Project description:BackgroundPatient-reported outcomes are essential to demonstrate the value of hip and knee arthroplasty, a common target for payment reforms. We compare patient-reported global and condition-specific outcomes after hip and knee arthroplasty based on hospital participation in Medicare's bundled payment programs.MethodsWe performed a prospective observational study using the Comparative Effectiveness of Pulmonary Embolism Prevention after Hip and Knee Replacement trial. Differences in patient-reported outcomes through 6 months were compared between bundle and nonbundle hospitals using mixed-effects regression, controlling for baseline patient characteristics. Outcomes were the brief Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcomes Score or the brief Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcomes Score, the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Physical Health Score, and the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, measures of joint function, overall health, and pain, respectively.ResultsRelative to nonbundled hospitals, arthroplasty patients at bundled hospitals had slightly lower improvement in Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcomes Score (-1.8 point relative difference at 6 months; 95% confidence interval -3.2 to -0.4; P = .011) and Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcomes Score (-2.3 point relative difference at 6 months; 95% confidence interval -4.0 to -0.5; P = .010). However, these effects were small, and the proportions of patients who achieved a minimum clinically important difference were similar. Preoperative to postoperative change in the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Physical Health Score and Numeric Pain Rating Scale demonstrated a similar pattern of slightly worse outcomes at bundled hospitals with similar rates of achieving a minimum clinically important difference.ConclusionsPatients receiving care at hospitals participating in Medicare's bundled payment programs do not have meaningfully worse improvements in patient-reported measures of function, health, or pain after hip or knee arthroplasty.
Project description:BackgroundThe Hospital Acquired Condition Strategy (HACS) denies payment for venous thromboembolism (VTE) after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The intention is to reduce complications and associated costs, while improving the quality of care by mandating VTE prophylaxis. We applied a system dynamics model to estimate the impact of HACS on VTE rates, and potential unintended consequences such as increased rates of bleeding and infection and decreased access for patients who might benefit from TKA.Methods and findingsThe system dynamics model uses a series of patient stocks including the number needing TKA, deemed ineligible, receiving TKA, and harmed due to surgical complication. The flow of patients between stocks is determined by a series of causal elements such as rates of exclusion, surgery and complications. The number of patients harmed due to VTE, bleeding or exclusion were modeled by year by comparing patient stocks that results in scenarios with and without HACS. The percentage of TKA patients experiencing VTE decreased approximately 3-fold with HACS. This decrease in VTE was offset by an increased rate of bleeding and infection. Moreover, results from the model suggest HACS could exclude 1.5% or half a million patients who might benefit from knee replacement through 2020.ConclusionSystem dynamics modeling indicates HACS will have the intended consequence of reducing VTE rates. However, an unintended consequence of the policy might be increased potential harm resulting from over administration of prophylaxis, as well as exclusion of a large population of patients who might benefit from TKA.
Project description:Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in the setting of previous hip fusion is rare with a paucity of evidence in the orthopaedic literature. Traditionally, TKA is performed supine, with the aid of knee-positioning devices allowing for hip flexion and range of motion of the knee to facilitate ease of surgical intervention. However, TKA using traditional positioning would not be possible in the presence of ipsilateral hip arthrodesis preventing hip motion. This case report describes a TKA performed for a 72-year-old woman with end-stage osteoarthritis of the right knee, ipsilateral hip arthrodesis, and leg-length discrepancy as the sequelae of slipped capital femoral epiphysis. We describe novel surgical positioning to be used to facilitate TKA in the absence of ipsilateral hip motion with bed modifications and the use of an extremity positioning device.
Project description:BackgroundCOVID-19 was declared as a pandemic in March 2020. Government of India declared a countrywide lockdown on 24 March 2020. All elective surgeries including Hip and Knee arthroplasty were postponed in view of pandemic. Gradually cases were resumed after stepwise unlock measures. The aim of this study is to assess how hip and knee arthroplasty surgeries were affected during first wave of pandemic, and how situation was tackled by an arthroplasty unit of a tertiary-care hospital in India.MethodsThis study was a single-centre retrospective observational study. Data pertaining to patient demographic details, surgery, preoperative screening for COVID-19, duration of hospital stay, and post-op 30-day complications were collected from hospital records and analyzed. These data were compared with 2019 data.ResultsThere was significant decrease (88.45%) in total number of hip and knee arthroplasty cases between March 2020 and November 2020 as compared to the same duration in 2019. 30-day mortality was only 2 deaths both who died due to COVID-19-related complications. Duration of stay in hospital and post-operative complications were not statistically and significantly affected. There was a statistically significant increase in tourniquet time compared to the previous year. If deaths due to COVID-19 are excluded, there was statistically no significance difference in 30-day mortality rate.ConclusionFollowing strict local policy for patient selection and reducing the number of post-operative patient visits to the hospital allowed us to perform hip and knee arthroplasty safely with minimum COVID-19-related mortality and morbidity.Supplementary informationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43465-023-00930-6.
Project description:BackgroundAlthough telemedicine visits were essential and adopted by providers and patients alike, few studies have been conducted evaluating orthopedic patient perception of the care delivered during these visits. To our knowledge, no study has evaluated specific factors that affected patient satisfaction with telemedicine and the receptiveness to continue virtual visits post COVID-19 in total joint arthroplasty (TJA) patients. Thus, the purposes of our study are to determine the following: (1) patient satisfaction with using TJA telemedicine services, (2) whether patient characteristics might be associated with satisfaction, and (3) whether virtual clinic visits may be used post-COVID-19.MethodsA prospective, cross-sectional survey study was completed by 126 TJA patients who participated in telemedicine visits with TJA surgeons from May 1, 2020 to August 31, 2020. The survey consisted of questions regarding demographics, satisfaction, and telemedicine experiences.ResultsOne hundred one (80.2%) patients were satisfied with their telemedicine visit, with patients <80 years old (P = .008) and those with a longer commute time (P = .01) being more satisfied P = .01. There was a significant preference for in-person visits when meeting arthroplasty surgeons for the first time (P < .001), but patients were equally amenable to follow-up telemedicine visits once there was an established relationship with the surgeon.ConclusionYounger patients, patients with longer commute distances, and patients who had established relationships with their provider expressed higher satisfaction with telemedicine arthroplasty visits. Although >80% of patients were satisfied with their telemedicine visit, an established patient-provider relationship may be integral to the success of an arthroplasty telemedicine practice.
Project description:Ischaemic preconditioning is a method of protecting tissue against ischaemia-reperfusion injury. It is an innate protective mechanism that increases a tissue's tolerance to prolonged ischaemia when it is first subjected to short burst of ischaemia and reperfusion. It is thought to provide this protection by increasing the tissue's tolerance to ischaemia, therby reducing oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis in the preconditioned tissue. We used microarrays to investigate the genomic response induced by ischaemic preconditioning in muscle biopsies taken from the operative leg of total knee arthroplasty patients in order to gain insight into the ischaemic preconditioning mechanism. Patients undergoing primary knee arthroplasty were randomised to control and treatment (ischaemic preconditioning) groups. Patients in the treatment group received a preconditioning stimulus immediately prior to surgery. The ischaemic preconditioning stimulus consisted of three five-minute periods of tourniquet insufflation on the lower operative limb, interrupted by five minute periods of reperfusion. All patients had a tourniquet applied to the lower limb after the administration of spinal anaesthesia, as per normal protocol for knee arthroplasty surgery. Muscle biopsies were taken from the quadriceps muscle of the operative knee at the immediate onset of surgery (T0) and at 1 hour into surgery (T1). Total RNA was extracted from biospies of four control and four treatment patients and hybridised to the Affymetrix Human U133 2.0 chip.
Project description:Ischaemic preconditioning is a method of protecting tissue against ischaemia-reperfusion injury. It is an innate protective mechanism that increases a tissue's tolerance to prolonged ischaemia when it is first subjected to short burst of ischaemia and reperfusion. It is thought to provide this protection by increasing the tissue's tolerance to ischaemia, therby reducing oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis in the preconditioned tissue. We used microarrays to investigate the genomic response induced by ischaemic preconditioning in muscle biopsies taken from the operative leg of total knee arthroplasty patients in order to gain insight into the ischaemic preconditioning mechanism.
Project description:BackgroundAs America's third highest opioid prescribers, orthopedic surgeons have contributed to the opioid abuse crisis. This study evaluated opioid use after primary total joint replacement. We hypothesized that patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty (THA) use fewer opioids than patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and that both groups use fewer opioids than prescribed.MethodsA prospective study of 110 patients undergoing primary THA or TKA by surgeons at an academic center during 2018 was performed. All were prescribed oxycodone 5 mg, 84 tablets, without refills. Demographics, medical history, and operative details were collected. Pain medication consumption and patient-reported outcomes were collected at 2 and 6 weeks postoperatively. Analysis of variance was performed on patient and surgical variables.ResultsSixty-one patients scheduled for THA and 49 for TKA were included. THA patients consumed significantly fewer opioids than TKA patients at 2 weeks (28.1 tablets vs 48.4, P = .0003) and 6 weeks (33.1 vs 59.3, P = .0004). Linear regression showed opioid use decreased with age at both time points (P = .0002). A preoperative mental health disorder was associated with higher usage at 2 weeks (58.3 vs 31.4, P < .0001) and 6 weeks (64.7 vs 39.2, P = .006). Higher consumption at 2 weeks was correlated with worse outcome scores at all time points.ConclusionsTKA patients required more pain medication than THA patients, and both groups received more opioids than necessary. In addition, younger patients and those with a preexisting mental health disorder required more pain medication. These data provide guidance on prescribing pain medication to help limit excess opioid distribution.