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A symptomatic meniscal tear is one of the most common problems treated by an orthopaedic surgeon. Treatment ranges from observation to complete meniscectomy. Prior research has shown that contact stresses increase within the joint compartment after partial meniscectomy, thus leading to arthritis of the compartment. The purpose of the current study was to determine the incidence of meniscal re-tears in two populations of patients and identify potential factors predisposing to re-tear. A retrospective review of our relational database identified 1,930 arthroscopic partial meniscectomies from 1993 to 2003. Meniscectomies were divided into two groups, 430 patients < 45 years of age (YOUNG) and 712 patients ≥ 45 (OLD). Age, onset date, Lysholm, Tegner, tear type, radial and circumferential location, as well as degree and location of chondromalacia, were analyzed. Of the YOUNG group, 1.16% experienced re-tears, versus 0.42% of the OLD group. From the younger re-tear group, 80% were chronic and 20% had grade 2 chondromalacia in one compartment. The YOUNG re-tear group was slightly more active with higher Tegner (5.6 vs. 4.3) and Lysholm (66.2 vs. 60) scores than the rest of the YOUNG group. The OLD re-tear group was less active with a lower Tegner (2.5 vs. 4.1) and Lysholm (62 vs. 66) score compared with the rest of the older group. In this study, patients under 45 years and with chronic tears had slightly higher incidence of re-tears. Results indicated that the lateral meniscus is more likely to re-tear., Competing Interests: None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Lower extremity joint arthroplasty procedures often require a large incision to have an adequate exposure, which subsequently leads to lengthy wounds that may contribute to long closure, anesthesia, and overall operative times. The recently introduced knotless barbed suture may provide better outcomes, faster closure time, and decreased material utilization. Therefore, the aim of this study was to review the impact of barbed sutures on: (1) wound-related complications; (2) closure and operative time; (3) patient outcomes (range of motion and Knee Society Scores [KSS]); and (4) effects on cosmesis and patients' satisfaction. A literature search was performed using up to February 2017. Barbed sutures were associated with shorter closure times, shorter operative times, and larger cost savings per procedure as well as comparable wound complication rates after total joint arthroplasty. Although the current review is limited by the number of studies included, it demonstrates that overall, barbed sutures contribute to surgical efficiency when compared with conventional skin closure modalities., Competing Interests: The preparation of this manuscript was partially funded by an educational grant from Ethicon Inc., (Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.)

As surgical techniques and pharmacology advance, the management of postoperative pain in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) continues to evolve. The current standards of care are composed of multimodal pain management including opioids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and gabapentinoids, peripheral nerve blocks, and periarticular injections. Newer modalities are composed of delayed release local anesthetics and cryoneurolysis. To summarize the current evidence-based treatment modalities and forecast changes in the management of patients having TKAs, we reviewed available data on: (1) oral analgesics; (2) periarticular injections; (3) peripheral nerve blocks; (4) multimodal regimens; and (5) newer modalities in post-TKA pain management. Multimodal analgesic regimens that target numerous pain pathways may provide the best pain management, rehabilitation, patient satisfaction, and reduce opioid use and related side effects. Periarticular injections of delayed-release local anesthetics may further enhance pain management., Competing Interests: Dr. Mont, Dr. Kelly, and Dr. Elmallah are paid consultants for Pacira Pharmaceuticals Inc., (Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.)

Background: Multiple factors have been implicated in determining why certain patients have increased postoperative pain, with the potential to develop chronic pain. The purpose of this study was to: 1) identify and describe genes that affect postoperative pain perception and control; 2) address modifiable risk factors that result in epigenetic altered responses to pain; and 3) characterize differences in pain sensitivity and thresholds between opioid-naïve and opioid-dependent patients., Materials and Methods: Three electronic databases were used to conduct the literature search: Pubmed, EBSCO host, and SCOPUS. A total of 372 abstracts were reviewed, of which 46 studies were deemed relevant and are included in this review., Results: Specific gene alterations that were shown to affect postoperative pain control included single nucleotide polymorphisms in the mu, kappa, and delta opioid receptors, ion channel genes, cytotoxic T-cells, glutamate receptors and cytokine genes, among others. Alcoholism, obesity, and smoking were all linked with genetic polymorphisms that altered pain sensitivity. Opioid abuse was found to be associated with a poorer response to analgesics postoperatively, as well as a risk for prescription overdose., Conclusion: Although pain perception has multiple complex influences, the greatest variability seen in response to opioids among postoperative patients known to date can be traced to genetic differences in opioid metabolism. Further study is needed to determine the clinical significance of these genetic associations.

Background: Bone loss in patients undergoing revision THA poses a considerable challenge for orthopaedic surgeons. Often, to achieve better fixation in remaining bone, larger diameter acetabular components and reaming superiorly may be necessary. However, this is likely to raise the hip center of rotation, which may lead to altered biomechanics, specifically, insufficiency of the abductor muscles, altered gait, and increased risk of dislocation from impingement. More recently, a newer acetabular shell has been designed to more closely replicate the native hip center of rotation in these circumstances while maintaining adequate fixation., Questions/purposes: The purpose of this study was to compare the radiographic parameters of this newer design with conventional hemispheric cups in revision THA. Specifically, we assessed the differences in (1) vertical center of rotation (COR) displacement and (2) horizontal COR displacement., Methods: Between January 2016 and April 2016, five reconstructive surgeons at five institutions utilized a newer highly porous acetabular shell designed with peripheral screw holes and vertically eccentric COR to allow for restoration of center of hip rotation in revision THA. We included all patients who received this device. During this time, the general indications at these sites for using the new device included Paprosky Stage IIA, IIB, IIC, or IIIA acetabular defects. This yielded 29 patients who were subsequently matched (one to two) by cup size and sex to a cohort who underwent revision THA with conventional hemispheric cups between January 2015 and May 2016. To determine hip COR, radiographic measurements were performed. A circle contiguous to the acetabulum was drawn and the center was determined as the hip COR. All measurements were made from the interteardrop line for both the revised and native hips. A line through the teardrops was used for all horizontal measurements. Center position adjustments were made based on the manufacturer-specified values. Comparisons were performed using chi-square tests for categorical and t-tests for continuous variables. There was no difference in the severity of bone loss before the revision in the groups, as evidenced by Paprosky staging of preoperative radiographs., Results: The mean vertical COR displacement was smaller in patients who had the novel cup (3.5 mm; range, -12 to 15 mm; mean difference, -7.3 mm; 95% confidence interval [CI], -13.2 to -1.5) as compared with those who had the conventional cup (10.5 mm; range, -4 to 50 mm; mean difference, 7.3 mm; 95% CI, -12.5 to -2.2; p = 0.003). There was no difference in mean horizontal displacement between the two groups (-0.06 ± 6.1 versus 1.7 ± 7.1; mean difference, -1.8; p = 0.903)., Conclusions: Although hip COR was improved based on radiographic measurements with the use of this novel acetabular design, and although this may improve hip biomechanics, more studies are required before its widespread adoption for revision cases of this nature can be recommended. Both implant costs and the risks associated with using a new design in practice will have to be justified by studies that evaluate fixation, clinical function and implant survival, and patient-reported outcome scores, all of which were beyond the scope of this preliminary report., Level of Evidence: Level III, therapeutic study.

Background: This literature review is aimed at identifying the different methods for superficial and deep wound closure in total knee arthroplasty and evaluating their outcomes. We evaluated (1) closure time, (2) infection and other complication rates, and (3) local wound-related outcomes., Methods: A thorough search of the literature was performed using 3 electronic databases. Inclusion criteria included manuscripts that were written in English and available in full-text format. Reports were stratified into those that describe deep closure (7) and those that describe superficial closure (11)., Results: In superficial closure, staples may provide the fastest closure, adhesives, lower incidence of superficial complications, and subcuticular suture closures, greatest blood flow. In deep closure, barbed sutures may allow for faster closure time while providing similar postoperative complication rates and outcomes when compared to traditional sutures. The use of barbed sutures has been shown to utilize fewer resources and may potentially lead to a slight reduction in costs., Conclusion: Ultimately, no optimal closure technique has been developed, and current studies do not provide a clear evidence-based answer. This field needs much more evidence-based studies before one can draw conclusions. Even though some of these studies are prospective and randomized, they may not be generalizable. Also, many of the studies have small numbers and are subject to type II errors and fragility. Certainly, more studies are needed to truly understand the advantages and disadvantages of these new methods. Nevertheless, this review allows orthopedists to evaluate the differences between closure methods., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Healthcare systems are receiving increasing pressures from payers, such as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), to reduce the costs associated with procedures, and with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, high costs are addressed through pay-for-performance programs. Thus, multiple areas of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) surgery are under scrutiny, including surgical times, material costs, and the costs of associated complications and readmissions. Suture type has been determined to be a factor that may influence closure times, as well as direct material costs. Therefore, the purpose of this review was to compare: (I) the cost of using barbed vs. conventional interrupted sutures; (II) the additional cost of differences in complications, if any; (III) to extrapolate cost savings on a hospital and national level; and (IV) to discuss the role of these findings on hospital savings and the effect on bundled payments. It was found that the main factors affecting differences in overall costs between barbed and standard interrupted suture were material cost and closure time. Many studies have demonstrated greater cost savings with the barbed suture due to shorter operative times, despite the higher material costs. The majority of studies also demonstrated similar complication rates between the suture types, and thus these are unlikely to affect the cost difference. However, to the best of our knowledge, there are no TKA studies in the literature evaluating the effect of suture type and associated complications on lengths of stay and readmission rates. Thus, it is unclear how these cost savings will translate to reimbursements rates and the role that they might play in bundled payments. Several studies in other specialties demonstrate decreased infection rates with the use of barbed sutures, which, if found to be true for TKA can be extrapolated to 3 million dollars of savings in revision TKA costs. Further studies on this topic are needed to define these relationships., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: Dr. Mont is a paid consultant for Ethicon Inc. and receives research support from Ethicon Inc. Dr. Elmallah is a paid consultant for Ethicon Inc. The other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Background: About 50%-70% of dislocators have cups placed within so-called "safe zones." It has been postulated that factors such as femoral head size and pelvic tilt, obliquity, or rotation may influence postoperative stability. Therefore, we assessed varying degrees of pelvic tilt and head sizes on the range of motion (ROM) to impingement., Methods: A hip simulator was used to import models of 10 subjects who performed object pickup, squatting, and low-chair rising. Parameters were set for pelvic tilt, stem version, and the specific motions as defined by the subjects. Femur-to-pelvis relative motions were determined for abduction/adduction, internal/external rotation, and flexion/extension. Varying tilt angles were tested. Thirty-two millimeter and 36-mm head with a standard cup and 42-mm dual mobility cup were tested. Cup orientations for abduction and anteversion combinations were chosen, and computations of minimum clearances or impingement between components were made., Results: The ROM to impingement varied with the different pelvic tilts and femoral head sizes and with the different motions. The larger the head size, the larger the impingement-free ROM. Negative 10° of pelvic tilt led to the largest impingement-free zone, whereas 10° of forward tilt was associated with fewer impingement-free cup anteversion and abduction angle combinations. Variations in pelvic tilt had the greatest influence on object pickup and affected the impingement-free "safe zone.", Conclusion: Targets for impingement-free motion may be smaller when considering varying pelvic tilts and femoral head sizes, particularly for certain activities, such as object pickup. These findings may indicate the need for more individualized patient planning., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Multiple therapies have been developed to slow down the progression of knee osteoarthritis (OA), with the aim of avoiding or delaying TKA. One such potential method is cell-mediated gene therapy, which utilizes allogeneic human chondrocytes modified to express transforming growth factor-β1. Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we evaluated patients who underwent treatment with this injection in a Phase II study and assessed structural changes in: (1) bone marrow edema lesions, (2) cartilage defect depth and surface area, (3) articular bone surface and osteophytes, and (4) meniscus structure and signal, as well as changes in (5) joint fluid, (6) periarticular inflammation, and (7) synovial inflammation. Twenty-seven patients (6 men and 21 women) who had late-stage OA were randomized 1:1 to receive a 3:1 mixture of nontransduced chondrocytes and genetically engineered chondrocytes, at doses of 6 × 10 6 cells (group 1) or 1.8 × 10 7 cells (group 2). MRI was performed at baseline (preinjection), and at 6 and 12 months postinjection. The whole-organ MRI score system was used to assess the aforementioned changes. Treatment was considered to be successful if patients experienced an improvement in or no change in their scores, indicating that the disease had not progressed. All patients in both cohorts individually demonstrated an improvement or no change in one or more of the assessment parameters. At 6 months, the low-dose cohort demonstrated worsening in mean scores in one parameter (bone surface and osteophytes), while the high-dose cohort demonstrated no worsening in mean scores. At 12 months, the low-dose cohort had worsening in the mean score in a subset of one parameter (cartilage signal intensity), and the high-dose cohort demonstrated worsening in mean scores in two parameters (bone surface osteophytes and periarticular inflammation). This is the first study to evaluate MRI changes in patients treated with this injection. These findings provide an impetus for further research on this topic, as well as a starting point for Phase III testing., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: Dr. Mont is a consultant for, or has received institutional or research support from the following companies: Sage Products, TissueGene, OnGoing Care Solutions, DJO Global, Microport, Orthosensor, National Institutes of Health, Stryker, Johnson & Johnson, Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Merz, US Medical Innovations. He is on the editorial/governing board of the American Journal of Orthopedics, Journal of Arthroplasty, Journal of Knee Surgery, and Surgical Technology International. He is board or committee member of AAOS., (Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.)

Background: Revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA) can often be challenging. The use of a new revision system may aid in providing better stability, improved function, fit, and implant longevity. Therefore, we assessed: (1) survivorship, (2) clinical outcomes, (3) postoperative complications, and (4) radiographic outcomes of patients who underwent revision TKA using this system., Methods: Patients from 2 hospitals who underwent revision TKA using a newer generation revision knee system between June 2008 and December 2013 for component instability or aseptic loosening were included. There were 93 patients, who had a mean age of 65 years (range, 41-84 years), and a mean follow-up of 4 years (range, 2-7 years). Survivorship was assessed using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Radiographic analysis was performed using the new Knee Society Roentgenographic Evaluation and Scoring System., Results: Aseptic survivorship was 96% (95% confidence interval, 6.6-7.3), and all-cause survivorship was 94% (95% confidence interval, 6.4-7.2). There were 2 infections and 4 aseptic loosening cases. The mean Knee Society score was 86 points (range, 38-100 points) and the mean functional Knee Society score was 52 points (range, 15-90 points) at final follow-up. The mean postoperative extension and flexion were 2° (range, 0°-20°) and 106° (range, 20°-130°), respectively. There were 3 medical and 11 surgical complications. Excluding the aseptic and septic failures, there were no progressive radiolucencies or osteolysis at final follow-up., Conclusion: At up to 7-year follow-up, this new revision system demonstrated excellent survivorship and good functional outcomes. Future studies should be prospective, comparative, and include larger cohorts for further assessment of this device., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Measuring the effect of operative interventions has been a challenge in orthopaedics. The assessment of patient satisfaction, as measured by the Press Ganey (PG) satisfaction surveys, has gained increasing attention. Our purpose was to determine the factors and patient characteristics that influence patient satisfaction after THA., Materials and Methods: The PG database was queried identifying 692 THA patients (November 2009 to January 2015). A multiple regression analysis was conducted., Results: Significant influence was found in communication with nurses (p=<0.001), response time of hospital staff (p=0.001), communication with physicians (p=0.002), and hospital environment (p=0.049). Management of pain and communication about medications were not significant for overall hospital rating. There were no differences between PG scores of patients who did and did not have complications., Conclusions: Hospital rating was significantly influenced by patients' communication with nurses, response time of hospital staff, and communication with physicians. Recognizing the importance of these elements, can greatly improve patient satisfaction after THA.

Background: Recent healthcare reform has spurred important changes to provider reimbursement. With the implementation of the Value Based Purchasing program, significant weight is placed on patient experience of care. The Press Ganey (PG) survey is currently used by over 10,000 hospitals, as it serves to help optimize patient satisfaction. However, confounding factors, such as clinical depression, are not screened against by PG. Thus, arthroplasty surgeons performing lower extremity total joint arthroplasty (TJA) may have difficulty optimizing patient satisfaction while caring for patients with clinical depression. Therefore, we asked: 1) What Press Ganey elements affect the overall hospital rating in patients who suffer from clinical depression? and 2) Are survey responses different between patients who do and do not have clinical depression?, Materials and Methods: We queried our institutional PG database for patients who underwent a TJA from November 2009 to January 2015. Our search yielded 1,454 patients, of which 204 suffered from depression and 1,250 did not. Multiple regression analysis was performed to determine the influence (b weight) of selected PG survey domains on overall hospital rating. The weighted mean for domain was also calculated., Results: Multiple regression analyses showed that overall hospital ratings were significantly influenced by communication with nurses (b-weight = 0.881, p< 0.001) in post-TJA patients with depression. The remaining domains were not statistically significant. There were no significant differences in individual PG elements for patients who did and did not have depression., Conclusion: Overall patient satisfaction among patients with depression was greatly influenced by communication with nurses. Understanding these challenges may encourage care coordination across disciplines for the management of patients with depression before and after surgery. As a result, this could optimize orthopedic surgery outcomes, but, more importantly, patient health and satisfaction, while reducing costs of care.

Background: The purpose of our study was to compare (1) muscle strength; (2) pain; (3) sensation; (4) various outcome measurement scales between post-total hip arthroplasty (THA) patients who had a sciatic nerve injury and did or did not receive decompression surgery for this condition; and (5) to compare these findings with current literature., Methods: Nineteen patients who had nerve injury after THA were reviewed. Patients were stratified into those who had a nerve decompression (n = 12), and those who had not (n = 7). Motor strength was evaluated using the Muscle Strength Testing Scale. Pain was evaluated by using the visual analogue scale. Systematic literature search was performed to compare the findings of this study with others currently published., Results: The decompression group had a significant improvement in motor strength and the visual analog scale scores as compared with nonoperative group. Patients in decompression group had a significant larger increase in the mean Harris hip score and University of California Los Angeles score. There was no significant difference in the increase of Short Form-36 physical and mental scores between the 2 groups. Literature review for nonoperative management yielded 5 studies (93 patients), with 33% improvement. There were 7 studies (81 patients) on nerve decompression surgery, with 75% improvement., Conclusion: This study demonstrates the benefits of nerve decompression surgery in patients who had sciatic nerve injury after THA, as evidenced by results of standardized outcome measurement scales. It is possible to achieve improvements in terms of strength, pain, and clinical outcomes. Comparative studies with larger cohorts are needed to fully assess the best candidates for this procedure., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Following total hip arthroplasty, patients' perception of their postoperative improvement and health plays a large role in satisfaction with and success of the surgical procedure. The Short Form-6D (SF-6D) is a health-related quality-of-life measure that assigns numerical value to the perception of patients' own health. The purpose was to determine SF-6D values of patients after total hip arthroplasty, to determine whether score changes were clinically relevant, and to compare these with postoperative functional improvements., Methods: We evaluated 188 patients who underwent primary total hip arthroplasty at 7 institutions and who had a mean age of 69 years (range, 47 to 88 years) and a mean body mass index of 28.8 kg/m (range, 19.8 to 38.9 kg/m). The SF-6D values were obtained from patients' SF-36 scores, and clinical relevance of value changes was determined using effect size. Using previous research, effect sizes were considered small between 0.2 and 0.5, moderate between 0.6 to 0.8, and large at >0.8. Clinical correlation was assessed using the Lower-Extremity Activity Scale and Harris hip scores. Patients were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively at 6 months and 1, 2, 3, and 5 years., Results: The SF-6D scores improved from preoperatively and achieved significance (p < 0.05) at all points. The effect size demonstrated good clinical relevance up to the latest follow-up: 1.27 at 6 months, 1.30 at 1 year, 1.07 at 2 years, 1.08 at 3 years, and 1.05 at 5 years. The Lower-Extremity Activity Scale improved at all follow-up points from preoperatively to 1.8 at 6 months, 2.0 at 1 year, 1.8 at 2 years, 1.5 at 3 years, and 1.6 points at 5 years. The Harris hip score improved to 38 points at 6 months, 40 points at 1 year, 38 points at 2 years, 39 points at 3 years, and 41 points at 5 years postoperatively. The improvements in the Lower-Extremity Activity Scale and the Harris hip score significantly positively correlated (p < 0.01) with the SF-6D scores at all time points., Conclusions: SF-6D scores after total hip arthroplasty correlate with functional outcomes and have clinical relevance, as demonstrated by their effect size. Incorporating this straightforward and easy-to-use measurement tool when evaluating patients following total hip arthroplasty will facilitate future cost-utility analyses., Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Introduction: Liposomal bupivacaine is a long-acting, local, injectable anesthetic that is used to potentially mitigate post-operative pain after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). In addition, it may reduce opioid use in the post-operative period and shorten lengths-of-stay (LOS). There have been mixed results in the literature with regards to its efficacy, which raises questions regarding the injection technique used. Therefore, we evaluated the learning curve associated with injection techniques prior to, and after, formal teaching. Specifically, we compared differences in: 1) opioid use; 2) LOS; 3) pain intensity; and 4) discharge disposition in patients who did not receive liposomal bupivacaine (no infiltration cohort), received liposomal bupivacaine with less optimal technique (subpar infiltration), and received liposomal bupivacaine with appropriate technique (optimal infiltration) during their primary TKA., Materials and Methods: A 1:1:1 ratio of 54 consecutive cases of patients who had no liposomal bupivacaine infiltration, those who had subpar infiltration, and those who had optimal infiltration were included. To evaluate opioid use, the dosages were obtained and converted to their respective morphine milliequivalents (mEq). The total mEq usage was obtained for the day of surgery through post-operative day (POD) 3. LOS was recorded in days. Pain scores were calculated using the visual analogue scale (VAS), obtained from the first post-operative physical therapy note. Discharge status was recorded as discharged to home or rehabilitation. We used an ANOVA test for continuous and X2-square test for categorical variables., Results: When compared to patients who had no infiltration, patients who had subpar infiltration had significantly lower opioid use on day 0, while patients who had optimal infiltration had lower opioid use on post-operative day (POD) 0 and 3. When comparing techniques, opioid use was lower on day 3 for patients who had optimal, as compared to subpar technique. However, LOS and VAS were not significantly different among the three groups. The rehab discharge rate was lower for patients who had optimal as compared to subpar technique., Conclusion: There is a learning curve associated with liposomal bupivacaine use, and incorporating an appropriate technique can markedly affect post-operative outcomes. This should be taken into account when evaluating the potential benefits of this peri-articular injection. It appears that liposomal bupivacaine may decrease opioid use and pain scores when optimal infiltration techniques are used.

Background: With the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, cost-effectiveness analyses are becoming increasingly important for resource allocation, and particularly for the justification of costly procedures, such as total knee and total hip arthroplasties (TKAs and THAs). Therefore, using the Short Form-6D (SF-6D) utility values, the purpose of this study was to determine (1) the quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) gained and (2) and the cost-effectiveness of undergoing THA and TKA., Methods: A total of 844 patients (357 men, 487 women) who had a mean age of 65 years (range, 39 to 80 years) underwent primary TKA, and 224 patients who had a mean age of 69 years (range, 44 to 88 years) underwent primary THAs at 7 institutions. The SF-6D values were derived for each patient preoperatively and at 1-year follow-up. QALYs were estimated at 1 year, and lifetime QALYs gained were determined using predicted life-expectancy values, at a discounted rate of 3% per year of life expectancy, to reflect a diminishing gain with time. National-level costs were determined using the 2011 Nationwide Inpatient Sample, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER) were deduced for both groups., Results: The preoperative SF-6D values for the THA and TKA cohorts were 0.614 (range, 0.37 to 1) and 0.62 (range, 0.3 to 0.93). Postoperatively, SF-6D values improved significantly at 1 year in both groups. One-year QALYs for TKA and THA were 0.768 and 0.799. Lifetime QALYs gained for the groups were 2.07 and 1.85 (1.39 and 1.34 if discounted at a rate of 3% per year). The estimated ICER for TKA vs baseline presurgery was $43,107 per QALY, and $39,453 per QALY for THA vs baseline presurgery., Conclusion: The ICER showed that THA and TKA are cost-effective, compared to the $50,000 USD/QALY threshold for cost-effectiveness, and justify resources allocated to these surgeries. The SF-6D can utilize existing functional outcome data, which makes these cost calculations considerably easier and more feasible for practicing orthopedists., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: There are many standardized scales and questionnaires used to evaluate TKA patients; however, individually they do not always assess patients adequately. Consequently, many are used in combinations to provide a thorough evaluation. However, this leads to redundancy, confusion, and an excessive patient time-burden. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop a usable combined knee questionnaire that combines questions in a non-redundant manner. Specifically, we aimed to: 1) create a combined knee questionnaire that encompasses questions from multiple systems, while eliminating redundancy; 2) correlate the new system with the existing validated questionnaires; and 3) determine the length of time it takes to administer this new questionnaire., Materials and Methods: In a previous study, it was determined that the six most commonly cited validated systems to assess the knee were the: Knee Society Score (KSS), The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC), Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS), Activity Rating Scale (ARS), and Short-Form-36 (SF-36). Therefore, we ensured that the new questionnaire encompassed all elements of these systems. After development of the combined questionnaire, we co-administered it to 20 subjects alongside the above validated questionnaires. We then transposed the corresponding answers from the combined questionnaire to each selected validated system to perform an intra-class correlation analysis. In addition, we recorded the length of time it took to administer the new questionnaire and compared it to the time it took to administer the individual validated questionnaires., Results: Intra-class correlation analysis demonstrated statistically significant positive correlations between the KSS, WOMAC, KOOS, LEFS, ARS, SF-36, and the corresponding questions in the combined questionnaire. The mean length of time it took to administer the combined questionnaire (mean, 10.1 minutes, range, 6.6 to 12.6 minutes) was significantly shorter than the time it took to administer the selected validated questionnaires (mean, 21.3 minutes, range, 17.3 to 24.1 minutes)., Conclusion: We have proposed an all-encompassing combined knee questionnaire that eliminates redundancy and inefficiency during the evaluation of TKA patients. It is a reliable, time-efficient system that can be utilized to fill out the most commonly used questionnaires for assessing TKA. Standardization and uniform use of this questionnaire may simplify future patient assessment following TKA.

Background: Periprosthetic infections are devastating postoperative complications of total joint arthroplasty (TJA), with native skin flora commonly identified as causative organisms. We compared 2% chlorhexidine gluconate-impregnated cloths to standard-of-care antiseptic bathing in patients before TJA, to evaluate periprosthetic infection risk at 1-year follow-up., Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, controlled trial at a single institution of patients undergoing hip or knee arthroplasty. Chlorhexidine-treated patients (275 arthroplasties) applied 2% chlorhexidine gluconate-impregnated cloths the night before and morning of admission. The standard-of-care cohort (279 arthroplasties) bathed with soap and water preadmission. Patients were excluded according to the following: (1) unable to comply with study requirements, (2) pregnant, (3) <18 years, (4) medical history of immunosuppression or steroid use, (5) chronic hepatitis B/C infection, (6) had infection around joint requiring surgery, or (7) chose not to participate. A total of 539 patients (554 arthroplasties) were included in the final population. There were no significant differences in American Society of Anesthesiologists grade, cut time, risk scores, or diabetes and smoking prevalence between cohorts (P > .05)., Results: A lower periprosthetic infection rate was found in the chlorhexidine cohort (0.4%) when compared to standard-of-care cohorts (2.9%). The infection odds ratio was 8.15 (95% confidence interval = 1.01-65.6; P = .049) for the standard-of-care cohort compared to the chlorhexidine cohort. No differences in assessed risk factors were found between groups. No severe adverse events were observed., Conclusions: Preoperative chlorhexidine cloth use decreased the risk of periprosthetic infection. This may be an appropriate antiseptic protocol to implement for patients undergoing lower extremity TJA., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The use of cementless femoral components has become the standard in younger patients due to increased implant survivorship and decreased loosening. However, it remains controversial whether these femoral stems can provide comparable results in elderly patients. Therefore, our purpose was to compare the (1) incidence of revisions; (2) clinical outcomes; (3) incidence of postoperative blood transfusions; and (4) differences in complications between the 2 cohorts., Methods: Seventy-four consecutive patients (78 hips) aged 80 years or older, who underwent primary total hip arthroplasty using a cementless, tapered, femoral stem were retrospectively compared with a matched cohort of 76 patients (78 hips) who were less than 80 years. Mean age was 83 years (range, 80-91 years) vs 59 years (range, 17-79 years) for the matched group. Minimum follow-up was 2 years. Revision rates, clinical outcomes using the Harris Hip Score, incidences of complications, and postoperative transfusion rates were evaluated., Results: In the octogenarian cohort, the aseptic survivorship was 99%, compared with 95% in the matched group. There were 2 aseptic loosenings (2.6%): 1 femoral implant loosening (1.3%) and 1 acetabular loosening, but only 1 revision was performed, as one of the patients declined revision surgery. In the matched cohort, there were 6 revisions (7.7%). There were no significant differences in revision rates between the 2 cohorts, and no significant differences in final Harris Hip Score scores. The incidence of blood transfusion in the study group was 42% vs 19% in control group (P < .01)., Conclusion: The use of cementless, tapered, femoral stems yielded excellent results in the octogenarian group, although adequate patient preoperative optimization is necessary given the significantly higher transfusion incidence., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The aim of this study was to provide an update on the "Modular taper junction corrosion and failure: how to approach a recalled total hip arthroplasty implant" (Pivec et al JOA 2014) publication., Methods: We performed a comprehensive review of the literature in English, with search terms referencing to the diagnosis, management, and outcomes of patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty with a recalled dual modular hip implant., Results: Based on this review and the new guidelines by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and the Hip Society, we propose an updated algorithm for the diagnosis and management of patients with these recalled implants., Conclusion: When encountering patients with these prostheses, it is imperative to take a step-by-step approach to evaluate whether patients are having potential complications. We hope that this has further clarified the appropriate steps that need to be carried out when confronted with these recalled devices., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Modern primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) is among the most successful operations in medicine. It has been a consistently effective treatment for end-stage osteoarthritis of the hip. With the increasing number of primary THA procedures being performed and the decreasing age of patients undergoing the procedure, there is an inevitable associated increase in revision burden for arthroplasty surgeons. Revision THA is most often indicated for instability, aseptic loosening, osteolysis, infection, periprosthetic fracture, component malposition, and catastrophic implant failure. Understanding the etiology of THA failure is essential for guiding clinical decision making. Femoral component revision presents a complex challenge to the arthroplasty surgeon because of modern implant design as well as bone loss in the proximal femur. Thorough patient evaluation, defect classification, and well-executed surgical reconstruction based on comprehensive preoperative planning may determine the postoperative results. Knowledge of various reconstructive options and the indications for each is necessary to achieve a successful outcome. This article highlights the most common indications for revision after THA and offers recommendations for how to approach revision of the femoral component. Specifically, the authors review preoperative assessment, common classification systems for femoral deficiency, techniques for component extraction, and modalities of femoral component fixation. [Orthopedics. 2016; 39(6):e1129-e1139.]., (Copyright 2016, SLACK Incorporated.)

Background: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are now using results from patient satisfaction surveys, such as Press Ganey, for reimbursement. It is unknown what factors influence scores on satisfaction surveys in post-total hip arthroplasty (THA) patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate what influences these scores in THA patients. Specifically, we aimed to evaluate: (1) how pain control affects the patients' perception of their orthopedist, nursing staff, and overall hospital satisfaction; (2) the individual impact of these factors on overall hospital satisfaction after THA; and (3) the impact of lengths of stay, age, body mass index (BMI), and American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) scores on overall satisfaction., Methods: To assess whether pain management influences patients' perception of the orthopedist, a correlation analysis was performed between pain control and perception of their doctor. Similar analyses were performed to determine the relationship between pain management and patients' perception of their treating nurse, as well as overall satisfaction. A multiple regression analysis was performed to determine which of the aforementioned factors have the greatest impact on overall satisfaction. To determine the impact of length of stay on overall hospital satisfaction, a correlation analysis was performed between these 2 variables. Similar analyses were performed for age, BMI, and ASA scores., Results: Patients' perception of pain control was significantly positively correlated with the perception of their orthopedist, nurse, and overall hospital satisfaction. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that patients' perception of nurses and orthopedists yielded a significantly positive influence on overall hospital satisfaction. A significant negative correlation existed between lengths of stay and hospital satisfaction. There were no significant correlations between age, BMI, and ASA scores and overall hospital rating., Conclusion: Post-THA patients associate pain management with hospital satisfaction, as well as their perception of their treating nurses and orthopedists. Overall satisfaction was most impacted by patients' perception of their nurse, followed by their orthopedist. In addition, there was an association between shorter length of stay and higher overall satisfaction. These results are of paramount importance because by recognizing factors that affect scores on satisfaction surveys, orthopedic surgeons can direct efforts to improve post-THA satisfaction and optimize reimbursements., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to: 1) determine the incidence of revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA); 2) correlate the percent of glycated hemoglobin with incidence of revision; and 3) determine the cause of revision in diabetic patients stratified by a glycated hemoglobin level., Materials and Methods: We analyzed 424,107 patients from a national private payer database from 2007 to 2015 to determine who had diabetes and underwent TKA. We determined the incidence of revision TKA in the overall cohort and stratified it by glycated hemoglobin levels. Correlation analysis between the levels of glycated hemoglobin and the incidence of revision TKA was performed. We performed descriptive statistics of the underlying cause of revision TKA in both the overall and stratified cohorts., Results: There was a 3.2% incidence of revision in the overall cohort. When stratified by glycated hemoglobin levels, the cohort in the 6.6 to 7.0% category had the lowest incidence of revision (2.9%). The cohorts in the 8.6 to 9% glycated hemoglobin category had the highest revision rate (4.7%). There was a significantly positive correlation between rate of revision and ascending glycated hemoglobin levels, and a significantly negative correlation between descending glycated hemoglobin levels and revision incidence. The most common cause of revision was infection in the overall and stratified groups., Conclusion: Sub-optimal glycated hemoglobin levels in diabetic patients correlated with increased revision rates in those who underwent TKA. Management of diabetics should be optimized before undergoing TKA to minimize revision surgery risk.

Background: Dislocation complicates 1% to 5% of primary total hip arthroplasties (THAs). As a result, some surgeons consider dual-mobility articulations, which are usually used in the revision setting to decrease the likelihood of dislocation, as an option for primary THA. However, few studies have evaluated their use in this setting., Questions/purposes: (1) What is the cup survivorship when the dual-mobility articulation is used in the setting of primary THA? (2) What are the clinical outcomes with this approach? (3) What are the radiographic outcomes? (4) What are the complications of dual-mobility articulations in primary THA?, Methods: Between 2011 and 2013, the five participating surgeons performed 495 cementless primary THAs. During that time, one of the five surgeons used dual-mobility articulations for all THAs, and the other four used it whenever the acetabular cup size was 52 mm or greater to enable a 28-mm head. Of the 495 patients, 453 (92%) were performed using this device. Smaller patients were treated with a standard THA. Of the 453 patients, a total of 43 patients (10%) were lost to followup before the 2-year minimum. The resulting 410 patients who were included in the analysis (164 men, 246 women) had a mean age of 64 years (SD, 12 years). The mean followup was 3 years (SD, 0.7 years). We performed Kaplan-Meier analyses to assess survivorship to aseptic failure and all-cause acetabular component survivorship. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the Harris hip score (HHS); radiographs were assessed for cup migration, progressive radiolucencies, and positional changes of the components; and any surgery-related complications were recorded., Results: The survivorship to aseptic failure and all-cause acetabular component survivorship was 99.8% (failures, n = 1) (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.517-4.547) and 99.3% (failures, aseptic, n = 1; septic, n = 2) (95% CI, 4.494-4.543); one hip had trunnion notching caused by impingement of a malpositioned cup, which was treated with revision of the cup and stem; and two patients had periprosthetic infections that were treated with two-stage revisions. There were no dislocations. Patients had a mean HHS of 94 (SD, 6) at final followup. On radiographic evaluation, no progressive radiolucencies or positional changes of the components were identified. Surgical complications included one traumatic avulsion of the abductors, one traumatic avulsion of the greater trochanter, which was repaired without revision of any of the components, and one loose femoral stem, which required revision of the femoral component only., Conclusions: Dual-mobility cups in primary THA yield seemingly comparable survivorship and complications to conventional THA bearings at short-term followup. Because serious complications have occasionally been reported with the use of these bearings, larger, longer term, comparative-and ideally, randomized-trials will be needed to establish the superiority of one approach over the other. Until or unless such studies show the superiority of dual-mobility designs for primary THA, we recommend that in the setting of uncomplicated primary THA, dual-mobility articulations be used only in centers that track their results carefully or in research protocols., Level of Evidence: Level IV, therapeutic study.

Although prosthetic hip dislocation is a common reason for revision arthroplasty, few studies have comprehensively evaluated the radiographic factors that may lead to the need for revision. Therefore, the authors radiographically evaluated all prosthetic hip dislocations that were treated at one institution. They then specifically assessed those that required revision surgery. The authors found that the prosthetic center of rotation (pCOR) was located superolateral and inferolateral to the native COR (nCOR) in all patients. Most hips had pCOR distances more than 5 mm from the nCOR. Furthermore, most patients had cup inclination and anteversion angles within Lewinnek's previously defined "safe zone." Determining these similarities and properly planning these procedures may help decrease the instability rate and therefore improve the overall success of this procedure. [Orthopedics.2016; 39(5):e1011-e1018.]., (Copyright 2016, SLACK Incorporated.)

Background: Balancing techniques in total knee arthroplasty are often based on surgeons' subjective judgment. However, newer technologies have allowed for objective measurements of soft tissue balancing. This study compared the use of sensor technology to the 30-year surgeon experience regarding (1) compartment loads, (2) soft tissue releases, and (3) component rotational alignments., Methods: Patients received either sensor-guided soft tissue balancing (n = 10) or manual gap balancing (n = 12). Wireless, intraoperative sensor tibial inserts were used to measure intracompartmental loads. The surgeon was blinded to values in the manual gap-balancing cohort. In the sensor cohort, the surgeon was unblinded, and implant trials were placed after normal releases were performed to guide further ligament releases after femoral and tibial resections, as needed. Load measurements were taken at 10°, 45°, and 90°., Results: The sensor cohort had lower medial and lateral compartment loading at 10°, 45°, and 90°. The sensor group had lower mean differences in intercompartment loading at 10° (-5.6 vs -51.7 lbs), 45° (-9.8 vs -45.9 lbs), and 90° (-4.3 vs -27 lbs) compared to manually balanced patients. There were 10 additional soft tissue releases in the sensor cohort (2 initial ones before sensor use), compared to 2 releases in the gap-balanced cohort. In the gap-balanced cohort, tibial trays were positioned at a mean 9° external rotation, compared to a mean 1° internal rotation in the sensor-guided cohort., Conclusion: Sensor-balanced total knee arthroplasties provide objective feedback to perform releases and potentially improve knee balancing and rotational alignment. Future work may clarify whether these changes are beneficial for our patients., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This study compared the rates of anterior knee pain and functional outcomes between resurfaced patellas and non-resurfaced patellas with a circumpatellar denervation. One hundred ten patients who underwent patellar resurfacing or a circumpatellar denervation were evaluated for knee pain and functional outcomes at a minimum of 2 years after total knee arthroplasty. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups regarding Knee Society Scores, anterior knee pain scores, or visual analog scale scores. The groups had similar incidences of anterior knee pain. Most patients reported no to mild effect of anterior knee pain on daily living. Patients in each group reported increased pain with kneeling, squatting, and departing an automobile. Similar proportions of patients were disappointed with their overall outcomes in each group. Circumpatellar denervation and patellar resurfacing during total knee arthroplasty lead to similar incidences of anterior knee pain. [Orthopedics. 2016; 39(5):e1019-e1023.]., (Copyright 2016, SLACK Incorporated.)

Background: It is advocated that to avoid complications associated with femoral stem impingement, acetabular positioning should be within a "safe zone." However, instability remains prevalent despite accurate cup positioning, with studies showing dislocations of cups despite positioning within safe zones. We assessed cup position angles associated with impingement in a group of subjects during (1) squatting; (2) object pick-up; and (3) low chair rise., Methods: Ten subjects (mean age, 69 years; body mass index, 28.4 kg/m(2)) performed object pick up, squatting, and low-chair rising. Femur-to-pelvis relative motions were recorded for flexion/extension, abduction/adduction, and internal/external rotation. A previously reported custom-validated hip range-of-motion 3-dimensional simulator was used, set for neutral pelvic tilt and 15(°) of stem version. Acetabular cup abduction and anteversion combinations were chosen. The software computed minimum clearances between components for any hip position. An idealized tapered wedge stem with a 132° neck angle and a 36-mm femoral head was used., Results: Eight subjects had impingement on squatting between 21(°) and 51(°) of inclination. During object pick-up, 9 subjects had impingement with inclination and anteversion angles within the "safe zone." In low-chair rise, 8 subjects had impingement at cup inclination angles between 14.5(°) and 49.5(°)., Conclusion: The true acetabular target for impingement-avoidance motion is much smaller than previously believed and varies considerably between patients. Certain activities, such as picking up an object, low-chair rise, and squatting reduce the size of the safe zone. This study supports the need for better individualized preoperative patient-specific planning and intraoperative execution for placement of the components., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in morbidly obese patients has been associated with greater postoperative complications. Cementless TKA has the potential for biologic fixation which may provide more durable long-term stability., Methods: This was a multicenter review of 298 TKAs in 292 morbidly obese patients (body mass index, >40) undergoing TKA, with 154 TKAs (149 patients) in the cemented and 144 TKAs (143 patients) in the cementless group., Results: There were significantly more revisions in the cemented group (n = 20) than in the cementless group (n = 1; 13.0% vs 0.7%). There was a significantly higher incidence of aseptic loosening in the cemented cohort vs the cementless cohort (9 vs 0 TKAs). All revisions in the cementless cohort were due to infection (0.7%)., Conclusion: Cementless fixation may be an alternative in the morbidly obese patient undergoing primary TKA., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Preoperative demographic characteristics, comorbidities, length of stay and surgery, and postoperative complications were compared between super-obese (n=1042) and nonobese (n=19,929) patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty. Super-obese patients were younger, were predominantly women, had an increased incidence of comorbid conditions such as diabetes and hypertension as well as a high rate of superficial and deep wound infections, and had a longer mean length of stay and operative time. Although super-obese patients have unique demographic characteristics and increased postoperative complications and length of stay, they may still benefit from total knee arthroplasty. Surgeons should note their high incidence of infections. [Orthopedics. 2016; 39(4):e800-e805.]., (Copyright 2016, SLACK Incorporated.)

Background: Hemophilia can lead to the development of arthropathies secondary to recurrent hemarthroses. However, given these patients' bleeding tendencies, postoperative complications associated with blood loss are a considerable concern., Methods: We identified men in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample who underwent total hip or knee arthroplasty between January 1998 and December 2010. We used propensity scores to match 332 hemophiliacs (267 hemophilia A, 65 hemophilia B) to a comparison cohort of 996 patients in a 1:3 ratio, according to the site of arthroplasty, year of admission, age, race, and Charlson and Deyo score., Results: The incidence of any postoperative transfusion was 15.06% for hemophiliacs, compared with 9.84% for the matched comparison cohort (P = .012). For hemophiliacs, the odds ratio was 1.60 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.11-2.31; P = .013) for any transfusion, 1.90 (95% CI = 1.24-2.92; P = .003) for allogenic transfusion, and 1.05 (95% CI = 0.56-1.95; P = .888) for autogenic transfusion., Conclusion: Hemophilia is associated with an increased risk of blood transfusion after lower extremity total joint arthroplasty. Patients and providers should discuss these risks before surgery, and insurers should consider incorporating this comorbidity into bundled payments for total hip and knee arthroplasty., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Variability in morphologic features of the human lower extremity within and across populations has been reported, but limb asymmetry within individuals is often overlooked. For example, in 19 studies of version of the lower extremity in the literature, 6 document asymmetry in the population, but none of these reports document asymmetry in an individual. The aim of this study was to identify the (a)symmetry and quantify variability in the tibiae and femora of matched pairs of limbs. More specifically, using a computed tomography scan database tool, we (1) identified (a)symmetry between paired left and right legs for angulation, version, and alignment features and (2) calculated the percentage of paired limbs with >1° of (a)symmetry for each evaluated parameter., Methods: Computerized axial tomographic scans (<1.0 mm slices) from bilateral lower limbs of 361 skeletally mature subjects without bone pathology were prospectively acquired. Bones were segmented and morphologic features were measured., Results: Angular features are symmetric left to right, but rotational features are not, with 7° of mean asymmetry in femoral anteversion (range: 0°-23°) and 3° of asymmetry in tibial version (range: 0°-8°)., Conclusions: This study disproves the hypothesis that human limbs are absolutely symmetric, confirming instead that there is asymmetry in version between left and right paired limbs. Surgeons strive for symmetry in lower extremity reconstruction, and they often compare side to side in outcome studies, believing that normal limbs are absolutely symmetric when this is not necessarily true. These assumptions concerning lower extremity symmetry need to be reassessed., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Pain levels of 3 knee intra-articular corticosteroid injection sites were assessed to determine if an optimal site exists. Patients were stratified by site, demographic, and disease characteristics. All injections were performed by 1 surgeon using a uniform technique. Pain severity was assessed before, 1 minute after, and 5 minutes after injection using a visual analog scale. Mean visual analog scale scores for the lateral suprapatellar, medial infrapatellar, and lateral infrapatellar injection sites were 7, 4, and 2 points, respectively, but this was not statistically significant. These results suggest intra-articular injections should be administered from an inferomedial or inferolateral site to minimize pain intensity. [Orthopedics. 2016; 39(3):e578-e581.]., (Copyright 2016, SLACK Incorporated.)

Introduction: There is increasing pressure from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to report quality measures for all hospitalizations. These quality measures are determined based on results from satisfaction surveys, such as Press Ganey® (PG) (Press Ganey® Performance Solutions, Wakefield, Massachusetts). Included in this particular survey element are questions regarding staff, including nurses and doctors, as well as items such as pain control. The results of these surveys will dictate the amount doctors are compensated for their services. Therefore, this study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of treating orthopaedists and nurses, as well as pain control, on PG surveys in patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Specifically, we aimed to ascertain the effect of these factors on how post-TKA patients perceive: 1) their orthopaedist, and 2) their overall surgical experience., Materials and Methods: We queried the Press Ganey® Database for all patients who underwent a TKA at our institution between November 2009 and January 2015. A weighted mean of question domains was utilized since each had multiple questions. In order to assess if pain management influences orthopaedist perception, a correlation analysis was performed between pain control and perception. In order to assess the influence of pain management on surgical experience, we performed a correlation analysis between pain control and overall hospital rating. A multiple regression analysis was performed using the hospital rating as the dependent variable to determine the most influential factors on surgical experience., Results: Our analysis demonstrated a significantly positive correlation between patient perception of their pain control and their orthopaedist. There was a significant positive correlation between patient's perception of their pain control and their overall surgical experience. Multiple regression analysis using overall surgical experience as the dependent variable demonstrated a significant positive influence of perception of nurses and orthopaedists. Pain management positively influenced surgical experience; however, this was not significant., Conclusions: We found that perception of pain control in post-TKA patients affects perception of the treating orthopaedists, as well as their overall surgical experience. In addition, perception of orthopaedists and nurses both outweigh perception of pain control on overall surgical experience, with nurses being the most important. Orthopaedists should focus on staff education-particularly nurses-and educate them in order to optimize results on PG surveys and, ultimately, improve patient satisfaction. Further studies should correlate current standardized scoring systems and questionnaires for TKA with PG surveys in order to recognize gaps that need to be bridged to improve post-TKA patient satisfaction.

Introduction: Newer generation cementless femoral stems have been designed to emulate more precisely the anatomy of the native femur. However, few studies have evaluated these designs. The purpose of this study was therefore to evaluate outcomes of primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) in patients who received a second-generation, tapered wedge stem by analyzing (1) all-cause and aseptic implant survivorships; (2) clinical and patient-reported outcomes; (3) radiographic outcomes; and (4) incidence of complications., Materials and Methods: We evaluated 202 primary THA patients (37% men, 63% women) who had a mean age of 63 years (range, 18 to 88) and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 29 (range, 18 to 40). All patients underwent THA using a press-fit, tapered wedge stem with a morphometric design containing a size-specific medial curvature, which optimizes initial press-fit stability. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to determine implant survivorship, and Harris Hip Scores (HHS) and the Short form-36 (SF-36) were used to evaluate clinical and patient-reported outcomes. Early postoperatively and annually thereafter, pelvic radiographs were reviewed for evidence of osteolysis or loosening. Complications were identified through a comprehensive chart review and were classified as either surgical or medical., Results: At final follow-up, the all-cause and aseptic survivorships for the femoral stem were 99.5% and 100%, respectively. At final follow-up, the mean HHS was 87 (range, 35 to 100). The SF-36 mental and physical component scores were 47 (range, 19 to 65) and 47 (range, 23 to 65), respectively, at final follow-up. No progressive radiolucencies or loosening were observed. Surgical complications included nerve palsy, posterior trochanteric avulsion, arthrofibrosis, and periprosthetic fracture. The only medical complication was acute renal failure., Conclusion: This second-generation stem demonstrated excellent short-term survivorship and functional outcomes. The improved patient fit of this stem may yield continued favorable results with longer-term follow-up.

Purpose: Due to the high number of total hip arthroplasties (THA) revised due to instability, the use of large femoral heads to reduce instability is justifiable. It is critical to determine whether or not large femoral heads used in conjunction with thin polyethylene liners lead to increased wear rates, which can lead to osteolysis. Therefore, by using validated wear-analysis software, we evaluated linear wear rates in a consecutive cohort of patients who underwent primary THA with thin polyethylene liners., Methods: All patients were selected from a consecutive, prospectively collected database of 241 THAs performed at a single institution by two fellowship-trained joint-reconstruction surgeons between July 2007 and June 2011. These patients were 1:1 matched to a cohort of patients who had conventional-thickness polyethylene liners., Results: No significant differences were observed between linear wear rates of thin or conventional-thickness liners. The Kaplan-Meier survivorship for both cohorts was 100 %, and no cases of polyethylene fracture were observed in either cohort., Conclusions: Our results suggest that according to a mean follow-up of 4 years, the use of thin liners in THA is promising. Longer follow-up is required to assess whether these outcomes are observed later.

Introduction: To ensure the continued success of total knee arthroplasties (TKAs), we must employ ever-evolving modifications to our techniques and implant designs. As part of this process, a knee prosthesis with a single radius (SR) has been developed to more precisely emulate the anatomy and biomechanics of the native knee, but there is little data on long-term outcomes. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate (1) the long-term (10-year) survivorship; (2) clinical and patient-reported outcomes; (3) radiographic outcomes; and (4) incidence of complications in patients who underwent TKA with this SR prosthesis., Materials and Methods: We evaluated 54 patients (67 TKAs) (24% men, 76% women) who had a mean age of 62 years at the time of surgery (range, 30 to 82 years). The mean follow-up was 10 years (minimum 9 years). All patients underwent a primary TKA using a newly developed single radius implant with posterior condylar flare. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to determine implant survivorship. The Knee Society Score (KSS), University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) activity scale, and Short Form-36 (SF-36) mental and physical component scores were used to evaluate clinical and patient-reported outcomes. Anteroposterior and lateral radiographs were reviewed for evidence of component loosening. Complications were identified through a comprehensive chart review and were classified as either surgical or medical., Results: Assessment of aseptic loosening revealed that survivorship of the tibial and femoral components was 100%. Evaluation of revisions for any reason showed that Kaplan-Meier aseptic and all-cause survivorship of the femoral and tibial components was 99%. When only polyethylene exchanges were included, the all-cause overall and aseptic survivorships were 94% and 96% respectively. Additionally, the mean KSS and UCLA activity scores were 64 (range, 5 to 100 points) and 5 points (range, 1 to 9 points) at final follow-up. The mean SF-36 mental and physical component scores were 53 (range, 23 to 66 points) and 39 points (range, 15 to 61 points). Surgical complications included arthrofibrosis, extensor mechanism disruption, patellar component revision, and peroneal nerve palsy. No medical complications were reported., Conclusion: Single radius total knee arthroplasties have demonstrated excellent long-term survivorship and functional outcomes, as demonstrated by this preliminary report.

Introduction: Many standardized scales and questionnaires have been developed to assess outcomes of patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, these surveys can be a burden to both patients and orthopaedists as some are time-inefficient. In addition, there is a paucity of reports assessing the time it takes to complete them. In this study we aimed to: (1) assess how long it takes to complete the most common standardized hip questionnaires; (2) determine the presence of variation in completion time; and (3) evaluate the effects of age, gender, and level of education on completion time., Materials and Methods: Based on a previous study, we selected the seven most commonly used hip scoring systems-Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Hip Outcome Assessment (WOMAC), Harris Hip Score (HHS), Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS), Larson Score, Short-form 36 (SF-36), modified Merle d'Aubigne and Postel Score (MDA), and Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS). The standardized scales and questionnaires were randomly administered to 70 subjects. The subjects were unaware that they were being timed during completion of the questionnaire. We obtained the coefficients of variation of time for each questionnaire. The mean time to complete the questionnaire was then stratified and compared based on age, gender, and level of education., Results: The mean time to complete each of the systems is listed in ascending order: Modified Merle d'Aubigne and Postel Score (MDA), Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Hip Outcome Assessment (WOMAC), Harris Hip Score (HHS), Larson Score, Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS), and Short-form 36 (SF-36). The WOMAC and Larson Score coefficients of variation were the largest, and the HOOS and MDA were the smallest. There was a significantly higher mean time to completion in those who were above or equal to the age of 55 years as compared to those who were below the age of 55 (227 vs. 166 seconds). There was no significant association found in time of completion between gender or education level., Conclusion: Standardized scales and questionnaire which assess THA patients can be burdensome and time-inefficient, which may lead to task-induced fatigue. This may result in inaccurate THA patient assessments, which do not reflect the patient's true state. Future studies should aim to create an encompassing questionnaire that is time efficient and can replace all currently used validated systems.

Objective: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) may provide a safe alternative to current side-effect-heavy narcotics and anti-inflammatories utilized in chronic low back pain. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of TENS for the treatment of chronic low back pain., Materials and Methods: We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs), cohort studies, and randomized crossover studies on TENS for the management of low back pain. We utilized a visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain as our primary outcome. Effectiveness of treatment was quantified using improvement in outcome scores for each study. Of the studies that met the criteria, 13 allowed for calculation of weighted mean differences in pain reduction. We used a random model effect to evaluate changes in pain produced by the intervention., Results: Included were nine level I and four level II, encompassing 267 patients (39% male) who had a mean follow-up of seven weeks (range; 2 to 24 weeks). The mean duration of treatment was six weeks (range; 2 to 24 weeks). The standardized mean difference in pain from pre- to post-treatment for TENS was 0.844, which demonstrated significant improvement of TENS on pain reduction. When subdividing treatment duration, patients that were treated for < 5 weeks had significant effects on pain, while those treated for > 5 weeks did not., Conclusion: Treatment of chronic low back pain with TENS demonstrated significant pain reduction. The application of TENS may lead to less pain medication usage and should be incorporated into the treatment armamentarium for chronic low back pain.

Introduction: Evaluating outcomes following total hip arthroplasty (THA) has been essential for improving satisfaction and quality of care. However, finding systems that fully encompass these outcomes poses a challenge for physicians, and often still do not provide an adequate picture of a patient's recovery. Therefore, we evaluated different scoring systems to determine the most efficient method of assessing the outcomes of patients undergoing THA., Materials and Methods: We evaluated all hip scoring systems currently available in the literature and identified the parameters assessed in the questionnaires. The parameters were then subdivided into subjective, objective, rehabilitative, and quality of life outcome measures. We identified the most commonly referenced questionnaires and assessed multiple permutations of these with other scoring systems to determine the combinations that would most efficiently and comprehensively evaluate the outcomes of patients undergoing THA., Results: The 42 identified scoring systems covered the following parameters: 4 subjective, 5 objective, 17 rehabilitative, and 18 quality of life. The Harris Hip Score (HHS) was the most cited system (5,613), but the Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS) had the greatest coverage of all the parameters (49%). On combinatorial analysis, the 2-, 3-, and 4-item permutations that had the greatest coverage were HOOS and 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) (59%), HOOS, SF-36, and Larson (75%), and HOOS, SF-36, Larson, and Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) (80%)., Conclusion: Physicians and researchers have attempted to fully assess the outcomes of patients undergoing THA. Utilizing existing scoring systems in particular combinations may allow us to form an ideal questionnaire that provides sufficient coverage of parameters, thus providing a more comprehensive way to cost-effectively evaluate outcomes. Further analysis is required to determine whether or not these permutations provide a sufficient evaluation in a clinical setting.

Trunnionosis is defined as wear of the femoral head-neck interface and has recently been acknowledged as a growing cause of total hip arthroplasty failure. Some studies have reported that it accounts for up to 3 % of all revisions. The exact cause of trunnionosis is currently unknown; however, postulated etiologies include modular junction wear, corrosion damage, and metal ion release. Additionally, implant design and trunnion geometries may contribute to the progression of component failure. In order to aid in our understanding of this phenomenon, our aim was to present the current literature on (1) the effect of femoral head size on trunnionosis, (2) the effect of trunnion design on trunnionosis, (3) localized biological reactions associated with trunnionosis, and (4) gross trunnion failures. It is hoped that this will encourage further research and interest aimed at minimizing this complication.

Background: Systemic corticosteroids are commonly used to treat autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, but they can be associated with various musculoskeletal problems and disorders. There currently is a limited amount of data describing the postoperative complications of THA associated specifically with chronic corticosteroid use., Questions/purposes: For chronic corticosteroid users undergoing THA, we asked: (1) What is the risk of hospital readmission at 30 and 90 days after surgery? (2) What is the risk of venous thromboembolism at 30 and 90 days after surgery? (3) What is the risk of revision hip arthroplasty at 12 and 24 months after surgery?, Methods: We identified patients in the Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System who underwent primary THA between January 2003 and December 2010. This database provides hospital discharge abstracts for all admissions in the state of New York each year. We used propensity scores to three-to-one match the 402 chronic corticosteroid users with a comparison cohort of 1206 patients according to age, sex, race, comorbidity score, year of surgery, and hip osteonecrosis. The risk of each outcome was compared between chronic corticosteroid users and the matched cohort. Because multiple comparisons were made, we considered p less than 0.008 as statistically significant., Results: Readmission was more common for corticosteroid users at 30 days (odds ratio [OR], 1.45; 95% CI, 1.14-1.85; p = 0.003) and 90 days (OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.09-1.73; p = 0.007). Venous thromboembolism was not more frequent in corticosteroid users at 30 days (OR, 2.39; 95% CI, 1.08-5.26; p = 0.031) or 90 days (OR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.03-3.53; p = 0.039). Revision arthroplasty was more common in corticosteroid users at 12 months (OR, 2.49; 95% CI, 1.35-4.59; p = 0.004), but not 24 months (OR, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.19-3.50; p = 0.010)., Conclusions: After THA, chronic corticosteroid use is associated with an increased risk of readmission at 30 and 90 days and revision hip arthroplasty at 12 months in corticosteroid users. Patients and providers should discuss these risks before surgery. Insurers should consider incorporating chronic corticosteroid use as a comorbidity in bundled payments for THA, since this patient population is more likely to return to their provider for care during the postoperative period., Level of Evidence: Level III, therapeutic study.

Optimal pain control in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is imperative for good rehabilitation and functional outcomes. However, despite technological advancements, surgeons continue to struggle with adequate pain management in their patients. Current modalities in use, such as patient-controlled analgesia, opioids, and epidural anesthetics, provide good pain relief but can be associated with side effects and serious complications. As a result, newer pain control modalities have been used to try to reduce the use of opioids while providing adequate pain relief. Currently, there are no clear guidelines or evidence for an optimum postoperative TKA analgesic regimen. Our aim was to evaluate the recent literature and provide a summary of the newer perioperative analgesic modalities. Evidence suggests that analgesics, such as newer oral medications, peripheral nerve blocks, and periarticular injections, may improve pain management, rehabilitation, and patient satisfaction, as well as reduce opioid consumption. The literature has also highlighted that a multimodal approach to pain management may provide the best results. However, determining which modalities provide superior pain control is still being extensively studied, and further research is needed., (Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.)