Complications After Total Knee Arthroplasty in Patients With Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis.

BACKGROUND: Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) is a locally destructive histiocytic proliferation most commonly occurring in the knee. Extensive local joint destruction can indicate the need for a total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The objective of this study is to evaluate PVNS of the knee as a risk factor for complication after TKA. METHODS: Patients who underwent TKA with a diagnosis of PVNS of the knee from 2007 to 2016 were identified in a national private payer insurance database. Complication rates for emergency room visits, readmission, revision, stiffness, infection, and death were calculated and compared to a control population of patients who received TKA for osteoarthritis (OA). RESULTS: Four hundred fifty-three patients were diagnosed with PVNS of the knee and underwent TKA during the time period and compared with a matched control cohort of 1812 patients who underwent TKA for OA. The rate of revision TKA at 2 years, emergency room visits, readmission, and death did not differ between the PVNS group and the control cohort. The PVNS group had stiffness at 1 year compared to the OA group (6.84% vs 4.69%, odds ratio 1.48, P = .023). The infection rate at 2 years was 3.31% in the PVNS group and 1.55% in the OA group (odds ratio 1.73, P = .011). CONCLUSION: The complication rates for TKA in patients with a diagnosis of PVNS of the knee have not been previously demonstrated. These patients have a higher rate of stiffness and infection when compared to a control cohort, so they may have a more complicated postoperative course.

Certificate-of-Need State Laws and Total Hip Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Many states have certificate-of-need (CON) programs requiring governmental approval to open or expand healthcare services, with the goal of limiting cost and coordinating utilization of healthcare resources. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the associations between these state-level CON regulations and total hip arthroplasty (THA). METHODS: States were designated as CON or non-CON based on existing laws. The 100% Medicare Standard Analytic Files from 2005 to 2014 were used to compare THA procedure volumes, charges, reimbursements, and distribution of procedures based on facility volumes between the CON and non-CON states. Adverse postoperative outcomes were also analyzed. RESULTS: The per capita incidence of THA was higher in non-CON states than CON states at each time period and overall (P < .0001). However, the rate of change in THA incidence over the time period was higher in CON states (1.0 per 10,000 per year) compared to non-CON states (0.68 per 10,000 per year) although not statistically significant. Length of stay was higher and a higher percentage of patients received care in high-volume hospitals in CON states (both P < .0001). No meaningful differences in postoperative complications were found. CONCLUSION: CON laws did not appear to have limited the growth in incidence of THA nor improved quality of care or outcomes during the study time period. It does appear that CON laws are associated with increased concentration of THA procedures at higher volume facilities. Given the inherent potential confounding population and geographic factors, additional research is needed to confirm these findings.