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BACKGROUND Current guidelines recommend shared surgical decision-making, yet it is unclear whether shared decision-making improves health outcomes in patients who are considering knee and hip replacement. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether patients who made high-quality, informed, patient-centered (IPC) decisions had better health outcomes, higher satisfaction, and less decision regret compared with those who made lower-quality decisions. METHODS A multisite, randomized study of 2 decision aids for patients with hip and knee osteoarthritis was utilized to collect data on decision-making and health outcomes at 2 time points: shortly after the initial surgical evaluation and about 6 months after treatment. We calculated the percentage of patients who made an IPC decision and examined the a priori hypotheses that IPC decisions would be associated with better health outcomes, satisfaction, and less regret at 6 months. Linear and logistic regression models were utilized to examine the relationships. RESULTS The analytic sample included 854 patients with a mean age of 65 years (standard deviation, 9 years), of whom 58% were female, 93% were White non-Hispanic, 67% had knee (compared with hip) osteoarthritis, and 62% underwent operative treatment within 6 months of the initial evaluation. The majority of patients (68%) made IPC decisions. The IPC group had significantly larger gains in quality of life (mean difference in EuroQol-5 Dimension, 0.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.02 to 0.07; p < 0.001) compared with the non-IPC group. For knee patients, the IPC group also had significantly better Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Scores (mean difference, 4.9; 95% CI, 1.5 to 8.3; p = 0.004), higher satisfaction (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.7; 95% CI, 1.2 to 2.3; p = 0.003), much better pain relief (aOR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.3 to 3.5; p = 0.002), and were more likely to have no decision regret (aOR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.3 to 4.1; p = 0.003). For hip patients, IPC decisions were not associated with better Harris hip scores or satisfaction and were associated with more regret. CONCLUSIONS Higher-quality decisions predicted small improvements in health outcomes, as well as greater satisfaction and less regret for patients with knee osteoarthritis, but not for patients with hip osteoarthritis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

While there is emerging literature describing the use of narcotics for post-operative pain control following TKA, little data is available regarding narcotic use in partial knee replacements. The aim of this study is to compare the early post-operative narcotic requirements after medial compartmental arthroplasty (UKA) and patellofemoral arthroplasty (PFA) with that of TKA.In this retrospective chart review, we identified 37 patients who underwent PFA and 71 patients who underwent UKA. We identified a cohort of TKA patients who were matched to the unicompartmental group based on sex and age (n = 108). The primary outcome measure was self-reported use of opioids for pain management at the first post-operative clinic visit. Opioid use between groups was compared using Chi-square analysis.The PFA group was younger (p 0.001) and consisted of more females (p 0.001) than the UKA group. The UKA cohort had more non-smoking patients (p = 0.044) compared to the PFA cohort. Self-reported opioid use at the first post-operative visit differed between the three groups of patients (p 0.001). A greater proportion of both PFA (38% vs. 11%; p 0.001) and TKA (41% vs. 11%; p = 0.01) patients reported opioid use when compared to UKA patients. No differences in opioid use existed between TKA and PFA groups (p = 0.61).The prevalence of PFA patients who report opioid use at the first post-operative visit is similar to that for patients following TKA, suggesting that pain management protocols for this specific subset of partial knee arthroplasty patients should be structured similar to TKA patients and separate from UKA patients.

BACKGROUND As guidelines and payers increasingly recommend use of patient decision aids (DAs), evidence about the comparative effectiveness of available DAs is critical for organizations interested in implementing them. The primary purpose of this study was to compare 2 DAs with regard to their ability to help patients become informed and receive their preferred treatment (that is, make an informed patient-centered decision), shared decision-making, surgical rates, and surgeon satisfaction. METHODS We performed a multisite factorial randomized trial enrolling patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis. Patients were randomly assigned to use a long, detailed DA (long DA) or short, interactive DA (short DA). Eight surgeons were randomly assigned to receive a patient preference report detailing the patient's goals and treatment preferences or to administer usual care. RESULTS We distributed 1,636 pre-visit surveys, 1,220 of which were returned (75% response rate), and 1,124 post-visit surveys, 967 of which were returned (86% response rate). The patients in the sample had a mean age (and standard deviation) of 65 ± 10 years, 57% were female, 89% were white non-Hispanic, and 67% had knee osteoarthritis. The majority (67.2%) made informed patient-centered decisions, and the rate did not vary significantly between the DA groups (p = 0.97) or between the surgeon groups (p = 0.23). Knowledge scores were higher for the short-DA group (mean difference = 9%; p < 0.001). More than half of the sample (60.5%) had surgery within 6 months after the visit, and rates did not differ significantly by DA or surgeon group. Overall, the surgeons were highly satisfied and reported that the majority (88.7%) of the visits were of normal duration or shorter. CONCLUSIONS The DECIDE-OA study is, to our knowledge, the first randomized comparative effectiveness study of 2 orthopaedic DAs. The short DA outperformed the long DA with regard to knowledge scores and was comparable with respect to other outcomes. The surgeons reported high satisfaction and normal visit duration with both DAs. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Surgeons need to ensure that patients with osteoarthritis are well-informed and have a clear preference regarding whether to undergo hip or knee replacement surgery. The DAs used in this study may help surgeons involve patients in elective surgery decisions and meet the requirements of informed consent.

Aims With an ageing population of patients who are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), the demand for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in this high-risk group continues to grow. It has previously been shown that HCV infection predisposes to poor outcomes following TKA. However, there is little information about the outcome of TKA in patients with HCV who have been treated successfully. The purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes of TKA in untreated HCV patients and those with HCV who have been successfully treated and have a serologically confirmed remission. Patients and Methods A retrospective review of all patients diagnosed with HCV who underwent primary TKA between November 2011 and April 2018 was conducted. HCV patients were divided into two groups: 1) those whose HCV was cured (HCV-C); and 2) those in whom it was untreated (HCV-UT). All variables including demographics, HCV infection characteristics, surgical details, and postoperative medical and surgical outcomes were evaluated. There were 64 patients (70 TKAs) in the HCV-C group and 63 patients (71 TKAs) in the HCV-UT cohort. The mean age at the time of surgery was 63.0 years (sd 7.5; 44 to 79) in the HCV-C group and 61.7 years (sd 6.9; 47 to 88) in the HCV-UT group. Results HCV-UT patients had a significantly longer mean hospital stay (3.4 days vs 2.9 days; p = 0.04), were more likely to be transferred to the intensive care unit (14.1% vs 4.3%; p = 0.04), and were significantly more often discharged to a post-acute care facility (39.4% vs 14.3%; p < 0.01). HCV-UT patients had significantly more postoperative infections (15.5% vs 4.3%; p = 0.03), surgical complications (21.1% vs 7.1%; p = 0.02), and revision TKA (12.7% vs 1.4%; p < 0.01) than HCV-C patients. Conclusion The preoperative treatment of HCV can reduce the risk of complications, including prosthetic joint infection and revision TKA. We recommend that HCV treatment regimens should be integrated into the preoperative optimization protocol for this high-risk group of patients. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2019;101-B:667–674.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined long-term outcomes for patients after arthroscopic treatment for intraarticular hip conditions, and none have done so beyond 10 years postarthroscopy. Examining outcomes beyond 10 years is necessary to determine factors that contribute to conversion to THA in patients undergoing hip arthroscopy for labrochondral damage. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1) What is hip survivorship free from THA in patients who underwent arthroscopic labral débridement, with or without chondroplasty at least 15 years before? (2) What factors are associated with conversion to THA after arthroscopic labral débridement, with or without chondroplasty? (3) Can these data be used to estimate the risk of conversion to THA based on patient- and hip-related factors? METHODS: Between 1989 and 2000, one surgeon performed 552 arthroscopic hip procedures for symptomatic labral tears, with or without associated articular cartilage damage. Of these, the hip status was known in 404 hips (73%) at a minimum of 15 years after the index procedure, with 20 of those patients having died during the followup period. During the study period, patients were offered hip arthroscopy for labral tears with mechanical symptoms, with or without underlying articular cartilage damage. Patient age, sex, acetabular and femoral head Outerbridge grade at surgery, and presence of labral tear were recorded. We determined survivorship free from THA using a Kaplan-Meier survivorship estimator. A stepwise multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine factors associated with the eventual conversion to THA after hip arthroscopy for labrochondral injuries. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated for all significant independent factors. Odds ratios for combinations of significant factors were used to create a risk assessment. RESULTS: The survivorship free from conversion to THA at 20 years was 59% (95% CI, 53–64. Factors that affected survival included age ≥ 40 years and the presence of combined femoral head and acetabular chondral damage. After controlling for confounding factors, we found that age ≥ 40 years (OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.2–3.4; p = 0.011), the absence of all chondral damage (OR, 0.1; 95% CI, 0.03–0.32; p < 0.001), the presence of acetabular damage with severe femoral head damage (OR, 5.0; 95% CI, 2.4–10.3; p < 0.001), and the presence of severe acetabular damage with femoral head damage (OR, 3.7; 95% CI, 2.0–6.8; p < 0.001) were associated with conversion to THA at long-term followup. Based on the calculated ORs, the probability of conversion to THA by 20 years postarthroscopic treatment for labrochondral injuries ranged from 12% (95% CI, 8–17) for a patient younger than 40 years with a Grade 0-II femoral and acetabular Outerbridge grade to 92% (95% CI, 86–95) for a patient older than 40 years with a Grade III-IV femoral and acetabular Outerbridge grade. CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed that survivorship free from THA at 20 years after arthroscopic labral débridement was associated with both patient age at time of index procedure and, more importantly, the presence of combined femoral head and acetabular chondral damage. Patients should be counseled as to the increased probability of conversion to THA, depending on the health of their articular cartilage after surgery. Future studies should examine survivorship free from THA or clinical symptoms in patients undergoing hip arthroscopy with bone reshaping procedures or with labral repair or reconstruction up to and exceeding 20 years. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, therapeutic study.

Structural abnormalities of the hip joint have been identified as a common cause of labral and chondral lesions of the hip joint. However, labral and chondral damage can occur in the absence of structural abnormalities. The authors examined the incidence of anteromedial (AM) labral lesions, occurring in a nonimpinging region of the hip joint, and determined if the prevalence and location of concomitant chondral lesions differ between patients with AM lesions and those without. Between 2001 and 2013, they assessed 2,080 hips (1,818 patients) undergoing hip arthroscopy for the presence of AM labral lesions (between 4 and 6 o'clock position) and documented incidence of these lesions. The articular cartilage of the posterior, superior, and anterior regions of the acetabulum and femoral head was assessed. The degree of damage was classified as absent, mild (grades I/II), or severe (grades III/IV). The prevalence and severity of lesions in each region were compared between patients with AM lesions and those without. The authors identified 1,140 hips (1,028 patients) (55%) with labral tears in the AM region of the acetabulum. The cohort consisted of 689 females and 328 males, with an average age of 37.9 ± 12 years. Chondral lesions were present in all regions of the femoral head and acetabulum in both patients with AM lesions and those without. There is a relationship between the presence of AM lesion and prevalence of chondral lesions in the posterior and anterior femoral head and acetabulum, with a higher prevalence of lesions observed in patients without AM tears. Their findings show that lesions in the AM region of the acetabular labrum can occur with high prevalence in patients. These lesions are often associated with concomitant injuries to the anterior chondral surfaces, which may differ from lesions in the impingement zone. A thorough evaluation of all regions of the hip joint is warranted during arthroscopy to identify and treat all potential lesions.

Background Patients with chronic hepatitis C (HCV) have had extremely high complication rates after total hip arthroplasty (THA). We sought to compare perioperative complication rates between untreated and treated HCV in THA patients and to compare these rates between patients treated with 2 different therapies (interferon vs direct antiviral agents). Methods A multicenter retrospective database query was used to identify patients diagnosed with HCV who underwent THA between 2006 and 2016. All patients (n = 105) identified were included and divided into 2 groups: untreated (n = 63) and treated (n = 42) HCV; treated patients were further subdivided into those receiving interferon (n = 16) or direct antiviral agent therapies (n = 26). Comparisons between the treated and untreated groups were made with respect to demographic data, comorbidities, preoperative viral load, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score, and all surgical and medical complications; a subgroup analysis of the treated patients was also performed. Separate independent t-tests or Mann-Whitney U tests were conducted for continuous variables. Categorical variables were compared using the chi-squared test of independence. Results A greater number of untreated patients were human immunodeficiency virus infected ( P = .01), while a reduced number of treated patients were either former or current smokers ( P = .004). The untreated group had greater surgical complication rates (25.4% vs 4.8%; P = .007), with a higher rate of periprosthetic joint infection (14.3% vs 0%, P = .01). For treated patients, no differences were observed between treatment types for postsurgical complications. Conclusion Treatment for HCV prior to THA appears to be associated to fewer postoperative complications, primarily periprosthetic joint infection. Although further investigation is warranted, strong consideration should be given to treating patients for HCV prior to elective THA.

Case The patient is a 63-year-old man who previously underwent a right total hip arthroplasty with the Corin MiniHip femoral stem. Within the first few months postoperatively, he had a fall that resulted in subsidence of his femoral prosthesis and subsequent revision shortly thereafter with a 10-mm skirted cobalt chrome femoral head. Eight years after the index procedure, the patient heard a crack and then collapsed while putting on bicycle shorts. Workup demonstrated a fracture of the stem at the base of the neck of the implant. Femoral stem revision with a diaphyseal engaging, modular implant, and dual mobility hip construct was performed. Conclusion Atraumatic catastrophic failure of the femoral stem implant may be associated with long skirted femoral heads that create excessive bending moments on the stem and revision surgery.

Background Although 2-stage exchange arthroplasty is the most effective treatment among available strategies for managing chronic periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), rates of its success vary greatly. The purpose of our study was to examine whether objective measurements collected at the time of the diagnosis of PJI could be used to identify patients at risk of failure of 2-stage exchange. Methods We identified 205 patients across 4 institutions who underwent 2-stage exchange arthroplasty for the treatment of PJI following total hip or total knee arthroplasty. Demographic, surgical, and laboratory data were obtained for each patient from their medical chart. Laboratory values included serum erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level, synovial fluid white blood-cell (WBC) count and neutrophil percentage, synovial fluid and/or tissue culture, and Gram stain. Patients who underwent revision surgery for recurrent infection were considered to have failed the 2-stage procedure. Demographic, surgical, and laboratory variables were compared between the 2 groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to determine threshold cutoffs for significant laboratory values. Risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Results Overall, 2-stage exchange was unsuccessful for 27.3% of the patients. Preoperative serum ESR (p = 0.035) and synovial fluid WBC count (p = 0.008) and neutrophil percentage (p = 0.041) were greater in patients with recurrent infection. ROC curve analysis revealed a threshold of >60,000 cells/μL for synovial fluid WBC count, >92% for synovial fluid WBC neutrophil percentage, and >99 mm/hr for serum ESR. Failure of 2-stage exchange was 2.5 times more likely for patients with an elevated preoperative synovial fluid WBC count, 2.0 times more likely for those with an elevated preoperative synovial fluid WBC neutrophil percentage, and 1.8 times more likely for those with an elevated preoperative serum ESR. Conclusions Our results demonstrated that a greater number of patients in whom 2-stage exchange arthroplasty ultimately failed had a preoperative synovial fluid WBC count of >60,000 cells/μL, a synovial fluid WBC neutrophil percentage of >92%, or a serum ESR of >99 mm/hr. Patients with elevated laboratory values had 1.8 to 2.5 times the risk of treatment failure. These data can serve as a clinical guideline to identify patients most at risk for failure of 2-stage exchange. Level of evidence Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Background. There are many patient decision aids (DAs) available, yet there is limited evidence on comparative effectiveness of different tools. Objective. To examine feasibility of a study protocol and gather preliminary data on comparative effectiveness. Methods. Adult patients seeing a surgeon to discuss treatment for hip or knee osteoarthritis were randomized to hip and knee DAs from two vendors. Pre-visit survey included Hip/Knee Decision Quality Instrument, DA usage, health literacy, and quality of life (EQ-5D). Surgical status was ascertained 6 months post-visit. We examined response rates, eligibility, and compared the two DAs on amount of use, knowledge scores, and receipt of preferred treatment. Results. Overall response rate was 58/74 (78%) and did not differ by study arm. More patients in DA-A group reported reviewing all the DAs (64.5% DA-A v. 24.0% DA-B, P = 0.003). Knowledge scores were similar across arms (55.2% DA-A v. 48.8% DA-B, P = 0.4). For DA-B, knowledge scores were higher for those who reviewed all the DAs compared with those who did not (80% knowledge v. 39% knowledge, respectively, P = 0.004), while scores for DA-A did not vary by usage (62% knowledge v. 53% knowledge, respectively, P = 0.3). A similar percentage of each group received their preferred treatment (77% v. 73%, P = 0.8). Patients who were unsure about preferred treatment at baseline were more likely to have surgery in the DA-A arm compared with the DA-B arm (55% v. 20%, P = 0.1). Limitations. Small sample; patients were only surveyed pre-visit. Conclusion. Despite having different content and formats, the two DAs had similar overall effectiveness. Patients were more likely to review all of DA-A; however, patients who reviewed all of DA-B had the highest knowledge scores.

IntroductionThere are several different interventions available to promote shared decision making (SDM); however, little is known about the comparative effectiveness of different approaches.ObjectiveTo examine the impact of patient-directed and physician-directed decision support strategies on the quality of treatment decisions for hip and knee osteoarthritis (OA).Trial designA 2×2 factorial randomised controlled trial.SettingOne academic medical centre, one community hospital and one orthopaedic specialty hospital.Participants and interventionsThe enrolment targets were 8 surgeons and 1120 patients diagnosed with hip or knee OA. Patients were randomly assigned to receive one of two different decision aids (DAs) stratified by site. The DAs varied in length, content and the level of detail regarding treatment options. Both DAs were available by paper or online.Surgeons were randomly assigned to receive a report detailing patients’ goals and treatment preferences at the time of the visit or not. Eligible patients received their assigned DA before their visit and completed three surveys: before the visit (timepoint (T)1), 1-week postvisit (T2) and 6 months from either the visit date or surgery date for patients who underwent surgery (T3). Study staff and participating surgeons were not blinded, but the statistician conducting the analyses was blinded to the arms.Main outcome measure and analysisThe primary study outcome was decision quality, the percentage of patients who were well informed and received their preferred treatment. Secondary outcomes included involvement in decision making, surgical rates, health outcomes, decision regret and satisfaction. A logistic regression model with the generalised estimating equations approach was used to compare rates of decision quality between the groups and account for the clustering of patients within providers.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval was obtained through the institutional review board at the main site. The findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration numberNCT02729831; Pre-results.

The purpose of our study was to determine whether chondral damage at the time of arthroscopy predicted conversion to THA in patients with dysplasia. We identified 166 patients with dysplasia who underwent hip arthroscopy. Forty-seven went on to receive THA. The articular cartilage of three regions of the acetabulum and femoral head were assessed for signs of chondral damage (absent, mild, or severe]). A stepwise multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed mild damage on the posterior femoral head (P=0.001) and severe damage on the anterior acetabulum (P=0.007) made a significant contribution to the predictor. The presence of mild posterior femoral head chondral changes was indicative of more global cartilage damage in this series of patients. Our findings show that chondral damage on the posterior femoral head and anterior acetabulum is a strong predictor of ultimate conversion to THA in dysplastic patients.

As the complexity of arthroscopic procedures continues to increase, assessing the success of these procedures is of utmost importance to determine appropriate treatment plans for patients. This study compares outcome scores on the International Hip Outcome Tool (IHOT-33) using an analysis of its four subscales to scores on the Modified Harris Hip Score (MHHS) in patients following hip arthroscopy. Patients who had undergone hip arthroscopy between 1 and 5 years ago were assessed using both the IHOT-33 and MHHS at their most recent follow-up visit. Total scores for each outcome measure were calculated. A composite score for each of the IHOT subscales was calculated by averaging the total points in each section. Total score on the MHHS was compared with total score on the IHOT-33 and its four subscales using separate wilcoxin signed ranks tests. In total, 44 patients met our inclusion criteria with an average follow-up of 24.8 ± 18.8 months. MHHS total score was greater than IHOT-33 total score (P = 0.04). Comparisons between MHHS total score and the IHOT-33 subscales revealed reductions in sport (P = 0.001) and social (P = 0.004), but no difference in symptoms (P = 0.74) and job (P = 0.84). Our findings demonstrated that scores on the MHHS are inflated when compared with scores on the IHOT-33 for patients following hip arthroscopy. Subscale analysis revealed that the reductions in IHOT-33 scores exist in the sport and recreational domain and social, emotional, lifestyle domain compared with the MHHS. Our results suggest that analysing the subscales of the IHOT-33 would provide a more thorough understanding of functional limitations in patients undergoing hip arthroscopy.

The purpose of our study is to examine post-operative opioid use in total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients and describe factors associated with the need for refill prescriptions.Using online prescription information, we calculated the number of filled prescriptions, total morphine equivalent dose (MED) and quantity of pills, and date of last opioid prescription (days) for 197 TKA and 186 THA patients. Patients were classified based on refill status. Opioid data were compared between TKA and THA patients. Relationships between comorbidities and refill status were examined.Number of prescriptions (P.001), total quantity (P.001) and MED (P.001), and days on opioids (P.001) were greater for TKA patients. TKA patients required more refills (P.001) for a greater quantity of pills (P = .007). The presence of a comorbidity (P = .003) or anxiety/depression (P = .004) were correlated with refills for TKA patients only. A comorbidity increased the risk of refills by 3.1 times, while anxiety/depression had a 2.5 times greater risk of refills.Compared to THA patients, TKA patients were twice as likely to require refill opioid prescriptions and were prescribed a greater total MED for a longer period of time post-operatively. Patients undergoing TKA who present with a comorbidity or are currently being treated for anxiety or depression are more likely to require a refill.

Does hip surgery restore normal hip function? While it is generally accepted that surgery is performed to avoid, or overcome, pain and deterioration of function, the underlying pathologies of hip deformity and dysfunction differ. Three common surgical procedures—hip osteotomy, hip arthroscopy, and total hip replacement—treat hip pathologies at three very different stages of life.

The application of scientific principles to the study of the hip has provided insight into morphologic and biomechanical factors compromising hip function, including acquired abnormalities (e.g., posttraumatic deformities, Perthes disease, slipped capital femoral epiphysis), developmental pathologies (e.g., developmental dysplasia of the hip [DDH]), and abnormalities of unknown origin (e.g., cam deformity of the femoral head-neck junction and pincer deformities of the acetabular margin).

There is a critical need to evaluate the success of orthopaedic treatments through valid outcome measures. Previous attempts to express patient outcomes using a single aggregate score led to scores that were ambiguous, often insensitive to change, and poorly correlated with the patient's assessment of the outcome of surgical procedures. WHERE ARE WE NOW?: Numerous patient-reported outcome measurement tools have been developed for assessment of patients' level of activity and functional status, especially after joint arthroplasty. However, most tools assume an idealized set of prescribed activities independent of the age, activity level, and lifestyle of each individual. Few instruments are designed to capture the priorities of individual patients, especially those involved in high-demand sporting and recreational activities. WHERE DO WE NEED TO GO?: We need valid outcome measures that provide a meaningful, individualized assessment of the functional status of each patient, taking into account the lifestyle and expectation of each individual. This advance in outcome measurement will allow clinicians to individualize treatment and provide patients with an accurate estimate of the outcome of alternative treatments and procedures. HOW DO WE GET THERE?: Much more comprehensive information is needed to characterize the activities, abilities, and physical aspirations of individual patients. This could form a database for the development of predictive models relating individual characteristics to functional outcomes. Statistical tools are needed to minimize the burden on patients in completing questionnaires to access predictive data and to ensure that all outcome assessments are psychometrically valid.

Background Neuromuscular alterations have been reported for patients with osteoarthritis of the hip joint; however, the underlying cause associated with altered gluteus medius muscle function has not been examined. This study assessed electromyographic amplitudes of the gluteus medius muscles during function in patients with unilateral end-stage osteoarthritis of the hip joint compared to controls. Methods Patients with unilateral end-stage hip joint osteoarthritis (n = 13) and asymptomatic control participants (n = 17) participated. Average root-mean squared muscle amplitudes represented as a percent of maximum voluntary isometric contraction for both the involved and uninvolved limb gluteus medius muscles were analyzed during step up, step down, and gait. The association between muscle activation and impact forces during stepping tasks was assessed. Findings Patients with hip osteoarthritis exhibited increased gluteus medius muscle electromyographic amplitudes bilaterally during stair ascent, stair descent, and gait compared to controls, regardless of which limb they led. Involved limb muscle activity was inversely related to impact force during step down onto the ipsilateral limb. Interpretation Patients with hip osteoarthritis demonstrated increased gluteus medius muscle activation levels during stepping tasks and gait when compared to controls. The increased activation is most likely a compensatory response to muscle weakness. Therefore, application of strengthening exercises which target the gluteal muscles should assist in neuromuscular control and result in improved strength for patients with hip joint osteoarthritis.

Preoperative erythropoietin alpha (EPO) has been shown to be effective at reducing postoperative blood transfusions in total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA); however, treatment with EPO is associated with additional costs, and it is not known whether these costs can be justified when weighed against the transfusion reductions achieved in patients who receive the drug.The purpose of this study is to investigate (1) efficacy of preoperative EPO in reducing postoperative transfusions in TKA and THA; (2) whether patients treated with EPO have reduced length of stay or a different discharge disposition; and (3) whether EPO use reduces overall blood management costs.Patients undergoing primary THA or TKA over a 10-month period with preoperative hemoglobin13 g/dL were recommended to be treated preoperatively with EPO. During that time, 80 of 286 (28%) patients met that inclusion criterion and the treating team recommended EPO to all of them; of that group, 24 (30%) opted to take EPO and 56 (70%) opted not to. Patients receiving at least one dose of EPO and those not receiving EPO were compared in terms of transfusion frequency, length of stay and discharge disposition, and overall blood management costs. Demographics, preoperative hemoglobin, and operative blood loss for both groups were similar (p0.05). No transfusion triggers were used; rather, patients with postoperative hemoglobin10 mg/dL and who were symptomatic despite fluid boluses were transfused. The clinician responsible for transfusing symptomatic patients was blinded to the patient's EPO treatment status. Costs were defined as direct costs paid or incurred by our institution for EPO, allogeneic blood, and variable costs associated with patient care after THA/TKA. A decision-tree cost analysis was performed using the collected clinical data and cost data collected from our institution; the analysis considered total associated blood management cost for an EPO and a non-EPO strategy with sensitivity analysis of key cost variables.The proportion of patients receiving transfusions was lower in patients who received EPO than in patients who did not (0% [zero of 24] versus 41% [23 of 56]; p0.001). The mean length of inpatient hospital stay (EPO: 3.0±0.4 versus control: 3.3±0.8 days, p=0.77) and discharge disposition also was not different between the groups. The cost analysis demonstrated that the EPO strategy was more costly compared with no EPO (USD 2632 versus USD 2284) and its cost would need to be less than USD 225/dose for this to change.EPO reduced the need for postoperative transfusions in high-risk patients undergoing THA and TKA; however, it was not found to be cost-effective in our model. Our model could not consider relatively rare complications of blood transfusions, including disease transmission, deep periprosthetic infections, and transfusion reactions, but if surgeons or patients value avoiding these potential but rare factors highly, this could reasonably influence the decision of whether to use EPO despite our findings that it was not cost-effective.Level III, therapeutic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Experimental disruption of the labrum has been shown to compromise its sealing function and alter cartilage lubrication. However, it is not known whether pathological changes to the labrum secondary to femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) have a similar impact on labral function.Does damage to the labrum occurring in association with abnormal femoral morphology affect the labral seal?Using 10 fresh cadaveric specimens (mean age 50 years, ±8), we measured the capacity of the central compartment of the hip (the iliofemoral joint) to maintain a seal during fluid infusion, which may help elucidate the function of the labrum during weightbearing. Specimens with and without abnormal femoral morphology (six normal-appearing specimens and four whose geometry suggested cam-type FAI) were tested in postures observed during functional activities, including simulations of normal gait, stooping, and pivoting. Each specimen with FAI morphology exhibited secondary damage of the labrum and the adjacent chondral surface, whereas specimens of normal morphology were undamaged.Average peak central compartment pressure was reduced during pivoting for specimens with the presence of labral damage secondary to FAI. When placed in pivoting positions, hips with FAI maintained lower fluid pressures within the central compartment compared with intact specimens (15±3 versus 42±8 kPa, respectively; effect size: 1.08 [-0.36 to 2.31]; p=0.007). No differences in peak pressure were observed between groups (FAI versus normal) for postures simulating either gait (21±6 versus 22±4 kPa; p=0.902) or stooping (9±2 versus 8±3 kPa; p=0.775) with the numbers available.The acetabular seal, quantified by the maximum intraarticular pressure, was reduced during pivoting; however, the seal was maintained during simulated gait and stooping.Because degeneration is progressive with repetitive impingement, loss of the labral seal starts to be seen during pivoting and may progress from there, but in this small-sample cadaver study that evaluated specimens in middle adulthood, the seal remains intact during simulated gait and stooping. Our study suggests that labral damage secondary to cam-type FAI may reduce the ability of the labral to provide an adequate seal of the central compartment of the hip during loading; however, the extent to which this is affected requires further investigation.

Background: An assessment of the effect of surgical repair or reconstruction on the function of the hip labrum is critical to the advancement of hip preservation surgery; however, validated models of the hip that allow the quantification of labral function in functional joint positions have yet to be developed. Purpose: To evaluate (1) whether intra-articular pressures within the hip are regulated by fluid transport between the labrum and femoral head and (2) whether the sealing capacity of the labrum varies with joint posture. Study Design: Descriptive laboratory study. Methods: The sealing ability of the hip labrum was measured during fluid infusion into the central compartments of 8 cadaveric specimens. Additionally, the pathway of fluid transfer from the central to the peripheral compartment was assessed via direct visualization in 3 specimens. The effect of joint posture on the sealing capacity of the labrum was determined by placing all 8 specimens in 10 functional postures. The relationship between pressure resistance and 3-dimensional motion of the femoral head within the acetabulum was quantified using motion analysis and computer modeling. Results: Resistance to fluid transport from the central compartment of the hip was directly controlled by the labrum during loading. Maximum pressure resistance was affected by joint posture ( P = .001). Specifically, positions that increased external rotation of the joint (pivoting) provided an improved seal, while positions that increased flexion combined with internal rotation (stooping) augmented the ease of fluid transport from the central to the peripheral compartment. Maximum pressure resistance was associated with the distance between the labrum and femoral head during pivoting. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the transfer of fluid from the central compartment of the hip occurs at the junction of the labrum and femoral head. Joint position was shown to strongly affect the sealing function of the labrum and was attributable to the distance between the labrum and femoral head in certain positions. Clinical Relevance: Altering the relationship between the labrum and femoral head may disrupt the sealing ability of the labrum, potentially leaving the joint at risk for pathological changes with time.

Some orthopaedic procedures, including TKA, enjoy high survivorship but leave many patients dissatisfied because of residual pain and functional limitations. An important cause of patient dissatisfaction is unfulfilled preoperative expectations. This arises, in part, from differences between provider and patient in their definition of a successful outcome. WHERE ARE WE NOW?: Patients generally are less satisfied with their outcomes than surgeons. While patients are initially concerned with symptom relief, their long-term expectations include return of symptom-free function, especially in terms of activities that are personally important. While surgeons share their patients' desire to achieve their goals, they are aware this will not always occur. Conversely, patients do not always realize some of their expectations cannot be met by current orthopaedic procedures, and this gap in understanding is an important source of discrepancies in expectations and patient dissatisfaction. WHERE DO WE NEED TO GO?: An essential prerequisite for mutual understanding is information that is accurate, objective, and relevant to the patient's condition and lifestyle. This critical information must also be understandable within the educational and cultural background of each patient to enable informed participation in a shared decision making process. Once this is achieved, it will become easier to formulate similar expectations regarding the likely level of function and symptom relief and the risk of adverse events, including persistent pain, complications, and revision surgery. HOW DO WE GET THERE?: Predictive models of patient outcomes, based on objective data, are needed to inform decision making on the individual level. This can be achieved once comprehensive data become available capturing the lifestyles of patients of diverse ages and backgrounds, including data documenting the frequency and intensity of participation in sporting and recreational activities. There is also a need for greater attention to the process of informing patients of the outcome of orthopaedic procedures, not simply for gaining more meaningful consent, but so that patients and providers may achieve greater alignment of expectations and increased acceptance of both the benefits and limitations of alternative treatments.

Context: Closed kinetic chain exercises are an integral part of rehabilitation programs after lower extremity injury. Sex differences in lower extremity kinematics have been reported during landing and cutting; however, less is known about sex differences in movement patterns and activation of the hip musculature during common lower extremity rehabilitation exercises. Objective: To determine whether lower extremity kinematics and muscle activation levels differ between sexes during closed kinetic chain rehabilitation exercises. Design: Cross-sectional with 1 between-subjects factor (sex) and 1 within-subjects factor (exercise). Setting: Research laboratory. Patients or Other Participants: Participants included 21 women (age = 23 ± 5.8 years, height = 167.6 ± 5.1 cm, mass = 63.7 ± 5.9 kg) and 21 men (age = 23 ± 4.0 years, height = 181.4 ± 7.4 cm, mass = 85.6 ± 16.5 kg). Intervention(s): In 1 testing session, participants performed 3 trials each of single-leg squat, lunge, and step-up-and-over exercises. Main Outcome Measure(s): We recorded the peak joint angles (degrees) of knee flexion and valgus and hip flexion, extension, adduction, and external rotation for each exercise. We also recorded the electromyographic activity of the gluteus maximus, rectus femoris, adductor longus, and bilateral gluteus medius muscles for the concentric and eccentric phases of each exercise. Results: Peak knee flexion angles were smaller and peak hip extension angles were larger for women than for men across all tasks. Peak hip flexion angles during the single-leg squat were smaller for women than for men. Mean root-mean-square amplitudes for the gluteus maximus and rectus femoris muscles in both the concentric and eccentric phases of the 3 exercises were greater for women than for men. Conclusions: Sex differences were observed in sagittal-plane movement patterns during the rehabilitation exercises. Because of the sex differences observed in our study, future researchers need to compare the findings for injured participants by sex to garner a better representation of altered kinematic angles and muscle activation levels due to injury.

Context: Functional exercises are often used in strengthening programs after lower extremity injury. Activation levels of the stabilizing hip muscles have not been documented. Objective: To document the progression of hip-muscle activation levels during 3 lower extremity functional exercises. Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: Laboratory. Participants: 44 healthy individuals, 22 women and 22 men. Intervention: Subjects, in 1 testing session, completed 3 trials each of the lunge (LUN), single-leg squat (SLSQ), and step-up-and-over (SUO) exercise. Main Outcome Measures: Root-mean-square muscle amplitude (% reference voluntary muscle contraction) was measured for 5 muscles during the 3 exercises: rectus femoris (RF), dominant and nondominant gluteus medius (GMed_D and GMed_ND), adductor longus (ADD), and gluteus maximus (GMX). Results: The RF, GMAX, and GMed_D were activated in a progression from least to greatest during the SUO, LUN, and SLSQ. The progression for the GMed_ND activation was from least to greatest during the SLSQ, SUO, and then LUN. Activation levels of the ADD showed no progression. Conclusion: Progressive activation levels were documented for muscles acting on the hip joint during 3 functional lower extremity exercises. The authors recommend using this exercise progression when targeting the hip muscles during lower extremity strengthening. Keywords: electromyography, gluteus medius, exercise progression Activation levels of the muscles surrounding the hip joint have become an area of increasing interest in reference to lower extremity injuries. 1–4 Muscle weakness, specifically of the hip-abductor muscle group, has been observed in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome, 3,5 iliotibial band syndrome, 6,7 anterior cruciate ligament injuries, 8 and ankle instability. 1,2 Previous studies have reported activation levels of the gluteus medius during rehabilitation exercises. 9–14 Less attention, however, has been paid to the activation levels of other muscles that help stabilize the hip joint during functional exercises. To progress a patient back to full activity, it is necessary to understand the complete muscular contribu

Spasticity poses a major detrimental impact on the quality of life in a significant number of people with spinal cord injury (SCI). Recent observations in our laboratory sug- gest that spinal transection at the sacral S2 level induces a significant increase in glutamatergic input to sacrocaudal motoneurons during the time spasticity is present in the tail muscles. The present study examined the efficacy of gaba- pentin, an agent that has been shown to reduce glutamate release, in managing spasticity within the tail musculature. Method: In this blinded, crossover study adult Sprague- Dawley rats with S2spinal transections were tested behaviorally for the progression of spasticity in the tail musculature using our established system. When the animals demonstrated a sig- nificant level of spastic behavior (e.g. increased response to quick stretch, noxious and non-noxious cutaneous stimuli), they received either saline or the antiepileptic agent gabapentin (GBP; 50 mg/kg i.p.) and were assessed behaviorally and elec- trophysiologically at 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 h post-injection. Results: Both spastic behavior and electromyography (EMG) activity were significantly decreased at 1 and 3 h post- GBP injection when compared with the activity level following administration of saline. Spastic behavior and EMG activity gradually increased over time and returned to baseline activity by 24 h post-injection. Conclusion: Gabapentin diminishes both the behavioral and electrophysiological manifestation of SCI-induced spastic- ity, in the tail musculature, in a time dependent manner. © 2007 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Mattacola CG, Dwyer MK, Miller AK, Uhl TL, McCrory JL, Malone TR. Effect of orthoses on postural stability in asymptomatic subjects with rearfoot malalignment during a 6-week acclimation period. Objective To determine the effect of custom-fitted orthoses on postural sway over a 6-week acclimation period. Design Repeated-measures analysis of variance on postural sway measures with factors being group (control, malaligned), time (initial, 2wk, 4wk, 6wk postintervention), and condition (with orthoses, without orthoses). For single-limb stance, side (right, left) was analyzed to determine bilateral differences. Setting Biodynamics laboratory. Participants Twenty-one subjects, 11 asymptomatic with rearfoot malalignment and 10 asymptomatic with normal rearfoot alignment. Interventions Orthoses were prescribed and worn for 6 weeks. Balance testing was performed on 4 different dates with each subject tested in both orthotic conditions. Postural control was measured with three 10-second eyes-closed trials for single-limb stance, one 20-second eyes-closed bilateral stance with the platform moving, and one 20-second eyes-open bilateral stance with the platform and surroundings moving. Main Outcome Measures Sway velocity (in deg/s) for single-limb stance and equilibrium score for bilateral stance. Results Postural sway measures were significantly decreased during single-limb testing with orthoses versus without orthoses, regardless of group. The orthotic intervention significantly improved bilateral stance equilibrium score in the malaligned group at weeks 2, 4, and 6 when compared with measures at the initial week. Equilibrium score of the malaligned group with orthoses at initial week was significantly lower (worse) than the control group with orthoses at initial week; however, these results were not repeated during measurements taken at weeks 2, 4, or 6. Conclusions The application of orthoses decreased sway velocity for single-limb stance, improving postural stability regardless of group when visual feedback was removed. During bilateral stance, postural stability was initially worse for the malaligned group with and without orthoses when compared with the control group; however, improvements were seen by week 2 and continued throughout the remainder of testing. Clinically, the application of orthoses appears to improve postural control in people with rearfoot malalignment, particularly when vision is removed.