Due to the multiorgan effects of liver disease, surgical patients with liver disease have an increased risk of perioperative complications. With revision total hip and knee arthroplasty surgeries increasing, it is important to determine the effects of liver disease in this patient population. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of underlying liver disease on postoperative outcomes following revision total joint arthroplasty (TJA).
The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was used to identify patients undergoing aseptic revision TJA from 2006-2019 and group them based on liver disease. The presence of liver disease was assessed by calculating the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease–Sodium score. Patients with a Model for End-Stage Liver Disease–Sodium score of > 10 were classified as having underlying liver disease. In this analysis, differences in demographics, comorbidities, and postoperative complications were assessed.
Of 7102 patients undergoing revision total hip arthroplasty, 11.6% of the patients had liver disease. Of 8378 patients undergoing revision total knee arthroplasty, 8.4% of the patients had liver disease. Following adjustment on multivariable regression analysis, patients with liver disease undergoing revision total hip arthroplasty or revision total knee arthroplasty had an increased risk of major complications, wound complications, septic complications, bleeding requiring transfusion, extended length of stay, and readmission compared to those without liver disease.
Patients with liver disease have an increased risk of complications following revision TJA. A multidisciplinary team approach should be employed for preoperative optimization and postoperative management of these vulnerable patients to improve outcomes and decrease the incidence and severity of complications.
This is retrospective cohort study and is level 3 evidence.
To determine any differences in clinical outcomes between patients in the supine vs the lateral position during anterior-based muscle sparing (ABMS) total hip arthroplasty (THA).
A retrospective review was performed of 368 patients undergoing THA via the ABMS approach (201 lateral vs 167 supine position) at our institution (2015-2019) with a minimum follow-up of 12 months. Inclusion criteria were all patients undergoing primary THA. Exclusion criteria were any revision surgeries and patients who did not undergo the ABMS THA. Outcomes assessed were postoperative complication rates, ambulation distance, length of stay, and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index pain, stiffness, and physical function scores at 3 time periods (preoperative, 3 months postoperative, and 1 year postoperative).
The supine group had significantly greater postoperative day 0 ambulation distance (150 vs 60 meters; P < .001), while no difference was observed on postoperative day 1 (210 meters in supine vs 200 in lateral; P = .921). Median length of stay was significantly shorter in the supine group (1; interquartile range 0-1) with respect to the lateral group (1; interquartile range 0-2; P < .001). The in-hospital complication rates (2.4% in supine vs 1.5% in lateral; P = .780), return to operating room rates (2.4% in supine vs 1.5% in lateral; P = .780), and readmission rates (5.4% in supine vs 5.0% in lateral; P = .631) were not significantly different between the groups. No significant differences were observed across any Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index scores.
Both supine and lateral patient positioning provide acceptable early surgical outcomes, suggesting that satisfactory results can be obtained via both positions in THAs.
The Stryker Exeter stem (Stryker, Kalamazoo, MI) has been in service for over 50 years and remains the most widely used cemented stem. Stem fracture is a rare complication, with recently reported rates of 1 in 10,000. We present a case of Exeter stem fracture 25 years following initial implantation as well as a large periacetabular defect secondary to osteolysis. A revision total hip arthroplasty was performed, including periacetabular bone grafting for extensive osteolysis along with retention of a stable acetabular component. This case highlights the rare complication of Exeter stem fracture as well as the technique of bone grafting a large periacetabular defect with a retained acetabular component. This is of particular interest given the rarity of this event and the resurgence in North America of cemented femoral components in total hip arthroplasty.
Perioperative complications of deep vein thrombosis are well described in the total joint arthroplasty (TJA) literature. Few studies have investigated short-term perioperative outcomes of patients with primary hypercoagulable diseases (PHDs). Optimal perioperative management of PHD patients remains unknown, and they are often referred to tertiary centers for care. We investigated the influence perioperative hematology consultation and anti-coagulation use had on PHD patient outcomes following TJA surgery within the 90-day postoperative period.
This retrospective cohort study examined perioperative outcomes of PHD patients undergoing TJA. Thirty-eight PHD patients were identified and compared to a 3:1 matched control group in a consecutive series of 6568 cases (2007-2019). Perioperative hematology consultations, use of anticoagulants (AC) or antiplatelet therapy, emergency department (ED) visits, readmissions, and complications within 90 days of surgery were determined.
The PHD cohort exhibited more frequent hematology consultations (odds ratio 5.88, 95% confidence interval: 2.59-16.63) and AC use (odds ratio 7.9, 95% confidence interval: 3.38-23.80) than controls. PHD patients did not show significantly greater rates of deep vein thrombosis, transfusion, infection, ED visits, or need for operative intervention. Similarly, AC vs antiplatelet therapy yielded comparable ED visits and readmissions within 90 days postoperatively (11.0% vs 9.7%, P = .85 and 5.5% vs 5.5%, P = 1, respectively).
These findings suggest that despite increased hematology consultation and AC use, PHD patients do not demonstrate significantly elevated perioperative risks post-TJA, favoring careful preoperative workup and outpatient postoperative follow-up.
Stable fixation of joint replacement implants is essential to achieve osseointegration in uncemented implants. In acetabular revisions, screws often need to be utilized in quadrants other than the historically so-called “safe” zones to attain sufficient stability. The primary aim of this study was to determine whether preoperative three-dimensional (3D) planning for acetabular revision surgery influences screw length, specifically in the superior pubic ramus (SPR).
Between March 2017 and December 2021, 20 patients underwent preoperative two-dimensional (2D) planning (2D group), and 30 patients underwent 3D planning following the implementation of a new 3D planning software into clinical practice in September 2019 (3D group). Two observers, blinded to the groups, measured the total screw length, screw penetration depth, and cup position on available postoperative computed tomography examinations. For statistical comparisons, the mean measurement from the 2 observers was used.
The median total screw lengths in the SPR were 16 mm in the 2D group and 25 mm in the 3D group (P = .004) and 40.5 mm compared with 50.5 mm in the ilium (P = .019). Median screw penetration depths in the SPR were 0 mm in the 2D group and 1.25 mm in the 3D group (P = .049).
Longer screws were used in the SPR and ilium when preoperative 3D planning was conducted. Due to the study design, we were not able to evaluate whether longer screws lead to better fixation. Further studies are needed to elucidate this question.
An automated measurement system for the placement angles of acetabular cup in total hip arthroplasty prostheses was developed utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms. The AI-powered system enables immediate measurement by capturing an anteroposterior pelvic X-ray through a smartphone camera.
While developing the AI-powered measurement system, we trained AI utilizing 100 labeled anteroposterior pelvic X-rays to recognize the hip joint and 483 labeled anteroposterior pelvic X-rays to identify anatomical landmarks and the acetabular cup. To validate the AI-powered system, we measured the acetabular cup placement angles of 126 unlabeled post-total hip arthroplasty anteroposterior pelvic X-rays with both the AI-powered system and conventional measurement methods and assessed the correlation between the 2 methods.
The Pearson’s correlation coefficients for the acetabular cup placement angles measured using the AI-powered system and conventional method were 0.88 (95% confidence interval, 0.84-0.92, P < .001) in inclination angle and 0.76 (95% confidence interval, 0.67-0.83, P < .001) in anteversion angle, respectively.
Both inclination and anteversion angles measured using the AI-powered system showed a strong correlation with angles obtained through conventional methods.
Measuring passive hip flexion range of motion (ROM) is challenging due to compensatory movements. Despite the interest in using functional lateral radiographs for assessing hip mobility, the relationship with passive hip flexion ROM remains unclear. This study aims to elucidate this relationship and clarify spinopelvic parameters and mobility factors influencing variations in passive and radiographic hip flexion ROM.
A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 154 preoperative patients undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty. Passive and radiographic hip flexion ROM were assessed to clarify these relationships, and these differences were classified into 3 groups (O, A and U). Spinopelvic and hip parameters were assessed in standing, relaxed-seated and flexed-seated positions, as well as lumbar, pelvis, and hip mobility between each position to identify factors influencing differences.
There was a moderate correlation between passive and radiographic hip flexion ROM (R2 = 0.48, P < .01). A significant difference was found in pelvic and hip alignment in the flexed-seated position between all groups. In postural changes, the O group, which had more patients with relatively low hip mobility, showed greater lumbar spine and pelvic movement, while the U group, which had more patients with relatively high hip mobility, showed less lumbar spine and pelvic movement.
This study confirmed that passive hip flexion ROM and radiographic hip flexion ROM correlate and that spinopelvic and hip alignment and mobility influence these differences. This result suggests that clinicians should consider lumbar and pelvic alignment and mobility in clinical practice to improve the accuracy of passive hip flexion ROM measurements.
Periprosthetic femur fractures (PPFFs) following total hip arthroplasty (THA) have increased in the past decade as the demand for primary surgery continues to grow. Although there is now more evidence to describe the treatment of Vancouver B fractures, there is still limited knowledge regarding factors that cause surgeons to perform either an open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) or revision THA (rTHA). The purpose of this study was to determine what type of surgeons treat Vancouver B PPFFs at 11 major academic institutions and if there are trends in treatment decision-making regarding the use of ORIF or rTHA based on surgical training or patient factors.
This multicenter retrospective study evaluated patients surgically treated for Vancouver B PPFF after THA between 2014 and 2019. Patients from 11 academic centers located in the United States were included in this study. Surgical outcomes and patient demographics were evaluated based on surgeon training, surgical treatment type, and institution.
Presence of Vancouver B2 (odds ratio [OR]: 0.02, P < .001) or B3 (OR: 0.04, P < .001) fractures were independent risk factors for treatment with rTHA. Treatment by a trauma (OR: 12.49, P < .001) or other-specified surgeon (OR: 13.63, P < .001) were independent risk factors for ORIF repair of Vancouver B fractures. There were no differences in outcomes based on surgeon subspecialty training.
This study showed the trends in surgeons who surgically manage Vancouver B fractures at 11 major academic institutions and highlighted that regardless of surgical training or surgical treatment type, postoperative outcomes following management of PPFF were similar.