Prolonged length of stay (LOS) is a significant contributor to the variation in surgical health care costs and resource utilization after elective spine surgery. The primary goal of this study was to identify patient, surgical and institutional variables that influence LOS. The secondary objective is to examine variability in institutional practices among participating centers.

This is a retrospective study of a prospectively multicentric followed cohort of patients enrolled in the CSORN between January 2015 and October 2020. A logistic regression model and bootstrapping method was used. A survey was sent to participating centers to assessed institutional level interventions in place to decrease LOS. Centers with LOS shorter than the median were compared to centers with LOS longer than the median.

A total of 3734 patients were included (979 discectomies, 1102 laminectomies, 1653 fusions). The median LOS for discectomy, laminectomy and fusion were respectively 0.0 day (IQR 1.0), 1.0 day (IQR 2.0) and 4.0 days (IQR 2.0). Laminectomy group had the largest variability (SD=4.4, Range 0-133 days). For discectomy, predictors of LOS longer than 0 days were having less leg pain, higher ODI, symptoms duration over 2 years, open procedure, and AE (p< 0.05). Predictors of longer LOS than median of 1 day for laminectomy were increasing age, living alone, higher ODI, open procedures, longer operative time, and AEs (p< 0.05). For posterior instrumented fusion, predictors of longer LOS than median of 4 days were older age, living alone, more comorbidities, less back pain, higher ODI, using narcotics, longer operative time, open procedures, and AEs (p< 0.05). Ten centers (53%) had either ERAS or a standardized protocol aimed at reducing LOS.

In this study stratifying individual patient and institutional level factors across Canada, several independent predictors were identified to enhance the understanding of LOS variability in common elective lumbar spine surgery. The current study provides an updated detailed analysis of the ongoing Canadian efforts in the implementation of multimodal ERAS care pathways. Future studies should explore multivariate analysis in institutional factors and the influence of preoperative patient education on LOS.

The incidence of total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) in increasing. Evidence in primary hip and knee arthroplasty suggest that preoperative opioid use is a risk factor for postoperative complication. This relationship in TSA is unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate this relationship.

The Truven Marketscan claims database was used to identify patients who underwent a TSA and were enrolled for 1-year pre- and post-operatively. Preoperative opioid use status was used to divide patients into cohorts based on the number of preoperative prescriptions received. An ‘opioid holiday’ group (patients with a preoperative, 6-month opioid naïve period after chronic use) was also included. Patient information and complication data was collected. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were then performed.

Fifty-six percent of identified patients received preoperative opioids. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that patients on continuous preoperative opioids (compared to opioid naïve) had higher odds of: infection (OR 2.34, 95%CI 1.62–3.36, p<0.001), wound complication (OR 1.97, 95%CI 1.18–3.27, p=0.009), any prosthetic complication (OR 2.62, 95%CI 2.2–3.13, p<0.001), and thromboembolic event (OR 1.42, 95%CI 1.11–1.83, p=0.006). The same group had higher healthcare utilization including extended length of stay, non-home discharge, readmission, and emergency department visits (p<0.001). This risk was reduced by a preoperative opioid holiday.

Opioid use prior to TSA is common and is associated with increased complications and healthcare utilization. This increased risk is modifiable, as a preoperative opioid holiday significantly reduced postoperative risk. Therefore, preoperative opioid use represents a modifiable risk factor.

Up to 20 percent of patients remain dissatisfied after primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) surgery. Understanding the reasons for dissatisfaction post TKA may allow for better patient selection and optimized treatment for those who remain dissatisfied. The association between function, mobility and satisfaction are not well understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between post-TKA satisfaction and i) pre-operative, ii) post-operative, and iii) change in knee joint function during gait.

Thirty-one patients scheduled to receive primary TKA for knee osteoarthritis (OA) diagnosis were recruited and visited the Dynamics of Human Motion laboratory for instrumented walking gait analysis (using a synchronized NDI Optotrak motion capture system and AMTI force platforms in the walkway) at two time points, first within the week prior to their surgery, and second at approximately one year after surgery. At their post-operative visit, patients were asked to indicate their satisfaction with their knee prosthesis on a scale from zero to 100, with zero being totally unsatisfied and 100 being completely satisfied. Knee joint mechanics during gait at both time points were characterized by discriminant scores, the projection of their three-dimensional knee angles and moments during gait onto an existing discriminant model that was created to optimize separation of severe knee OA and healthy asymptomatic gait patterns. This discriminant model was created using data from 73 healthy participants and 73 with severe knee OA, and includes the magnitude and pattern features (captured with principal component analysis) of the knee adduction and flexion moment, and the magnitude of the knee flexion angle during gait. Larger discriminant scores indicate improved function toward healthy patterns, and smaller scores indicate more severe function. Associations between post-operative satisfaction and pre, post and change in discriminant scores were examined using Pearson correlation analyses. We also examined associations between satisfaction and pre-operative BMI, EQ5D and Oxford 12 scores, as well as changes in these scores from pre to post-TKA.

Discriminant scores representing knee joint function during gait significantly improved on average after surgery (P =0.05).

While overall knee joint function improved after primary TKA surgery, the amount of improvement in function was not reflected in post-operative patient satisfaction. However, the pre-operative function of the patient was negatively associated with satisfaction, indicating that patients with higher pre-operative function are overall less satisfied with their TKA surgery, regardless of any functional improvement due to the surgery. Interestingly, the only significant association with post-operative satisfaction was knee joint function, and the relationship between function and patient satisfaction following TKA appears to relate only to the baseline functional state of the patient, and not with functional improvement. This suggests that dissatisfaction post-surgery is more likely reflecting the unmet expectations of a higher functioning patient, and has implications for the need for improved understanding of pre-operative patient functional variability in TKA triage and expectation management.

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has been shown to improve knee joint function during gait post-operatively. However, there is considerable patient to patient variability, with most gait mechanics metrics not reaching asymptomatic levels. To understand how to target functional improvements with TKA, it is important to identify an optimal set of functional metrics that remain deficient post-TKA. The purpose of this study was to identify which combination of knee joint kinematics and kinetics during gait best discriminate pre-operative gait from postoperative gait, as well as post-operative from asymptomatic.

Seventy-three patients scheduled to receive a TKA for severe knee osteoarthritis underwent 3D gait analysis 1 week before and 1 year after surgery. Sixty asymptomatic individuals also underwent analysis. Eleven discrete gait parameters were extracted from the gait kinematic and kinetic waveforms, as previously defined (Astephen et al., J Orthop Res., 2008). Stepwise linear discriminant analyses were used to determine the sets of parameters that optimally separated pre-operative from post-operative gait, and post-operative from asymptomatic gait. Cross-validation was used to quantify group classification error.

Knee flexion angle range, knee adduction moment first peak, and gait velocity were included in the optimal discriminant function between the pre- and post-operative groups (P<0.05), with relatively equal standardised canonical coefficients (0.567, −0.501, 0.565 respectively), and a total classification rate of 74%. A number of metrics were included in the discriminant function to optimally separate post-operative and asymptomatic gait function, including the knee flexion angle range, peak stance knee flexion angle, minimum late stance knee extension moment, minimum mid-stance knee adduction moment, and peak knee internal rotation moment (P<0.05). The mid-stance knee adduction moment had the largest standardised canonical coefficients in the function, and 89.5% of cases were correctly classified.

Separation of pre and post-operative gait patterns included only three parameters, suggesting that current standard of care TKA significantly improves only walking velocity, knee flexion angle range, and the peak value of the knee adduction moment. A number of gait metrics, which were included in the discriminant function between post-operative and asymptomatic gait, could benefit from further improvement either through rehabilitation or design. With almost 90% classification, separation of post-operative gait function from asymptomatic levels is significant. The consolidation of knee joint function during gait into single, discrete discriminant scores allows for an efficient summary representation of patient-specific (or implant-specific) improvement in gait function from TKA surgery.

The indication for rotator cuff repair in elderly patients is controversial.

Introduction

It is well established that non-union of the scaphoid requires operative intervention to achieve stable union, restore scaphoid anatomy and prevent further degenerative change. Acutrak screw has been shown to have better biomechanical compression properties than the Herbert screw in the laboratory setting. The aims of the study were to assess the rate of union, the functional outcome and post- operative complications of patients with the two different screw systems.

Aim

We report our ten year experience of primary haematogenous non-tuberculous spinal infection.

Twenty-two patients with piriformis syndrome underwent surgery between October 1995 and February 2002. The mean age was 56 years (range 28-90). Only 2 patients (9%) gave a history of trauma to the ipsilateral buttock. All the patients complained of deep buttock pain, which radiated to the ankle in 14 (63%), the calf in 4 (18%) and the thigh in 3 patients (13.6%). The symptoms were chronic, with a mean of 70 months (range 12-192) and patients had been previously seen by a mean of 2.6 specialists (range 1-6). There was associated neurosensory loss in 11 patients (50%). The symptoms were exacerbated by passive stretching and active contraction of the piriformis muscle. MRI of the lumbar spine (every case) and gluteal region (8 cases) were negative, while NCV tests (20 cases) were positive in 11 patients (55%). Previous conservative measures such as physiotherapy (59%) and epidural (40%) had failed. Every patient had surgical division of the piriformis tendon at the greater trochanter by the senior author. Abnormal anatomy was identified in 6 cases (29%).

At 6 weeks (n=22), the symptoms had resolved in 6 patients (27%), were better in 8 (36%), no different in 7 (32%) and worse in 1 (4.5%). After a mean follow-up of 52 months (range 11-86), seven (35%) of patients were cured, 3 (15%) were better, 8 (40%) were no different, 2 (10%) were worse than pre-operatively and 2 had died of unrelated causes. Seventy-five percent of patients said that with hindsight they would undergo surgery again. One patient suffered a post-operative below knee DVT requiring no treatment.

Surgery for piriformis syndrome in this selected group of patients led to an improvement or resolution of chronic symptoms in 64% of patients at 6 weeks, and 50% of patients after a mean follow-up of 52 months with minimal associated morbidity.

Performance evaluation in specialist orthopaedic hospitals was reviewed in comparison to district general hospitals (DGHs) using a variety of outcome measures, including surgical activity, length of stay and infection rates.

Data regarding admission rates, operations performed or cancelled, outpatient activity and waiting times were obtained from the Hospital Episode Statistics department of the Department of Health. Surgical site infection (SSI) and MRSA infection rates from the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (RNOH) are compared to national data supplied by the Health Protection Agency.

In comparison with DGHs, specialist orthopaedic hospitals admit fewer patients, with fewer emergencies; have a higher ratio of waiting list patients to number of patients admitted; have longer waiting list times on average; perform more primary joint arthroplasty surgery; undertake more revision procedures; discharge patients home following joint arthroplasty surgery on average one day earlier; have a lower total hip arthroplasty SSI rate (0.8%) compared with 2.3% in 146 DGHs and from RNOH data, provide a service with a lower surgical site infection and MRSA rate.

Specialist orthopaedic hospitals in England provide a unique, efficient and effective service compared to DGHs. However, short-term performance measures, though simpler to collate, may not be as valuable as longer-term outcome measures, thus making direct comparisons between DGHs, specialist orthopaedic hospitals and independent treatment centres difficult.

National guidelines state that in patients undergoing operations the site of the procedure should be marked. In clinical practice the same marker is used repeatedly. We are not aware of any investigation regarding the theoretical risk of transferring organisms such as methicillin-resistant Staphyloccocus aureus (MRSA) between patients by a skin marker.

In an experimental setting, Penflex and Viomedex skin markers were tested 30 times each after contaminating them with a standard inoculum of MRSA. The survival of the organism on the tip of the markers was assessed by culture on MRSA-indicator nutrient agar plates at 0, 5, 15 and 60 minutes, 24 and 48 hours and at 1, 2, and 3 weeks after contamination.

There was a significant difference between the markers, with the Penflex showing no survival of MRSA after 15 minutes whereas the Viomedex product continued to produce MRSA cultures for up to three weeks.