No abstract

No abstract

The goal of this study was to evaluate patient satisfaction with the use of a mobile compression device after anterior total hip arthroplasty. Two hundred forty-seven patients used the mobile compression device for 10 days after surgery with recommended adjunctive 325 mg aspirin therapy. The device has a rechargeable battery pack that weighs 1.65 lb and is attached to compression sleeves worn over the calves of both lower extremities. It delivers sequential compression to the sleeves at a pressure of 50 mm Hg for about 10 seconds at a cycle of 1/min and is synchronized to the patient's venous blood flow pulses. A questionnaire was administered to all patients at 1-month follow-up to gauge patient perception of the device. There were 14 questions about comfort, noise, cost, pain, skin breakdown, rash, and falls related to the device. Overall, 234 of 247 (94.7%) patients stated that they would use the device again. The most common complaint from patients was that the mobile compression device was cumbersome (63.6%). Twenty-five patients (10.1%) reported having a fall while using the device, although no fall-related injuries were documented. Therefore, the authors recommend counseling patients about fall risk and reminding them to use caution while moving about with the device. Despite the limitations described in this study, the data confirmed that patients who used the device had an overall positive response to the system and would choose to use the device again rather than using chemical agents for deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis.

Aims The purpose of this study was to use pharmacogenetics to determine the frequency of genetic variants in our total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients that could affect postoperative pain medications. Pharmacogenetic testing evaluates patient DNA to determine if a drug is expected to have a normal clinical effect, heightened effect, or no effect at all on the patient. It also predicts whether patients are likely to experience side effects from medicine. We further sought to determine if changing the multimodal programme based on these results would improve pain control or reduce side effects. Methods In this pilot study, buccal samples were collected from 31 primary TKA patients. Pharmacogenetics testing examined genetic variants in genes OPRM1, CYP1A2, CYP2B6, CYP2C19, CYP3A4, CYP2C9, and CYP2D6. These genes affect the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and opioids. We examined the frequency of genetic variants to any of the medications we prescribed including celecoxib, hydrocodone, and tramadol. Patients were randomized to one of two groups: the control group received the standard postoperative pain regimen, and the study group received a customized regimen based on the pharmacogenetic results. For the first ten postoperative days, patients recorded pain scores, medication, and side effects. Results Genetic variants involving one or more medications in the multimodal pain protocol occurred in 13 of the 31 patients (42%). In total, eight patients (26%) had variants affecting more than one of the medications. For the 25 patients who recorded pain and medication logs, the mean pain levels and morphine equivalents (MEQs) consumed in the first ten days were higher in the control group than in the custom-guided group (p = 0.019 for pain and p = 0.655 for MEQ). Conclusion Overall, 42% of patients had a variant involving one of the pain medications prescribed in our perioperative pain program for TKA. Ongoing research will help determine if using these data to modify a patient’s medication will improve outcomes. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2020;102-B(6 Supple A):73–78.

BackgroundMedicare’s mandatory bundle for hip and knee arthroplasty necessitates provider accountability for quality and cost of care to 90 days, and wound closure may be a key area of consideration. The DERMABOND® PRINEO® Skin Closure System (22 cm) combines a topical skin adhesive with a self-adhering mesh without the need for dressing changes or suture or staple removal. This study estimated the budget impact of the Skin Closure System compared to other wound closure methods for hip and knee arthroplasty.MethodsA 90-day economic model was developed assuming 500 annual hip/knee arthroplasties for a typical US hospital setting. In current practice, wound closure methods for the final skin layer were set to 50% sutures and 50% staples. In future practice, this distribution shifted to 20% sutures, 20% staples, and 60% Skin Closure System. Health care resources included materials (eg, staplers, steri-strips, and traditional/barbed sutures), standard or premium dressings, outpatient visits, and home care visits. An Expert Panel, comprised of three orthopedic physician assistants, two orthopedic surgeons, and a home health representative, was used to inform several model parameters. Other inputs were informed by national data or literature. Unit costs were based on list prices in 2016 US dollars. Uncertainty in the model was explored through one-way sensitivity and alternative scenario analyses.ResultsThe analysis predicted that use of Skin Closure System in the future practice could achieve cost savings of $56.70 to $79.62 per patient, when standard or premium wound dressings are used, respectively. This translated to an annual hospital budgetary savings ranging from $28,349 to $39,809 when assuming 500 arthroplasties. Dressing materials and postoperative health care visits were key model drivers.ConclusionsUse of the Skin Closure System may provide cost savings within hip and knee arthroplasties due to decreases in resource utilization in the postacute care setting.

No abstract

The Center for Health Design estimates that more than 30% of surgical site infections are caused by airborne pathogens. A device that creates a localized clean air field directly adjacent to and surrounding the incision site is meant to shield a surgical site from particulate in the operating room. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the routine use of this device would reduce the rate of infection following total hip arthroplasty (THA). The authors conducted a retrospective review of primary THA cases performed with and without the airflow device. Since July 2013, a total of 1093 primary THA cases were performed with the device at the authors' institution. The incidence of wound dehiscence and deep infection was compared with that of 1171 THA cases performed prior to July 2013 without the airflow device. There were no significant differences between the study groups regarding average patient age, sex, body mass index, or diagnosis. In the airflow group, there were 7 (0.64%) deep infections and 5 (0.46%) cases of wound dehiscence that required a return to the operating room for irrigation and wound revision. In the control group, there were 7 (0.60%) cases of deep infection and 4 (0.34%) wound revisions. The groups were not significantly different in the rates of infection ( P =1.0) or wound revision ( P =.75). Both groups had a very low incidence of infection and wound revision, with rates below 1%. Despite compelling bench data showing a dramatic reduction of particle load in the wound, the use of the airflow device did not reduce the clinical rate of infection over a large number of cases. [ Orthopedics . 2020;43(5):e425–e430.]

No abstract