Peroneal Nerve Palsy After Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Background: Common peroneal nerve palsy (CPNP) is a rare complication of total knee arthroplasty (TKA). It may lead to impaired function and pain. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency and outcome of CPNP in a single orthopedic unit and to identify potential risk factors. Methods: This is a single-center study using the hospital's prospectively collected quality registry. All TKAs from 2002 to 2022 were included and followed up from 3 to 24 months with a follow-up rate of 98.4%. The local joint register was reviewed to identify patients with CPNP and used to extract data regarding the operation and the patients with and without CPNP. The groups were compared to identify possible risk factors for nerve injury. The medical records of the patients with CPNP were reviewed to determine the CPNPs' severity and outcome, and their preoperative radiographs were analyzed and compared to a control group with no nerve injury. Results: A total of 7704 TKAs were included, and 25 CPNPs were identified (0.32%). Complete palsies occurred in 18 cases, and partial palsies in 7. Postoperative epidural anesthesia, preoperative excessive valgus, and female sex were significant risk factors. Body mass index and age were not associated with CPNP. Two-thirds of the complete palsies had complete recovery, and four-fifths of the partial palsies recovered. Conclusions: The incidence of CPNP was 0.32%, and risk factors were epidural anesthesia, excessive valgus, and female sex. Most patients with CPNP recovered completely. Partial palsies had better outcomes than complete palsies in our cohort.

No Increased Risk of Venous Thromboembolism in High-Risk Patients Continuing Their Dose of 75 mg Aspirin Compared to Healthier Patients Given Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin.

BACKGROUND: Optimum venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis for patients undergoing total hip or knee arthroplasty remains undefined. The purpose of this study is to compare complication rates among total joint arthroplasty patients using either low-dose aspirin (75 mg once daily) or low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH; Fragmin/dalteparin 5000 U) for VTE prophylaxis. METHODS: This is a prospective observational study. All total hip or knee arthroplasties from 2014 to 2020 were included. One thousand eighty-four patients already taking aspirin 75 mg as primary or secondary prophylaxis for cardiovascular disease continued their daily aspirin dose throughout their hospital stay and after discharge without any other kind of thromboprophylaxis. Five thousand ten patients not already taking aspirin were given LMWH for 12-14 days starting the day of surgery. Both groups consisted of patients undergoing either primary or revision total hip or knee arthroplasty. The aspirin group was older (73 ± 7.8 vs 66 ± 10.2 years, P < .01, 95% CI -7.6, -6.3) with more comorbidities but otherwise did not differ from the LMWH group. Outcome measures were recorded at 3-month follow-up and included the following complications: clinically deep venous thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), deep infection, blood transfusion, and death. RESULTS: The aspirin group had 0.28% DVT and 0.28% PE, and the LMWH group had 0.24% DVT and 0.16% PE (P = .42 and .74, respectively). No difference in deep infection, allogenic blood transfusion, or mortality was found. CONCLUSION: No statistically significant difference in complication rates was found between aspirin 75 mg and LMWH used for VTE prophylaxis. Aspirin 75 mg daily is safe for VTE prophylaxis after total hip or knee arthroplasty.

A Trend for Increased Risk of Revision Surgery due to Deep Infection following Fast-Track Hip Arthroplasty.

Rates of revision surgery due to deep infection following total hip arthroplasty (THA) increased at a Norwegian hospital following implementation of fast-track procedures. The purpose of this study was to determine whether selected demographic (age and sex) and clinical (body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, surgery duration, length of hospital stay, cemented versus uncemented prosthesis, and fast-track procedures) factors were associated with higher risk of revision surgery due to deep infection following THA. In a prospective designed study 4,406 patients undergoing primary THA between January 2001 and January 2013 where included. Rates of infection-related revision surgery within 3 months of THA were higher among males and among patients who received fast-track THA. Adjusting for sex and age, the implemented fast-track elements were significantly associated with increased risk of revision surgery. Risk of infection-related revision surgery was unrelated to body mass index, physical status, surgery duration, length of hospital stay, and prosthesis type. Because local infiltration analgesia, drain cessation, and early mobilization were introduced in combination, it could not be determined which component or combination of components imposed the increased risk. The findings in this small sample raise concern about fast-track THA but require replication in other samples.

Worse patient-reported outcome after lateral approach than after anterior and posterolateral approach in primary hip arthroplasty. A cross-sectional questionnaire study of 1,476 patients 1-3 years after surgery.

BACKGROUND: The surgical approach in total hip arthroplasty (THA) is often based on surgeon preference and local traditions. The anterior muscle-sparing approach has recently gained popularity in Europe. We tested the hypothesis that patient satisfaction, pain, function, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after THA is not related to the surgical approach. PATIENTS: 1,476 patients identified through the Norwegian Arthroplasty Register were sent questionnaires 1-3 years after undergoing THA in the period from January 2008 to June 2010. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) included the hip disability osteoarthritis outcome score (HOOS), the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC), health-related quality of life (EQ-5D-3L), visual analog scales (VAS) addressing pain and satisfaction, and questions about complications. 1,273 patients completed the questionnaires and were included in the analysis. RESULTS: Adjusted HOOS scores for pain, other symptoms, activities of daily living (ADL), sport/recreation, and quality of life were significantly worse (p < 0.001 to p = 0.03) for the lateral approach than for the anterior approach and the posterolateral approach (mean differences: 3.2-5.0). These results were related to more patient-reported limping with the lateral approach than with the anterior and posterolateral approaches (25% vs. 12% and 13%, respectively; p < 0.001). INTERPRETATION: Patients operated with the lateral approach reported worse outcomes 1-3 years after THA surgery. Self-reported limping occurred twice as often in patients who underwent THA with a lateral approach than in those who underwent THA with an anterior or posterolateral approach. There were no significant differences in patient-reported outcomes after THA between those who underwent THA with a posterolateral approach and those who underwent THA with an anterior approach.

Pain characteristics and self-rated health after elective orthopaedic surgery - a cross-sectional survey.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To describe the postoperative pain and to examine the relationship between pain intensity, pain interference and self-rated health after elective orthopaedic surgery. BACKGROUND: Pain is a problem for many surgical inpatients and can lead to postoperative complications. Limited knowledge exists about the relationship between postoperative pain, function and self-rated health. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. METHODS: Pain characteristics, self-rated health, sociodemographic status and comorbidity were measured in 123 elective orthopaedic inpatients recruited consecutively from a hospital in eastern Norway in 2012. On the day they were discharged from the surgical unit, patients completed items about pain intensity and pain interference from the Brief Pain Inventory and about self-rated health from the Medical Outcome Short Form-36 Health Survey. Clinical data were retrieved from the medical records. Patients were divided into three diagnostic groups: shoulder surgery, hip or knee replacement and other surgery. RESULTS: Mean age was 60 years (SD 17·2) and 50% were females. Average pain intensity was 4·2 (SD 2·2) on a 0-10 numeric rating scale and 60% reported moderate/severe pain during the entire hospital stay. Shoulder surgery patients reported significantly higher pain intensity compared to other surgical groups. Pain interfered mostly with daily activity and sleep. Higher pain intensity was significantly associated with poorer self-rated health. The linear regression analysis showed that average pain intensity was related to poorer self-rated health, controlling for sociodemographic variables and pain interference with function. CONCLUSION: High pain intensity is related to poorer self-rated health. Postoperative pain is undermanaged, affects functional areas and could delay rehabilitation. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Postoperative pain management should be given high priority after elective orthopaedic surgery, in order to improve self-rated health and function. Pain treatment for shoulder surgery patients may require more attention than it currently receives.

Dislocation after total hip arthroplasty with 28 and 32-mm femoral head.

BACKGROUND: Dislocation after primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a significant complication that occurs in 2-5% of patients. It has been postulated that increasing the femoral head diameter may reduce the risk of dislocation. The purpose of this paper is to report our experiences with a change from a 28 to a 32-mm femoral head. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The retrospective cohort study includes 2572 primary THA performed with a 28 or 32 mm diameter femoral head in the period February 2002 to July 2009. All patients were operated with a posterolateral approach, and all except 18 were operated because of osteoarthritis. Cemented stems were used in 1991 cases and uncemented stems in 581 cases. Cemented cups were used in 2,230 cases and uncemented cups in 342 cases. The patients have been routinely followed for 1-8 years in the 28-mm femoral head group and from 0.5-7.5 years in the 32 femoral head group. We defined a dislocation as an event in which the hip required reduction by a physician. RESULTS: Dislocation occurred in 49 hips with a 28-mm femoral head and in 4 hips with a 32-mm femoral head with an odds ratio of 6.06 (95% CI = 2.05-17.8) (P < 0.001). Otherwise, there were no significant associations between sex, age, diagnosis and type of prosthesis. CONCLUSIONS: Multivariate analyses of patients operated at our hospital indicate a significant association between femoral head diameter and dislocation after THA. There were no significant associations between dislocation and sex, age, diagnosis, or type of prosthesis.

A comparison of actual cost, DRG-based cost, and hospital reimbursement for liver transplant patients.

The financing of health care services in Norway has been changed from a system of global budgeting to a system partly based on Diagnosis-Related Groups (DRG). The government has decided to derive a part of the hospital revenue from DRG-based, per-patient financing. The aim of this study is to determine whether the present remuneration system covers the actual hospital expenses of liver transplant patients, and whether the present method of calculating DRG-costs is adequate for our institution. Our group developed a prospective method of determining the actual cost per patient. We closely observed and collected the data of eight liver transplant patients during their hospital stay. We divided each of the patients' resource requirements into four categories; heavy intensive care, light intensive care, intermediate care, and ordinary care. In addition, we recorded the number of staff involved, the duration of surgery, the major procedures, and the medical- and material costs. The actual cost of each patient was calculated, based on these data. The actual cost was compared with the corresponding hospital remuneration for each patient. Median cost for liver transplantation was NOK 536.785 (range: NOK 295.113-NOK 844.345) (1$=7,5 NOK), while the corresponding hospital refund was NOK 457.785 (range: NOK 436.465-NOK 483.040). The difference is not statistically significant ( P=0.2). The average 100% DRG-based cost of a liver transplantation was NOK 730.321, which is significantly higher than the actual cost ( P=0.02). The hospital's reimbursement for liver transplantation did not differ significantly from the actual registered cost. The computed cost was significantly lower than the DRG-based cost.