Background Spinal anesthesia (SA) has been previously associated with improved outcomes after total joint arthroplasty (TJA). The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes between various local anesthetics. Methods This was a retrospective study of 1,328 patients undergoing primary TJA with SA from September 2020–2021 at a single institution. Patients were grouped based on TKA or THA and further separated and analyzed in terms of anesthetic agents—mepivacaine (M), hyperbaric bupivacaine (HB), or isobaric bupivacaine (IB). Subgroup analysis of same-day-discharge (SDD) patients and low- (<11 mg) and high-dose bupivacaine was performed. Statistical significance was assessed at P<0.05. Results Mepivacaine use was associated with younger age, lower ASAs, and lower Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) scores in both THAs and TKAs. Postoperatively, significant differences were found between HB, IB, and M in LOS, the first PT ambulation distance and rates of SDD, and home discharge in both THAs and TKAs. No significant differences in outcomes were observed between high- and low-dose bupivacaine in THAs or TKAs. In SDD patients, a significant difference was found only in the first 6-clicks mobility scores. After controlling for age, BMI, sex, ASA, and procedure type, mepivacaine was found to be associated with shorter LOS, increased likelihood of SDD, home discharge, POD-0 ambulation, and, further, the first ambulation distance. No significant differences were observed in 6-clicks mobility scores, urinary retention, 30-day ED returns or 30-day readmissions. Conclusions Both bupivacaine and mepivacaine are safe and effective local anesthetics for patients undergoing TJA as evidenced by low, similar rates of urinary retention and 30-day ED returns and readmissions. Mepivacaine does appeared to facilitate early ambulation, shorter LOS and home discharge and should be considered as the local anesthetic of choice for patients undergoing rapid recovery TJA.
Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 has resulted in a global pandemic with several hundred million infections worldwide. COVID-19 causes systemic complications that last beyond the initial infection. It is not known whether patients who undergo elective orthopaedic surgeries after COVID-19 are at increased risk of complications. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether patients who undergo orthopaedic procedures after recent COVID-19 diagnosis are at increased risk of complications compared with those who have not had a recent COVID-19 diagnosis. Methods: The TriNetX Research Network database was queried for patients undergoing elective orthopaedic surgeries from April 2020 to January 2022 in the following subspecialties: arthroscopic surgery, total joint arthroplasty, lumbar fusion, upper extremity surgery, foot and ankle (FA) surgery. Cohorts were defined by patients undergoing surgery with a diagnosis of COVID-19 from 7 to 90 days before surgery and those with no COVID-19 diagnosis 0 to 90 days before surgery. These cohorts were propensity-score matched based on differences in demographics and comorbidities. The matched cohorts were evaluated using measures of association analysis for complications, emergency department (ER) visits, and readmissions occurring 90 days postoperatively. Results: Patients undergoing arthroscopic surgery were more likely to experience venous thromboembolism (VTE) (P = 0.006), myocardial infarction (P = 0.001), and ER visits (P = 0.001). Patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty were more likely to experience VTE (P , 0.001), myocardial infarction (P , 0.001), pneumonia (P, 0.001), and ER visits (P = 0.037). Patients undergoing lumbar fusion were more likely to experience VTE (P = 0.016), infection (P , 0.001), pneumonia (P , 0.001), and readmission (P = 0.006). Patients undergoing upper extremity surgery were more likely to experience VTE (P = 0.001) and
Background Various episode-of-care bundled payment models for patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty have been implemented. However, participation in bundled payment programs has dropped given the challenges of meeting continually lower target prices. The purpose of our study is to investigate the cost of outpatient physical therapy (PT) and the potential for stand-alone outpatient PT bundled payments for patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA). Methods A retrospective review of 501 patients who underwent primary unilateral THA from November 2017 to February 2020 was performed. All patients included in this study received postoperative PT care at a single hospital-affiliated PT practice. Patients above the 75th percentile of therapy visits were then classified as high-PT utilizers and compared with the rest of the population using univariate statistics. Stepwise multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the predictors of high therapy utilization. Results Patients averaged 65 ± 10 years of age and a BMI of 29 ± 5 kg/m2. Overall, 80% of patients were white and 53% were female. The average patient had 11 ± 8 total therapy sessions in 42 days: one initial evaluation, one re-evaluation and 9 standard sessions. High-PT utilizers incurred estimated average costs of $1934 ± 431 per patient, compared to $783 ± 432 (P < 0.001) in the rest of the population. Further, no significant differences in 90-day outcomes including lower extremity functional scale scores, emergency department returns, readmissions, or returns to the operating room were observed between high utilizers and the rest of the population (all P > 0.08). In the multivariate analysis, women (OR = 1.68, P = 0.017) and those with sleep apnea (OR = 2.02, P = 0.012) were nearly twice as likely to be high utilizers, while white patients were 42% less likely to be high utilizers than patients of other races (OR = 0.58, P = 0.028). Conclusions Outpatient PT utilization is highly variable in patients undergoing THA. However, despite using more services and incurring increased cost, patients in the top quartile of utilization experienced similar outcomes to the rest of the population. If outpatient therapy bundles are to be developed, 16 visits appear to be a reasonable target for pricing, given this provides adequate coverage for 75% of THA patients.
Background Postoperative rehabilitation protocols, including weightbearing restrictions following hip arthroscopy (HA) for femoracetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS), vary widely among surgeons, from complete non-weightbearing to immediate weightbearing as tolerated; it is unclear if weightbearing restrictions affect short-term outcomes in patients undergoing HA. The purpose of this study is to evaluate patients undergoing hip arthroscopy for FAIS before and after a change in weightbearing protocol, from partial weightbearing with crutches for three weeks to weightbearing and weaning from crutches as tolerated, by examining postoperative outcomes. We hypothesize that the change in weightbearing protocol will have no significant effect on patient outcomes. Methods A retrospective review was conducted of 211 patients undergoing hip arthroscopy by a single high-volume surgeon. The change in weightbearing was implemented in February 2022; previously, all patients were toe-touch weightbearing with crutches for the first three weeks postoperatively. Following this change, patients were allowed to weightbear as tolerated with crutches immediately and wean from crutches as tolerated. The patients were divided into two groups: 119 patients pre-implementation (January 2021 to January 2022) and 92 patients post-implementation (February 2022 to December 2022). The primary endpoint was any complication in the first six weeks postoperatively, divided into complications at two and six weeks, emergency department returns in the first 90 days, reoperations in the first 30 days, and pain at six weeks. We also compared patient-reported outcomes at six weeks. Results There were no significant differences in demographics between groups. There were no significant differences in postoperative outcomes between patients that had weightbearing restrictions and those that did not when looking at 30 day return to operating room (0 vs 0%, p=1.000), 90-day return to emergency department (8.4 vs. 13.0%, p=0.386), two-week complications (2.5 vs. 6.5%, p=0.279), six-week complications (1.7 vs. 1.1%, p=1.000), pain score at six weeks postoperatively (0.34 vs. 0.33, p=0.971), any pain at six weeks postoperatively 37.8 vs. 32.6%, p=0.523), and six-week Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) physical function (PF) score (36.0 vs. 34.5, p=0.330). Conclusion Patients undergoing HA after the discontinuation of a mandatory period of protected weightbearing did not experience any significant increase in complications or continued pain, and patient-reported outcomes were similar. Routine postoperative weightbearing restrictions may not be necessary for patients undergoing hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome. Further study is required to validate these findings and determine the optimal postoperative protocol for this patient population.
BackgroundThe purpose of our study is to investigate disparities in the patient populations and outcomes of carpal tunnel release (CTR) and trigger finger release (TFR). MethodsA retrospective review of 777 CTR and 395 TFR patients from May 2021 to August 2022 was completed. The shortened form of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) scores (QuickDASH) was recorded to evaluate physical function preoperatively and at one and three months postoperatively. This study was deemed institutional review board-exempt by the institutional clinical research committee. ResultsCompared to CTR, TFR patients resided in zip codes with higher levels of social vulnerability across dimensions of 'household composition and disability' (p=0.018) and 'minority status and language' (p=0.043). When analyzing QuickDASH scores by demographics and procedure, preoperative scores were statistically significantly higher for non-married (p=0.002), White (p=0.003), and female sex (p=0.001) CTR patients. Further, one-month postoperative scores were statistically higher for White and non-married CTR patients (0.016 and 0.015, respectively). At three months postoperatively, female and non-married patients had statistically significant higher scores (0.010 and 0.037, respectively). In TFR patients, one-month postoperative QuickDASH scores for White and female patients were statistically significantly higher (0.018 and 0.007, respectively). There were no significant differences in QuickDASH scores between rural and nonrural patients, household income (HHI) above or below the median, or the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) dimensions. ConclusionOur study found marital status, sex, and race were associated with disparities in pre-and postoperative physical function in patients undergoing carpal tunnel or trigger finger release. However, future studies are warranted to confirm and develop solutions to disparities within this population.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.