Pain Management in Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty: Evidence-Based and Controversial Practices in 2024.

Multimodal analgesia and anesthesia have become the gold standard in total joint arthroplasty to reduce postoperative pain and opioid consumption and minimize complications associated with opioid use. There are several elements in an effective multimodal protocol, including oral medications, periarticular injection, regional nerve blocks, and spinal and general anesthesia. Many nonopioid medications are often used, such as acetaminophen and NSAIDs.

Shared Decision-Making in Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty: Understanding Surgeon and Patient Perspectives Regarding When It Is Time for Surgery.

Background: Although total hip and total knee arthroplasty are highly successful operations, the decision of whether and when to undergo surgery is highly subjective and discretionary, and specific guidelines regarding readiness for surgery remain elusive. The nature of these decisions underscores the importance of shared decision-making, which is founded on the concept that patients substantially contribute to determining their own readiness for surgery. The OPTION survey was developed as a conversation aid to facilitate shared decision-making in the context of total joint arthroplasty.

Alarmingly High Rates of Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism Following Closed Reduction for Dislocated Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) and dislocation are well-described complications following total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, the relationship between THA dislocation and venous thromboembolism remains unclear. This study sought to determine the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients who experience a hip dislocation and subsequent closed reduction following primary THA.

Undergoing cartilage procedures before total knee arthroplasty is not associated with worse postoperative functional outcomes, readmission rates or complication rates.

Purpose: Patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with prior knee cartilage surgery have unclear outcomes in the literature. This study compared outcomes after TKA in patients with or without prior knee cartilage surgery, and we hypothesized there would be equivocal outcomes between groups.

Methods: A retrospective matched case-control study was conducted on patients from our institution who underwent ipsilateral cartilage procedure(s) and TKA (cases) or TKA alone (controls) from 2000 to 2022.

Undergoing Meniscectomy Within One Year Before Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty Is Associated With Worse Postoperative Outcomes.

Background: Patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) who have a history of meniscectomy have worse postoperative functional outcomes, increased rates of early postoperative complications, and higher revision rates. Despite knowing this, to the best of our knowledge, it has not been previously studied whether the timing of meniscectomy before TKA impacts functional outcomes after undergoing TKA. Compared to patients who underwent meniscectomy more than one year before TKA, do patients who have meniscectomy less than one year before TKA have significantly different postoperative outcomes?

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at an academic medical center.

Fragility Index Analysis of the 2018 Clinical Practice Guidelines on Tranexamic Acid Use in Total Joint Arthroplasty.

Background: The 2018 American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons clinical practice guideline (CPG) 'tranexamic acid use in total joint arthroplasty' evaluated the efficacy and safety of tranexamic acid in primary total joint arthroplasty. The following review assessed the statistical fragility of the randomized controlled trial (RCT) outcomes on which the CPG recommendations were based using a fragility analysis.

Methods: All dichotomous outcomes from the RCTs used to guide the CPG from its associated network, and direct meta-analyses were analyzed.

Perioperative Systemic Corticosteroids in Modern Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty: A Primer for Clinical Practice.

» Perioperative corticosteroids are strongly recommended for reducing the incidence and severity of postoperative nausea and vomiting following elective total hip or total knee arthroplasty.» Corticosteroids may reduce postoperative pain and opioid requirements. Similarly, corticosteroids appear to have a neutral-to-positive effect on length of stay, venous thromboembolism, mobility, delirium, acute kidney injury, and bone cement implantation syndrome (i.

Does the Addition of a Tibial Stem Extender in Total Knee Arthroplasty Decrease Risk of Aseptic Loosening in Patients with Obesity? An Analysis from the American Joint Replacement Registry.

Mechanical loosening is a leading cause of failure of total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) for which obesity may be a risk factor. With rising rates of obesity and increasing incidence of TKA, the identification of factors to mitigate this cause of failure is necessary. The purpose of this study is to determine if the use of a tibial stem extender (TSE) decreases the risk of mechanical loosening in patients with obesity undergoing TKA.

Antibiotic Laden Bone Cement Does Not Reduce Acute Periprosthetic Joint Infection Risk in Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Background: Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) can be a serious complication of total knee arthroplasty (TKA). A method believed to decrease the incidence of PJI is antibiotic-laden bone cement (ALBC). Current clinical practice guidelines do not recommend ALBC in primary TKA.

Return to Sport After Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty and Patello-Femoral Arthroplasty.

Background: Data on sports/physical activity participation following unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) and patello-femoral arthroplasty (PFA) is variable and limited. The purpose of this study was to assess participations, outcomes, and limitations in sports following UKA and PFA.

Methods: Patients who underwent UKA and PFA at a single institution from 2015 to 2020 were surveyed on sports participation before and after surgery.

Delta hemoglobin cutoffs do not predict readmission in patients undergoing primary simultaneous bilateral total hip or knee arthroplasty: A retrospective cohort study.

Background/aims: Primary simultaneous bilateral total joint arthroplasty (simBTJA) can cause postoperative anemia. Clinicians might hesitate to discharge patients who have large changes in hemoglobin [Hgb], despite Hgb levels remaining above transfusion thresholds. This study was conducted to evaluate if delta Hgb or perioperative blood loss correspond with readmission in primary simBTJA patients not transfused perioperatively.

Patients Requiring Both Total Hip Arthroplasty and Lumbar Spinal Fusion Have Lower Hip Functional Outcome Scores: A Matched Case-Control Study.

Background: While patients who undergo both lumbar spinal fusion (LSF) and total hip arthroplasty (THA) have increased complication rates compared to patients who have not undergone LSF, there is a paucity of literature evaluating THA functional outcomes in patients with a history of LSF. This study was conducted to determine whether patients undergoing THA with a history of LSF have inferior functional outcomes compared to patients having no history of LSF.

Methods: A retrospective matched case-control study was conducted at an academic center.

Does the Use of Tranexamic Acid in Patients Who Have Preoperative Coagulopathy Undergoing Total Joint Arthroplasty Normalize Their Risk of Complications? A Matched Equivalence Analysis.

Background: While patients who have a preoperative coagulopathy have an increased risk of perioperative blood loss, tranexamic acid (TXA) has been shown to decrease the risk of complications in this subset. However, a direct comparison of the use of TXA in coagulopathic and noncoagulopathic patients has not been performed. In addition to comparing differences in decreases in hemoglobin, transfusions, and complications, this study examined whether the use of TXA in coagulopathic patients normalized the risk of blood loss relative to matched noncoagulopathic patients.

Return to Sport After Hip and Knee Arthroplasty: Counseling the Patient on Resuming an Active Lifestyle.

Purposeof Review: The purpose of this review is to summarize the available literature on the epidemiology, biomechanics, clinical outcomes, and complications of return to sport after TJA, as well as provide guidelines for patients' safe return to athletic activity.

Recent Findings: As volume and indications for total joint arthroplasty (TJA) expand, arthroplasty candidates today are demographically younger, more physically active, and have higher expectations for postoperative function. Many TJA patients wish to resume sports activity that may theoretically place their reconstruction under more biomechanical stress and risk for early wear or failure.

Utility of Diagnostic Tests Before Reimplantation in Patients Undergoing 2-Stage Revision Total Joint Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Introduction: Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a devastating complication after total joint arthroplasty (TJA), with treatment failure occurring in 12% to 28% after 2-stage revision. It is vital to identify diagnostic tools indicative of persistent infection or treatment failure after 2-stage revision for PJI.

Methods: The Cochrane Library, PubMed (MEDLINE), and EMBASE were searched for randomized controlled trials and comparative observational studies published before October 3, 2021, which evaluated the utility of serum/plasma biomarkers (erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR], C-reactive protein [CRP], interleukin-6 [IL-6], fibrinogen, D-dimer), synovial biomarkers (white blood cell [WBC] count, neutrophil percentage [PMN %], alpha-defensin [AD], leukocyte esterase [LE]), tissue frozen section, tissue culture, synovial fluid culture, or sonicated spacer fluid culture indicative of persistent infection before the second stage of 2-stage revision for PJI or treatment failure after 2-stage revision for PJI.

Patients Who Have Had Three or More Levels Fused During Lumbar Spinal Fusion Have Worse Functional Outcomes After Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Background: Lumbar spinal fusion (LSF) and total hip arthroplasty (THA) are commonly performed in patients who have concomitant spine and hip pathology. While patients who have three or more levels fused during LSF have increased postoperative opioid consumption after undergoing THA, it is unknown whether the number of levels fused during LSF affects THA functional outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary academic center for patients who underwent LSF first and then had a primary THA performed with a minimum of one-year follow-up for the Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score Joint Replacement (HOOS-JR).

Prior Meniscectomy in Patients Undergoing Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty is Associated With Worse Short-Term Outcomes.

Background: Patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) who have prior meniscectomy may have increased rates of postoperative infection, arthrofibrosis, and revision. However, aside from an increased risk of complications, it is unclear whether prior meniscectomy impacts functional outcomes after TKA. This study was conducted to compare functional outcomes following TKA in patients who did and did not have a prior meniscectomy.

Participation in Sports and Physical Activities After Total Joint Arthroplasty.

Background: Quality data on physical activity participation following total joint arthroplasty (TJA) are limited. The purpose of this study was to explore patient participation, outcomes, and limitations in sports/physical activities following TJA.

Methods: Patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) at a single institution from 2015 to 2020 were surveyed on sports/physical activity participation before and after TJA.

A Systematic Review of the Efficacy and Safety of Ketamine in Total Joint Arthroplasty.

Background: Ketamine is administered intraoperatively to treat pain associated with primary total hip (THA) and knee arthroplasty (TKA). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ketamine in primary THA and TKA to support the combined clinical practice guidelines of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS), American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), Hip Society, Knee Society, and the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Management (ASRA).

Methods: The MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases were searched for studies published prior to 2020 on ketamine in THA and TKA.