Low implantation volume, comorbidities, male sex and implantation of constrained TKA identified as risk factors for septic revision in knee arthroplasty: A register-based study from the German Arthroplasty Registry. | LitMetric
Purpose: Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a major cause of revision surgery after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and unicondylar knee arthroplasty (UKA). Patient- and hospital-related risk factors need to be assessed to prevent PJI. This study identifies influential factors and differences in infection rates between different implant types.
Methods: Data were obtained from the German Arthroplasty Registry. Septic revisions were calculated using Kaplan-Meier estimates with septic revision surgery as the primary endpoint. Patients with constrained and unconstrained TKA or UKA were analysed using Holm's multiple log-rank test and Cox's proportional hazards ratio. The 300,998 cases of knee arthroplasty analysed included 254,144 (84.4%) unconstrained TKA, 9993 (3.3%) constrained TKA and 36,861 (12.3%) UKA with a maximum follow-up of 7 years.
Results: At 1 year, the PJI rate was 0.5% for UKA and 2.8% for TKA, whereas at 7 years, the PJI rate was 4.5% for UKA and 0.9% for TKA (p < 0.0001). The PJI rate significantly increased for constrained TKA compared to unconstrained TKA (p < 0.0001). The PJI rate was 2.0% for constrained TKA and 0.8% for unconstrained TKA at 1 year and 3.1% and 1.4% at 7 years. Implantation of a constrained TKA (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.55), male sex (HR = 1.84), increased Elixhauser score (HR = 1.18-1.56) and implant volume of less than 25 UKA per year (HR = 2.15) were identified as risk factors for revision surgery; an Elixhauser score of 0 (HR = 0.80) was found to be a preventive factor.
Conclusions: Reduced implant volume and constrained knee arthroplasty are associated with a higher risk of PJI. Comorbidities (elevated Elixhauser score), male sex and low UKA implant volume have been identified as risk factors for PJI. Patients who meet these criteria require specific measures to prevent infection. Further research is required on the potential impact of prevention and risk factor modification.
Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a significant complication following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA). Aspirin has gained attention as a cost-effective, safe alternative to traditional anticoagulants like enoxaparin, but comparative data on efficacy and safety remain limited.
Methods: This randomized controlled trial compared the efficacy of aspirin and enoxaparin in preventing VTE following TKA and THA.
Introduction: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in severe varus deformity still remains a challenge. Alternative alignment TKA aims to improve outcomes and satisfaction. The purpose of this study is to report on the outcomes of a functionally aligned TKA in severe varus deformity.
Background: Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) procedures have become much more common in the United States in recent years, with >40,000 UKAs performed annually. However, it is estimated that 10% to 40% of UKAs fail and thus require conversion to total knee arthroplasty (TKA). In the field of total joint arthroplasty, robotic-assisted surgeries have demonstrated advantages such as better accuracy and precision of implant positioning and improved restoration of a neutral mechanical axis.
Objectives: This study aims to compare the radiographic results with and without postoperative metal augmentation in varus knee patients with primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with a hip-knee-ankle (HKA) angle >10° and to determine a cut-off value using radiographic parameters to predict the need for metal augmentation.
Patients And Methods: Between October 2022 and April 2024, a total of 87 knees (51 right and 36 left) of 82 patients (11 males, 71 females; mean age: 68.7±8 years; range, 53 to 86 years) who underwent primary TKA were retrospectively analyzed.
