The Relationship Between Preoperative Opioid Use and Adverse Events Following Total Knee Arthroplasty.

This study aims to compare perioperative events following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) amongst various degrees of preoperative opioid use. In total, 84,569 patients undergoing TKA were identified from a Humana Claims Dataset, and stratified by their preoperative opioid use based on number of prescriptions filled within 6 months of surgery (naïve 0 [50,561]; sporadic 1 [12,411]; chronic 2 or greater [21,687]). Outcomes of interest included Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)-reportable complications, need for postoperative supplemental oxygen, 90-day readmission, and hospital length of stay. Complication rates (9.8% vs 8.9% vs 12.6%; p < 0.01), need for supplemental oxygen (3.0% vs 3.1% vs 5.3%; p = 0.03), mean length of stay (2.1 vs 2.8 vs 3.5; p < 0.01), and 90-day readmission (9.7% vs 10.8% vs 16.4%; p < 0.01) significantly differed amongst groups. On logistic regression, only the chronic opioid use group was associated with significantly increased likelihood of complications, need for supplemental oxygen, and readmission. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 31(2):100-103, 2022).

Risk Factors for Prolonged Opioid Use After Open Treatment of Distal Radius Fractures.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate factors associated with postoperative opioid use after open treatment of distal radius fractures. METHODS: The Humana insurance claims database was queried for open treatment of distal radius fractures by Current Procedural Terminology codes. The search was further refined to identify patients who filled an opioid prescription within 6 weeks after their surgery. The study's outcomes were: (1) limited postoperative opioid use, defined as filling a prescription once in the 6-week to 6-month period after surgery; and (2) persistent postoperative opioid use, defined as filling a prescription more than once in the 6-week to 6-month period after surgery. Logistic regression models were performed to identify factors associated with limited and persistent postoperative opioid use. Subgroup analyses were performed among opioid-naïve patients and those with open fractures. RESULTS: This study identified 9141 of 19 220 total patients with limited and persistent opioid use. Significant risk factors included nonhome discharge, inpatient surgical setting, long-term pain, tobacco abuse, and age less than 65 years. Of note, both preoperative opioid use within 1 month before surgery (odds ratio [OR], 2.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.2-2.9) and preoperative opioid use between 1 and 6 months before surgery (OR, 4.0; 95% CI, 3.7-4.4) were significantly associated with persistent postoperative opioid use. CONCLUSIONS: This study has identified numerous risk factors associated with postoperative opioid use after open treatment of distal radius fractures. Understanding these risk factors is the first step toward reducing postoperative opioid use.

Dislocation of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the index finger requiring open reduction due to the presence of an intra-articular sesamoid bone.

Complex dislocation of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the index finger is rare and often requires surgical intervention. Here, we present a case of an index finger metacarpophalangeal joint dislocation requiring open reduction due to obstruction by a displaced volar plate and the intra-articular entrapment of a sesamoid bone. Surgical approach was performed dorsally, allowing easy visualization of the volar plate and sesamoid bone as well as minimizing risk to the radial digital nerve to the index finger. Postoperatively, the patient reported good functional return despite the delay in definitive management.

Risk of Infection in Thumb Carpometacarpal Surgery After Corticosteroid Injection.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether patients who had an intra-articular corticosteroid injection into the thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) joint for the treatment of arthritis within the 3 months before CMC joint arthroplasty or arthrodesis were at increased risk for wound complication/infection and/or repeat surgery for wound complication/infection in comparison with patients who did not receive an injection within 6 months or who received an injection between 3 and 6 months before surgery. METHODS: We identified 5,046 patients in the Humana claims database who underwent surgery for CMC joint arthritis. The patients were stratified into 3 groups: (1) no thumb injection within 6 months of CMC joint surgery, (2) thumb injection between 3 and 6 months before CMC joint surgery, and (3) thumb injection within 3 months before CMC joint surgery. The primary outcome was wound complication/infection within 90 days after surgery. The secondary outcome was repeat surgery for wound complication/infection within 90 days after surgery. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess the associations between the timing of injection and wound complication/infection and repeat surgery for wound complication/infection. RESULTS: The rates of wound complication/infection within 90 days after surgery were similar among the 3 study groups. However, patients who received an intra-articular corticosteroid injection within 3 months before surgery had a 2.2 times greater likelihood of repeat surgery for a wound complication/infection compared with patients who did not have an injection within 6 months before surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who receive an intra-articular corticosteroid injection within the 3 months before surgery for CMC joint arthritis may be at increased risk of repeat surgery to treat a wound complication/infection in the 90-day postoperative period. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic II.

Pharmacologic Thromboprophylaxis Other Than Aspirin Is Associated With Increased Risk for Procedural Intervention for Arthrofibrosis After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

PURPOSE: To compare rates of procedural intervention for arthrofibrosis following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) among patients who were not prescribed any pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis compared with patients who were prescribed aspirin and to patients who were prescribed other agents. METHODS: A search of a national insurance claims database was performed to identify all patients who underwent ACLR from 2007 to 2017 who were active within the database at a minimum of 6 months before and 18 months after their surgery. The primary outcome studied was a subsequent procedure for arthrofibrosis, manipulation under anesthesia, and lysis of adhesions (MUA/LOA). Patients who filled a prescription for aspirin, low-molecular weight heparin, direct factor Xa inhibitors, fondaparinux, and warfarin within 2 days after their surgery were included and those who filled a prescription within 3 months before surgery were excluded. Thromboprophylaxis status was defined as no thromboprophylaxis, aspirin, and any agent other than aspirin. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the association between prophylaxis status and MUA/LOA. RESULTS: Of the 14,081 patients in our final surgical population, 191 patients had MUA/LOA and 13,890 patients did not. In total, 499 patients were prescribed pharmacologic prophylaxis. Rates of MUA/LOA across groups were 1.3% in the group with no thromboprophylaxis, 1.9% in the group prescribed aspirin, and 4.3% in the group prescribed any agent other than aspirin. Only the group prescribed an agent other than aspirin was significantly associated with subsequent procedure for arthrofibrosis (odds ratio 2.6, 95% confidence interval 1.3-4.8, P = .004). CONCLUSIONS: Patients who were prescribed a pharmacologic agent other than aspirin had a 2.6 times greater likelihood of requiring a procedural intervention for arthrofibrosis following ACLR compared with patients who were not prescribed a thromboprophylaxis agent LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III, Retrospective Cohort Study.