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No mechanical, radiographic, or histologic differences in the quality of intertransverse process fusion resulted from a 40-fold variation in dose of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2.

Background: Postoperative blood product transfusions in elderly hip fracture patients cause concern for morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to identify predictors and short-term sequelae of postoperative transfusion following geriatric hip fracture surgery. Methods: We queried the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) to identify geriatric (⩾65 years) patients who sustained operative femoral neck, intertrochanteric, and subtrochanteric hip fractures in 2016. Multivariate regression was used to determine risk-adjusted odds ratios (OR) of associated perioperative risk factors and sequelae of postoperative transfusion. Results: In total, 8416 geriatric hip fracture patients were identified of whom 28.3% had documented postoperative transfusion. In multivariate analysis, age (OR 1.03 [1.02–1.04], p < 0.001), preoperative anaemia (OR 4.69 [3.99–5.52], p = 0.001), female sex (OR 1.61 [1.39–1.87], p < 0.001), lower BMI (OR 0.97 [0.96–0.98], p < 0.001), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification (OR 1.14 [1.01–1.27], p = 0.031), COPD (OR 1.30 [1.06–1.59], p = 0.011), hypertension (OR 1.17 [1.01–1.35], p = 0.038), increased OR time (OR 1.02 [1.01–1.03], p < 0.001), and intertrochanteric (OR 2.99 [2.57–3.49], p < 0.001) and subtrochanteric femur fractures (OR 5.07 [3.84–6.69], p < 0.001) were independent risk factors for receiving postoperative blood transfusion. Patients with postoperative transfusion had a significantly higher risk-adjusted 30-day mortality (8.4% vs. 6.4%, OR 1.29 [1.02–1.64], p = 0.035), hospital readmission rate (9.4% vs. 7.7%, OR 1.27 [1.04–1.55], p = 0.018), and total hospital LOS (7.3 vs. 6.3 days, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Postoperative transfusion is a common occurrence in geriatric fragility hip fractures with multiple risk factors. Careful preoperative planning and multidisciplinary management efforts are warranted to reduce use of postoperative transfusions.

The novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), pandemic has delivered a profound and negative impact on the United States. The suspension of elective surgeries including arthroplasty will have a lasting effect on all stakeholders including patients, physicians, and healthcare organizations within the US healthcare system. Resumption of elective hip and knee arthroplasty will need to be carefully focused. The purpose of this work is to address potential strategies, concerns, and regulatory barriers in restarting elective hip and knee arthroplasty in the United States.