Orthopedics最新文献

Posterolateral corner and arcuate fractures can cause significant disruption to the stability and kinematics of the knee. This study aimed to determine the biomechanical performance of a novel spiked washer (SW) and intramedullary screw technique compared with a tension slide technique (TST) for the repair of arcuate fractures. Sixteen matched fresh-frozen cadaver knees underwent repair. Each specimen underwent transection of the posterolateral corner and lateral capsule along with a proximal fibula osteotomy to simulate an arcuate fracture. Eight specimens underwent repair with a SW technique and 8 underwent repair with a TST. Each specimen underwent cyclic loading followed by load to failure. Gap formation, ultimate load to failure, energy to failure, and stiffness were assessed. The SW technique had significantly less gap formation and higher load to failure. Furthermore, the SW technique had significantly higher stiffness and energy to failure. A SW and screw technique provided a significantly stronger construct with less gap formation when compared with a TST. [Orthopedics. 2024;47(5):e277-e281.].

Background: Patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty (TJA) may receive unexpected medical bills. Such "surprise" bills may cause financial hardship for patients, which prompted policymakers to pass the No Surprises Act. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of surprise bills for patients undergoing TJA and the effect of surprise billing on patient satisfaction.

Materials and methods: This was a retrospective study of patients who underwent a primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA) at a large multi-state institution. Patients completed a questionnaire regarding the incidence of surprise bills after their surgery, details of those bills, and how the bills affected their surgical satisfaction. Independent predictors for receiving a surprise bill were assessed through a multivariate regression analysis.

Results: Twelve percent of participants received at least one surprise bill after their TJA. The most common surprise bill came from the surgical facility (48%), followed by anesthesia (36%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified older age and Black race to be independent predictors of surprise billing. Furthermore, surgery occurring after the No Surprises Act bill enforcement on January 1, 2022, was found to increase a patient's likelihood of receiving a surprise bill (P=.039, effect size=0.18). Patients who received a surprise bill reported being significantly less satisfied with their surgery (P=.002, effect size=0.45). Forty-nine percent of patients with a surprise bill felt their billing negatively affected their surgical satisfaction.

Conclusion: Surprise billing continues to occur after TJA and can negatively affect patient satisfaction. Although surgeons may be unable to limit the amount of bills patients receive postoperatively, increased communication and education regarding the perioperative billing process may prove to be beneficial for both patient satisfaction and the physician-patient relationship. [Orthopedics. 2024;47(5):283-288.].

Background: Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) were originally developed as research tools; however, there is increasing interest in using PROMs to inform clinical care. Prior work has shown the benefits of implementing PROMs at the point of care, but a patient's health numeracy (their ability to understand and work with numbers) may affect their ability to interpret PROM results.

Materials and methods: We recruited patients presenting to an outpatient orthopedic clinic. Forty-nine patients completed a survey that included demographic information, the short-form General Health Numeracy Test, and accuracy questions about four PROM displays (bar graph, table, line graph, pictograph) that indicated the same PROM results.

Results: Patients with higher health numeracy answered all display accuracy questions correctly (P=.016). Patients who preferred using the table were more likely to answer display accuracy questions incorrectly (odds ratio, 0.013, P=.024). The two most frequently preferred PROM formats were bar graphs and tables, and most patients preferred to learn about their PROM function scores via a combination of displays and verbal discussions.

Conclusion: Patient health numeracy is associated with the ability to correctly interpret visual displays of PROMs. Implementation of PROMs at point of care currently does not account for health numeracy. Efforts to account for health numeracy when using PROMs at point of care may improve the efficacy of using PROMs to improve outcomes in orthopedic surgery. [Orthopedics. 2024;47(5):e255-e260.].

Background: The recent addition of biceps tendon augmentation to partial arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) for the treatment of large-to-massive rotator cuff tears is proposed to improve clinical outcomes and reduce re-tears.

Materials and methods: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis (5 studies) was to compare outcomes between partial ARCR with (142 patients) and without (149 patients) biceps augmentation.

Results: Partial ARCR with and without biceps augmentation were comparable in pain, function, and range of motion. However, biceps augmentation vs no augmentation at all during ARCR may lower re-tear rates for irreparable large-to-massive rotator cuff tears (42.9% vs 72.5%, P=.007).

Conclusion: More research is needed to investigate this technique and guide surgical decision-making. [Orthopedics. 2024;47(5):e217-e224.].

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a widespread chronic condition. Depression frequently occurs among patients with KOA. The objective of this meta-analysis was to identify risk factors associated with comorbid depression in patients with KOA.

Materials and methods: A comprehensive search of the PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases was conducted for studies related to comorbid depression in patients with KOA. We conducted statistical analyses to obtain relevant results, followed by heterogeneity tests and assessment for publication bias.

Results: The prevalence of comorbid depression among patients with KOA was 34% (95% CI, 28%-41%). Notable risk factors linked to comorbid depression in patients with KOA included female sex (relative risk [RR], 1.17; 95% CI, 1.11-1.23), obesity (mean difference [MD], 1.30; 95% CI, 0.88-1.71), use of analgesics (RR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.38-1.63), comorbidities (MD, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.10-0.31), unmarried or widowed status (RR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.56-1.91), bilateral knee pain (RR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.11-1.71), high total Western Ontario and Mc-Master Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) score (MD, 14.92; 95% CI, 10.02-19.82), high WOMAC pain score (MD, 5.76; 95% CI, 2.86-8.67), low gait velocity (MD, -0.12; 95% CI, -0.16 to -0.09), and extended duration in the Timed Up and Go Test (MD, 1.56; 95% CI, 0.87-2.25).

Conclusion: Based on the current evidence, female sex, obesity, use of analgesics, comorbidities, unmarried or widowed status, bilateral knee pain, high total WOMAC score, high WOMAC pain score, low gait velocity, and prolonged time on the Timed Up and Go Test were identified as risk factors for depression in patients with KOA. Focus should be given to these aspects when preventing depression among these patients. [Orthopedics. 2024;47(5):e225-e232.].

Background: Current studies assessing the change in pelvic tilt for ambulatory patients with cerebral palsy (CP) after surgical hamstring lengthening (SHL) lack a comparison cohort without prior SHL and are limited to younger patients. This study presents gait data of middle-aged adults with CP, primarily focusing on the pelvis, and compares pelvic tilt, trunk tilt, and knee flexion between those with and without prior SHL.

Materials and methods: A consecutive series of 54 adults with CP, a mean age of 36±13 years, and Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I-III were included. Thirty-two (59%) had SHL performed at a mean age of 8±5 years. Three-dimensional gait analysis data prospectively collected at a mean of 28±14 years postoperatively were retrospectively analyzed. Chi-square tests were used to compare demographic and surgical history data and statistical parameter mapping was used to compare knee flexion during stance and pelvic and trunk tilts during the gait cycle between SHL and SHL-naive groups.

Results: Age, GMFCS level, sex, race, topography, and ethnicity were not different between the groups (P=.217-.612). Anterior pelvic tilt throughout gait was significantly greater in the SHL group compared with the SHL-naive group (63%-87%; P=.033). This difference was augmented after accounting for other surgical history and revision SHL (0%-32%, P=.019; and 46%-93%, P=.007).

Conclusion: Within a cohort of adults with CP, GMFCS levels I-III, and a mean age of 36 years, those with a history of SHL, performed a mean of 28 years prior to 3-dimensional gait analysis, walked with increased anterior pelvic tilt compared with those without a history of SHL. [Orthopedics. 2024;47(5):270-275.].

Background: Gabapentin is often used as an analgesic after rotator cuff repair surgery and is recommended as an additional analgesic for arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs. However, evidence of its effects on biological healing mechanisms is lacking. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of gabapentin in improving tendon-to-bone healing after rotator cuff repair using a rat model.

Materials and methods: A total of 20 male rats were randomly allocated to one of two groups: group 1 (repair only, n=10) or group 2 (gabapentin injection, n=10). The rats in the experimental group (group 2) were administered 80 mg/kg of gabapentin subcutaneously 30 minutes before surgery, followed by 80 mg/kg subcutaneously every 24 hours for 48 hours. We used the left shoulder of every rat, while for biomechanical analysis, we used the right shoulder.

Results: There was no significant difference in the load to failure, ultimate stress, or elongation between the groups. Collagen continuity, orientation, and density were better in group 2 than group 1.

Conclusion: In a rat model of rotator cuff repair, gabapentin had a positive impact on the quality of collagen organization at the junction between the tendon and bone, while preserving the biomechanical properties. We propose the use of gabapentin as a supplementary analgesic agent for postoperative pain relief after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair; however, further studies of the effect of gabapentin on biological healing mechanisms are required. [Orthopedics. 2024;47(5):e241-e246.].

Background: The purpose of this study was to externally validate a predictive score for fracture-related infections, establishing generalizability for absolute and relative risk of infection in the setting of orthopedic fracture surgery.

Materials and methods: This was a retrospective, case-control study performed at a level I academic trauma center that included 147 patients with fracture-related infection in the study group and 300 control patients. We analyzed the same 8 independent predictors of fracture-related infection cited by a previous study. We then used the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) to compare the derivation and validation cohorts. The validation and derivation cohorts were then compared by grouping patients into 4 strata of Wise score groups. This allowed for comparison of AUC and risk of fracture-related infection in our institution with those in the previously studied institution.

Results: The resulting data yielded an AUC (0.74) nearly identical to that of the previously studied institution. It was also found that the relative risk of infection correlated with the Wise score in the same way the initial model did with the absolute risks being similar.

Conclusion: The previous predictive model was externally validated and shown to be generalizable to a different patient population. The relative risk of a fracture-related infection can be determined using this scoring model preoperatively with the goal of aiding in patient counseling and surgical decision-making, giving a quantitative value to patient risk factors. [Orthopedics. 2024;47(5):e268-e272.].