Blood management after total joint arthroplasty in the United States: 19-year trend analysis.

Background: Recent studies have failed to show reductions in rates of red blood cell (RBC) transfusion after total joint arthroplasty (TJA) in the United States. This study aims to report the 19-year trend analysis of blood use in TJA, to determine predictors of RBC transfusion and association between RBC transfusion and in-hospital mortality after TJA using a nationally representative database.

Study Design And Methods: Nationwide inpatient sample (NIS) data from 1993 to 2011 were used.

The effect of tibial polyethylene insert design on range of motion: evaluation of in vivo knee kinematics by a computerized navigation system during total knee arthroplasty.

Computer-assisted navigation for total knee arthroplasty offers the unique opportunity to assess in vivo knee kinematics during surgery and implement changes whenever appropriate. Using a computerized navigation system, the effect of 2 tibial polyethylene insert designs on knee kinematics in general and knee range of motion (ROM) in particular was evaluated in 37 knee arthroplasties in 30 patients. The Scorpioflex tibial insert was found to provide a significant increase in mean extension, mean flexion, and overall ROM of the knee compared with the standard tibial insert (P<.