were not available. Varus-producing osteotomies were excluded. Patients were subdivided according to their preoperative joint line convergence angle (≤3° or >3°) and the degree of radiographic arthritic change. The primary outcome measure was the postoperative joint line obliquity. Categorical variables were compared using the paired samples t-test. Survival analysis was performed for failure and overall rate of reoperation. RESULTS: During the study period, 90 HTO were performed, and 38 patients (42 knees; M/F: 32/6; mean age: 41.6; mean follow-up: 4.72 years) met the inclusion criteria. The most common surgical indications were varus knee osteoarthritis (n=27, 64.3%) and osteochondritis dissecans (n=7, 8.2%). Patients with a preoperative joint line convergence angle >3° demonstrated significantly greater joint line obliquity postoperatively as compared to those with a joint line convergence angle ≤3° (6.4°±4.6° vs. 2.5°±5.7°, respectively; p=0.02). Patients with advanced arthritic changes had significantly lower preoperative (-3°±3.4° vs. -5.6°±4.1°; p=0.03) and greater postoperative (5.8°±4° vs. 2.2°±6.4°; p=0.04) joint line obliquity as compared to those with minimal arthritic changes. There were 12 complications among the 42 procedures: one conversion to total knee replacement (TKR), one hardware failure (fixation revised), one infection, and 9 hardware removals. Overall survival using conversion to TKR was 96.23% (95% CI 0.92-1.0) at 10 years. DISCUSSION: Lateral knee laxity, as defined by a preoperative joint line convergence angle >3°, and advanced arthritic changes are associated with increased postoperative joint line obliquity following medial opening-wedge high tibial osteotomy. Soft-tissue adaptation should be accounted for in order to avoid excessive joint line obliquity following high tibial osteotomy, and the planned correction should be reduced by 25% in patients with a preoperative joint line convergence angle >3° when templating using standing alignment radiographs. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

The impact of Canadian-produced research on the global orthopedic literature: a bibliometric analysis.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the quality and impact of Canadian-produced research relative to that of other developed nations. The purpose of this study was to determine the contribution of Canadian authors to the orthopedic literature globally and nationally as well as Canada's research productivity in orthopedics. We hypothesized that Canada ranks among the most impactful countries in terms of orthopedic research productivity. METHODS: We performed a bibliometric analysis to identify articles published between 2001 and 2020 in the category of orthopedics. We identified Canada's global rank in terms of overall productivity and assessed the contributions of individual Canadian authors. We also examined the quality of publications as determined by category normalized citation impact (CNCI) and publication in the top quartile of journals (%Q1) in terms of impact factor. In addition, we calculated the percentage of Canadian publications that were in orthopedics. RESULTS: We identified 10 821 orthopedic publications from 2001 to 2020. Canada placed sixth globally in terms of productivity in orthopedic research. The annual productivity of Canadian orthopedic researchers increased over the study period by a factor of 3.2. In terms of research quality, with a %Q1 of 36.5% and a CNCI of 1.22, Canada outperformed Asian countries and the United States; the latter country had a %Q1 of 35.3% and a CNCI of 1.14 over the study period. CONCLUSION: The body of Canadian orthopedic literature has grown consistently over the past 20 years. Despite the overall leadership of the United States and other developed nations such as China and Japan, Canada ranks among the most influential countries in terms of the quality and quantity of orthopedic research.

Volar Locking Plating Compared to Conservative Treatment in Distal Radius Fractures in Elderly Patients (>60 years old): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Purpose: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the efficacy of volar locking plating (VLP) to conservative treatment in distal radius fractures in patients aged >60 years old. Methods: English articles were searched in electronic databases including MEDLINE, CENTRAL, Embase, Web of science, and ClinicalTrial.gov from inception to October 2020. Relevant article reference lists also were reviewed. Two reviewers independently screened and extracted data from trials comparing VLP to nonsurgical treatment in distal radial fractures in the elderly. Starting with 3052 citations, 5 trials (539 patients) met the inclusion criteria. The primary outcomes were disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand, and patient-rated wrist evaluation scores, grip strength, and range of motion. Results: All trials of this random effect meta-analysis were at a moderate risk of bias due to the lack of blinding. Differences in the disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand score (mean difference [MD] -5,91; 95% confidence interval [CI], -8,83; -3,00), patient-rated wrist evaluation score (MD -9.07; 95% CI, -14.57, -3.57), and grip strength (MD 5,12; 95% CI, 0,59-9,65) were statistically significant and favored VLPs, however without reaching clinical significance. No effect was observed in terms of the range of motion and reoperation rates. Conclusion: This review was not able to demonstrate any clinical benefit to the surgical treatment of distal radius fractures with VLP in patients aged >60 years old compared to nonsurgical treatment. Type of study/level of evidence: Therapeutic I.

Validation of the French version of the Non-Arthritic Hip Score (NAHS) in 113 hip arthroscopy procedures.

BACKGROUND: The Non-Arthritic Hip Score (NAHS) used to evaluate the hip in younger patients is a self-administered questionnaire with 20 items in four sections: pain, symptoms, function, and activities. Although used in France, no transcultural version had been validated. The objective of this study was to translate the NAHS into French then assess the validity, reliability, and sensitivity to change of the French-language version (NAHS-Fr) in younger patients with hip conditions other than osteoarthritis. HYPOTHESIS: The NAHS-Fr demonstrates good validity and reliability when used in younger French-speaking patients with hip pain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational study in 105 patients (62 males and 43 females) scheduled for surgery on one or both hips (113 hips in total) to treat cam-type femoro-acetabular impingement or labral lesions. Before and 6 months after surgery, each patient completed the NAHS-Fr and Western Ontario and McMaster Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Statistical tests were done to evaluate validity, reliability, and sensitivity to change, as recommended by the Consensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN). RESULTS: The response rate was 100%, confirming that the NAHS-Fr was easy to use. The NAHS-Fr was both valid and reliable. No ceiling or floor effect was detected for the total NAHS-Fr score. All items had Cronbach alpha coefficients greater than 0.8, indicating good internal consistency. External consistency between the NAHS-Fr and WOMAC was negative (-0.676) due to inversely proportional score indexing. Before surgery, the NAHS-Fr and WOMAC scores were strongly and significantly correlated (p<0.0001). The effect size was greater than 0.8, indicating good sensitivity to the change induced by surgery. DISCUSSION: These results confirm the study hypothesis: the NAHS-Fr has the same good psychometric characteristics as does the original version and versions in other languages. The NAHS-Fr is useful for evaluating younger patients with non-osteoarthritic hip pain and can be used by French-speaking surgeons in everyday clinical practice. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, prospective observational non-comparative cohort study.

Prognostic Factors of Function in Nonoperatively Treated Radial Head Fractures: A Prospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: To identify patient-related factors and fracture characteristics influencing the functional outcomes of nonoperatively treated radial head fractures and to determine function at 1 year. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Academic Level 1 trauma center. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: Consecutive isolated radial head fractures fitting the inclusion criteria between May 2013 and July 2016. INTERVENTION: Nonoperative treatment of isolated radial head fractures. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Logistic regressions between potential prognostic factors and function assessed with the Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS), the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score, and range of motion at 1.5-3-6-12 months. RESULTS: One hundred fourteen patients were included (78% Mason I [OTA/AO 2R1B1], 20% Mason II [OTA/AO 2R1B3], and 2% Mason III [OTA/AO 2R1C3]). Mean MEPS and DASH score at the last follow-up were excellent [96.4 ± 7.6 and 3.7 ± 8.6] with, respectively, 79.8% and 92.7% of satisfactory results. Depressive symptoms at injury baseline (Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology > 5) are a constant predictor of unsatisfactory function (MEPS <90 or DASH >17]). Older age and female sex were all linked to worse function at the first follow-ups ( P < 0.05), whereas lower socioeconomic class and receiving financial compensations were associated to unsatisfactory function at 1 year ( P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Although most nonoperatively treated radial head fractures heal with excellent function, some patients still exhibit unsatisfactory results at 1 year. Symptoms of depression at injury baseline are a constant and significant predictor of unsatisfactory function. Early detection of depressive symptoms would allow for interventions that may optimize function. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

The POSI study: gender differences in 94 cases of postoperative shoulder surgery infection: results of a 7-year retrospective multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Contrary to lower limb infection, POstoperative Shoulder surgery Infection (POSI) often involves Cutibacterium acnes. Our aim was to describe patient characteristics and pathogens retrieved in POSI to guide initial empiric antibiotic selection with suspected infection during revision. We also compared microorganisms in infection following trauma, arthroplasty (AP), and arthroscopy (AS). METHODS: A multicenter retrospective study from 2010 to 2016 reviewed laboratory databases and medical records to identify patients with a previous shoulder surgery and a confirmed shoulder infection. The following procedures were included: AP, AS, fracture fixation (FF), and another open surgery (OS). A confirmed shoulder infection was defined as 2 positive cultures or more of the same microorganism, or clear clinical infection with 1 positive culture or more. RESULTS: Among the 5 hospitals and 28 surgeons involved, 94 POSI cases were identified. Mean age was 59 years at index surgery (range: 22-91) with a majority of men (n = 70, 74%). Among POSI cases, AP was the most common index surgery (n = 41), followed by FF (n = 27), AS (n = 16), and OS (n = 10). The median time between index surgery and the first positive sample was 5 months and the mean was 23 months (minimum 6 days to maximum 27 years), illustrating a positively skewed distribution. Cutibacterium spp were identified in 64 patients (68%), including 59 C acnes patients (63%), which was the most frequent germ in all 4 surgical groups. In 86% of cases, C acnes was identified at the first revision. The other 2 most common germs were Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus, with 29% and 17%, respectively. Polymicrobial infection was present in 30% of patients. Gender analysis revealed that C acnes was twice as frequent in men (male = 52 of 70, female = 7 of 24; P < .001). S epidermidis was more prevalent in women (n = 11; 46%) compared with men (n = 16; 21%) (P = .032). C acnes infection was most frequent in arthroscopic surgery (n = 14; 70%, P = .049). S epidermidis was 3 times more prevalent in chronic than in acute cases. CONCLUSION: Empiric antimicrobial therapy following POSI, while waiting for culture results, should cover C acnes, S epidermidis, and S aureus. There is a significant gender difference regarding POSI culture results. C acnes is more frequent in men, but should still be covered in women as it was found in 29% of cases.

Continuous vs. single-shot adductor canal block for pain management following primary total knee arthroplasty: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Adductor canal block (ACB) provides effective analgesia following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). This systematic review aimed to compare continuous and single-shot ACB for pain management and functional recovery following TKA. METHODS: MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science and CENTRAL were searched up to January 5th, 2021. Included studies were randomized controlled trials comparing continuous to single-shot ACB for postoperative pain management after primary TKA. Primary outcome was opioid consumption and secondary outcomes were pain intensity, quadriceps strength, mobility, complications, and length of hospital stay. Meta-analyses were performed using random-effects method. RESULTS: Eleven studies (910 patients) were included in this systematic review. Continuous ACB did not significantly decrease opioid consumption (8 studies; 642 patients; MD=-5.67; 95% CI: -13.87 to 2.54; I2=13%) but significantly decreased 48hours pain scores (10 studies; 852 patients; MD=-0,73; 95% CI: -0.93 to -0.54; I2=54%). Continuous ACB improved quadriceps strength (4 studies; 250 patients; SMD=0.59; 95% CI: 0.16 to 1.03; I2=63%) but not Timed Up and Go test performance (5 studies; 524 patients; MD=3.99; 95% CI: -8.98 to 1.01; I2=89%). Type of ACB did not affect nausea and vomiting (5 studies; 357 patients; RR=1.23; 95% CI: 0.65 to 2.34; I2=0%) nor length of hospital stay (8 studies; 655 patients; MD=-0.13; 95% CI: -0.28 to 0.01; I2=36%). CONCLUSION: Continuous ACB did not reduce opioid consumption following TKA. Larger trials are required.

Pain Management Strategies After Orthopaedic Trauma: A Mixed-Methods Study with a View to Optimizing Practices.

PURPOSE: To examine 1) pain management strategies within the care trajectory of orthopaedic trauma patients and patients' perception of their effectiveness, 2) adverse effects (AEs) associated with pharmacological treatments, particularly opioids and cannabis, and 3) patients' perceptions of strategies that should be applied after an orthopaedic trauma and support that they should obtain from health professionals for their use. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study was conducted with orthopaedic trauma patients in a level 1 trauma center. A convergent mixed-methods design was used. Data on pain experience, pain management strategies used and AEs were collected with self-administered questionnaires at hospital discharge (T1) and at 3 months after injury (T2). Patients' preferences about the pain management strategies used, the required support and AEs were further examined through semi-structured individual interviews at the same time measures. Descriptive statistics and thematic analyses were performed. RESULTS: Seventy-one patients were recruited and 30 individual interviews were undertaken. Pharmacological pain management strategies used at T1 and T2 were mainly opioids (95.8%; 20.8%) and acetaminophen (91.5%; 37.5%). The most frequently applied non-pharmacological strategies were sleep (95.6%) and physical positioning (89.7%) at T1 and massage (46.3%) and relaxation (32.5%) at T2. Findings from quantitative and qualitative analyses highlighted that non-pharmacological strategies, such as comfort, massage, distraction, and physical therapy, were perceived as the most effective by participants. Most common AEs related to opioids were dry mouth (78.8%) and fatigue (66.1%) at T1 and insomnia (30.0%) and fatigue (20.0%) at T2. Dry mouth (28.6%) and drowsiness (14.3%) were the most reported AEs by patients using recreational cannabis. An important need for information at hospital discharge and for a personalized follow-up was identified by participants during interviews. CONCLUSION: Despite its AEs, we found that opioids are still the leading pain management strategy after an orthopaedic trauma and that more efforts are needed to implement non-pharmacological strategies. Cannabis was taken for recreational purposes but patients also used it for pain relief. Support from health professionals is needed to promote the adequate use of these strategies.

The risk of venous thromboembolism in surgically treated hip fracture: A retrospective cohort study of 5184 patients.

INTRODUCTION: Elderly patients undergoing surgery for a hip fracture are at risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). The known risk of VTE is low due to thromboprophylaxis (1.8-2.5% at three months). Most previous studies have ignored the high mortality in that population when calculating the risk of VTE. Hip fracture treatment has also evolved over the last decade. The real risk of VTE today is unknown. We asked what was the risk of symptomatic VTE following surgery for a hip fracture in an elderly population. We also asked what kind of bleeding events were associated with thromboprophylaxis. HYPOTHESIS: The risk of VTE will be lower than previously described due to modern postoperative care. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of all patients≥65-years-old undergoing surgery for a hip fracture in two Canadian academic centers, between January 1, 2008, and January 1, 2019. Symptomatic VTE (pulmonary embolism or deep venous thrombosis) confirmed by imagery were assessed. The follow-up was fixed at 3 months. The cumulated risks of VTE and bleeding events were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier estimator and a logistic regression model was used to determine risk factors. RESULTS: The cohort included 5184 patients. The mean age was 83±8 years old and 76% of patients were female. In total, 98.8% of this cohort received postoperative thromboprophylaxis. Low-molecular-weight heparin was given for 35 days in 87% of this cohort. The risk of venous thromboembolism was 4.7±0.5% at 3 months (n=144). Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (odds ratio 1.6 [1.0-2.4]) and the use of warfarin as extended thromboprophylaxis (odds ratio 2.1 [1.3-3.6]) were associated with venous thromboembolism. The risk of bleeding was 5.9% (n=179) at 3 months. In total, 78% (n=141) of bleeding events were hematomas, of which only 12% (n=16) needed reoperation. The use of direct oral anticoagulant was associated with an increased risk of bleeding events (odds ratio, 2.8 [1.5-5.0]). Mortality at 3 months was 8.4%. DISCUSSION: The risk of venous thromboembolism is higher than expected in a population treated for this condition (4.7% vs. 1.8-2.5% at 3 months as previously described). Bleeding events were mostly hematomas and few needed reoperations for wound complication. Future research should focus on the management of thromboprophylaxis in that population. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III; retrospective cohort study.

Return to Baseline Physical Activity After Bone-Patellar Tendon-Bone Versus Hamstring Tendon Autografts for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

BACKGROUND: Bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) and hamstring tendon (HT) autografts are the most utilized grafts for primary anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. The ability of a patient to return to a preinjury level of physical activity is a key consideration in choice of graft; the influence of graft choice on this metric lacks consensus in the literature. PURPOSE: To assess the effects of autograft choice (BPTB vs HT) for primary ACL reconstruction on return to baseline level of physical activity and/or sports participation. STUDY DESIGN: Meta-analysis; Level of evidence, 1. METHODS: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials comparing the use of BPTB and HT autografts for primary ACL reconstruction was conducted. The electronic databases EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane CENTRAL, and Web of Science were comprehensively queried through September 23, 2019. The primary outcome was return to preinjury level of activity/sports. Secondary outcomes included knee stability testing (Lachman, KT-1000 arthrometer, and pivot-shift tests) and clinical subjective knee scores (Tegner, Cincinnati, International Knee Documentation Committee, and Lysholm). Two independent reviewers were involved in the screening of titles and abstracts, data extraction, and the assessment of risk of bias. Meta-analyses were performed respecting the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Intervention. RESULTS: A total of 29 studies (N = 3099 patients) were eligible for this review, of which 13 (n = 1029 patients) reported on return to baseline level of sports as an endpoint. The risk ratio (RR) of using BPTB vs HT on return to baseline sport level was 1.03 (0.91-1.17; P = .63). Absence of a positive pivot-shift test was the only secondary outcome, with a statistically significant RR of 0.66 (95% CI, 0.50-0.86) in favor of BPTB autografts (P = .002). CONCLUSION: In reviewing the current literature, no recommendation can be made on the optimal graft choice when using a return to baseline level of physical activity and/or sports participation as a primary metric.

Should We Use Bipolar Hemiarthroplasty in Patients ≥70 Years Old With a Femoral Neck Fracture? A Review of Literature and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

BACKGROUND: Bipolar (BHA) and unipolar hemiarthroplasties (UHA) are interchangeably used in elderly patients with a displaced femoral neck fracture. We ask if there is a difference between BHA and UHA with regards to hip function, in elderly patients. METHODS: Systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted of randomized controlled trials comparing BHA to UHA. The primary outcome was postoperative hip function scores. Secondary outcomes were overall health-related quality of life patient-reported outcomes, acetabular erosion, and postoperative complications. Data sources, last searched on June 1, 2020, were MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. RESULTS: Fourteen randomized controlled trials were eligible for meta-analysis. There was no difference in hip function scores between BHA and UHA (standardized mean difference 0.32, 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.06 to 0.71, n = 1084, I2 = 87%). Patients with BHA with more than 2-year follow-up had better hip function scores (standardized mean difference 0.68, 95% CI 0.18-1.18, n = 700, I2 = 87%). There was no difference in European Quality of life- five dimensions scores with BHA (mean difference 0.08, 95% CI -0.01 to 0.17, n = 967, I2 = 82%). The use of BHA decreased the risk of acetabular erosion (relative risk 0.38, 95% CI 0.17-0.83, n = 1239, I2 = 0%). There was no difference for revision, mortality, infection, and dislocation (I2 = 0%). CONCLUSION: There seems to be no difference between BHA and UHA with regards to hip function at 2 years. BHA might decrease the risk of acetabular erosion. There is a need for a large randomized controlled trial with a follow-up >2 years and better measurement tools to assess clinical benefits. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

Validation of the French version of the Self-Administered International Hip Outcome Tool-12 Questionnaire and determination of the Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID) in the French speaking population.

BACKGROUND: Patient-Reported Outcomes tools are becoming the gold standard in the evaluation of results in orthopaedic surgery. In 2012, the International Hip Outcome Tool-12 (iHOT-12) was developed. This self-administered questionnaire was designed to address the day-to-day clinical setting with faster completion and easier patient flow. In 2021, a French translation of the iHOT-33 questionnaire, from which the iHOT-12 is derived, proved to be valid. Since there is not data in French regarding iHOT-12, we performed a prospective study aiming to answer: (1) is this French version of the iHOT-12 questionnaire as valid, (2) can the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) value for patients undergoing hip arthroscopy for femoro-acetabular impingement (FAI) be defined? HYPOTHESIS: It is hypothesized that the iHOT-12-Fr would be valid and responsive to change in a cohort treated for FAI. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Using the COSMIN recommendations, a multicentric prospective cohort study was conducted to evaluate the reliability, validity, responsiveness and MCID of the iHOT-12-Fr. RESULTS: In total, 101 patients were recruited for participation in the project. The reliability of the iHOT-12-Fr questionnaire was assessed with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC=0.84) and the internal consistency with a Cronbach's alpha (α=0.86). The standard error of measurement (SEM=6.7) and the smallest detectable change (SDC=1.8) were calculated. Construct validity was evaluated with Pearson's correlation coefficients (r) by comparing the iHOT-12-Fr with the iHOT-33-Fr (r=0.96), the Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score-Fr (r=0.68) and Nonarthritic Hip Score-Fr (r=0.82). Responsiveness was shown with a standardized effect size of 1.18, standardized response mean of 0.73, responsiveness ratio of 1.4 and an MCID of 11 points. DISCUSSION: Metrological qualities of the iHOT-12-Fr are comparable to the original version and other versions translated into different languages. This study proves that the French translation of the iHOT-12 is valid, reliable and compares to the original iHOT-12. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV prospective study.

Validation of the French version of the self-administered international hip outcome tool-33 questionnaire.

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the effectiveness of new treatments, whether conservative or surgical, a self-administered questionnaire for hip pain targeted at physically active patients 18 to 60 years of age, named the international Hip Outcome Tool-33 (iHOT-33), was developed and validated in 2012. Since there is no French version available and we are acutely aware of transcultural variations, we conducted a prospective study to: 1) translate, and then 2) validate this questionnaire into international French. HYPOTHESIS: The iHOT-33-Fr questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool for evaluating hip pain in a young, francophone population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Translation of the questionnaire was done according to the standardized method described by Beaton and the final version of the iHOT-33-Fr was validated using the COSMIN methodology. The data were collected prospectively at multiple sites. The reliability of the iHOT-33-Fr questionnaire was evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and its internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha. The standard error of measurement and minimum detectable change were calculated. The construct validity was evaluated using Pearson's correlation coefficient by comparing the iHOT-33-Fr with the Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS-Fr) and Nonarthritic Hip Score (NAHS-Fr). RESULTS: In all, 101 patients filled out the questionnaires. The ICC was 0.87. The Cronbach alpha was 0.95. The standard error of measurement was 6.4 and the minimum detectable change was 1.8. The correlation between the iHOT-33-Fr and the HOOS-Fr was 0.86, while the correlation between the iHOT-33-Fr and the NAHS-Fr was 0.75. DISCUSSION: Our results show that the metrological qualities of the iHOT-33-Fr are comparable to those of the original version and the versions translated into other languages. This study demonstrates that the iHOT-33-Fr is valid, reproducible and comparable to the original iHOT-33. It can be used by francophone surgeons treating symptomatic hip disease in young, active patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Catastrophic failure of femoral stem modular junction when combined with metal-on-metal bearing in comparison to ceramic-on-ceramic: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Metal ion release from total hip arthroplasty's (THA) metal-on-metal (MoM) bearing surfaces or head-neck modular junction (trunnionosis) has been identified as a major cause of adverse reaction to metal debris (ARMD). No study has compared the effects of these bearing couples when combined with modular neck femoral stems (MNFS) (i.e. did a modular CoCr have a higher effect than large MoM bearings on whole blood ion concentrations and ARMD). Therefore we did a retrospective comparative analysis of prospectively collected data aiming to: (1) assess the difference in metal ion release between a group of MoM and CoC bearings implanted with a non-cemented MNFS; (2) compare the ARMD and the related revision rates between the two bearing types; (3) compare the patients' HOOS and Harris Hip scores. HYPOTHESIS: Metal ion levels and complications rate will be higher in MoM group. METHODS: Thirty hips received the same short MNFS with modular CoCr. Seventeen had CoC bearing (16=36mm) and 13 large diameter head (LDH) MoM bearing (mean=50mm, 44-54mm) Both groups had whole blood Cobalt (Co) and Chromium (Cr) concentrations measurements at last follow up or before revision surgery (if any) and were compared to 41 control individuals without implants. ARMD, revision rates and other complications were censed. Functional outcome differences between operative groups were assessed with HOOS and Harris Hip scores. RESULTS: Mean whole blood Co and Cr were 1.9µg/L (0.1-10.6 min-max) and 1.2µg/L (0.2-4.6 min-max) in the CoC group and 12.7µg/L (2.5-40.7 min-max) and 8.2µg/L (2.8-40.6 min-max) for MoM group. Controls presented whole blood Co and Cr levels of 0.2µg/L (0.04-0.2 min-max) and 0.6µg/L (0.1-0.7 min-max) respectively. CoC had significantly higher whole blood metal ion concentrations than controls, while MoM had significantly higher concentrations than both (p<0.001). MoM had a 9/13 (69%) revision rate due to ARMD (with stem-neck junction corrosion and wear were present in all cases) while the CoC had none. Functional scores at last follow up did not statistically differ between groups (Harris: CoC=94.1±8.4 vs MoM 91.8±14.8 (p=0.22) and CoC HOOS 90.2±10.7 vs 75.6±21.7 (p=0.08)). CONCLUSION: In our study, MNFS with CoCr modular neck released metal ion systemically, as shown in CoC THAs, but when combined with MoM LDH bearings, that elevation was significantly higher. In MNFS MoM, these high metal ion levels translated into a dramatic ARMD related revision rate where stem-neck junction corrosion and wear were present in all cases. More research is required to understand the effects of MoM bearing on neck-stem junctions, and its mechanisms of corrosion. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III; retrospective comparative study.

Electromyographic and kinematic study of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty: an observational prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) procedures have significantly increased in the last decade as an alternative to the current treatments for cuff-tear arthropathy. Since Grammont's theory in 1987, few data about the in vivo kinetics of the shoulder-girdle musculature in patients with RTSA have been available. The goals of this study are to (1) describe the contribution of principal muscles around the shoulder by electromyography and (2) access the range of motion of 5 movements of patients with RTSA compared with normal shoulders. METHODS: This is an observational prospective cohort study of 21 patients divided into 11 patients with RTSA and 10 controls. The muscular activity was recorded with bipolar cutaneous electrodes, whereas the range of motion was synchronized and recorded by 8 motion cameras. Five movements (flexion, abduction, neutral external rotation, external rotation in 90° of abduction, and internal rotation in 90° of abduction) were studied. RESULTS: The upper trapezius is the main activator in all directions with early and constant activity (P < .01). The latissimus dorsi demonstrates increased muscular activity in internal rotation (P < .01) as well as the posterior deltoid in external rotation in the RTSA group compared with control (P < .01). CONCLUSION: RTSA shoulder muscle activation is significantly different than in normal shoulders. The significant contribution of the trapezius in all directions, latissimus dorsi in internal rotation, and posterior deltoid in external rotation has never been described within the same study until today. New rehabilitation protocols targeting those muscles could demonstrate better and more homogeneous results and increase patient satisfaction.