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Background Routine analysis of bone specimens in total joint arthroplasty (TJA) is mandatory at many institutions. The purpose of this study was to determine if mandatory routine TJA specimen analysis alters patient care or if they represent an unnecessary healthcare expenditure. Methods A retrospective review was performed of all primary TJA patients between October 2015 and December 2017 at our institution. Pathology results were reviewed to ascertain the number of concordant, discrepant, and discordant results. A diagnosis was considered concordant if the preoperative and pathologic diagnosis matched, discrepant if the preoperative and pathological diagnosis differed but no change in the patient's plan of care occurred, and discordant if the preoperative and pathologic diagnosis differed and resulted in a change in the patient's plan of care.  Results 3,670 total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) procedures (3,613 patients) met the inclusion criteria and were included in this study. All 3,670 specimens had a concordant diagnosis; there were zero discrepant and zero discordant diagnoses. During the study period, our institution spent $67,246.88 in routine analysis of TJA specimens by a pathologist, with no change in any postoperative patient care plans. Conclusion With bundled payment reimbursement models and hospitals trying to decrease unnecessary expenditures, the present study helps further demonstrate that routine analysis has limited cost-effectiveness due to the low prevalence of alteration in the management of patient care. The decision for pathological analysis should be left at the discretion of the surgeon in order to maximize the cost-efficiency of TJA procedures., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2021, Koss et al.)

Hip joint dislocation is the most common complication after a proximal femur replacement. As the utilization of proximal femur replacements continues to increase, it becomes imperative for surgeons to find the optimal method to decrease postoperative dislocation and its sequelae. These cases often involve extensive soft-tissue deficits that require reconstruction to provide postoperative strength and stability. Patients report good functional outcomes; however, dislocation remains a concern. Although "described" previously in the literature, the authors illustrate the "purse-string" hip joint capsular closure technique to help other surgeons understand it and apply to their practice as deemed necessary. We also present the senior author's results with using a modified version of the "purse-string" hip joint capsular closure technique., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.)

The humerus is a common site of metastatic tumor involvement and pathologic fracture. Intramedullary nailing is a treatment option that offers the benefit of protecting a long segment of diseased bone, but it is not without complications. This study aims to examine the survival, functional outcomes, and complications of patients treated with cement-augmented unlocked intramedullary nailing for actual and impending pathologic fractures of the humeral shaft., Methods: From 2014 to 2019, 26 patients were treated with this technique. Functional outcomes were assessed using the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society scoring system. Outcome scores, complications, reoperations, and mortality were determined by retrospective chart reviews and direct patient examinations., Results: The mean age at the time of surgery was 66.8 years. The mean follow-up was 20.2 months. Patients reported significant improvement in the mean Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score from 10.5 preoperatively to 26.1 after surgery ( P < 0.001). Five patients died of disease during the follow-up period. One patient had intraoperative fracture propagation during implant placement, and one patient experienced a postoperative rotator cuff tear., Discussion: Unlocked intramedullary nailing with cement augmentation is a reliable treatment method for actual and impending pathologic fractures of the humerus that results in favorable outcomes, including consistent pain relief and restoration of function., Competing Interests: None of the following authors or any immediate family member has received anything of value from or has stock or stock options held in a commercial company or institution related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article: Dr. Pizzo, Mr. Hoskins, Dr. Patel, Dr. Miller, Mr. Goyette, Mr. Mazzei, and Dr. Wittig., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.)

Background: Postoperative infection is one of the most prevalent complications following total joint arthroplasty (TJA). As such procedures become more prevalent, it is imperative that we develop new prophylactic methods to prevent the need for revision procedures. In recent years, surgeons have opted to use antibiotic-loaded bone cement (ALBC) rather than plain bone cement (PBC) in primary hip and knee replacements due to its theoretical potential of lowering infection rates. However, the cost-effectiveness of this intervention remains in question.Questions/Purposes: To determine the rate of infection and cost-effectiveness of antibiotic-loaded bone cement as compared to plain bone cement in hip and knee arthroplasty., Patients and Methods: We reviewed 4116 primary hip and knee arthroplasty cases performed between 2016 and 2018 at Morristown Medical Center in New Jersey. Data regarding demographics, complications, and any readmissions due to deep infection were collected retrospectively. During that time period there were a total of 4016 knee cases (423 ALBC, 3593 PBC) and 123 hip cases (63 ALBC, 60 PBC). The average cost for one bag of antibiotic-loaded bone cement and plain bone cement for hip and knee arthroplasty was $336.42 and $72.14, respectively. A statistical analysis was performed using Fisher's exact test; the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) surgical site infection guidelines were used to distinguish between superficial and deep infections., Results: Ten patients were readmitted due to deep infection, all of whom had undergone total knee arthroplasty. Of those cases, plain bone cement was used for the index procedure in seven instances and antibiotic-loaded cement was used in three. This resulted in an infection rate of 0.19% and 0.62%, respectively, p = 0.103. There was no statistically significant difference in infection rates between the two groups. A total of 778 bags of ALBC were used in 423 knee surgeries, and 98 bags of ALBC were used in 63 hip cases. The total cost for ALBC in TKA and THA procedures was $261,734.76 (778*336.42) and $32,969.16 (98*336.42), respectively. If PBC had been used during all index procedures, it would have resulted in a total savings of $231,509.28., Conclusions: Antibiotic-loaded cement did not significantly reduce the rate of infection for either knee or hip arthroplasty. Thus, the routine use of antibiotic-loaded cement in primary hip and knee arthroplasty may be an unnecessary financial burden to the healthcare system. A larger sample size and a randomized controlled trial would help confirm our findings and would provide further information on the cost-effectiveness of ALBC cement versus PBC.Significance/Clinical Relevance: In this review of cases performed from 2016 to 2018 there was no statistically significant difference between the rate of infection and the need for revision surgeries for patients treated with ALBC versus PBC. As hospital systems continue to transition towards a bundled payment model, it becomes imperative for providers to reduce any unnecessary costs in order to increase quality and efficiency. We estimate that our hospital system could save nearly $120,000/year by using plain bone cement instead of antibiotic-loaded cement., Competing Interests: “Each author certifies that he or she has no commercial associations (eg, consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article.”, (Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Professor P K Surendran Memorial Education Foundation.)

Nitric oxide (NO) is a potential regulator of ischemic vascular remodeling, and as such therapies augmenting its bioavailability may be useful for the treatment of ischemic tissue diseases. Here we examine the effect of administering the NO prodrug sodium nitrite on arteriogenesis activity during established tissue ischemia. Chronic hindlimb ischemia was induced by permanent unilateral femoral artery and vein ligation. Five days postligation; animals were randomized to control PBS or sodium nitrite (165 μg/kg) therapy twice daily. In situ vascular remodeling was measured longitudinally using SPY angiography and Microfil vascular casting. Delayed sodium nitrite therapy rapidly increased ischemic limb arterial vessel diameter and branching in a NO-dependent manner. SPY imaging angiography over time showed that nitrite therapy enhanced ischemic gracillis collateral vessel formation from the profunda femoris to the saphenous artery. Immunofluorescent staining of smooth muscle cell actin also confirmed that sodium nitrite therapy increased arteriogenesis in a NO-dependent manner. The NO prodrug sodium nitrite significantly increases arteriogenesis and reperfusion of established severe chronic tissue ischemia.

Inhalation injury occurs in 21% of flame burn victims who require large fluid volumes for resuscitation and have a mortality rate greater than 30%. This study was done to determine how vulnerable the smoke-injured lung is to fluid accumulation when crystalloids are infused rapidly. Mongrel dogs were exposed to smoke and 10% body-weight Ringer's lactate in three groups: (I) fluid only, (II) smoke only, and (III) smoke and fluid. The increase in wet-dry lung weight ratio was 2% in Group I, 28% in Group II, and 42% in Group III, consistent with pulmonary edema present only in Group III. The decrease in colloid oncotic pressure was similar in both of the groups that were given fluid, and the rise in the surface tension minimum of lung extracts was similar in both of the groups that were exposed to smoke. The smoke-injured lung loses the ability to protect itself when challenged with fluid. Reduced oncotic pressure is not responsible. Changes in microvascular pressure, endothelial and epithelial damage, and surfactant inactivation interact to cause this increase in extravascular lung water.