Intraoperative Aberrometry versus Preoperative Biometry for Intraocular Lens Power Calculations: A Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the published literature to compare intraoperative aberrometry (IA) with preoperative biometry-based formulas with respect to intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation accuracy for various clinical scenarios. METHODS: Literature searches in the PubMed database conducted in August 2022, July 2023, and February 2024 identified 157, 18, and 6 citations, respectively. These were reviewed in abstract form, and 61 articles were selected for full-text review. Of these, 29 met the criteria for inclusion in this assessment. The panel methodologists assigned a level of evidence rating to each of the articles; 4 were rated level I, 19 were rated level II, and 6 were rated level III. RESULTS: Intraoperative aberrometry performed better than traditional vergence formulas, including the Haigis, HofferQ, Holladay, and SRK/T, and similarly to the Barrett Universal II and Hill-RBF with respect to minimization of spherical equivalent (SE) refractive error. For toric IOLs, IA outperformed formulas that only considered anterior corneal astigmatism and was similar to formulas like the Barrett Toric Calculator (BTC), which empirically account for the contribution from the posterior cornea. In eyes with a history of corneal refractive surgery, IA performed similarly to the Barrett True-K and slightly better than other tested methods, including the Haigis-L, Shammas, and Wang-Koch-Maloney formulas. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative aberrometry corresponds well with modern vergence formulas, including the Barrett Universal II, Hill-RBF, BTC, and Barrett True-K. It has greater accuracy than traditional vergence-based IOL power calculation formulas in eyes with and without a history of corneal refractive surgery. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.

Descemet Endothelial Thickness Comparison Trial II (DETECT II): multicentre, outcome assessor-masked, placebo-controlled trial comparing Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) to Descemet stripping only (DSO) with adjunctive ripasudil for Fuchs dystrophy.

INTRODUCTION: It remains uncertain whether Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) or Descemet stripping only (DSO) yields better outcomes in patients with symptomatic Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD). This paper presents the protocol for the Descemet Endothelial Thickness Comparison Trial II (DETECT II), a multicentre, outcome-masked, randomised, placebo-controlled, clinical trial comparing DMEK to DSO with ripasudil (DSO-R) for this patient population. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A total of 60 patients with endothelial dysfunction due to symptomatic FECD will be enrolled from seven participating sites in the USA. The patients will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to one of the following treatment groups: group 1-DMEK plus topical placebo and group 2-DSO plus topical ripasudil 0.4%. The enrolment period is 24 months. The primary outcome is best spectacle-corrected visual acuity at 12 months. Secondary outcomes include peripheral and central endothelial cell density, visual acuity, vision-related quality of life and Pentacam Scheimpflug tomography. Study outcomes will be analysed using mixed effects linear regression. Adverse events, including rebubble procedures, endothelial failure and graft rejection, will be documented and analysed using appropriate statistical methods. DETECT II aims to provide evidence on the comparative effectiveness of DMEK and DSO-R. The results of this trial will contribute to optimising the treatment of FECD, while also exploring the cost-effectiveness of these interventions. Dissemination of findings through peer-reviewed publications and national/international meetings will facilitate knowledge translation and guide clinical practice in the field of corneal transplantation. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: A data and safety monitoring committee has been empanelled by the National Eye Institute. All study protocols will be subject to review and approval by WCG IRB as the single IRB of record. This study will comply with the National Institute of Health (NIH) Data Sharing Policy and Policy on the Dissemination of NIH-Funded Clinical Trial Information and the Clinical Trials Registration and Results Information Submission rule. Data from the trial will be made available on reasonable request. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05275972.

Arthroplasty treatment options for femoral neck fractures in the elderly: A network meta-analysis of randomized control trials.

INTRODUCTION: Treatment options for displaced intracapsular femoral neck fractures in elderly patients include unipolar hemiarthroplasty (UHA), bipolar hemiarthroplasty (BHA), unipolar total hip arthroplasty (UTHA), and dual-mobility total hip arthroplasty (DMTHA). This network meta-analysis (NMA) of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) quantitatively compares these treatments to identify the optimal surgical technique. METHODS: Following PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive literature search in Medline (PubMed), Cochrane, and EMBASE databases was conducted. RCTs comparing UHA, BHA, UTHA, or DMTHA were included. Interventions were ranked using the SUCRA score. RESULTS: Among 5,542 studies, 12 RCTs met inclusion criteria, involving 1,490 patients. Procedures were ranked by prosthetic dislocation, mortality, operating time, intraoperative blood loss, revision rate, Harris Hip Score (HHS). BHA ranked the best in dislocation rate, intraoperative blood loss and mortality. UHA had the shortest operating time. DMTHA had the greatest ranking for HHS. However, the differences between these treatment modalities were rarely statistically significantly different. CONCLUSION: A variety of arthroplasty procedures can be used to treat displaced intracapsular femoral neck fractures. Our results indicate that while BHA resulted in the best post-operative ranking amongst the compared treatment strategies in terms of dislocation rates, blood loss and mortality, the differences between the treatment options does not clearly favor a specific treatment option.

Orthopedic pelvic and extremity injuries increase overall hospital length of stay but not in-hospital complications or mortality in trauma ICU patients: Orthopedic Injuries in Trauma ICU Patients.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to compare the ICU length of stay (LOS), overall hospital LOS, in-hospital complications, and mortality rate between trauma ICU patients with orthopedic injuries versus those without. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study in which the trauma registry of a single level 1 trauma center was queried over a 6-year period for patients admitted to the ICU during hospitalization. Patients were stratified based on the presence/absence of an orthopedic fracture. Negative binomial regression was used to evaluate the effect of orthopedic injury on overall hospital and ICU LOS while controlling for confounding factors. Secondary outcomes included group differences with respect to in-hospital complications, mortality, and discharge disposition. RESULTS: A total of 1,785 trauma patients were admitted to the ICU and included. Among all trauma ICU patients, 61.1 % (n = 1,091) had no associated orthopedic injuries whereas 38.9 % (n = 694) had at least one. Patients with orthopedic injuries had higher odds of being severely injured (ISS ≥ 16: OR [CI] =1.47 [1.2-1.8]; p < 0.001) despite presenting with a higher level of consciousness than those without orthopedic injuries (mean GCS: 13.3 ± 3.5 vs 12.5 ± 4.1, p < 0.001). Multivariable models demonstrated having an orthopedic injury did not moderate ICU LOS (IRR [CI] = 0.93 [0.9-1.0]; p = 0.110) but did contribute significantly to increasing hospital LOS (IRR [CI] = 1.23 [1.1-1.3]; p < 0.001). There was no evidence to suggest that orthopedic injury increases the risk of in-hospital complication or in-hospital mortality. Orthopedically injured trauma ICU patients were less likely to be discharged home than those without orthopedic injuries. CONCLUSIONS: Trauma ICU patients with an associated orthopedic injury have significantly longer hospital stays compared to those without an orthopedic injury, despite no evidence to suggest that the orthopedic injury affects the duration of ICU stay or in-hospital complications. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III, Retrospective cohort study.

Total Hip Arthroplasty Patients Who Have Ostomies Have an Increased Risk of Revisions for Periprosthetic Joint Infection, but Total Knee Arthroplasty Patients Do Not.

BACKGROUND: Patient comorbidities can lead to worse outcomes and increase the risk of revisions after total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Sparse research is available on the effects of ostomies on postoperative outcomes. Our study aimed to assess whether patients who have ostomies, who underwent TKA or THA, have worse outcomes and increased rates of all-cause and periprosthetic joint infection (PJI)-related revisions. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study comparing the outcomes of THA and TKA patients who have and do not have a history of ostomy using the Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System. Patient demographics, ostomy diagnosis, 3-month emergency department visits and readmissions, and revisions were collected. A total of 126,414 THA and 216,037 TKA cases were included. Log-rank testing and a Cox proportional hazards model were used to account for covariates. RESULTS: In total, 463 THA patients (0.4%) had ostomies. They had a longer length of stay (4.0 versus 3.1 days, P < 0.001) and were less likely to be discharged home (55.3 versus 62.2%, P = 0.01). They had higher rates of PJI-related revisions (1.9 versus 0.9%, P = 0.02) and had increased odds of PJI-related revision (OR [odds ratio] = 2.2, P = 0.02). Of TKA patients, 619 patients (0.3%) had an ostomy. They had a longer length of stay (3.6 versus 3.3 days, P = 0.02) and was less likely to be discharged home (49.4 versus 52.4%, P = 0.16). However, there was no difference in the rate (1.8 versus 1.4%, P = 0.49) or odds (OR = 1.2, P = 0.53) of PJI-related revision. CONCLUSIONS: THA, but not TKA, patients who have ostomies have an increased risk of PJI-related revisions. The proximity of the surgical incision to the ostomy site may play a role in the risk of PJI in THA patients.

A hypertrophic distal fascicle of the anterior tibiofibular ligament is associated with a high rate of osteochondral lesions of the talus.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this retrospective review was to determine the prevalence of osteochondral lesions (OCLs) of the lateral talar dome in patients with anterior ankle impingement with an associated hypertrophic distal fascicle of the anterior tibio-fibular ligament. METHODS: Retrospective chart review identified 40 patients who underwent anterior ankle arthroscopy for the management of anterior ankle impingement. Clinical outcomes assessed included pre- and postoperative foot and ankle outcome score (FAOS), visual analogue scale (VAS), complications, failures, secondary surgical procedures, return-to-work data and return-to-sport data. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients with a mean follow-up time of 29.3 ± 10.4 months were included. The hypertrophic distal fascicle of the anterior tibio-fibular ligament was hypertrophic in 29 patients (90.6%), with a mean thickness of 2.5 ± 0.4 mm on MRI. There were 22 OCLs of the lateral talar dome (75.9%) with an associated hypertrophic distal fascicle of the anterior tibio-fibular ligament visualized during arthroscopy. The international cartilage repair society gradings of the lesions included 3 (13.6%) grade I lesions, 15 (68.1%) grade II lesions, 3 (13.6%) grade III lesions, and 1 (4.6%) grade IV lesion. There was a statistically significant improvement in mean FAOS and VAS scores from preoperative to postoperative (p < 0.001). No cases of syndesmotic instability were observed following resection of hypertrophic distal fascicle of the anterior tibio-fibular ligament. CONCLUSION: This retrospective case series demonstrated that a hypertrophic distal fascicle of the anterior tibio-fibular ligament was associated with an OCL of the lateral talar dome identified during arthroscopic evaluation. In addition, preoperative MRI demonstrated poor sensitivity for the detection of these OCLs. Heightened awareness is warranted for potential lateral talar dome OCLs in patients presenting with anterolateral ankle impingement with a hypertrophic ATiFLdf identified on preoperative MRI in the absence of an associated OCLs. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, Retrospective case series.

Clinical outcomes following transtibial medial meniscal root repair are maintained at long-term follow-up.

PURPOSE: To evaluate long-term outcomes of patients treated with posterior medial meniscal root tear (PMMRT) repair through assessment of functional outcome scores and to identify patient surgical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics associated with improved outcomes. METHODS: This was a single-centre, retrospective study evaluating patients who had undergone a PMMR repair using a transtibial suture pullout technique with two locking cinch sutures. This was performed as a follow-up to previously published 2-year and 5-year outcome studies, using the same cohort. All patients from the prior short-term and midterm studies were invited to participate. Patient-reported outcome (PROs) scores, including the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) and Lysholm scores, were collected. Previously collected demographic data were updated based on review of the electronic medical record. Patient outcomes were assessed preoperatively, as well as at 2-year, 5-year and 8-year postoperatively. MRI outcome measurements were assessed at 2-year and 5-year follow-ups. All statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 26. RESULTS: Seventeen patients of the original 18 patients (94.4%) were included in the final analysis. Additionally, three patients who had additional ipsilateral surgery were excluded from the analysis of PROs. The IKDC score significantly increased from 44.7 ± 11.6 at preoperative baseline to 71.2 ± 21.3 at 8-year post-operation (p = 0.001). There were no significant differences in IKDC score between 2-year and 8-year follow-ups (p = n.s.) or 5-year and 8-year follow-ups (p = n.s.). The Lysholm score significantly increased from 49.6 ± 7.3 at preoperative baseline to 76.4 ± 17.2 at 8-year follow-up (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in Lysholm scores between 2-year and 8-year follow-ups (p = n.s.) or 5-year and 8-year follow-ups (p = n.s.). A linear regression analysis found that 5-year IKDC scores were significantly correlated with 8-year IKDC scores (ß = 0.681, p = 0.038). At 8-year follow-up, four (23.5%) patients required additional procedures on their operative knee (one total knee arthroplasty conversion). CONCLUSION: Patients treated with repair of PMMRT had maintenance of clinical outcome improvements at long-term follow-up despite worsening MRI outcomes at short-term and medium-term follow-ups. While a high proportion of patients required additional procedures on their operative knee at 8-year follow-up, few of these patient's additional procedures were related to failure of their primary surgery. Providers and patients may expect durable clinical outcomes following the repair of PMMRT, irrespective of radiographic appearance. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

Combined Medial Collateral Ligament Reconstruction and Polyethylene Exchange for Valgus Instability Following Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Valgus instability can occur after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) due to traumatic medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury, component malpositioning, or progressive ligamentous laxity. Although revision TKA with exchange of the polyethylene to a varus-valgus-constrained liner can reduce laxity due to MCL insufficiency, isolated liner exchange in the setting of collateral ligament insufficiency may lead to greater strain at the cement-bone or implant-cement interface and possibly a greater rate of aseptic loosening. Anatomic MCL reconstruction can be performed in conjunction with liner exchange to restore stability and reduce strain compared with liner exchange alone. The purpose of this Technical Note is to describe a technique for MCL reconstruction and liner exchange for treatment of valgus instability after TKA.

Using Electronic Health Record Data to Determine the Safety of Aqueous Humor Liquid Biopsies for Molecular Analyses.

Purpose: Knowing the surgical safety of anterior chamber liquid biopsies will support the increased use of proteomics and other molecular analyses to better understand disease mechanisms and therapeutic responses in patients and clinical trials. Manual review of operative notes from different surgeons and procedures in electronic health records (EHRs) is cumbersome, but free-text software tools could facilitate efficient searches. Design: Retrospective case series. Participants: A total of 1418 aqueous humor liquid biopsies from patients undergoing intraocular surgery. Methods: Free-text EHR searches were performed using the Stanford Research Repository cohort discovery tool to identify complications associated with anterior chamber paracentesis and subsequent endophthalmitis. Complications of the surgery unrelated to the biopsy were not reviewed. Main Outcome Measures: Biopsy-associated intraoperative complications and endophthalmitis. Results: A total of 1418 aqueous humor liquid biopsies were performed by 17 experienced surgeons. EHR free-text searches were 100% error-free for surgical complications, >99% for endophthalmitis (<1% false positive), and >93.6% for anesthesia type, requiring manual review for only a limited number of cases. More than 85% of cases were performed under local anesthesia without ocular muscle akinesia. Although the most common indication was cataract (50.1%), other diagnoses included glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, uveitis, age-related macular degeneration, endophthalmitis, retinitis pigmentosa, and uveal melanoma. A 50- to 100-µL sample was collected in all cases using either a 30-gauge needle or a blunt cannula via a paracentesis. The median follow-up was >7 months. There was only one minor complication (0.07%) identified: a case of a small tear in Descemet membrane without long-term sequelae. No other complications occurred, including other corneal injuries, lens or iris trauma, hyphema, or suprachoroidal hemorrhage. There was no case of postoperative endophthalmitis. Conclusions: Anterior chamber liquid biopsy during intraocular surgery is a safe procedure and may be considered for large-scale collection of aqueous humor samples for molecular analyses. Free-text EHR searches are an efficient approach to reviewing intraoperative procedures. Financial Disclosures: Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

Trends in Elbow Ulnar Collateral Ligament Repairs and Reconstructions and an Analysis Between Low- and High-Volume Surgical Centers: A 10-Year Study in New York State.

Background: Elbow ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction (UCLR) is the gold standard for operative treatment of UCL tears, with renewed interest in UCL repairs. Purpose: To (1) assess trends in rates of UCLR and UCL repair and (2) identify predictors of complications by demographic, socioeconomic, or surgical center volume factors. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: Patients who underwent UCLR or UCL repair at New York State health care facilities between 2010 and 2019 were retrospectively identified; concomitant ulnar nerve procedures among the cohort were also identified. Surgical center volumes were classified as low (<99th percentile) or high (≥99th percentile). Patient information, neighborhood socioeconomic status quantified using the Area Deprivation Index, and complications within 90 days were recorded. Poisson regression analysis was used to compare trends in UCLR versus UCL repair. Multivariable regression was used to determine whether center volume, demographic, or socioeconomic variables were independent predictors of complications. Results: A total of 1448 UCL surgeries were performed, with 388 (26.8%) concomitant ulnar nerve procedures. UCLR (1084 procedures; 74.9%) was performed more commonly than UCL repair (364 procedures; 25.1%), with patients undergoing UCL repair more likely to be older, female, and not privately ensured and having undergone a concomitant ulnar nerve procedure (all P < .001). With each year, there was an increased incidence rate ratio for UCL repair versus UCLR (ß = 1.12 [95% CI, 1.02-1.23]; P = .022). The authors identified 2 high-volume centers (720 UCL procedures; 49.7%) and 131 low-volume centers (728 UCL procedures; 50.3%). Patients undergoing UCL procedures at high-volume centers were more likely to be younger and male and receive workers' compensation (all P < .001). UCL repair and ulnar nerve-related procedures were both more commonly performed at low-volume centers (P < .001). There were no significant differences in 3-month infection, ulnar neuritis, instability, arthrofibrosis, heterotopic ossification, or all-cause complication rates between low- and high-volume centers. The only significant predictor for all-cause complication was Medicaid insurance (OR, 2.91 [95% CI, 1.20-6.33]; P = .011). Conclusion: A rising incidence of UCL repair compared with UCLR was found in New York State, especially among female patients, older patients, and nonprivate payers. There were no differences in 3-month complication rates between high- and low-volume centers, and Medicaid insurance status was a predictor for overall complications within 90 days of operation.

Relative contribution of the nail and plate to a nail-plate construct for comminuted distal femoral fractures.

The purpose of this study was to assess the biomechanical contributions of the nail and the plate individually to a complete nail-plate construct in the setting of comminuted distal femur fractures. For this biomechanical study, comminuted extra-articular distal femur fractures were created in 24 synthetic osteoporotic femur models. These were then split into three groups: the nail-only group, the plate-only group, and the nail-plate group. After fixation, each specimen underwent sequential axial and torsional loading, and axial and torsional stiffness were calculated and compared. The addition of a nail to a plate-only construct increased axial stiffness by 19.7% and torsional stiffness by 59.4%. The plate-only group and nail-plate group both demonstrated significantly greater axial and torsional stiffness than the nail-only group at all levels of axial and torsional load. (p < 0.001) At 1000 and 2000 N of cyclic loading, the nail-plate group demonstrated significantly greater axial stiffness than the plate-only group (p ≤ 0.018). The nail-plate group demonstrated greater torsional stiffness than the plate-only groups at all levels of torsional loading (p < 0.001). In osteoporotic comminuted distal femur fracture models, most of the axial stiffness in a nail-plate construct comes from the plate. While the combination of the two constructs is not fully additive, the plate contributes the majority of the axial and torsional stiffness in a nail-plate construct. The supplementation of the plate with a nail primarily helps to increase resistance to rotational forces. Level of Evidence: III.

Matrix-Induced Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation Versus Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation of the Knee A Retrospective Comparison.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the short-term clinical outcomes of matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte implantation (MACI) to those seen following traditional autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) in the management of symptomatic cartilage lesions of the knee. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent either ACI or MACI from January 2011 to March 2018. Patients with a minimum postoperative follow-up of 18 months were contacted. Demographic information, intraoperative findings, and patient-reported functional outcomes scores were collected. Comparisons were made between the two cell-based cartilage repair techniques. RESULTS: Fifty-six patients were included in the study (39 ACI, 17 MACI). Visual analog scale (VAS) for pain scores improved significantly in both groups, with MACI patients demonstrating significantly lower postoperative pain scores compared to those treated with ACI. In the ACI group, there was a decrease in the Tegner Activity score compared to the preoperative baseline, while no significant difference was seen between pre- and postoperative activity levels in the MACI group. Patients were generally satisfied with the outcome of their procedures, and there was no significant difference in satisfaction between groups. No patients re-quired additional surgery during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Both ACI and MACI demonstrated good short-term postoperative clinical results with improved pain and activity levels compared to the preoperative baseline. Patients treated with the MACI technique demonstrated greater reductions in pain scores compared to ACI, and while ACI resulted in a decrease in levels of postoperative activity, activity levels for MACI remained stable.

Tissue Loss During Eye Bank Processing.

This comparative effectiveness research study assesses the rate of tissue loss in ultrathin Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty grafts vs descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty grafts during eye bank processing.

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.

Do Patients With Insulin-Dependent and Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Have Different Risks for Complications After Total Ankle Arthroplasty?

BACKGROUND: Patients with diabetes undergoing total ankle arthroplasty tend to be at greater risk for complications than those without diabetes. However, the effect of diabetes severity and how it impacts the risk for perioperative complications is less clear. The purpose of this study was to compare (1) complications, (2) length of hospital stay, and (3) readmissions within 30 days for total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) patients without diabetes, patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes, and patients with insulin-dependent diabetes. METHODS: Using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database, a total of 1803 patients undergoing TAA between 2007 and 2019 were collected. The relationship between diabetes status (no diabetes [n = 1,589], insulin-dependent [n = 169], and non-insulin-dependent [n = 45]) and outcomes were compared. Multivariate linear regression models were used to adjust for confounding variables such as age, sex, race, body mass index, smoking, steroid use, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, anesthesia type, dyspnea, and outpatient status. Statistical significance was set at P <.05. RESULTS: Insulin-dependent diabetes was an independent risk factor for increased odds of infection within 30 days (odds ratio 6.47, 95% CI 0.79-33.66; P = .043). Hospital length of stay was also increased in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes (ß = 0.21, 95% CI 0.02-0.40; P = .031) and insulin-dependent diabetes (ß = 0.40, 95% CI 0.04-0.76; P = .028). However, neither diabetic state demonstrated a statistically significant increase in readmissions or wound complications within 30 days. CONCLUSION: Patients with insulin-dependent diabetes included in this cohort were at increased risk of having an infection within 30 days after TAA. Additionally, patients with diabetes status had an increased hospital length of stay. These results can inform patients on their potential outcomes after total ankle arthroplasty based on their diabetes status.

Polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel implant for the treatment of hallux rigidus is associated with a high complication rate and moderate failure rate at short-term follow-up: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: Moderate-to-severe hallux rigidus is a debilitating pathology that is optimally treated with surgical intervention. Arthrodesis produces reliable clinical outcomes but is limited by restriction in 1st metatarsophalangeal joint range of motion. The advent of polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel (PVA) implants have produced early promise based on initial trials, but more recent studies have called into question the efficacy of this procedure. The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the clinical and radiological outcomes following the use of PVA for hallux rigidus. METHODS: The MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane library databases were systematically reviewed using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines. 18 studies were included. RESULTS: In total, 1349 patients (1367 feet) underwent PVA at a weighted mean follow-up of 24.1 ± 11.1 months. There were 168 patients (169 feet) included in the cheilectomy cohort and 322 patients (322 feet) included in the arthrodesis cohort. All 3 cohorts produced comparable improvements in subjective clinical outcomes. Postoperative imaging findings in the PVA cohort included joint space narrowing, peri-implant fluid, peri-implant edema and erosion of the proximal phalanx. The complication rate in the PVA cohort, cheilectomy cohort and arthrodesis cohort was 27.9%, 11.8% and 24.1%, respectively. The failure rates in the PVA cohort, cheilectomy cohort and arthrodesis cohort was 14.8%, 0.3% and 9.0%, respectively. CONCLUSION: This systematic review demonstrated that PVA produced a high complication rate (27.9%) together with concerning postoperative imaging findings at short-term follow-up. In addition, a moderate failure rate (14.8%) and secondary surgical procedure rate (9.5%) was noted for the PVA cohort. The findings of this review calls into question the efficacy and safety of PVA for the treatment of hallux rigidus. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Postoperative complications in rheumatic disease patients undergoing arthroscopy on immunosuppression.

BACKGROUND: There are currently no guidelines on peri-arthroscopic management of immunosuppressive (IS) treatment in rheumatic disease patients. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to characterize the rheumatic disease patient population undergoing arthroscopy, compare the incidence of postoperative complications among patients who either remained on IS perioperatively, held IS perioperatively or were not on IS at baseline, and compare the incidence of postoperative complications by rheumatic disease type, medication type, and procedure. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of all arthroscopic sports medicine surgeries in patients with a rheumatic disease diagnosis at our institution over an 11-year period. Patients on IS at baseline were grouped into those who remained on IS perioperatively or held all IS before the date of their surgery. These two groups were compared to patients who were not on IS at baseline. Incidence of postoperative complications was calculated for the three cohorts and by medication class, rheumatic disease type, and procedure risk. Analysis of variance (ANOVA), chi-squared, and Fisher's exact tests were used to determine the statistical significance of between-group differences in postoperative complication incidence. RESULTS: We identified 1,316 rheumatic disease patients undergoing arthroscopy, with 214 of them taking IS medications at baseline. In total, 8.4% (n = 110) remained on IS perioperatively, 7.9% (n = 104) held IS perioperatively, and 83.7% (n = 1102) were not on IS at baseline. In all cohorts, seven patients experienced postoperative complications; six of whom experienced infections. Two (1.82%) occurred in patients remaining on IS perioperatively, zero infections occured in patients who held all IS, and four (0.36%) occured in patients who were not on any IS at baseline. There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative infections or complication rates among the three cohorts or further subgroups. CONCLUSION: The risk of postoperative complications including infectious, major, and minor complications in patients on IS at the time of arthroscopy is low and acceptable.

Descemet Endothelial Thickness Comparison Trial 1 (DETECT 1): outcome masked, placebo-controlled trial comparing two types of corneal transplant surgeries and effect of rho kinase inhibitors on endothelial cell loss protocol.

BACKGROUND: It remains uncertain which endothelial keratoplasty (EK) technique yields the best outcomes while maintaining safety, particularly in eyes with coexisting ocular conditions. Moreover, the impact of endothelial cell loss (ECL) on long-term graft survival requires further investigation. Adjuvant ripasudil, a rho kinase inhibitor, may address the challenge of ECL in corneal transplantation. This paper presents the protocol for the Descemet Endothelial Thickness Comparison Trial 1 (DETECT 1), a multicentre, outcome-masked, randomised, placebo-controlled, four-arm clinical trial. METHODS: A total of 160 eligible patients with endothelial dysfunction will be enrolled from five participating sites in the USA. The patients will be randomly assigned in a 2×2 factorial design to one of the following treatment groups: group 1-ultrathin Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty (UT-DSAEK) plus topical ripasudil 0.4%; group 2-UT-DSAEK plus topical placebo; group 3-Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) plus topical ripasudil 0.4% and group 4-DMEK plus topical placebo. Primary outcomes include the best spectacle-corrected visual acuity at 12 months and ECL at 12 months. Secondary outcomes include visual acuity at different time points, vision-related quality of life, endothelial cell morphology and cost-effectiveness. RESULTS: The study outcomes will be analysed using mixed effects linear regression models, taking into account the treatment arms and relevant covariates. Adverse events, including rebubble procedures, graft failure and graft rejection, will be documented and analysed using appropriate statistical methods. CONCLUSION: DETECT I aims to provide evidence on the comparative effectiveness of UT-DSAEK and DMEK, as well as the potential benefits of adjuvant topical ripasudil in reducing ECL. The results of this trial will contribute to optimising corneal transplantation techniques and improving long-term graft survival, while also exploring the cost-effectiveness of these interventions. Dissemination of findings through peer-reviewed publications and national/international meetings will facilitate knowledge translation and guide clinical practice in the field of corneal transplantation. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: A data and safety monitoring committee (DSMC) has been empaneled by the NEI.All study protocols will be subject to review and approval by WCG IRB as the single IRB of record.This study will comply with the National Institute of Health (NIH) Data Sharing Policy and Policy on the Dissemination of NIH-Funded Clinical Trial Information and the Clinical Trials Registration and Results Information Submission rule. Data from the trial will be made available on reasonable request.

Trends in the treatment of proximal humerus fractures from 2010 to 2020.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of proximal humerus fractures (PHF) is continuing to rise due to shifts towards a more aged population as well as advancements in surgical treatment options. The purpose of this study is to examine and compare trends in the treatment of PHFs (nonoperative vs. operative; different surgical treatments) across different age groups over the last decade (2010-2020). METHODS: The New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS) database was queried using International Classification of Diseases and Current Procedural Terminology codes to identify all patients presenting with or undergoing surgery for PHF between 2010 and 2020. Treatment trends, demographics, and insurance information were analyzed during the study period. Comparisons were made between operative and nonoperative trends with respect to the number and type of surgeries performed among 3 age groups: ≤49 years, 50-64 years, and ≥65 years. The rate of postoperative complications and reoperations was evaluated and compared among different surgical treatments for patients with a minimum 1-year postoperative follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 92,308 patients with a mean age of 67.8 ± 16.8 years were included. Over the last decade, there was no significant increase in the percentage of PHFs treated with surgery. A total of 15,523 PHFs (16.82%) were treated operatively, and these patients, compared with the nonoperative cohort, were younger (64.9 years vs. 68.4 years, P < .001), more likely to be White (80.2% vs. 74.7%, P < .001), and more likely to have private insurance (41.4% vs. 32.0%, P < .001). For patients ≤49 years old, trends in operative treatment have remained stable with internal fixation (IF) as the most used surgical modality. For patients 50-64 years old, we observed a gradual decline in the use of hemiarthroplasty (HA), with a corresponding increase in the use of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA), but IF continued to be the most used operative modality. In patients over 65 years, a steep decline in the use of IF and HA was noted during the first half of the decade along with a significant exponential increase in the use of rTSA, which surpassed the use of IF in 2019. Despite the increase in the use of rTSA, no differences in rate of surgical complications were noted between rTSA and IF (χ2 = 0.245, P = .621) or reoperations (χ2 = 0.112, P = .730). CONCLUSION: Nonsurgical treatment remains the mainstay treatment of PHFs. Although there is no increase in the prevalence of operative treatment in patients ≥50 years in the last decade, there is an exponential increase in the use of rTSA with a corresponding decrease in HA and IF, a trend more substantial in patients ≥65 years compared with patients between 50 and 64 years.