Proponents of the direct anterior approach (DAA) for hip arthroplasty (THA) claim lower postoperative pain compared to the posterolateral approach (PA); however, whether that theoretical advantage results in lower opioid consumption is unclear. We sought to investigate the relationship between the DAA and PA on total 90-day predicted opioid consumption in a large cohort. Retrospective analysis identified 2,304 DAA and 6,288 PA primary THAs in patients >18 years old from February 2019 to April 2022. Ninety-day postoperative total morphine milligram equivalent (MME); in-hospital administration, discharge prescriptions, and refills within 90 days were compared between DAA and PA cohorts. Nearest-neighbor matching was performed controlling for age, sex, BMI, ASA, and periarticular injection to evaluate opioid consumption patterns for DAA and PA. Quantile regression was employed to predict the median (50th percentile) MME prescribed by surgical approach. After matching, DAA and PA demonstrated similar median total 90-day prescribed MME ( While we identified several risk factors for increased in-hospital and 90-day post-operative opioid consumption, a comparison between DAA and PA did not demonstrate significantly different opioid prescribing patterns.
Mid-level constraint designs for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are intended to reduce coronal plane laxity. Our aims were to compare kinematics and ligament forces of the Zimmer Biomet Persona posterior-stabilized (PS) and mid-level designs in the coronal, sagittal, and axial planes under loads simulating clinical exams of the knee in a cadaver model. We performed TKA on eight cadaveric knees and loaded them using a robotic manipulator. We tested both PS and mid-level designs under loads simulating clinical exams via applied varus and valgus moments, internal-external (IE) rotation moments, and anteroposterior forces at 0°, 30°, and 90° of flexion. We measured the resulting tibiofemoral angulations and translations. We also quantified the forces carried by the medial and lateral collateral ligaments (MCL/LCL) via serial sectioning of these structures and use of the principle of superposition.Aims
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Due to the opioid epidemic, our service developed a cultural change highlighted by decreasing discharge opioids after lower extremity arthroplasty. However, concern of potentially increasing refill requests exists. As such, the goal of this study was to analyze whether decreased discharge opioids led to increased postoperative opioid refills. We retrospectively reviewed 19,428 patients undergoing a primary hip or knee arthroplasty at a single institution from 2016–2019. Patients that underwent secondary procedures within that timeframe were excluded. Two-thousand two-hundred and forty-one patients (12%) were on narcotics preoperatively or had chronic pain syndrome. Two reductions in routine discharge narcotics were performed over this timeframe. First, 8,898 patients routinely received 750 morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs). After the first reduction, 4,842 patients routinely received 520 MMEs. After a second reduction, 5,688 patients routinely received 320 MMEs. We analyzed refill rates, refill MMEs, and whether discharge MMEs were associated with refill MMEs in a multivariate model.Introduction
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Surgeons commonly resect additional distal femur during primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) to correct a flexion contracture. However, the effect of joint line proximalization on TKA kinematics is unclear. Thus, our goal was to quantify the effect of additional distal femoral resection on knee extension and mid-flexion laxity. Six computational knee models with TKA-specific capsular and collateral ligament properties were implanted with a contemporary posterior-stabilized TKA. A 10° flexion contracture was modeled to simulate a capsular contracture. Distal femoral resections of +2 mm and +4 mm were simulated for each model. The knees were then extended under standardized torque to quantify additional knee extension achieved. Subsequently, varus and valgus torques of ±10 Nm were applied as the knee was flexed from 0° to 90° at the baseline, +2 mm, and +4 mm distal resections. Coronal laxity, defined as the sum of varus and valgus angulation with respective torques, was measured at mid-flexion.Introduction
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Manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) remains the gold standard to address restricted range of motion (ROM) within 3–6 months after primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, there is little data on the outcomes of MUA with different types of anesthesia. We sought to compare the outcomes of patients undergoing MUA with intravenous (IV) sedation and neuraxial anesthesia. We identified 548 MUAs after primary TKA (136 IV sedation, 413 neuraxial anesthesia) at a single institution from 2016–2019. Mean age was 62 years and 349 patients (64%) were female. Mean body mass index was 32 kg/m2. The mean time from primary TKA to MUA was 10 weeks. Mean pre-MUA ROM was similar between each group; mean pre-MUA extension was 4.2° (p=0.35) and mean pre-MUA flexion was 77° (p=0.56). Patient demographics were statistically similar between both groups. We compared immediate complications, including fracture, extensor mechanism disruptions, and wound complications, Visual analogue pain scores (VAS), length of stay (LOS), and immediate and 3 month follow-up ROM between these groups.Introduction
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While knee arthrodesis is a salvage option for recalcitrant total knee arthroplasty (TKA) periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) it is used relatively uncommonly and contemporary data are limited. We sought to determine the reliability, durability and safety of knee arthrodesis as the definitive treatment for complex, persistently infected TKA in a modern series of patients. We retrospectively identified 41 knees treated from 2002–2016 with a deliberate, two-stage knee arthrodesis protocol (TKA resection, high-dose antibiotic spacer, targeted IV antibiotics and followed by subsequent knee arthrodesis) in patients with complex TKA PJI. Mean age was 64 years & mean BMI was 39 kg/m2. Mean follow-up was 4 years. The extensor mechanism was deficient in 66% of knees, and flap coverage was required in 34% of knees. The majority of patients were host grade B (56%) or C (29%), and extremity grade of 3 (71%). Twenty-nine percent had poly-microbial infections, and 49% had multi-drug resistant organisms. Fixation included intramedullary nail (61%), external fixator (24%), and dual plating (15%).Introduction
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Modular dual-mobility constructs reduce the risk of dislocation after total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, questions about metal ions from the cobalt-chrome (CoCr) liner persist, and are particularly germane to patients being revised for adverse local tissue reactions (ALTR) to metal. We determined the mid-term serum Co and Cr levels after modular dual-mobilities used in revision and complex primary THAs, and specifically included patients revised for ALTR. Serum Co and Cr levels were measured prospectively in 22 patients with a modular dual-mobility construct and a ceramic femoral head. Patients with CoCr heads or contralateral THAs with CoCr heads were excluded. Mean age 64 years with 50% female. The mean follow-up was 4 years. Indications for modular dual-mobility were: periprosthetic joint infection treated with 2-stage exchange and subsequent reimplantation (n=8), ALTR revision (n=7), complex primary THA (n=6), and periprosthetic femoral fracture (n=1). Mean preoperative Co and Cr in patients revised for an ALTR were 29.7 µg/L and 21.5 µg/L, respectively.Introduction
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There is no literature regarding the risk of a patient developing PJI after primary TKA if the patient has previously experienced PJI of a TKA or THA in another joint. The goal of this study was to compare the risk of PJI of primary TKA in this patient population compared to matched controls. We retrospectively reviewed 95 patients (102 primary TKAs) from 2000–2014 with a history of a TKA or THA PJI in another joint. Mean age was 69 years; mean BMI was 36 kg/m2. 27% high-risk patients were on chronic antibiotic suppression. Mean follow-up was 6 years. We 1:3 matched (to age, sex, BMI, and surgical year) these to 306 primary TKAs performed in patients with a THA or TKA of another joint without a subsequent PJI. Competing risk with death was used for statistical analysis. Multivariate analysis was utilized to evaluate risk factors for PJI in the study cohort.Introduction
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