Purpose. The purposes of this study are as follows; 1) to compare postoperative blood loss between general anesthesia(GA) and spinal anesthesia(SA) and 2) to analyze the affecting factors of postoperative blood loss through the subgroup analysis. METHODS. A retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data of 122 patients with osteoarthritis undergoing primary TKA between January 2012 and December 2013. According to different anesthetic method, the patients were divided into the General Anesthesia group (73 cases) and the Spinal Anesthesia group (49 cases). Each group was divided subgroup as age, BMI, Preoperative blood pressure, Surgery time, Torniquet time, INR. The total blood loss, Post Operation 1 day blood loss, hidden blood loss, and the percentage of hidden blood loss were compared between 2 groups. For the analysis of postoperative blood loss, each group was compared postoperative blood loss using hemovac drainage per day and total blood loss. In preoperative blood pressure, Higher than 140 mmHg in systolic blood pressure and higher than 90 mmHg in diastolic blood pressure were employed as a cut-off value to group the well-controlled hypertension group(n=42) and uncontrolled hypertension group(n=29). RESULTS. One day after the surgery blood loss(p=0.322) and total blood loss(p=0.560) showed no significant differences between two group. But in the uncontrolled hypertension group showed a large amount of bleeding one day after the surgery(p=0.003) and total blood loss(p=0.004) in the spinal anesthesia. CONCLUSION. It seems that, general anesthesia is effective method to reduce postoperative blood loss. Preoperative blood pressure control is one of the important affecting factor of postoperative blood loss

Limited strong data exists in current literature comparing the 90-day morbidity and mortality following general or spinal anesthetic in patients who underwent total hip or knee arthroplasty, especially between matched cohorts. Because of this, there continues to be an ongoing debate regarding the risks and benefits of using general versus spinal anesthetic for patients undergoing elective total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for end-stage osteoarthritis. The Alberta Bone and Joint Health Institute (ABJHI) database was searched to identify all patients who underwent either primary THA or TKA between April 2005 and December 2015. Those identified were matched 1:1 based on age, sex, type of joint replacement (THA or TKA), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, and anesthetic type. Patients were stratified into two groups based on whether they received a general anesthesia (GA) or a spinal anesthesia (SA) at the time of their index surgery. Perioperative complications (medical events, mechanical events, deep infection, need for blood transfusion), length of stay (LOS), 30-day readmission, and 90-day mortality were compared between cohorts. Included in this study are 5,580 patients who underwent THA and 7,712 patient who underwent TKA. All were successfully matched based on similar categorical criteria (THA, 2,790 matched-pairs, TKA, 3,856 matched-pairs). Following stratifications of cohorts, no statistical differences were appreciated between patient baseline demographics. Patients who underwent GA showed a trend towards higher 90-day mortality, however no statistical differences were found between anesthetic type on rates of 90-day mortality following either THA or TKA (THA, p = 0.290, TKA, p = 0.291). Considering this, patients who underwent THA with SA experienced fewer 90-day complications (medical events, p = 0.022, mechanical events, p = 0.017), needed fewer blood transfusions (p < 0 .001), and required shorter LOS (p = 0.038). Moreover, patient who underwent TKA with SA had fewer blood transfusion (p < 0 .001), 30-day readmission rates (p = 0.011), and fewer deep infections (p = 0.030) that required additional surgery compared to those in the GA cohort. Regardless of surgery performed, patients in the SA cohorts were more commonly discharged home without requiring additional support (i.e. home care). General anesthesia during THA and TKA appears to be associated with increased 90-day morbidity and more frequent need for allogenic blood transfusion. No statistical difference in 90-day mortality is reported between cohorts for either THA or TKA, yet a trend is appreciated favoring SA. Surgeons who commonly perform these surgeries should consider the added benefits of spinal anesthesia for those patients who are candidates

Aims. COVID-19 represents one of the greatest global healthcare challenges in a generation. Orthopaedic departments within the UK have shifted care to manage trauma in ways that minimize exposure to COVID-19. As the incidence of COVID-19 decreases, we explore the impact and risk factors of COVID-19 on patient outcomes within our department. Methods. We retrospectively included all patients who underwent a trauma or urgent orthopaedic procedure from 23 March to 23 April 2020. Electronic records were reviewed for COVID-19 swab results and mortality, and patients were screened by telephone a minimum 14 days postoperatively for symptoms of COVID-19. Results. A total of 214 patients had orthopaedic surgical procedures, with 166 included for analysis. Patients undergoing procedures under general or spinal anaesthesia had a higher risk of contracting perioperative COVID-19 compared to regional/local anaesthesia (p = 0.0058 and p = 0.0007, respectively). In all, 15 patients (9%) had a perioperative diagnosis of COVID-19, 14 of whom had fragility fractures; six died within 30 days of their procedure (40%, 30-day mortality). For proximal femoral fractures, our 30-day mortality was 18.2%, compared to 7% in 2019. Conclusion. Based on our findings, patients undergoing procedures under regional or local anaesthesia have minimal risk of developing COVID-19 perioperatively. Those with multiple comorbidities and fragility fractures have a higher morbidity and mortality if they contract COVID-19 perioperatively; therefore, protective care pathways could go some way to mitigate the risk. Our 30-day mortality of proximal femoral fractures was 18.2% during the COVID-19 pandemic in comparison to the annual national average of 6.1% in 2018 and the University Hospital Coventry average of 7% for the same period in 2019, as reported in the National Hip Fracture Database. Patients undergoing procedures under general or spinal anaesthesia at the peak of the pandemic had a higher risk of contracting perioperative COVID-19 compared to regional block or local anaesthesia. We question whether young patients undergoing day-case procedures under regional block or local anaesthesia with minimal comorbidities require fourteen days self-isolation; instead, we advocate that compliance with personal protective equipment, a negative COVID-19 swab three days prior to surgery, and screening questionnaire may be sufficient. Cite this article: Bone Joint Open 2020;1-9:520–529

The use of spinal anesthesia with adjuvant intra-thecal opioids has been commonly used in total knee arthroplasty without documented clinical benefit. It has been associated with a potential increase in side effects, including nausea, vomiting, pruritus, urinary retention and oxygen usage. This double-blinded RCT investigated whether the addition of epimorph to spinal anesthesia in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty resulted in superior pain control and decreased narcotic consumption without also causing an increase in postoperative complication rates. We performed a prospective double-blind trial in patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Patients were randomised to receive either spinal anesthesia alone or spinal anesthesia with epimorph (150 ug). All patients received infiltration of a local anesthetic cocktail intraoperatively. Both the study patients and staff measuring outcomes were blinded to the experimental treatment received during data collection. Postoperatively, visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain was recorded at 6, 12, 18, 24, 36 and 48hrs and a final value at 1 week. Narcotic use, Foley insertion, oxygen requirements, nausea, vomiting and pruritus were recorded during the course of hospitalisation. Forty-one patients were randomised into each of the spinal with epimorph and spinal alone treatment arms. The groups showed no significant differences in BMI, age, and gender distribution. In the first 12 hours postoperatively there was no difference in VAS for pain between the two groups, however there were significantly lower pain scores in the spinal alone patients at 18 hours (p=0.002), 24 hours (p=0.04) and 48 hours (p = 0.03) compared to the spinal with epimorph group. Narcotic usage was greater in the spinal group during the first 6 hours postoperatively, but beyond this time point narcotic usage was similar between the two groups. Additionally, there was a statistically significant increase in rate of complications with spinal epimorph including nausea (p=0.037) and pruritus (p=0.024). The incidence of urinary retention was greater in the spinal epimorph group, however this did not reach statistical significance. This study demonstrates no clinical benefit with the addition of intra-thecal opioids to spinal anesthetic in primary TKA. In addition to a failing to reduce VAS pain scores and overall narcotic consumption, increased complication rates were seen. For these reasons, this study does not support the use of epimorph in addition to spinal anesthesia for pain control in TKA

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is performed under general anesthesia (GA) or spinal anesthesia (SA). The first objective of this study was to determine which patient factors are associated with receiving SA versus GA. The second objective was to discern the effect of anesthesia type on short-term postoperative complications and readmission. The third objective was to elucidate factors that impact the effect of anesthesia type on outcome following arthroplasty. This retrospective cohort study included 108,905 patients (median age, 66 years; IQR 60-73 years; 56.0% females) who underwent primary THA for treatment of primary osteoarthritis in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) database during the period of 2013-2018. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate variables associated with anesthesia type and outcomes following arthroplasty. Anesthesia type administered during THA was significantly associated with race. Specifically, Black and Hispanic patients were less likely to receive SA compared to White patients (White: OR 1.00; Black: OR 0.73; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.71-0.75; Hispanic: OR 0.81; CI, 0.75-0.88), while Asian patients were more likely to receive SA (OR 1.44, CI 1.31-1.59). Spinal anesthesia was associated with increased age (OR 1.01; CI 1.00-1.01). Patients with less frailty and lower comorbidity were more likely to receive SA based on the modified frailty index ([mFI-5]=0: OR 1.00; mFI-5=1: OR 0.90, CI 0.88-0.93; mFI-5=2 or greater: OR 0.86, CI 0.83-0.90) and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class (ASA=1: OR 1.00; ASA=2: OR 0.85, CI 0.79-0.91; ASA=3: OR 0.64, CI 0.59-0.69; ASA=4-5: OR 0.47; CI 0.41-0.53). With increased BMI, patients were less likely to be treated with SA (OR 0.99; CI 0.98-0.99). Patients treated with SA had less post-operative complications than GA (OR 0.74; CI 0.67-0.81) and a lower risk of readmission than GA (OR 0.88; CI 0.82-0.95) following THA. Race, age, BMI, and ASA class were found to affect the impact of anesthesia type on post-operative complications. Stratified analysis demonstrated that the reduced risk of complications following arthroplasty noted in patients treated with SA compared to GA was more pronounced in Black, Asian, and Hispanic patients compared to White patients. Furthermore, the positive effect of SA compared to GA was stronger in patients who had reduced age, elevated BMI, and lower ASA class. Among patients undergoing THA for management of primary osteoarthritis, factors including race, BMI, and frailty appear to have impacted the type of anesthesia received. Patients treated with SA had a significantly lower risk of readmission to hospital and adverse events within 30 days of surgery compared to those treated with GA. Furthermore, the positive effect on outcome afforded by SA was different between patients depending on race, age, BMI, and ASA class. These findings may help to guide selection of anesthesia type in subpopulations of patients undergoing primary THA

This study was designed to compare length of hospital stay, and 30-day major and minor complications between patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with general anesthesia, to those undergoing TKA with spinal or epidural anesthesia with or without regional nerve blocks. Patients 18 years and older undergoing TKA between the years of 2005 and 2016 were identified from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP). Patient demographics, anesthesia type, length of operation and hospital stay, as well as 30-day major and minor complications were collected from the database. Patients with “primary anesthesia technique” codes for either spinal or epidural anesthesia along with “other anesthesia technique” codes for regional anesthesia were assumed to have been given a regional nerve block. Chi square tests, and analysis of variance were utilized to evaluate unadjusted differences in demographics and outcomes between anesthesia types. Multivariable regression was utilized to compare outcomes (length of stay and complications) between anesthesia types, while adjusting for age, American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) class, comorbidities, sex, steroid/immunosuppressant use, body mass index (BMI), diabetes, length of operation and smoking status. A total of 214,665 TKA patients were identified (average age 67 ± 10 years). Of these, 257 (0.12%) underwent epidural anesthesia with a nerve block (EB), while 2,318 (1.08%) underwent epidural anesthesia with no block (E), 14,468 (1.08%) underwent spinal anesthesia with a block (SB), and 85,243 (39.7%) underwent spinal anesthesia with no block (S), and 112,377 (52.4%) underwent general anesthesia (G). The unadjusted length of stay (LOS) was significantly longer in the E group (3.67 ± 5 days) compared to the G group (3.1 ± 3.9 days), while the unadjusted LOS was significantly shorter in the EB group (2.6 ± 1.2), and both SB and S groups (2.6 ± 3 and 2.9 ± 3, respectively), compared to the G group p < 0 .001. Following covariable adjustment, anesthesia type remained an independent predictor of length of stay. Compared to the G group, patients in the E group stayed 0.56 days longer (95% Confidence interval [95%CI] 0.42 – 0.71 days), while patients in the SB were discharged 0.28 days (95%CI 0.21 – 0.35 days) earlier, and those in the S group were discharged 0.06 days earlier (95%CI 0.02–0.09), (p < 0 .0001). While the unadjusted rates of major complications were not significantly different between groups, the unadjusted rates of minor complications were higher in the E, EB, and G groups compared to the S and SB groups. Following covariable adjustment, there were no differences between groups in the risk of minor complications. In conclusion, these data indicate that anesthesia type following TKA is associated with length of hospital stay, but not with 30-day complications. After adjusting for relevant covariables, patients who received epidural anesthesia without a nerve block for TKA were discharged later, while patients who received spinal anesthesia, both with and without a nerve block for TKA were discharged earlier, compared to patients who received general anesthesia for TKA

Fragility fractures are an emerging healthcare problem in Sub-Saharan Africa and hip fractures (HFs) are associated with high levels of morbidity, prolonged hospital stays, increased healthcare resources utilization, and mortality. The worldwide average healthcare cost in the first-year post HF was US$43,669 per patient in a 2017 systematic review, however there are no studies quantifying fracture-associated costs within SSA. We estimated direct healthcare costs of HF management in the South African public healthcare system. We conducted a prospective ingredients-based costing study in 200 consecutive consenting HF patients to estimate costs per patient across five regional public sector hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). Resource use including staff time, consumables, laboratory investigations, radiographs, operating theatre time, surgical implants, medicines, and inpatient days were collected from presentation to discharge. Counts of resources used were multiplied by relevant unit costs, estimated from KZN Department of Health hospital fees manual 2019/20, in local currency (South African Rand, ZAR). Generalised linear models were used to estimate total covariate adjusted costs and cost predictors. The mean unadjusted cost for HF management was ZAR114,179 (95% CI; ZAR105,468–125,335). The major cost driver was orthopaedics/surgical ward costs ZAR 106.68, contributing to 85% of total cost. The covariate adjusted cost for HF management was ZAR114,696 (95% CI; ZAR111,745–117,931). After covariate adjustment, total costs were higher in patients operated under general anaesthesia compared to surgery under spinal anaesthesia and no surgery. Direct healthcare costs following a HF are substantial: 58% of the gross domestic per capita (US$12,096 in 2020), and six-times greater than per capita spending on health (US$1,187 in 2019) in SA. As the population ages, this significant economic burden to the health system will increase. Further research is required to evaluate direct non-medical, and the indirect costs incurred post HF

Ankle fractures are common orthopedic injuries, often requiring operative intervention to restore joint stability, improve alignment, and reduce the risk of post-traumatic ankle arthritis. However, ankle fracture surgeries (AFSs) are associated with significant postoperative pain, typically requiring postoperative opioid analgesics. In addition to putting patients at risk of opioid dependence, the adverse effects of opioids include nausea, vomiting, and altered mental status which may delay recovery. Peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs) offer notable benefits to the postoperative pain profile when compared to general or spinal anaesthesia alone and may help improve recovery. The primary objective of this quality improvement (QI) study was to increase PNB administration for AFS at our institution to above 50% by January 2021. A root cause analysis was performed by a multidisciplinary team to identify barriers for PNB administration. Four interventions were chosen & implemented: recruitment and training of expert anesthesiologists in regional anesthesia techniques, procurement of additional ultrasound machines, implementation of a dedicated block room with training to create an enhanced learning environment, and the development of an educational pamphlet for patients outlining strategies to manage rebound pain, instructions around the use of oral multimodal analgesia, and the potential for transient motor block of the leg. The primary outcome was the percentage of patients who received PNB for AFS. Secondary outcome measures included total hospitalization length of stay (LOS), post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and 24-hour postoperative opioid consumption (mean oral morphine equivalent [OME]), proportion of patients requiring opioid analgesic in PACU, and proportion of patients experiencing post-operative nausea and/or vomiting (PONV) requiring antiemetic in PACU. Thirty-day post-operative emergency department (ED) visits were collected as a balance measure. The groups receiving PNB and not receiving PNB included 78 & 157 patients, respectively, with no significant differences in age, gender, or ASA class between groups. PNB administration increased from less than 10% to 53% following implementation of the improvement bundle. Mean total hospital LOS did not vary significantly across the PNB and no PNB groups (1.04 days vs. 1.42 days, P = 0.410). Both mean PACU and mean 24-hour postoperative opioid analgesic consumption was significantly lower in the PNB group compared to the no PNB group (OME in PACU 38.96mg vs. 55.42mg [P = 0.001]; 24-hour OME 44.74mg vs. 37.71mg [P = .008]). A greater proportion of patients in the PNB group did not require any PACU opioid analgesics compared to those in the no PNB group (62.8% vs. 27.4%, P < 0.001). The proportion of patients experiencing PONV and requiring antiemetic both in the PACU did not vary significantly across groups. Thirty-day postoperative ED visits did not vary significantly across groups. By performing a root cause analysis and implementing a multidisciplinary, patient-centered QI bundle, we achieved significant increases in PNB administration for AFS. As a result, there were significant improvements in the recovery of patients following AFS, specifically reduced use of postoperative opioid analgesia. This multi-faceted approach provides a framework for an individualized QI approach to increase PNB administration and achieve improved patient outcomes following AFS

Urinary catheterization in the postoperative period is known to increase the risk of deep joint infection following arthroplasty. A number of studies have attempted to elucidate the individual patient factors and surgical procedural factors which predispose patients to postoperative urinary retention. We conducted a retrospective observational study of three hundred patients to specifically determine the effect of the anaesthetic technique on the incidence of urinary retention following elective lower limb arthroplasty. One hundred consecutive patients were surveyed in each of three groups differing by the type of the anaesthetic technique and the drug administered; 1) general anaesthesia with femoral nerve block, 2) spinal anaesthesia with intrathecal fentanyl, and 3) spinal anaesthesia with intrathecal morphine. The incidence of urinary retention requiring catheterisation in male patients receiving intrathecal morphine was 58% compared with 10% and 6% for those who had general anaesthesia with femoral nerve block and intrathecal fentanyl, respectively. This difference was statistically significant (p<0.01). The incidence of urinary retention in females across all groups was =2%. The average residual volume of urine following catheterisation was 750ml (460-1500ml). Our findings show that the use of intrathecal morphine greatly increases the risk of postoperative urinary retention in male patients, whereas no significant increase was found amongst female patients. This risk should be carefully considered when choosing the type of intraoperative anaesthetic/analgesic combination employed in male patients and be rationalised against the intended benefits to the patient

To describe the longitudinal trends in patients with obesity and Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) undergoing TKA and the associated impact on complications and lengths of hospital stay. We identified patients who underwent primary TKA between 2006 – 2017 within the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database. We recorded patient demographics, length of stay (LOS), and 30-day major and minor complications. We labelled those with an obese Body Mass Index (BMI ≥ 30), hypertension, and diabetes as having MetS. We evaluated mean BMI, LOS, and 30-day complication rates in all patients, obese patients, and those with MetS from 2006-2017. We used multivariable regression to evaluate the trends in BMI, complications, and LOS over time in all patients and those with MetS, and the effect of BMI and MetS on complication rates and LOS, stratified by year. 270,846 patients underwent primary TKA at hospitals participating in the NSQIP database. 63.71% of patients were obese (n = 172,333), 15.21% were morbidly obese (n = 41,130), and 12.37% met criteria for MetS (n = 33,470). Mean BMI in TKA patients increased at a rate of 0.03 per year (0.02-0.05; p < 0 .0001). Despite this, the rate of adverse events in obese patients decreased: major complications by an odds ratio (OR) of 0.94 (0.93-0.96; p < 0 .0001) and minor complications by 0.94 (0.93-0.95; p < 0 .001). LOS also decreased over time at an average rate of −0.058 days per year (-0.059 to −0.057; p < 0 .0001). The proportion of patients with MetS did not increase, however similar improvements in major complications (OR 0.94 [0.91-0.97] p < 0 .0001), minor complications (OR 0.97 [0.94-1.00]; p < 0 .0330), and LOS (mean −0.055 [-0.056 to −0.054] p < 0 .0001) were found. In morbidly obese patients (BMI ≥ 40), there was a decreased proportion per year (OR 0.989 [0.98-0.994] p < 0 .0001). Factors specifically associated with major complications in obese patients included COPD (OR 1.75 [1.55-2.00] p < 0.0001) and diabetes (OR 1.10 [1.02-1.1] p = 0.017). Hypertension (OR 1.12 [1.03-1.21] p = 0.0079) was associated with minor complications. Similarly, in patients with MetS, major complications were associated with COPD (OR 1.72 [1.35-2.18] p < 0.0001). Neuraxial anesthesia was associated with a lower risk for major complications in the obese cohort (OR 0.87 [0.81-0.92] p < 0.0001). BMI ≥ 40 was associated with a greater risk for minor complications (OR 1.37 [1.26-1.50] p < 0.0001), major complications (1.11 [1.02-1.21] p = 0.015), and increased LOS (+0.08 days [0.07-0.09] p < 0.0001). Mean BMI in patients undergoing primary TKA increased from 2006 - 2017. MetS comorbidities such as diabetes and hypertension elevated the risk for complications in obese patients. COPD contributed to higher rates of major complications. The obesity-specific risk reduction with spinal anesthesia suggests an improved post-anesthetic clinical course in obese patients with pre-existing pulmonary pathology. Encouragingly, the overall rates of complications and LOS in patients with obesity and MetS exhibited a longitudinal decline. This finding may be related to the decreased proportion of patients with BMI ≥ 40 treated over the same period, possibly the result of quality improvement initiatives aimed at delaying high-risk surgery in morbidly obese patients until healthy weight loss is achieved. These findings may also reflect increased awareness and improved management of these patients and their elevated risk profiles

Purpose. The pros and cons of general anesthesia versus spinal anesthesia in total hip arthroplasty has been a long debated topic. The purpose of this study was to compare the surgical times, blood loss and transfusion requirements between anesthetic types in patients undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty. Method. A consecutive series of 1600 THA procedures with complete preoperative and postoperative data were evaluated. Twenty eight percent of procedures were performed with a general anesthetic (GA), 67% with a spinal anesthetic (SP) and 5% with a combination of the two. Outcomes were compared and tested for significance using the Independent Samples Kruskal Wallis or Pearson Chi-Square analysis. Results. Comparing GA and SP respectively, there was a statistically significant difference in patient age between the groups (age 63.73 14.5 vs 66.6 12.8, p<0.05), but not in ASA scores and distribution, or preoperative hemoglobin levels (131.74 32.5 vs 133.21 28.9). There was a statistically significant difference in length of time proceeding surgical procedure favoring Generals (SP: 35 mins (10 72) vs GA: 30 mins (8 65), p<0.05), however overall time in room was longer in Generals (GA: 132.83 29.0 vs SP: 127.15 22.5). There was a statistically significant difference in discharge hemoglobin favoring Spinals (SP: 97.9 14.2 vs GA: 94.9 16.4, p<0.05), lower transfusion rates (SP: 8.4% vs GA: 14.0%, p<0.05) and shorter length of stay (SP: 4.9 days vs GA: 5.3 days, p<0.05). The patients receiving a combination of anesthetic had a significantly greater length of time prior to proceeding the surgical procedure (43 mins (20 145)) and overall time in room (142.85 27.2) compared to both GA and SP, however were similar in all other outcomes. Conclusion. In this consecutive series of patients undergoing general anesthesia, spinal anesthesia and a combination for total hip arthroplasty, the general anesthesia cohort demonstrated advantages in statistically significantly shorter time proceeding the surgical procedure, however the overall procedure time was significantly longer. The spinal group had less blood loss and lower transfusion rates and the combination group had statistically longer procedure times compared to both GA and SP

To determine the effect of Dexamethasone on post-operative pain management in patients undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty in terms of numerical pain rating scale and total opoid consumption. This Randomized Controlled Trail (RCT) was conducted for 02 years (7th September 2015 to 6th September 2017). All patients undergoing primary Unilateral Total Knee Replacement (TKR) for Osteoarthritis knee were included in the study. Patients with poor glycemic control (HbA1c > 7.6), Hepatic/Renal failure, corticosteroids/ Immunosuppression drug usage in the last 06 months, known psychiatric illnesses were excluded from the study. All patients were operated by consultant Orthopaedic surgeon under Spinal Anaesthesia and tourniquet control using medial para-patellar approach. Patients were randomly divided into 02 groups, A and B. 79 patients were placed in each group. Group A given 0.1mg/kg body weight Dexamethasone Intravenously 15 minutes prior to surgery and another dose 24 hours post-operatively while in group B (control group) no Dexamethasone given. Post-operative pain using the numerical pain rating scale (NRS) and total narcotics consumed converted to morphine dose equivalent noted immediately post-op, 12-, 24- and 48-hours post-operatively. Data analysis done using SPSS version 23. A total of 158 patients were included in the study. Of the total, 98 (62.02%) were females and 60 (37.98%) males. Average BMI of patients 26.94 ±3.14 kg/m2. Patients in group A required less post-operative analgesics (p < 0 .01) and had a better numerical pain rating scale score (p < 0 .01) as compared to group B. Pain scores at 24- and 48-hours post-op were significantly less for Dexamethasone group (p < 0 .01). Use of Dexamethasone per- and post-operatively reduces the pain and amount of analgesics used in patients undergoing TKA. For any reader queries, please contact . drjunaidrmc@gmail.com

Increased operative time has been previously identified as a risk factor for complications following total joint arthroplasty. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of surgical time on 30-day complications following Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) and to determine if there were specific time intervals associated with worse outcomes. The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database was utilized to identify patients ≥18 years who underwent TKA between 2005 and 2016 using procedural codes. Patients with surgical durations >240 minutes were excluded. Patient demographics, operation length, and 30-day major and minor complication rates were captured. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine if the rate of complications differed depending on length of operation, while adjusting for age, sex, American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) class, functional status, smoking status, comorbidities, anesthesia type, and Body Mass Index (BMI). Multivariable linear regression was used to identify independent predictors of duration of surgery. A total of 213,921 TKA patients (average age 67 ± 10 years) were identified from the database. Within 30-days of the index procedure, 3,321 (1.55%) experienced a major complication, and 6,144 (2.86%) experienced a minor complication. Mean surgical duration was 92 minutes (range 20 – 240). Underweight, or overweight/obese BMI, male sex, hypertension, cancer, dependent functional status, epidural anaesthesia, and ASA class III and IV were determined to be independent predictors of prolonged operation length, while COPD, current smoking, spinal anesthesia, and older age predicted lower operation times. Operation lengths ≥ 90 minutes significantly increased the risk of both major and minor complications (P>0.01). Specifically, the rates of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), unplanned reintubation, surgical site infection (SSI), sepsis, and wound disruption were higher for patients whose operations lasted ≥ 90 minutes (p 0.05). With respect to specific complications, following covariate adjustment, operation lengths ≥ 90 minutes increased the risk of DVT, deep and superficial incisional SSI, and wound disruption, while operation lengths ≥ 120 minutes increased the risk of deep, non-incisional SSI, and sepsis (P < 0 .01). Surgical times of ≥90 minutes independently increase the 30-day risk of DVT, infection, and wound disruption following TKA after controlling for other variables that influence operation length. This study confirms the importance of surgical duration on early outcomes following TKA

Background. Exparel (Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Parsippany, NJ, USA) is a long-acting liposomal Bupivacaine extended release compound that can be used as peri-articular injection (PAI) or regional nerve block. The purpose of this study was to compare the post-operative analgesic efficacy of Exparel as a single administration adductor canal block (ACB) varsus PAI. Methods. From May 2016 to June of 2017, 70 patients with primary knee osteoarthritis undergoing unilateral knee replacement were prospectively randomized into two cohorts: 1) PAI (Exparel 266 mg (20 ml vial) with 20 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine HCl, and normal saline to a total volume of 120 ml); 2) ACB (Subsartorial saphenous nerve using Exparel 266 mg in 20 ml vial). All patents underwent spinal anesthesia with comprehensive pre-emptive and postoperative multimodal pain protocol. All opioids given were converted to morphine equivalents. Pain was recorded at 4 – 12 hrs (day of surgery), post-operative day (POD) 1, 2, and 3 after surgery. Results. There was no statistical significance between the pain scores during the first 12 hrs (day 0) after surgery. We found a trend towards a significance on POD # 1, as PAI group had less pain (5.3 vs 4.2, p=0.09). The mean pain score in ACB group increased on POD # 3 while in PAI continued a decrease (4.8 vs 1.8, p=0.03). There was no statistical significance between the 2 groups regarding the accumulative daily converted Morphine equivalent consumption or total consumption. Conclusion. We found similar results between PAI and ACB using Exparel after TKA up to 48 hours

Background. There is a recent interest and focus on reducing the length of stay and early discharge after total joint replacement (TJR). However, safety criteria for same-day (SD) or next-day (ND) home discharge are not well defined. We implemented a screening questionnaire to identify patients that qualify for early home discharge. The aim of this study was to assess the efficiency of this questionnaire and short-term outcomes including re-admission and peri-operative complications after TJR. Methods. Between January 2016 and July 2017, 423 consecutive primary hip and knee arthroplasties were performed by the two senior surgeons at our institution. All cases were followed for a minimum of 3-month prospectively after institutional review board approval. Patients were divided based on using a pre-operative questionnaire to determine their disposition after surgery. Group 1 includes 121 cases as control and group 2 includes 302 cases with pre-operative questionnaire. Spinal anesthesia and multimodal pain management including peri-articular injection was used in all cases. The pre-operative questionnaire (PQ, Swiftpath, Inc) included an overall score based on age, comorbidities, body mass index, physical assessment, motivation, comprehension, family support, home setup (i.e. easy access/stairs), proximity to the hospital and lack of serious barriers to early home discharge. Patients were divided into 3 categories based on the score: SD/ND home, regular home discharge and rehabilitation/subacute nursing facility (SNF) discharge. Length of stay (LOS), post-operative complications, readmissions, and discharge destination were assessed. Correlation the questionnaire score and outcomes were assessed. Results. In group 1, 29% of the patients were discharged home after minimum 2 days after surgery with home services and 71% were discharged to short- or long-term rehabilitation center. The mean length of stay was 4.6 ± 2.5 days (range 2 to 7 days). 3% had symptomatic DVT and one patient pulmonary embolism during hospital stay, all after total knee arthroplasty. There was one re-operation for acute periprosthetic infection (0.8%), two cardiopulmonary events (1.6%), and 4 other ER visits for inadequate pain control (3%). In group 2, 51% of the patients were discharged home, 6% of which (10 patients) were same-day discharge. The mean length of stay was 2.2 ± 0.8 days (range 0 to 5 days). One patient (1%) had symptomatic DVT. There were 5 (1.6%) ER visits for wound concerns and pain. There were no acute re-admissions, infections or re-operations. Conclusions. Implementation of a screening questionnaire for SD/ND early discharge is safe and results in significant reduction of length of stay, higher discharge to home, lower rate of DVT/PE/cardiopulmonary complications and less ER visits

Introduction. The purpose of this retrospective study was to review the outcome of THA in the treatment of bilateral hip ankylosis of different causes; surgical, septic or spontaneous. Methods & Material. 20 THA procedures in 10 patients were included in the study, 5 males and 5 females all had bilateral fusion. Previous pathologies included: ankylosing spondylitis, AVN, septic arthritis and surgical arthrodesis. Flexion deformity ranged (10°-45°). Shortening as compared to normal anatomy was up to 6 cm and leg length discrepancy (LLD) ranged from 1 cm to 2.5 cm. Most unified X-ray finding was massive osteophytes formation with 3 patients showing severe narrowing of the femoral canal. Operative time averaged 147 minutes (70–210) and lateral approach was used in all patients, anesthesia was general with only 3 undergoing spinal anesthesia. Results. Serious complications were reported and were related to the correction of LLD; 1 incidence of sciatic nerve injury that recovered in one year, and another incidence of femoral nerve injury (sensory > motor) that recovered within 3 months, and one case of incomplete correction of LLD. At 5 years follow up (minimum 6 month), there is no loosening or revision. Discussion. The conversion of bilateral fused hip joints to THA is a very rewarding surgery but with higher risk of complications

Objectives. Although most joint surgeons have reached a consensus that preoperative risk assessment and appropriate medical intervention for elderly patients of primary total hip arthrplasty (PTHA) could significantly reduce postoperative complications and mortality, there is still lack of a detailed and comprehensive approach for risk stratifying and a systematic method for risk allaying. We aimed to explore the risk factors related to the aggravation of preoperative complications and the appearance of complications post-operation of primary total hip arthrplasty (PTHA) in elderly patients for hip fracture. Patients and methods. We retrospectively reviewed the demographic and clinical data of 156 patients who underwent PTHA for hip fracture from January 2014 to December 2016, of which there were 61 male (39.1%) and 95 female (60.9%) patients; 111 patients aged 60–79 years (71.2%) and 45 patients ≥ 80 years old (28.8%); 125 patients of femoral neck fracture (80.1%) and 31 patients of inter-trochanteric fracture (19.9%); 109 patients of spinal anesthesia (69.9%) and 48 patients of general anesthesia (30.1%); 85 patients undergoing surgery within 3 days (54.5%) and 71 patients operated ≥ 4 days (45.5%) since admission. We evaluated the correlations among gender, age, type of fracture, methods of anesthesia, time of operation since admission, the aggravation of preoperative complications and the appearance of postoperative complications post PTHA using the IBM SPSS Statistics (version 21) and the Exce1 2016. Results. The appearance of postoperative complications were statistically correlated with age, time of operation since admission, and type of anesthesia. The appearance of postoperative complication were significantly more in patients operated ≥ 4 days since admission (P < 0.05), and patients with general anesthesia (P < 0.05). Age ≥ 80 years old was not only statistically correlated with the aggravation of three kind of preoperative complications, hypertension, heart disease and respiratory tract infection (P < 0.05), also statistically correlated with the postoperative exacerbation of respiratory tract infection (P < 0.01), the appearance of anemia (P < 0.01), hypoalbuminemia (P < 0.01), water and electrolyte balance disorder (P < 0.05), and gastrointestinal reaction (P < 0.05). Age ≥ 80 years old was neither significantly correlated with postoperative aggravation of diabetes mellitus, urinary tract infection and abnormal liver and kidney function (P > 0.05), nor with postoperative urinary retention (P > 0.05). Conclusion. The occurrence of postoperative complications of elderly patients post PTHA for hip fracture was correlated with age ≥ 80 years old, delayed surgery longer than 4 days since admission, and general anesthesia. Much more attention should be paid to the patients with preoperative diseases of hypertension, heart diseases, and respiratory tract infection, especially age ≥ 80 years patients with respiratory tract infection. Specific postoperative attention should be paid to correct anemia, supplement albumin, regulate the imbalance of water and electrolyte, and treat the digestive tract response for PTHA patients aged ≥ 80 years

C-type natriuretic peptide is the most abundant natriuretic peptide in the central nervous system. It has been implicated in neurogenesis and may have a significant role in spinal regeneration. We postulated that the spinal concentration of CNP would be reflected in the plasma concentrations of both CNP and the pro-hormone (NTproCNP) and this may be an indicator of repair potential in spinal injuries. Concurrent plasma and CSF concentrations of CNP forms were measured in 51 subjects undergoing spinal anaesthesia for elective total hip and knee replacement. Associations with CNP activity and metabolism in CSF were sought by measuring CSF levels of cGMP and neprilysin respectively. Elevated concentrations of NTproCNP (1045±359 pmol/L) were found in CSF and greatly exceeded those of CNP (7.9±3.2 pmol/L). The ratio of NTproCNP to CNP in CSF (145±55) was much higher than in plasma (31±27). A significant inverse relation was found between plasma and CSF CNP concentrations (r=−0.29, p<0.05). cGMP and neprilysin were unrelated to CNP levels in CSF. Despite markedly elevated levels of NTproCNP in CSF, it is unlikely that these contribute to systemic levels in healthy adults. Identifying NTproCNP as the dominant CNP form in CSF opens up the possibility of its use in future studies exploring CNP regulation within the CNS and possible applications in diagnosis and monitoring of healing in patients with spinal cord injury

Pain control is critical in the management of TKA patients and is crucial to allow for early ambulation and accelerated physical therapy. Currently data suggests that 19% of patients are not satisfied with their results following TKA, and failure to control pain may result in prolonged hospitalization, worse outcomes, and increased patient dissatisfaction. Studies suggest that local analgesics coupled with both pre- and post-operative multimodal pain management may result in improved pain control and increased patient satisfaction. Minimization of opioid use is helpful in decreasing complications, accelerating physical therapy milestones, minimizing length of stay and increasing discharge to home. Femoral nerve blocks (FNB) can reduce pain scores for up to 48 hours post-operatively, but may delay ambulation and result in an increased rate of falls. Periarticular injection (PAI) with local analgesics can provide significant short term relief comparable to FNB and can also facilitate decreased opioid consumption. One commonly used local anesthetic is bupivacaine, but the average half-life of this drug is only 2.7 hours. An alternative to this for PAI during TKA is liposomal bupivacaine (LB). LB is a multivesicular drug designed for rapid absorption, prolonged release of bupivacaine, and analgesia that is maintained for up to 72 hours with a single injection. LB exhibits a bimodal peak of distribution, one immediate associated with extra-liposomal bupivacaine, and a second 10–36 hours later associated with the release of liposomal encapsulated bupivacaine. The safety profile of LB has been investigated and adverse events are similar to standard bupivacaine and demonstrate acceptable tolerability. Multiple studies have demonstrated efficacy of this drug compared to other pain control modalities. LB is highly technique dependent and only one piece of a multimodal pain management protocol. Our study consisted of 1808 consecutive primary TKA patients from Sept 2013 to Sept 2015. Three patient cohorts were compiled by date, from Sept 2013 to May 2014 was cohort 1, consisting of FNB and PCA. Department wide adoption of LB began in May 2014 and became routinely used in all patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty at our institution. Cohort 2 entailed a PCA along with LB injection from May 2014 through Feb 2015. Cohort 3 consisted of LB injection only and was from Feb 2015 through Sept 2015. All patients undergoing TKA were eligible and there were no exclusion criteria as long as the protocols were followed. The standard multi-modal analgesia protocol was provided to all patients in all three cohorts. Prior to entering the operating room, patients received preemptive oral analgesics, consisting of: 200 mg celecoxib, 1000 mg acetaminophen, and 50 mg pregabalin. Intra-operative analgesia was chosen at the discretion of the anesthesiologist and preferentially consisted of spinal anesthesia with general anesthesia as an alternate. For all three cohorts, a peri-incisional analgesic cocktail was injected prior to closure consisting of: 40 cc 0.25% Marcaine, 5 cc of (1 mg/cc) morphine, and 1 cc of (30 mg/cc) ketorolac. Cohorts 1 and 2 received PCA post-operatively for pain control post-operatively with prn oral narcotic administration as well. Cohort 3 did not receive a PCA. The cohort treated without FNB and without a PCA using a multimodal pain management protocol including a short acting periarticular injection and a longer acting periarticular injection with LB, had equivalent pain control, less narcotic use, faster achievement of physical therapy milestones, earlier and more frequent discharge home, less complications and a lower cost of the episode of care

Background. Arthroplasty requires an interdisciplinary multimodal approach with anaesthetists playing a key role; providing stable intra-operative conditions, allowing rapid patient recovery, optimising analgeisa and minimizing side-effects. The incidence of post-operative urinary retention (POUR) varies significantly in joint arthroplasty (10–84%). Current literature quotes lower doses of opioids have been shown to reduce POUR, however studies consistently show spinal opioids influence bladder function causing urinary retention. Existing literature fails to comment upon the rate of POUR following joint arthroplasty comparing intrathecal diamorphine against intrathecal local anaesthetic (ITLA) within a modern fast track arthroplasty system (FTA). Methods. A two-year (2009–11) retrospective analysis was conducted encompassing a multi-surgeon duel-centre review. Rates of POUR were compared when utilising ITLA and multimodal analgesia including local anaesthetic infiltration (LIA) (site A) against ITLA in combination with intrathecal diamorphine (site B) for joint arthroplasty under spinal analgesia. Outcomes were analysed using 30-day POUR rates coding data and cross-referenced against patient records. Information was collected on patient co-morbidity, age, gender, surgery duration and renal function. Patients were excluded for previous POUR, prostate pathology, postoperative PCA, and conversion to general anaesthetic. Results. 2343 patients underwent joint arthroplasty within this period. At Site A 12 episodes of POUR were identified, whilst 71 were identified at site B. After exclusions, 56 cases underwent analysis. All had a clinical and radiological diagnosis of POUR. The study participants' mean age was 71 years, BMI 27.9 (range 20–47) and 96% were male. Patients across both sites had comparable co-morbidities. All patients at site B had intrathecal morphine with 96% having 3 micrograms of diamorphine. 30-day POUR rates at Site A (ITLA and LAI) were 1.2% and Site B (ITLA and intrathecal morphine) 5.4% (p=0.0001). Conclusion. The absence of intrathecal diamorphine in spinal anaesthesia significantly reduces the rates of POUR in patients undergoing joint arthroplasty