Aims. In the last decade, perioperative advancements have expanded the use of outpatient primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Despite this, there remains limited data on expedited discharge after revision TKA. This study compared 30-day readmissions and reoperations in patients undergoing revision TKA with a hospital stay greater or less than 24 hours. The authors hypothesized that expedited discharge in select patients would not be associated with increased 30-day readmissions and reoperations. Methods. Aseptic revision TKAs in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database were reviewed from 2013 to 2020. TKAs were stratified by length of hospital stay (greater or less than 24 hours). Patient demographic details, medical comorbidities, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade, operating time, components revised, 30-day readmissions, and reoperations were compared. Multivariate analysis evaluated predictors of discharge prior to 24 hours, 30-day readmission, and reoperation. Results. Of 21,610 aseptic revision TKAs evaluated, 530 were discharged within 24 hours. Short-stay patients were younger (63.1 years (49 to 78) vs 65.1 years (18 to 94)), with lower BMI (32.3 kg/m. 2. (17 to 47) vs 33.6 kg/m. 2. (19 to 54) and lower ASA grades. Diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, and
Pulmonary embolism is a serious complication after arthroscopy of the knee, about which there is limited information. We have identified the incidence and risk factors for symptomatic pulmonary embolism after arthroscopic procedures on outpatients. The New York State Department of Health Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System database was used to review arthroscopic procedures of the knee performed on outpatients between 1997 and 2006, and identify those admitted within 90 days of surgery with an associated diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. Potential risk factors included age, gender, complexity of surgery, operating time defined as the total time that the patient was actually in the operating room, history of
To map literature on prognostic factors related to outcomes of revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA), to identify extensively studied factors and to guide future research into what domains need further exploration. We performed a systematic literature search in MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science. The search string included multiple synonyms of the following keywords: "revision TKA", "outcome" and "prognostic factor". We searched for studies assessing the association between at least one prognostic factor and at least one outcome measure after rTKA surgery. Data on sample size, study design, prognostic factors, outcomes, and the direction of the association was extracted and included in an evidence map.Aims
Methods
To identify variables independently associated with same-day discharge (SDD) of patients following revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA) and to develop machine learning algorithms to predict suitable candidates for outpatient rTKA. Data were obtained from the American College of Surgeons National Quality Improvement Programme (ACS-NSQIP) database from the years 2018 to 2020. Patients with elective, unilateral rTKA procedures and a total hospital length of stay between zero and four days were included. Demographic, preoperative, and intraoperative variables were analyzed. A multivariable logistic regression (MLR) model and various machine learning techniques were compared using area under the curve (AUC), calibration, and decision curve analysis. Important and significant variables were identified from the models.Aims
Methods
The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence and patterns of neuropathic pain over one year in a cohort of patients with chronic post-surgical pain at three months following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Between 2016 and 2019, 363 patients with troublesome pain, defined as a score of ≤ 14 on the Oxford Knee Score pain subscale, three months after TKA from eight UK NHS hospitals, were recruited into the Support and Treatment After Replacement (STAR) clinical trial. Self-reported neuropathic pain and postoperative pain was assessed at three, nine, and 15 months after surgery using the painDETECT and Douleur Neuropathique 4 (DN4) questionnaires collected by postal survey.Aims
Methods
This study aims to determine difference in annual rate of early-onset (≤ 90 days) deep surgical site infection (SSI) following primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for osteoarthritis, and to identify risk factors that may be associated with infection. This is a retrospective population-based cohort study using prospectively collected patient-level data between 1 January 2013 and 1 March 2020. The diagnosis of deep SSI was defined as per the Centers for Disease Control/National Healthcare Safety Network criteria. The Mann-Kendall Trend test was used to detect monotonic trends in annual rates of early-onset deep SSI over time. Multiple logistic regression was used to analyze the effect of different patient, surgical, and healthcare setting factors on the risk of developing a deep SSI within 90 days from surgery for patients with complete data. We also report 90-day mortality.Aims
Methods
This study investigated the effects of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) on pain, function, and quality of life in people with early-stage symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA) compared to a sham procedure. A total of 59 participants with symptomatic Kellgren-Lawrence grade 2 knee OA were randomly allocated to TAE or a sham procedure. The intervention group underwent TAE of one or more genicular arteries. The control group received a blinded sham procedure. The primary outcome was knee pain at 12 months according to the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) pain scale. Secondary outcomes included self-reported function and quality of life (KOOS, EuroQol five-dimension five-level questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L)), self-reported Global Change, six-minute walk test, 30-second chair stand test, and adverse events. Subgroup analyses compared participants who received complete embolization of all genicular arteries (as distinct from embolization of some arteries) (n = 17) with the control group (n = 29) for KOOS and Global Change scores at 12 months. Continuous variables were analyzed with quantile regression, adjusting for baseline scores. Dichotomized variables were analyzed with chi-squared tests.Aims
Methods
Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by a chronic inflammatory process involving multiple cytokine pathways, leading to articular cartilage degeneration. Intra-articular therapies using pharmaceutical or autologous anti-inflammatory factors offer potential non-surgical treatment options. Autologous protein solution (APS) is one such product that uses the patient’s blood to produce a concentrate of cells and anti-inflammatory cytokines. This study evaluated the effect of a specific APS intra-articular injection (nSTRIDE) on patient-reported outcome measures compared to saline in moderate knee OA. A parallel, double-blinded, placebo-controlled randomized controlled trial was conducted, where patients with unilateral moderate knee OA (Kellgren-Lawrence grade 2 or 3) received either nSTRIDE or saline (placebo) injection to their symptomatic knee. The primary outcome was the difference in Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) total score at 12 months post-intervention. Secondary outcomes included WOMAC component scores, Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores at all follow-up timepoints (three, six, and 12 months).Aims
Methods
In cases of severe periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) of the knee, salvage procedures such as knee arthrodesis (KA) or above-knee amputation (AKA) must be considered. As both treatments result in limitations in quality of life (QoL), we aimed to compare outcomes and factors influencing complication rates, mortality, and mobility. Patients with PJI of the knee and subsequent KA or AKA between June 2011 and May 2021 were included. Demographic data, comorbidities, and patient history were analyzed. Functional outcomes and QoL were prospectively assessed in both groups with additional treatment-specific scores after AKA. Outcomes, complications, and mortality were evaluated.Aims
Methods
The aim was to assess whether robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty (rTKA) had greater knee-specific outcomes, improved fulfilment of expectations, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and patient satisfaction when compared with manual TKA (mTKA). A randomized controlled trial was undertaken (May 2019 to December 2021), and patients were allocated to either mTKA or rTKA. A total of 100 patients were randomized, 50 to each group, of whom 43 rTKA and 38 mTKA patients were available for review at 12 months following surgery. There were no statistically significant preoperative differences between the groups. The minimal clinically important difference in the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain score was defined as 7.5 points.Aims
Methods
The primary aim was to assess whether robotic total knee arthroplasty (rTKA) had a greater early knee-specific outcome when compared to manual TKA (mTKA). Secondary aims were to assess whether rTKA was associated with improved expectation fulfilment, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and patient satisfaction when compared to mTKA. A randomized controlled trial was undertaken, and patients were randomized to either mTKA or rTKA. The primary objective was functional improvement at six months. Overall, 100 patients were randomized, 50 to each group, of whom 46 rTKA and 41 mTKA patients were available for review at six months following surgery. There were no differences between the two groups.Aims
Methods
The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness and safety of thromboprophylactic treatments in patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Using nationwide medical registries, we identified patients with a primary TKA performed in Denmark between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2018 who received thromboprophylactic treatment. We examined the 90-day risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), major bleeding, and all-cause mortality following surgery. We used a Cox regression model to compute hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each outcome, pairwise comparing treatment with dalteparin or dabigatran with rivaroxaban as the reference. The HRs were both computed using a multivariable and a propensity score matched analysis.Aims
Methods
The optimal management of an infrapopliteal deep venous thrombosis (IDVT) following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) remains unknown. The risk of DVT propagation and symptom progression must be balanced against potential haemorrhagic complications associated with administration of anticoagulation therapy. The current study reports on a cohort of patients diagnosed with IDVT following TKA who were treated with aspirin, followed closely for development of symptoms, and scanned with ultrasound to determine resolution of IDVT. Among a cohort of 5,078 patients undergoing TKA, 532 patients (695 TKAs, 12.6%) developed an IDVT between 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2019 at a single institution, as diagnosed using Doppler ultrasound at the first postoperative visit. Of the entire cohort of 532 patients with IDVT, 91.4% (486/532) were treated with aspirin (325 mg twice daily) and followed closely. Repeat lower limb ultrasound was performed four weeks later to evaluate the status of IDVT.Aims
Methods
The purpose of this study was to assess total knee arthroplasty (TKA) volume and rates of early complications in morbidly obese patients over the last decade, where the introduction of quality models influencing perioperative care pathways occurred. Patients undergoing TKA between 2011 to 2018 were identified in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Patients were stratified by BMI < 40 kg/m2 and ≥ 40 kg/m2 and evaluated by the number of cases per year. The 30-day rates of any complication, wound complications, readmissions, and reoperation were assessed. Trends in these endpoints over the study period were compared between groups using odds ratios (ORs) and multivariate analyses.Aims
Methods
The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of the removal of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) from the Medicare Inpatient Only (IPO) list on our Bundled Payments for Care Improvement (BPCI) Initiative in 2018. We examined our institutional database to identify all Medicare patients who underwent primary TKA from 2017 to 2018. Hospital inpatient or outpatient status was cross-referenced with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) claims data. Demographics, comorbidities, and outcomes were compared between patients classified as ‘outpatient’ and ‘inpatient’ TKA. Episode-of-care BPCI costs were then compared from 2017 to 2018.Aims
Methods
The aim of this prospective multicentre study was to describe trends in length of stay and early complications and readmissions following unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) performed at eight different centres in Denmark using a fast-track protocol and to compare the length of stay between centres with high and low utilization of UKA. We included data from eight dedicated fast-track centres, all reporting UKAs to the same database, between 2010 and 2018. Complete ( > 99%) data on length of stay, 90-day readmission, and mortality were obtained during the study period. Specific reasons for a length of stay of > two days, length of stay > four days, and 30- and 90-day readmission were recorded. The use of UKA in the different centres was dichotomized into ≥ 20% versus < 20% of arthroplasties which were undertaken being UKAs, and ≥ 52 UKAs versus < 52 UKAs being undertaken annually.Aims
Methods
Stiffness is a common complication after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Pathogenesis is not understood, treatment options are limited, and diagnosis is challenging. The aim of this study was to investigate if MRI can be used to visualize intra-articular scarring in patients with stiff, painful knee arthroplasties. Well-functioning primary TKAs (n = 11), failed non-fibrotic TKAs (n = 5), and patients with a clinical diagnosis of fibrosisAims
Methods
The integrity of the soft tissue envelope is crucial for successful treatment of infected total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the rate of limb salvage, infection control, and clinical function following microvascular free flap coverage for salvage of the infected TKA. We retrospectively reviewed 23 microvascular free tissue transfers for management of soft tissue defects in infected TKA. There were 16 men and seven women with a mean age of 61.2 years (39 to 81). The median number of procedures performed prior to soft tissue coverage was five (2 to 9) and all patients had failed at least one two-stage reimplantation procedure. Clinical outcomes were measured using the Knee Society Scoring system for pain and function.Aims
Methods
The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of a machine-learning algorithm to diagnose prosthetic loosening from preoperative radiographs and to investigate the inputs that might improve its performance. A group of 697 patients underwent a first-time revision of a total hip (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA) at our institution between 2012 and 2018. Preoperative anteroposterior (AP) and lateral radiographs, and historical and comorbidity information were collected from their electronic records. Each patient was defined as having loose or fixed components based on the operation notes. We trained a series of convolutional neural network (CNN) models to predict a diagnosis of loosening at the time of surgery from the preoperative radiographs. We then added historical data about the patients to the best performing model to create a final model and tested it on an independent dataset.Aims
Methods
The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of perioperative essential amino acid (EAA) supplementation to prevent rectus femoris muscle atrophy and facilitate early recovery of function after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The study involved 60 patients who underwent unilateral TKA for primary knee osteo-arthritis (OA). This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized control trial with patients randomly allocated to two groups, 30 patients each: the essential amino acid supplementation (9 g daily) and placebo (lactose powder, 9 g daily) groups. Supplementation and placebo were provided from one week before to two weeks after surgery. The area of the rectus femoris muscle were measured by ultrasound imaging one month before surgery and one, two, three, and four weeks postoperatively. The serum albumin level, a visual analogue knee pain score, and mobility were also measured at each time point. The time to recovery of activities of daily living (ADLs) was recorded. Postoperative nutrition and physiotherapy were identical in both groups.Aims
Methods
To evaluate the influence of discharge timing on 30-day complications following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We identified patients aged 18 years or older who underwent TKA between 2005 and 2016 from the American College of Surgeons’ National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database. We propensity score-matched length-of-stay (LOS) groups using all relevant covariables. We used multivariable regression to determine if the rate of complications and re-admissions differed depending on LOS.Aims
Patients and Methods
The primary aim of this study was to assess whether pain in the contralateral knee had a clinically significant influence on the outcome of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) according to the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score. Secondary aims were to: describe the prevalence of contralateral knee pain; identify if it clinically improves after TKA; and assess whether contralateral knee pain independently influences patient satisfaction with their TKA. A retrospective cohort of 3,178 primary TKA patients were identified from an arthroplasty database. Patient characteristics, comorbidities, and WOMAC scores were collected preoperatively and one year postoperatively for the index knee. In addition, WOMAC pain scores were also collected for the contralateral knee. Overall patient satisfaction was assessed at one year. Preoperative contralateral knee pain was defined according to the WOMAC score: minimal (> 78 points), mild (59 to 78), moderate (44 to 58), and severe (< 44). Multivariate regression analysis was used to adjust for confounding.Aims
Methods
The aim of this study was to characterize the factors leading to transfemoral amputation after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), as well as the rates of mortality and functional independence after this procedure in these patients. This was a multicentre retrospective review with a prospective telephone survey for the assessment of function. All patients with a TKA who subsequently required transfemoral amputation between January 2001 and December 2015 were included. Demographic information, medical comorbidities, and postoperative mortality data were collected. A 19-item survey was used for the assessment of function in surviving patients.Aims
Patients and Methods
The primary aim of this study was to assess the rate of patient
satisfaction one year after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) according
to the focus of the question asked. The secondary aims were to identify
independent predictors of patient satisfaction according to the
focus of the question. A retrospective cohort of 2521 patients undergoing a primary
unilateral TKA were identified from an established regional arthroplasty
database. Patient demographics, comorbidities, Western Ontario and
McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and 12-Item Short-Form
Health Survey (SF-12) scores were collected preoperatively and one
year postoperatively. Patient satisfaction was assessed using four
questions, which focused on overall outcome, activity, work, and
pain. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent
preoperative predictors of increased stiffness when adjusting for
confounding variables.Aims
Patients and Methods
The primary aim of this study was to assess whether patient satisfaction
one year after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) changed with longer
follow-up. The secondary aims were to identify predictors of satisfaction
at one year, persistence of patient dissatisfaction, and late onset
dissatisfaction in patients that were originally satisfied at one year. A retrospective cohort consisting of 1369 patients undergoing
a primary TKA for osteoarthritis that had not undergone revision
were identified from an established arthroplasty database. Patient
demographics, comorbidities, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities
Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores, and Short Form 12 (SF-12) questionnaire
scores were collected preoperatively, and one and five years postoperatively.
In addition, patient satisfaction was assessed at one and five years
postoperatively. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify
independent predictors of satisfaction at one and five years.Aims
Patients and Methods
We present detailed information about early morbidity
after aseptic revision knee replacement from a nationwide study.
All aseptic revision knee replacements undertaken between 1st October
2009 and 30th September 2011 were analysed using the Danish National
Patient Registry with additional information from the Danish Knee
Arthroplasty Registry. The 1218 revisions involving 1165 patients
were subdivided into total revisions, large partial revisions, partial
revisions and revisions of unicondylar replacements (UKR revisions).
The mean age was 65.0 years (27 to 94) and the median length of
hospital stay was four days (interquartile range: 3 to 5), with
a 90 days re-admission rate of 9.9%,
re-operation rate of 3.5% and mortality rate of 0.2%. The age ranges
of 51 to 55 years (p = 0.018), 76 to 80 years (p <
0.001) and ≥ 81
years (p <
0.001) were related to an increased risk of re-admission.
The age ranges of 76 to 80 years (p = 0.018) and the large partial
revision subgroup (p = 0.073) were related to an increased risk
of re-operation. The ages from 76 to 80 years (p <
0.001), age ≥ 81
years (p <
0.001) and surgical time >
120 min (p <
0.001)
were related to increased length of hospital stay, whereas the use
of a tourniquet (p = 0.008) and surgery in a low volume centre (p
= 0.013) were related to shorter length of stay. In conclusion, we found a similar incidence of early post-operative
morbidity after aseptic knee revisions as has been reported after
primary procedures. This suggests that a length of hospital stay ≤ four
days and discharge home at that time is safe following aseptic knee
revision surgery in Denmark. Cite this article:
Whether to use total or unicompartmental knee
replacement (TKA/UKA) for end-stage knee osteoarthritis remains controversial.
Although UKA results in a faster recovery, lower rates of morbidity
and mortality and fewer complications, the long-term revision rate
is substantially higher than that for TKA. The effect of each intervention on
patient-reported outcome remains unclear. The aim of this study
was to determine whether six-month patient-reported outcome measures
(PROMs) are better in patients after TKA or UKA, using data from
a large national joint registry (NJR). We carried out a propensity score-matched cohort study which
compared six-month PROMs after TKA and UKA in patients enrolled
in the NJR for England and Wales, and the English national PROM
collection programme. A total of 3519 UKA patients were matched
to 10 557 TKAs. The mean six-month PROMs favoured UKA: the Oxford Knee Score
was 37.7 (95% confidence interval (CI) 37.4 to 38.0) for UKA and
36.1 (95% CI 35.9 to 36.3) for TKA; the mean EuroQol EQ-5D index
was 0.772 (95% CI 0.764 to 0.780) for UKA and 0.751 (95% CI 0.747
to 0.756) for TKA. UKA patients were more likely to achieve excellent
results (odds ratio (OR) 1.59, 95% CI 1.47 to 1.72, p <
0.001)
and to be highly satisfied (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.17 to 1.39, p <
0.001), and
were less likely to report complications than those who had undergone
TKA. UKA gives better early patient-reported outcomes than TKA; these
differences are most marked for the very best outcomes. Complications
and readmission are more likely after TKA. Although the data presented
reflect the short-term outcome, they suggest that the high revision
rate for UKA may not be because of poorer clinical outcomes. These
factors should inform decision-making in patients eligible for either
procedure. Cite this article:
The routine use of patient reported outcome measures
(PROMs) in evaluating the outcome after arthroplasty by healthcare
organisations reflects a growing recognition of the importance of
patients’ perspectives in improving treatment. Although widely embraced
in the NHS, there are concerns that PROMs are being used beyond
their means due to a poor understanding of their limitations. This paper reviews some of the current challenges in using PROMs
to evaluate total knee arthroplasty. It highlights alternative methods
that have been used to improve the assessment of outcome. Cite this article:
We performed a randomised controlled trial comparing
computer-assisted surgery (CAS) with conventional surgery (CONV)
in total knee replacement (TKR). Between 2009 and 2011 a total of
192 patients with a mean age of 68 years (55 to 85) with osteoarthritis
or arthritic disease of the knee were recruited from four Norwegian
hospitals. At three months follow-up, functional results were marginally
better for the CAS group. Mean differences (MD) in favour of CAS
were found for the Knee Society function score (MD: 5.9, 95% confidence
interval (CI) 0.3 to 11.4, p = 0.039), the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis
Outcome Score (KOOS) subscales for ‘pain’ (MD: 7.7, 95% CI 1.7 to
13.6, p = 0.012), ‘sports’ (MD: 13.5, 95% CI 5.6 to 21.4, p = 0.001)
and ‘quality of life’ (MD: 7.2, 95% CI 0.1 to 14.3, p = 0.046).
At one-year follow-up, differences favouring CAS were found for
KOOS ‘sports’ (MD: 11.0, 95% CI 3.0 to 19.0, p = 0.007) and KOOS
‘symptoms’ (MD: 6.7, 95% CI 0.5 to 13.0, p = 0.035). The use of
CAS resulted in fewer outliers in frontal alignment (>
3° malalignment),
both for the entire TKR (37.9% Cite this article:
Seligman’s theory of causal attribution predicts that patients with a pessimistic explanatory style will have less favourable health outcomes. We identified 702 patients who had undergone 894 primary total knee replacements between 1993 and 2005, who responded to follow-up surveys at two (n = 783 knee replacements) and/or five years (n = 443 knee replacements) and had also completed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory long before the joint replacement (median = 16.6 and 14.5 years for two- and five-year cohorts, respectively). Scores from the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory Optimism-Pessimism scale were used to categorise patients as pessimistic (t-score >
60) or non-pessimistic (t-score ≤ 60). Multivariate logistic regression models assessing the effect of pessimistic explanatory style on pain or improvement in knee function were adjusted for gender, age, distance from the place of treatment and depression score. Pessimists reported (a) significantly more moderate or severe pain at two years with odds ratio 2.21 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.12 to 4.35; p = 0.02), but not at five years when the odds ratio was 1.21 (95% CI 0.51 to 2.83; p = 0.67); and (b) less improvement in knee function at two years when the odds ratio was 0.53 (95% CI 0.30 to 0.96; p = 0.04), but not at five years when the odds ratio was 1.26 (95% CI 0.57 to 2.77; p = 0.57). No significant associations with moderate or severe limitation of activity were seen at two or five years. We conclude that a pessimistic explanatory style is associated with worse pain and functional outcomes two years after total knee replacement.
We carried out a prospective, continuous study on 529 patients who underwent primary total knee replacement between January 2006 and December 2007 at a major teaching hospital. The aim was to investigate weight change and the functional and clinical outcome in non-obese and obese groups at 12 months post-operatively. The patients were grouped according to their pre-operative body mass index (BMI) as follows: non-obese (BMI <
30 kg/m2), obese (BMI At 12 months, a clinically significant weight loss of ≥ 5% had occurred in 40 (12.6%) of the obese patients, but 107 (21%) gained weight. The change in the International Knee Society score was less in obese and morbidly obese compared with non-obese patients (p = 0.016). Adverse events occurred in 30 (14.2%) of the non-obese, 59 (22.6%) of the obese and 20 (35.1%) of the morbidly obese patients (p = 0.001).
Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are
increasingly being used to assess functional outcome and patient satisfaction.
They provide a framework for comparisons between surgical units,
and individual surgeons for benchmarking and financial remuneration.
Better performance may bring the reward of more customers as patients and
commissioners seek out high performers for their elective procedures.
Using National Joint Registry (NJR) data linked to PROMs we identified
22 691 primary total knee replacements (TKRs) undertaken for osteoarthritis
in England and Wales between August 2008 and February 2011, and
identified the surgical factors that influenced the improvements
in the Oxford knee score (OKS) and EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D) assessment
using multiple regression analysis. After correction for patient
factors the only surgical factors that influenced PROMs were implant
brand and hospital type (both p <
0.001). However, the effects
of surgical factors upon the PROMs were modest compared with patient
factors. For both the OKS and the EQ-5D the most important factors
influencing the improvement in PROMs were the corresponding pre-operative
score and the patient’s general health status. Despite having only
a small effect on PROMs, this study has shown that both implant
brand and hospital type do influence reported subjective functional
scores following TKR. In the current climate of financial austerity,
proposed performance-based remuneration and wider patient choice,
it would seem unwise to ignore these effects and the influence of
a range of additional patient factors.
Following arthroplasty of the knee, the patient’s
perception of improvement in symptoms is fundamental to the assessment
of outcome. Better clinical outcome may offset the inferior survival
observed for some types of implant. By examining linked National
Joint Registry (NJR) and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs)
data, we aimed to compare PROMs collected at a minimum of six months
post-operatively for total (TKR: n = 23 393) and unicondylar knee
replacements (UKR: n = 505). Improvements in knee-specific (Oxford
knee score, OKS) and generic (EuroQol, EQ-5D) scores were compared
and adjusted for case-mix differences using multiple regression.
Whereas the improvements in the OKS and EQ-5D were significantly
greater for TKR than for UKR, once adjustments were made for case-mix
differences and pre-operative score, the improvements in the two
scores were not significantly different. The adjusted mean differences
in the improvement of OKS and EQ-5D were 0.0 (95% confidence interval (CI)
-0.9 to 0.9; p = 0.96) and 0.009 (95% CI -0.034 to 0.015; p = 0.37),
respectively. We found no difference in the improvement of either knee-specific
or general health outcomes between TKR and UKR in a large cohort
of registry patients. With concerns about significantly higher revision
rates for UKR observed in worldwide registries, we question the
widespread use of an arthroplasty that does not confer a significant
benefit in clinical outcome.
We compared inflammation in the knee after total knee replacement (TKR) for primary osteoarthritis between two groups of patients undergoing joint replacement with and without synovectomy. A total of 67 patients who underwent unilateral TKR were randomly divided into group I, TKR without synovectomy, and group II, TKR with synovectomy. Clinical outcomes, serial serum inflammatory markers (including interleukin-6 (IL-6), CRP and ESR) and the difference in temperature of the skin of the knee, compared with the contralateral side, were sequentially evaluated until 26 weeks after surgery. Pre-operatively, there were no statistically different clinical parameters between groups I and II. At the 26-week follow-up, both groups had a similarly significantly improved American Knee Society clinical score (p <
0.001) and functional score (p <
0.001) with no differences between the groups. Similar changes in serial inflammatory markers were found in both groups, including mean peak levels of IL-6 (189 pg/ml ( We concluded that synovectomy at the time of TKR does not provide any benefit to the clinical outcome or shorten the duration of the inflammatory response after surgery.
We aimed to document the pre-operative expectations in Korean patients undergoing total knee replacement using an established survey form and to determine whether expectations were influenced by sociodemographic factors or pre-operative functional status. Expectations regarding 17 items in the Knee Replacement Expectation Survey form were investigated in 454 patients scheduled for total knee replacement. The levels and distribution patterns of summated expectation and of five expectation categories (relief from pain, baseline activity, high flexion activity, social activity and psychological well-being) constructed from the 17 items were assessed. Univariate analyses and multivariate logistic regression were performed to examine the associations of expectations with the sociodemographic factors and the functional status. The top three expectations were relief from pain, restoration of walking ability, and psychological well-being. Of the five expectation categories, relief from pain was ranked the highest, followed by psychological well-being, restoration of baseline activity, ability to perform high flexion activities and ability to participate in social activities. An age of <
65 years, being employed, a high Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index function score and a low Short-form 36 social score were found to be significantly associated with higher overall expectations.
Autologous chondrocyte implantation is an established method of treatment for symptomatic articular defects of cartilage. Clinically, all the patients improved significantly. Patients with lesions larger than 3 cm2 improved significantly more than those with smaller lesions. There was no correlation between the clinical outcome and the body mass index, age, duration of symptoms and location of the defects. The mean arthroscopic International Cartilage Repair Society score was 10 (5 to 12) of a maximum of 12. Predominantly hyaline cartilage was seen in eight of the 13 patients (62%) who had follow-up biopsies. Our findings suggest that autologous chondrocyte implantation in combination with a novel hydrogel results in a significant clinical improvement at follow-up at two years, more so for larger and deeper lesions. The surgical procedure is uncomplicated, and predominantly hyaline cartilage-like repair tissue was observed in eight patients.
This prospective study describes the complications and survival of the first 688 Phase 3 Oxford medial unicompartmental knee replacements implanted using a minimally-invasive technique by two surgeons and followed up independently. None was lost to follow-up. We had carried out 132 of the procedures more than five years ago. The clinical assessment of 101 of these which were available for review at five years is also presented. Nine of the 688 knees were revised: four for infection, three for dislocation of the bearing and two for unexplained pain. A further seven knees (1%) required other procedures: four had a manipulation under anaesthesia, two an arthroscopy and one a debridement for superficial infection. The survival rate at seven years was 97.3% (95% confidence interval 5.3). At five years, 96% of the patients had a good or excellent American Knee Society score, the mean Oxford knee score was 39 and the mean flexion was 133°. This study demonstrates that the minimally-invasive Oxford unicompartmental knee replacement is a reliable and effective procedure.
