Background: Evidence-based international expert consensus regarding anaesthetic practice in hip/knee arthroplasty surgery is needed for improved healthcare outcomes. Methods: The International Consensus on Anaesthesia-Related Outcomes after Surgery group (ICAROS) systematic review, including randomised controlled and observational studies comparing neuraxial to general anaesthesia regarding major complications, including mortality, cardiac, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, renal, genitourinary, thromboembolic, neurological, infectious, and bleeding complications. Medline, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library including Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, NHS Economic Evaluation Database, from 1946 to May 17, 2018 were queried. Meta-analysis and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach was utilised to assess evidence quality and to develop recommendations. Results: The analysis of 94 studies revealed that neuraxial anaesthesia was associated with lower odds or no difference in virtually all reported complications, except for urinary retention. Excerpt of complications for neuraxial vs general anaesthesia in hip/knee arthroplasty, respectively: mortality odds ratio (OR): 0.

Patients undergoing bilateral total knee arthroplasty (BTKA) may have higher complication rates and mortality than those undergoing a unilateral procedure (UTKA). To evaluate this hypothesis, we analyzed nationally representative data collected for the National Hospital Discharge Survey on discharges after BTKA, UTKA, and revision TKA (RTKA) between 1990 and 2004. The demographics, comorbidities, in-hospital stay, complications, and mortality of each procedure were compared. An estimate of 4,159,661 discharges (153,259 BTKAs; 3,672,247 UTKAs; 334,155 RTKAs) were included. Patients undergoing BTKA were younger (1.5 years) and had a lower prevalence of comorbidities for hypertension (versus UTKA), diabetes, pulmonary disease, and coronary artery disease (versus UTKA and RTKA). The length of hospitalization was 5.8 days for BTKA, 5.3 for UTKA, and 5.4 for RTKA. Despite similar length of hospitalization, the prevalence of procedure-related complications was higher for BTKA (12.2%) compared with UTKA (8.2%) and RTKA (8.7%). In-hospital mortality was highest for patients undergoing BTKA (BTKA, 0.5%; UTKA, 0.3%; RTKA, 0.3%). Patients undergoing BTKA had a 1.6 times higher rate of procedure-related complications and mortality compared with those undergoing UTKA. Outcomes for patients undergoing RTKA for most variables were similar to those for UTKA. BTKA, advanced age, and male gender were independent risk factors for complications and mortality after TKA. Level of Evidence: Level III, therapeutic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Background The safety of bilateral total knee arthroplasties (BTKA) during the same hospitalization remains controversial. We sought to study differences in perioperative outcomes between unilateral and BTKA, and further compare BTKAs performed during the same versus different operations during the same hospitalization. Methods Nationwide Inpatient Sample data from 1998 to 2006 were analyzed. Entries for unilateral and BTKA procedures performed on the same day (simultaneous) and separate days (staged) during the same hospitalization were identified. Patient and health-care system related demographics were determined. The incidence of in-hospital mortality and procedure related complications was estimated and compared between groups. Multivariate regression was used to identify independent risk factors for morbidity and mortality. Results Despite younger average age and lower comorbidity burden, procedure related complications and in-hospital mortality were more frequent after BTKA than after unilateral procedures (9.45% vs. 7.07% and 0.30% vs. 0.14%, P<0.0001 each). An increased rate of complications was associated with a staged versus simultaneous approach with no difference in mortality (10.30% vs. 9.15% (P<0.0001) and 0.29% vs. 0.26% (P=0.2875)). Independent predictors for in-hospital mortality included: BTKA (simultaneous: OR 2.23, CI=[1.69; 2.95], P<0.0001; staged: OR 2.01, CI=[1.28; 3.41], P=0.0031), male gender (OR 2.02, CI=[1.75, 2.34], P<0.0001), age above 75 years (OR 3.96 CI=[2.77, 5.66], P<0.0001), and the presence of a number of comorbidities and complications. Conclusion BTKAs carry increased risk of perioperative morbidity and mortality compared to unilateral procedures. Staging BTKA procedures during the same hospitalization offers no mortality benefit, and may even expose patients to increased morbidity.

Anticoagulation for thromboprophylaxis after THA and TKA has not been confirmed to diminish allcause mortality. We determined whether the incidence of all-cause mortality and pulmonary embolism in patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty differs with currently used thromboprophylaxis protocols. We reviewed articles

Precise evaluation of acetabular cup version is necessary for patients with recurrent hip dislocation after THA. We retrospectively studied 42 patients, who underwent THAs, with multiple cross-table lateral radiographs and CT scans to determine whether radiographic or CT measurement of acetabular component version is more accurate. One observer measured cup version on all radiographs. CT scans were interpreted by one observer. Twenty radiographs were measured twice each by two observers to determine intraobserver and interobserver reliability. We implanted cups in four model pelvises using navigation and compared measurements of anteversion made with radiographs and CT scans. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) for anteversion measurements of two observers were 0.9990 and 0.9998, respectively, when comparing measurements of identical radiographs (intraobserver). Paired values for two observers measuring the same radiograph had an ICC of 0.9686 (interobserver) compared with 0.7412 for measurements from serial radiographs of the same component. The ICC comparing radiographic versus CT-based measurements was 0.6981. CT measurements had stronger correlations with navigated values than radiographic measurements. Accuracy of anteversion measurements on crosstable radiographs depends on radiographic technique and patient positioning whereas properly performed CT measurements are independent of patient position.

To determine trends in characteristics of total hip arthroplasty (THA) in the United States, the National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS) was analyzed from 1990 to 2004 for trends in in-hospital mortality and complications, length of hospital stay, demographics, and comorbidities. The number of THAs performed increased by 158%, whereas mortality rates remained low and slightly decreased (from 0.32% to 0.29%). Prevalence of procedure-related complications decreased over time, and length of stay decreased from an average of 8.7 days to 4.5 days. These improvements occurred despite an increase in comorbidities in patients. An increase in both the proportion of discharges to long- and short-term care facilities and in the proportion of procedures performed in smaller hospitals was noted. Multiple temporal changes in outcomes and demographics for THA were found. These changes have implications for clinical care and allocation of health resources.

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Systematic review of Level III therapeutic studies, Level III.