The influence of body mass index on patient-reported outcome measures following total hip arthroplasty: a retrospective study of 3,903 Cases.

BACKGROUND: The influence of obesity on patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) following total hip arthroplasty (THA) is currently controversial. This study aimed to compare PROM scores for pain, functional status, and global physical/mental health based on body mass index (BMI) classification. METHODS: Primary, elective THA procedures at a single institution between 2018 and 2021 were retrospectively reviewed, and patients were stratified into four groups based on BMI: normal weight (18.5-24.99 kg/m2), overweight (25-29.99 kg/m2), obese (30-39.99 kg/m2), and morbidly obese (> 40 kg/m2). Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) and Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Joint Replacement (HOOS, JR) scores were collected. Preoperative, postoperative, and pre/post- changes (pre/post-Δ) in scores were compared between groups. Multiple linear regression was used to assess for confounders. RESULTS: We analyzed 3,404 patients undergoing 3,903 THAs, including 919 (23.5%) normal weight, 1,374 (35.2%) overweight, 1,356 (35.2%) obese, and 254 (6.5%) morbidly obese cases. HOOS, JR scores were worse preoperatively and postoperatively for higher BMI classes, however HOOS, JR pre/post-Δ was comparable between groups. All PROMIS measures were worse preoperatively and postoperatively in higher BMI classes, though pre/post-Δ were comparable for all groups. Clinically significant improvements for all BMI classes were observed in all PROM metrics except PROMIS mental health. Regression analysis demonstrated that obesity, but not morbid obesity, was independently associated with greater improvement in HOOS, JR. CONCLUSIONS: Obese patients undergoing THA achieve lower absolute scores for pain, function, and self-perceived health, despite achieving comparable relative improvements in pain and function with surgery. Denying THA based on BMI restricts patients from clinically beneficial improvements comparable to those of non-obese patients, though morbidly obese patients may benefit from additional weight loss to achieve maximal functional improvement.

Patient Demographic Factors Impact KOOS JR Response Rates for Total Knee Arthroplasty Patients.

The Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Joint Replacement (KOOS JR) is a validated patient-reported measure for assessing pain and function following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). This study investigates how patient demographic factors (i.e., age, sex, and race) correlate with KOOS JR response rates. This was a retrospective cohort study of adult, English-speaking patients who underwent primary TKA between 2017 and 2023 at an academic institution. KOOS JR completion status-complete or incomplete-was recorded within 90 days postoperatively. Standard statistical analyses were performed to assess KOOS JR completion against demographic factors. Among 2,883 total patients, 70.2% had complete and 29.8% had incomplete KOOS JR questionnaires. Complete status (all p < 0.01) was associated with patients aged 60 to 79 (71.8%), white race (77.6%), Medicare (81.7%), marriage (76.8%), and the highest income quartile (75.7%). Incomplete status (all p < 0.001) was associated with patients aged 18 to 59 (64.4%), Medicaid (82.4%), and lower income quartiles (41.6% first quartile, 36.8% third quartile). Multiple patient demographic factors may affect KOOS JR completion rates; patients who are older, white, and of higher socioeconomic status are more likely to participate. Addressing underrepresented groups is important to improve the utility and generalizability of the KOOS JR.

Return to athletics after total knee arthroplasty: a survey study of 784 recreational athletes across 12 sports.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative return to recreational activity is a common concern among the increasingly active total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patient population, though there is a paucity of research characterizing sport-specific return and function. This study aimed to assess participation level, postoperative return to activity, sport function, and limitations for recreational athletes undergoing TKA. METHODS: A survey of recreational sports participation among primary, elective TKA patients from a single academic center between June 2011 and January 2022 was conducted. Of the 10,777 surveys administered, responses were received from 1,063 (9.9%) patients, among whom 784 indicated being active in cycling (273 [34.8%]), running (33 [4.2%]), jogging (68 [8.7%]), swimming (228 [29.1%]), tennis (63 [8.0%]), skiing (55 [7.0%]), or high-impact team sports (64 [8.2%]) between two years preoperatively and time of survey administration, and were included for analyses. RESULTS: Cycling (62.3% at two years preoperatively vs. 59.0% at latest follow-up) and swimming (62.7% at two years preoperatively vs. 63.6% at latest follow-up) demonstrated the most favorable participation rate changes, while running (84.0% at two years preoperatively vs. 48.5% at latest follow-up) and skiing (72.7% at two years preoperatively vs. 45.5% at latest follow-up) demonstrated the least favorable participation rate changes. The majority of respondents were "satisfied" or "very satisfied" with their return across all sports, though dissatisfaction was highest among runners and joggers. For cycling, running, jogging, and swimming, respondents most commonly reported no change in speed or distance capacity, though among these cyclists reported the highest rates of improved speed and distance. The majority of returning skiers reported improved balance, form, and ability to put on skis. CONCLUSION: Return to sport is feasible following TKA with high satisfaction. Swimming and cycling represent manageable postoperative activities with high return-rates, while runners and joggers face increased difficulty returning to equal or better activity levels. Patients should receive individualized, sports-specific counseling regarding their expected postoperative course based on their goals of treatment.

Evaluation of Preoperative Variables that Improve the Predictive Accuracy of the Risk Assessment and Prediction Tool in Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty.

INTRODUCTION: Discharge disposition after total joint arthroplasty may be predictable. Previous literature has attempted to improve upon models such as the Risk Assessment and Prediction Tool (RAPT) in an effort to optimize postoperative planning. The purpose of this study was to determine whether preoperative laboratory values and other previously unstudied demographic factors could improve the predictive accuracy of the RAPT. METHODS: All patients included had RAPT scores in addition to the following preoperative laboratory values: red blood cell count, albumin, and vitamin D. All values were recorded within 90 days of surgery. Demographic variables including marital status, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) scores, body mass index, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and depression were also evaluated. Binary logistic regression was used to determine the significance of each factor in association with discharge disposition. RESULTS: Univariate logistic regression found significant associations between discharge disposition and all original RAPT factors as well as nonmarried patients (P < 0.001), ASA class 3 to 4 (P < 0.001), body mass index >30 kg/m2 (P = 0.065), red blood cell count <4 million/mm3 (P < 0.001), albumin <3.5 g/dL (P < 0.001), Charlson Comorbidity Index (P < 0.001), and a history of depression (P < 0.001). All notable univariate models were used to create a multivariate model with an overall predictive accuracy of 90.1%. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of preoperative laboratory values and additional demographic data to the RAPT may improve its PA. Orthopaedic surgeons could benefit from incorporating these values as part of their discharge planning in THA. Machine learning may be able to identify other factors to make the model even more predictive.

Surgeons Experience Greater Physiologic Stress and Strain in the Direct Anterior Approach Than the Posterior Approach for Total Hip Arthroplasty.

INTRODUCTION: The direct anterior approach (DAA) and posterior approach (PA) for total hip arthroplasty (THA) have advantages and disadvantages, but their physiologic burden to the surgeon has not been quantified. This study was conducted to determine whether differences exist in surgeon physiological stress and strain during DAA in comparison to PA. METHODS: We evaluated a prospective cohort of 144 consecutive cases (67 DAA and 77 PA). There were five, high-volume, fellowship-trained arthroplasty surgeons who wore a smart-vest that recorded cardiorespiratory data while performing primary THA DAA or PA. Heart rate (beats/minute), stress index (correlates with sympathetic activations), respiratory rate (respirations/minute), minute ventilation (liters/min), and energy expenditure (calories) were recorded, along with patient body mass index and operative time. Continuous data was compared using T-tests or Mann Whitney U tests, and categorical data was compared with Chi-square or Fischer's exact tests. RESULTS: There were no differences in patient characteristics. Compared to PA, performing THA via DAA had a significantly higher surgeon stress index (17.4 versus 12.4; P < 0.001), heart rate (101 versus 98.3; P = 0.007), minute ventilation (21.7 versus 18.7; P < 0.001), and energy expenditure per hour (349 versus 295; P < 0.001). However, DAA had a significantly shorter operative time (71.4 versus 82.1; P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Surgeons experience significantly higher physiological stress and strain when performing DAA compared to PA for primary THA. This study provides objective data on energy expenditure that can be factored into choice of approach, case order, and scheduling preferences, and provides insight into the work done by the surgeon.

Demographic and Socioeconomic Trends of Patients Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty From 2013 to 2022-An Analysis From an Urban Orthopaedic Hospital.

BACKGROUND: As worldwide utilization of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) broadens, demographic trends can help make projections to inform access to care. This study aimed to assess the temporal trends in the socioeconomic and medical demographics of patients undergoing TKA. METHODS: A retrospective review of 15,848 patients who underwent primary, elective TKA at an urban, New York City-based academic medical center between January 2013 and September 2022 was performed. Trends in patients' age, body mass index (BMI), socioeconomic status (SES) (based on median income by patients' ZIP code), race, and Charlson comorbidity index were evaluated using the Mann-Kendall test. RESULTS: In the last decade, mean patient age (65 to 68 years, P < .001) and Charlson comorbidity index (1.4 to 2.3, P < .001) increased significantly. The proportion of patients who had a BMI ≥ 30 and < 40 increased (43.8 to 51.2%, P = .002), while the proportion of patients who had a BMI ≥ 40 (13.7 to 12.1%, P = .015) and BMI < 30 (42.5 to 36.8%, P = .020) decreased. The distribution of patients' race and SES did not change from 2013 to 2022; Black (18.1 to 16.8%, P = .211) and low SES (12.9 to 11.3%, P = .283) patients consistently represented a minority of TKA patients. CONCLUSIONS: Over the last decade, the average age and comorbidity burden of TKA patients at our institution have increased. This portends the need for higher levels of preoperative optimization and postoperative management for TKA patients. A decreased prevalence of BMI ≥40 could reflect optimization efforts. However, the consistently low prevalence of Black and low-SES patients suggests that recent payment models did not improve access to care for these populations. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Does Surgical Approach Affect Dislocation Rate After Total Hip Arthroplasty in Patients Who Have Prior Lumbar Spinal Fusion? A Retrospective Analysis of 16,223 Cases.

BACKGROUND: Lumbar spinal fusion (LSF) is a risk factor for dislocation following total hip arthroplasty (THA). The effect of the surgical approach on this association has not been investigated. This study examined the association between the surgical approach and dislocation following THA in patients who had prior LSF. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 16,223 primary elective THAs at our institution from June 2011 to September 2022. Patients who had LSF prior to THA were identified using International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes. Patients were stratified by LSF history, surgical approach, and intraoperative robot or navigation use to compare dislocation rates. There were 8,962 (55.2%) posterior, 5,971 (36.8%) anterior, and 1,290 (8.0%) laterally based THAs. Prior LSF was identified in 323 patients (2.0%). Binary logistic regressions were used to assess the association of patient factors with dislocation risk. RESULTS: There were 177 dislocations identified in total (1.1%). In nonadjusted analyses, the dislocation rate was significantly higher following the posterior approach among all patients (P = .003). Prior LSF was associated with a significantly higher dislocation rate in all patients (P < .001) and within the posterior (P < .001), but not the anterior approach (P = .514) subgroups. Multivariate regressions demonstrated anterior (OR [odds ratio] = 0.64, 95% CI [confidence interval] 0.45 to 0.91, P = .013), and laterally based (OR = 0.42, 95% CI 0.18 to 0.96, P = .039) approaches were associated with decreased dislocation risk, whereas prior LSF (OR = 4.28, 95% CI 2.38 to 7.69, P < .001) was associated with increased dislocation risk. Intraoperative technology utilization was not significantly associated with dislocation in the multivariate regressions (OR = 0.72, 95% CI 0.49 to 1.06, P = .095). CONCLUSIONS: The current study confirmed that LSF is a significant risk factor for dislocation following THA; however, anterior and laterally based approaches may mitigate dislocation risk in this population. In multivariate analyses, including surgical approach, LSF, and several perioperative variables, intraoperative technology utilization was not found to be significantly associated with dislocation risk.

Factors influencing patient selection of orthopaedic surgeons for total hip (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

INTRODUCTION: The importance of identifying how patients choose their healthcare providers has grown with the prevalence of consumer-centric health insurance plans. There is currently a lack of studies exploring the factors associated with how patients select their hip and knee joint arthroplasty surgeons. The purpose of this study was to determine how patients find their arthroplasty providers and the relative importance of various arthroplasty surgeon characteristics. METHODS: An electronic mail survey was sent to 3522 patients who had visited our institution for an arthroplasty surgeon office visit between August 2022 and January 2023. The survey consisted of multiple-choice questions, which aimed to inquire about the patients' referral sources for their current arthroplasty surgeon. In addition, patients were requested to rate the significance of 22 surgeon-related factors, on a scale of 1 (Not Important At All) to 5 (Very Important), in choosing their arthroplasty surgeon. RESULTS: Of the 3522 patients that received the survey, 538 patients responded (15.3%). The most common referral sources were physician referral (50.2%), family/friend referral (27.7%), and self-guided research (24.5%). Of those that were referred by a physician, 54.4% of respondents were referred by another orthopaedic provider. Patients rated board certification (4.72 ± 0.65), in-network insurance status (4.66 ± 0.71), fellowship training (4.50 ± 0.81), bedside manner/personality (4.32 ± 0.86), and facility appearance (4.26 ± 0.81) as the five most important factors in picking an arthroplasty surgeon. Television (1.42 ± 0.83), print (1.50 ± 0.88), and online (1.58 ± 0.93) advertisements, along with social media presence (1.83 ± 1.08), and practice group size (2.97 ± 1.13) were rated as the five least important factors. CONCLUSION: Patients are most likely to select an arthroplasty surgeon based on referral from other physicians, namely orthopedic surgeons, in addition to board certification status, in-network insurance, and fellowship training. Overall, these findings highlight the importance of physician credentials and reputation within the orthopaedic community in order to attract and retain patients.

Factors affecting operating room scheduling accuracy for primary and revision total hip arthroplasty: a retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION: Optimizing operating room (OR) scheduling accuracy is important for OR efficiency, meeting patient expectations, and maximizing value for health systems. However, limited data exist on factors influencing the precision of Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) OR scheduling. This study aims to identify the factors influencing the accuracy of OR scheduling for THA. METHODS: A retrospective review of 6,072 THA (5,579 primary THA and 493 revision THA) performed between January 2020 and May 2023 at an urban, academic institution was conducted. We collected baseline patient characteristics, surgeon years of experience, and compared actual wheels in to wheels out (WIWO) OR time against scheduled OR time. Significant scheduling inaccuracies were defined as actual OR times deviating by at least 15% from scheduled OR times. Logistic regression analyses were employed to assess the impact of patient, surgeon, and intraoperative factors on OR scheduling accuracy. RESULTS: Using adjusted odds ratios, primary THA patients who had a lower BMI and surgeons who had less than 10 years of experience were associated with overestimation of OR time. Whereas, higher BMI, younger age, general anesthesia, non-primary osteoarthritis indications, and afternoon procedure start times were linked to underestimation of OR time. For revision THA, lower BMI and fewer components revised correlated with overestimated OR time. Men, higher BMI, more components revised, septic indication for surgery, and morning procedure start times were associated with underestimation of OR time. CONCLUSION: This study highlights several critical patient, surgeon, and intraoperative factors influencing OR scheduling accuracy for THA. OR scheduling models should consider these factors to enhance OR efficiency.

Patient-reported outcome differences for navigated and robot-assisted total hip arthroplasty frequently do not achieve clinically important differences: a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) using computer-assisted navigation (N-THA) and robot-assisted surgery (RA-THA) has been increasingly adopted to improve implant positioning and offset/leg-length restoration. Whether clinically meaningful differences in patient-reported outcomes (PROMs) compared to conventional THA (C-THA) are achieved with intraoperative technology has not been established. This systematic review aimed to assess whether published relative PROM improvements with technology use in THA achieved minimal clinically important differences (MCIDs). METHODS: PubMed/MEDLINE/Cochrane Library were systematically reviewed for studies comparing PROMs for primary N-THA or RA-THA with C-THA as the control group. Relative improvement differences between groups were compared to established MCID values. Reported clinical and radiographic differences were assessed. Review of N-THA and RA-THA literature yielded 6 (n = 2580) and 10 (n = 2786) studies, respectively, for analyses. RESULTS: Statistically significant improvements in postoperative PROM scores were reported in 2/6 (33.3%) studies comparing N-THA with C-THA, though only 1 (16.7%) reported clinically significant relative improvements. Statistically significant improvements in postoperative PROMs were reported in 6/10 (60.0%) studies comparing RA-THA and C-THA, though none reported clinically significant relative improvements. Improved radiographic outcomes for N-THA and RA-THA were reported in 83.3% and 70.0% of studies, respectively. Only 1 study reported a significant improvement in revision rates with RA-THA as compared to C-THA. CONCLUSIONS: Reported PROM scores in studies comparing N-THA or RA-THA to C-THA often do not achieve clinically significant relative improvements. Future studies reporting PROMs should be interpreted in the context of validated MCID values to accurately establish the clinical impact of intraoperative technology.

Total hip arthroplasty outcomes in Ehlers-Danlos patients: data from the Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System.

INTRODUCTION: Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) are genetic connective tissue disorders affecting multiple organ systems that frequently result in connective tissue hyperlaxity and early osteoarthritis. Short- and long-term outcomes after primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) in this patient population remain poorly characterised. The primary purpose of this study is to compare postoperative outcomes and survivorship after primary THA in patients with and without EDS. METHODS: The New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS) database was queried for all patients undergoing primary elective THA between September 2009 and December 2020. Patients with EDS were identified using ICD9 and ICD10 diagnosis codes. Given the relatively low incidence of EDS in this patient population, the cohort was propensity-matched 1:10 to patients without diagnosis of EDS based on demographics characteristics and medical comorbidities as measured by the Elixhauser Comorbidity Index. RESULTS: A total of 66 THA patients with and 660 without EDS were included in each group after 1:10 propensity-matching. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics or THA indications. Early postoperative outcomes such as length of hospital stay and discharge disposition were similar. Emergency Room visits and inpatient readmission rates at 3 months postoperatively did not significantly differ between groups. Patients with EDS had a higher overall revision rate compared to those without (15.0% vs. 3.2%, p < 0.001). Revision free survival after primary THA in patients with EDS was significantly lower than those without EDS at 9-year follow-up. Cox proportional hazard regression demonstrated EDS patients had 7-times higher risk of revision (hazard ratio [HR] 7.43; 95% CI, 3.46-16.00; p < 0.001). Lastly, revision due to instability insignificantly trended higher in the EDS cohort (HR 2.29; 95% CI, 0.95-5.49; p = 0.063). CONCLUSIONS: EDS patients undergoing primary THA have increased rate of all cause revision and demonstrate decreased revision free survival compared to non-EDS THA patients.

Characterizing patient factors, perioperative interventions, and outcomes associated with inpatients falls after total knee arthroplasty.

INTRODUCTION: Mechanical falls represent a potential adverse event after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and may introduce further injury and delay postoperative recovery. This study aimed to identify patient characteristics associated with inpatient falls, to determine the impact of inpatient falls on surgical outcomes following TKA, and to describe the relationship between tourniquet and/or adductor canal block (ACB) use and fall rates. METHODS: Patients undergoing primary, elective TKA at a single institution between 2018 and 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were stratified into groups based on whether they sustained a postoperative inpatient fall or not. Perioperative characteristics, lengths of stay (LOS), rates of 90-day readmissions, and revisions were compared, and fall characteristics were described. Subanalysis was conducted comparing fall incidence based on tourniquet and/or ACB use. RESULTS: In total 6472 patients were included with 39 (0.6%) sustaining falls. Falls most commonly occurred on postoperative days one (43.6%) and two (30.8%), and were most commonly due to loss of balance (41.9%) or buckling (35.5%). Six (15.4%) fall patients sustained minor injuries, and one (2.6%) sustained major injury (malleolar fracture requiring non-operative orthopaedic management). The LOS (3.0 ± 1.5 vs 2.3 ± 1.5 days, p = 0.002) and all-cause revision rates at latest follow-up (10.3% vs. 2.0%, p = 0.008) were significantly higher in the fall group. Falls were comparable across subgroups based on tourniquet and/or ACB use (p = 0.429). CONCLUSION: Patients who fell had a longer LOS and higher revision rate postoperatively. Rates of inpatient falls were comparable regardless of tourniquet and/or ACB use. Concern for inpatient falls should not influence surgeons when considering the use of tourniquets and/or ACBs, though well-designed, large-volume, prospective randomized studies are warranted to better understand this relationship.

Increased patient body mass index is associated with increased surgeon physiologic stress during total hip arthroplasty.

INTRODUCTION: While increased body mass index (BMI) in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) increases surgical complexity, there is a paucity of objective studies assessing the impact of patient BMI on the cardiovascular stress experienced by surgeons during THA. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of patient BMI on surgeon cardiovascular strain during THA. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated three fellowship-trained arthroplasty surgeons performing a total of 115 THAs. A smart-vest worn by the surgeons recorded mean heart rate, stress index (correlate of sympathetic activation), respiratory rate, minute ventilation, and energy expenditure throughout the procedures. Patient demographics as well as perioperative data including surgical approach, surgery duration, number of assistants, and the timing of the surgery during the day were collected. Linear regression was utilized to assess the impact of patient characteristics and perioperative data on cardiorespiratory metrics. RESULTS: Average surgeon heart rate, energy expenditure, and stress index during surgery were 98.50 beats/min, 309.49 cal/h, and 14.10, respectively. Higher patient BMI was significantly associated with increased hourly energy expenditure (P = 0.027), mean heart rate (P = 0.037), and stress index (P = 0.027) independent of surgical approach. Respiratory rate and minute ventilation were not associated with patient BMI. The number of assistants and time of surgery during the day did not impact cardiorespiratory strain on the surgeon. CONCLUSION: The physiologic burden on surgeons during primary THA significantly increases as patient BMI increases. This study suggests that healthcare systems should consider adjusting reimbursement models to account for increased surgeon workload due to obesity. Further surgeons should adopt strategies in operative planning and case scheduling to handle this added physical strain. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

The Impact of Obesity on Total Hip Arthroplasty Outcomes When Performed by High-Volume Surgeons-A Propensity Matched Analysis From a High-Volume Urban Center.

BACKGROUND: Previous data suggest that obesity does not impact surgical outcomes following total knee arthroplasty performed by high-volume (HV) surgeons. However, this effect has yet to be studied in total hip arthroplasty (THA) patients. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of patient obesity on THA outcomes when surgery is performed by HV surgeons. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent primary, elective THA between January 2012 and December 2022 with a HV surgeon (top 25% of surgeons by number of annual primary THA) was performed. Patients were stratified by their body mass index (BMI) into 3 cohorts: BMI ≥ 40 (morbidly obese [MO]), 30 ≤ BMI < 40 (obese), and BMI < 30 (nonobese); and 1:1:1 propensity matched based on baseline characteristics. A total of 13,223 patients were evaluated, of which 669 patients were included in the final matched analysis (223 patients per group). The average number of annual THAs performed for HV surgeons was 171 cases. RESULTS: The MO patients had significantly longer surgical times (P < .001) and hospital lengths of stay (P < .001). Rates of 90-day readmissions (P = .211) and all-cause, septic, and aseptic revisions at the latest follow-up (P = .268, P = .903, and P = .168, respectively) were comparable between groups. In a subanalysis for non-HV surgeons, MO patients had a significantly greater risk of revision (P = .021) and trended toward significantly greater readmissions (P = .056). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical outcomes and complication rates after THA performed by a HV surgeon are similar regardless of patient obesity status. Patients who have MO may experience improved outcomes and reduced procedural risks if they are referred to HV surgeons. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Does Melatonin Improve Sleep Following Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty? A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Sleep impairment following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is common and may decrease patient satisfaction and recovery. Standardized postoperative recommendations for sleep disturbances have not been established. We aimed to assess whether melatonin use could promote healthy sleep and reduce sleep disturbance in the acute period following TKA. METHODS: Patients undergoing primary, elective TKA between July 19, 2021 and January 4, 2024 were prospectively enrolled and randomized to receive either 5 mg of melatonin nightly or placebo for 14 days postoperatively. Participants recorded their nightly pain on the visual analog scale, the number of hours slept, and the number of night-time awakenings in a sleep diary starting the night of surgery (postoperative day [POD] 0). Sleep disturbance was assessed preoperatively and on POD 14 using the patient-reported outcome measurement information system sleep disturbance form. Epworth Sleepiness Scores were collected on POD 14 to assess sleep quality. RESULTS: Of the 138 patients enrolled, 128 patients successfully completed the study protocol, with 64 patients in each group. Melatonin patients trended toward more hours of sleep on POD 2 (placebo: 5.0 ± 2.4, melatonin: 5.8 ± 2.0, P = .084), POD 3 (placebo: 5.6 ± 2.2, melatonin: 6.3 ± 2.0, P = .075), and averaged over POD 1 to 3 (placebo: 4.9 ± 2.0, melatonin: 5.6 ± 1.8, P = .073), although no differences were observed on POD 4 or after. Fewer night-time awakenings in the melatonin group were observed on POD 1 (placebo: 4.4 ± 3.9, melatonin: 3.6 ± 2.4, P = .197), although this was not statistically significant. Preoperative and postoperative Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Sleep Disturbance score increases were comparable for both groups (placebo: 4.0 ± 8.4, melatonin: 4.6 ± 8.2, P = .894). The melatonin (65.4%) and placebo (65%) groups demonstrated similar rates of increased sleep disturbance. CONCLUSIONS: Melatonin may promote longer sleep in the immediate postoperative period after TKA, although these benefits wane after POD 3. Disturbances in sleep should be expected for most patients, although melatonin may have an attenuating effect. Melatonin is safe and can be considered for TKA patients experiencing early sleep disturbances postoperatively.

Comparing Outcomes of Bicruciate-Stabilized and Cruciate-Retaining Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Background: Bicruciate-stabilized (BCS) total knee arthroplasty (TKA) aims to restore normal kinematics by replicating the function of both cruciate ligaments. Conventional cruciate-retaining (CR) design in TKA has shown previous clinical success with lower complication rates. This study compared the patient-reported outcomes between the BCS and CR TKA designs. Methods: This retrospective study examined patients who underwent primary TKA using a CR or a BCS implant. Patient demographics, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Joint Replacement (KOOS, JR), and Forgotten Joint Score (FJS) were compared between two cohorts. Patient-reported outcome measures were analyzed using independent samples t-tests. Results: There were no significant preoperative demographic differences between groups. The CR cohort (n = 756) had significantly higher average KOOS, JR Scores compared to the BCS cohort (n = 652) at 3 months (59.7 ± 3.8 vs. 53.0 ± 3.9, p < 0.001) and 2 years (62.6 ± 8.0 vs. 53.8 ± 6.7, p = 0.001) after TKA. Within the cohort, KOOS, JR delta differences were not significant for CR when comparing patient scores 3 months to 1 year after surgery. Meanwhile, the BCS patients did show significant delta improvement (4.1 ± 1.9, p = 0.030) when compared 3 months to 1 year after surgery. One year postoperatively, the BCS cohort (n = 134) showed a significantly higher average FJS score (49.5 ± 31.4, vs. 36.8 ± 28.5, p = 0.028) than the CR cohort (n = 203). Both cohorts displayed a significant difference in delta improvements within their respective cohort when measuring FJS from 3 months to 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years after surgery. Conclusions: The CR cohort performed better on average, compared to the BCS cohort in measures of KOOS, JR scores at the 2-year follow-up. The BCS cohort performed marginally better regarding FJS only at 1-year follow-up.

Should high-risk patients seek out care from high-volume surgeons?

Aims: Patients with a high comorbidity burden (HCB) can achieve similar improvements in quality of life compared with low-risk patients, but greater morbidity may deter surgeons from operating on these patients. Whether surgeon volume influences total hip arthroplasty (THA) outcomes in HCB patients has not been investigated. This study aimed to compare complication rates and implant survivorship in HCB patients operated on by high-volume (HV) and non-HV THA surgeons. Methods: Patients with Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥ 5 and American Society of Anesthesiologists grade of III or IV, undergoing primary elective THA between January 2013 and December 2021, were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were separated into groups based on whether they were operated on by a HV surgeon (defined as the top 25% of surgeons at our institution by number of primary THAs per year) or a non-HV surgeon. Groups were propensity-matched 1:1 to control for demographic variables. A total of 1,134 patients were included in the matched analysis. Between groups, 90-day readmissions and revisions were compared, and Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to evaluate implant survivorship within the follow-up period. Results: Years of experience were comparable between non-HV and HV surgeons (p = 0.733). The HV group had significantly shorter surgical times (p < 0.001) and shorter length of stay (p = 0.009) than the non-HV group. The HV group also had significantly fewer 90-day readmissions (p = 0.030), all-cause revisions (p = 0.023), and septic revisions (p = 0.020) compared with the non-HV group at latest follow-up. The HV group had significantly greater freedom from all-cause (p = 0.023) and septic revision (p = 0.020) than the non-HV group. Conclusion: The HCB THA patients have fewer 90-day readmissions, all-cause revisions, and septic revisions, as well as shorter length of stay when treated by HV surgeons. THA candidates with a HCB may benefit from referral to HV surgeons to reduce procedural risk and improve postoperative outcomes.

Human versus artificial intelligence-generated arthroplasty literature: A single-blinded analysis of perceived communication, quality, and authorship source.

BACKGROUND: Large language models (LLM) have unknown implications for medical research. This study assessed whether LLM-generated abstracts are distinguishable from human-written abstracts and to compare their perceived quality. METHODS: The LLM ChatGPT was used to generate 20 arthroplasty abstracts (AI-generated) based on full-text manuscripts, which were compared to originally published abstracts (human-written). Six blinded orthopaedic surgeons rated abstracts on overall quality, communication, and confidence in the authorship source. Authorship-confidence scores were compared to a test value representing complete inability to discern authorship. RESULTS: Modestly increased confidence in human authorship was observed for human-written abstracts compared with AI-generated abstracts (p = 0.028), though AI-generated abstract authorship-confidence scores were statistically consistent with inability to discern authorship (p = 0.999). Overall abstract quality was higher for human-written abstracts (p = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: AI-generated abstracts' absolute authorship-confidence ratings demonstrated difficulty in discerning authorship but did not achieve the perceived quality of human-written abstracts. Caution is warranted in implementing LLMs into scientific writing.

Are We Moving in the Right Direction? Demographic and Outcome Trends in Same-day Total Hip Arthroplasty From 2015 to 2020.

INTRODUCTION: Understanding the trends among patients undergoing same-day discharge (SDD) total hip arthroplasty (THA) is imperative to highlight the progression of outpatient surgery and the criteria used for enrollment. The purpose of this study was to identify trends in demographic characteristics and outcomes among patients who participated in an academic hospital SDD THA program over 6 years. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all patients who enrolled in our institution's SDD THA program from January 2015 to October 2020. Patient demographics, failure-to-launch rate, as well as readmission and revision rates were evaluated. Trends for continuous variables were analyzed using analysis of variance, and categorical variables were analyzed using chi-square tests. RESULTS: In total, 1,334 patients participated in our SDD THA program between 2015 and 2020. Age (54.82 to 57.94 years; P < 0.001) and mean Charlson Comorbidity Index (2.15 to 2.90; P < 0.001) significantly differed over the 6-year period. More African Americans (4.3 to 12.3%; P = 0.003) and American Society of Anesthesiology class III (3.2% to 5.8%; P < 0.001) patients enrolled in the program over time. Sex ( P = 0.069), BMI ( P = 0.081), marital status ( P = 0.069), and smoking status ( P = 0.186) did not statistically differ. Although the failure-to-launch rate (0.0% to 12.0%; P < 0.001) increased over time, the 90-day readmissions ( P = 0.204) and 90-day revisions ( P = 0.110) did not statistically differ. CONCLUSION: More African Americans, older aged individuals, and patients with higher preexisting comorbidity burden enrolled in the program over this period. Our findings are a reflection of a more inclusive selection criterion for participation in the SDD THA program. These results highlight the potential increase in the number of patients and surgeons interested in SDD THA, which is paramount in the current incentivized and value-based healthcare environment. LEVEL EVIDENCE: III, Retrospective Review.