Simultaneous vs Staged Procedures for Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty: Reduced Infection, Cost, and Readmission Rates Associated With Simultaneous Procedures.

Background: Many patients require total knee arthroplasty (TKA) bilaterally; however, there is limited data on bilateral procedures. This study aims to compare medical and surgical complications and hospital-related outcomes between simultaneous and staged bilateral TKA. We hypothesize that staged procedures will have superior outcomes.

The Effect of Depression on Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Introduction: Depression is among the most common mental illnesses, with an estimated 8.1% of adults in the United States living with the condition. Despite its prevalence, the effect of depression on surgical outcomes is not well studied.

The Fragility of Statistical Significance in the Use of Aspirin in Prevention of Venous Thromboembolism Events Following Total Joint Arthroplasty: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Comparative studies often use the value to convey statistical significance, but fragility indices (FI) and fragility quotients (FQ) may better signify statistical strength. The use of aspirin as venous thromboembolism (VTE) chemoprophylaxis following elective arthroplasty has been debated between the orthopedic and cardiac fields. The purpose of this study was to apply both the FI and FQ to evaluate the degree of statistical fragility in the total joint arthroplasty (TJA) literature regarding aspirin (ASA) use for VTE prevention.

Patient-Level Factors, Outcomes, and Costs Associated With Facility Transfer Following Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Retrospective Database Study.

Background: Patient disposition following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has major implications for patient outcomes and costs. Current studies are limited in sample size and dates of data collection. We evaluated patient factors, outcomes, and costs associated with disposition to a facility following TKA.

Aspirin in prevention of venous thromboembolism following hip fracture surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Many orthopaedic surgeons routinely prescribe aspirin (ASA) as prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism (VTE) following hip fracture surgery (HFS). The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of aspirin to other agents in preventing VTE and mortality following hip fracture surgery.

Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, we performed a search for HFS studies from 1998 to 2023 reporting comparisons between aspirin and other chemoprophylaxis methods for VTE (DVT - deep vein thrombosis; PE - pulmonary embolism).

Robot-Assisted Total Hip Arthroplasty is Associated With an Increased Risk of Periprosthetic Fracture.

Background: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) aims to restore joint function and relieve pain. New technology, such as robot assistance, offers the potential to reduce human error, improve precision, and improve postoperative outcomes. The aim of this study was to compare outcomes between conventional and robot-assisted THA.

The Impact of Cardiac Arrhythmias on Total Knee Arthroplasty Outcomes.

Background: Cardiac comorbidities are common in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). While there is an abundance of research showing an association between cardiac abnormalities and poor postoperative outcomes, relatively little is published on specific pathologies. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of cardiac arrhythmias on postoperative outcomes in the setting of TKA.

Disseminated Coccidioidomycosis of the Knee Joint Requiring Synovectomy and Arthrotomy.

Introduction: Coccidioidomycosis is a fungal infection endemic to the Southwestern United States, Mexico, and South America. While uncommon, inhalation of spores or direct cutaneous contact can lead to disseminated infection in the immunocompetent, with the involvement of the musculoskeletal and integumentary systems.

Case Report: A 49-year-old patient with a history of pulmonary coccidioidomycosis presented with the right knee pain and multiple symptomatic abscesses beneath the suprapatellar and infrapatellar fat pads.

Spinopelvic Instability in Conversion Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Complicated Case of Loeys-Dietz Syndrome.

A 53-year-old patient with a history of Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) presented with cutout after a right femoral neck fracture treated with a dynamic hip screw. This was treated with conversion total hip arthroplasty (THA), the second reported THA in a patient with LDS and the first in a post-traumatic reconstruction setting. The patient had 2 episodes of posterior hip dislocations within 2 weeks after the operation requiring a revision THA utilizing dual-mobility bearing to achieve stability.

Gravity-Assisted Passive Flexion in Total Knee Arthroplasty Recovery.

This study examined the use of gravity-assisted passive flexion (GAP-FLEX) for perioperative total knee arthroplasty (TKA) recovery. The main questions associated with this technique were: (1) Can GAP-FLEX improve patient recovery of range of motion after TKA? (2) Does GAP-FLEX reduce patient time and effort associated with therapy compared with continuous passive motion (CPM)? (3) Does GAP-FLEX reduce overall episodic care cost? A prospective, randomized multicenter study was conducted. Two senior surgeons used identical surgical approach, prosthesis, and postoperative management protocols.

Loss of Follow-up in Orthopaedic Trauma: Who Is Getting Lost to Follow-up?

Objectives: Noncompliance with postoperative follow-up visits remains a common problem in orthopaedic trauma. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for loss of follow-up after orthopaedic trauma.

Design: Retrospective review.

Electromagnetic navigation reduces surgical time and radiation exposure for proximal interlocking in retrograde femoral nailing.

Objectives: To compare the time required for proximal locking screw placement between a standard freehand technique and the navigated technique, and to quantify the reduction in ionizing radiation exposure.

Methods: A fresh frozen cadaver model was used for 48 proximal interlocking screw procedures. Each procedure consisted of insertion of 2 anteroposterior locking screws.

Cost comparison of patients with 3-level artificial total lumbar disc replacements versus 360° fusion at 3 contiguous lumbar vertebral levels: an analysis of compassionate use at 1 site of the US investigational device exemption clinical trial.

Background: We sought to evaluate the difference between hospital service costs of 2 treatment options for patients diagnosed with 3-level degenerative disc disease (DDD) in the lumbar spine. In this retrospective analysis, itemized billing records of hospital stay for patients with 3-level DDD treated with artificial disc replacement (ADR) were compared with those treated with circumferential fusion (standard of care).

Methods: Sequential 3-level DDD patients treated with either ADR (ProDisc-L; Synthes, West Chester, Pennsylvania) or circumferential fusion during the period from January 2004 to October 2005 were included.

Allogeneic transfusion after predonation of blood for elective spine surgery.

Unlabelled: The literature suggests preoperative autologous blood donation in total joint arthroplasty is associated with increased overall transfusion rates compared with nondonation and is not cost-effective for all patients. We asked whether the amount of intraoperative blood loss and blood replacement differs between autologous donors and nondonors in elective spine surgery and whether the rates of allogeneic blood transfusions differ between the two groups; we then determined the cost of wasted predonated units. We retrospectively reviewed 676 patients who underwent elective lumbar spine surgery and compared relevant data to that in a matched cohort of 51 patients who predonated blood and 51 patients who received only cell-saver blood and underwent instrumented spinal fusion.