TBD Meeting (2896-20)

A quality initiative to restrict the use of Foley catheters in middle-aged and geriatric trauma patients with hip fracture reduced the risk of urinary tract infections (UTI) and led to earlier discharge, findings from a study revealed. The results of the study were reported in an abstract scheduled for release at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The meeting was canceled because of COVID-19.

“We reduced the use of Foley catheters in our target population by more than 50%, which led to a decrease in the rate of hospital-acquired UTI and positively affected other perioperative outcomes,” reported Sanjit R. Konda, MD, an orthopedic surgeon with New York University Langone Health.

The quality initiative was introduced about 2 years ago specifically to reduce the risk of UTI in older patients admitted for femur or hip fractures. Previously at the level 1 trauma center where this quality initiative was introduced, placement of Foley catheters in these types of patients had been routine.

After the policy change, Foley catheters were only offered to these trauma patients 55 years of age or older when more than three episodes or urinary retention had been documented with a bladder scan. Urinary retention was defined as a volume of at least 600 mL.

When outcomes in 184 patients treated in the 15 months after the policy change were compared with 393 treated in the prior 38 months, Foley catheter use was substantially and significantly reduced (43.5% vs. 95.5%; P < .001), Dr. Konda said in an interview.

Although the lower rate of UTI following the policy change fell short of statistical significance (10.33% vs. 14.5%; P = .167), the policy change was associated with a decreased time to surgery (33.27 vs. 38.54 hours; P = .001), shorter length of stay (6.89 vs. 8.34 days; P < .001), and higher rate of home discharge (22.8% vs. 15.6%; P = .038).

When those who avoided a Foley catheter were compared with those who did not after the policy change, there was a significant reduction in UTI (4.81% vs. 17.4%; P = .014). In addition, patients who avoided a Foley catheter had a decreased time to surgery (P = .014), shorter length of stay (P < .001) and an almost 900% greater likelihood of home discharge (odds ratio, 9.9; P < .001).

“This quality initiative does increase the number of bladder scans required, meaning more work for nurses, but the program was developed in collaboration with our nursing staff, who were supportive of the goals,” Dr. Konda reported.

Reducing the incidence of UTI is an important initiative because the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and other third-party payers employ this as a quality metric, according to Dr. Konda. This explains why hospital administrators generally embrace effective strategies to reduce UTI rates.

The improvement in outcomes, including the reduction in UTIs and length of stay, has cost implications, which will be evaluated in a future analysis, according to Dr. Konda.

Although this quality initiative was undertaken in a level 1 trauma center, Dr. Konda believes the same principles can be applied to other settings.

Jennifer A. Meddings, MD, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, agreed. Active in the evaluation of strategies to reduce hospital-acquired complications, Dr. Meddings published a study of procedural appropriateness ratings to guide strategies for improving the likelihood that catheters are employed only when needed (BMJ Qual Saf. 2019;28:56-66).

“In addition to avoiding UTI, reducing unnecessary placement of Foley catheters also eliminates the risk of trauma to the urinary tract,” Dr. Meddings said. This is a complication that is not well appreciated because the trauma is not always documented, according to Dr. Meddings, who believes increased risk of both UTI and urinary tract trauma should discourage use of Foley catheters when there is not a specific indication.

Although there are criteria other than excess bladder volume to determine when to consider a Foley catheter, Dr. Meddings encourages any systematic approach that increases the likelihood that catheters are not placed unnecessarily. She emphasized that a hip fracture by itself “is not a criterion for catheterization.”

Dr. Konda reported a financial relationship with Stryker.
 

A quality initiative to restrict the use of Foley catheters in middle-aged and geriatric trauma patients with hip fracture reduced the risk of urinary tract infections (UTI) and led to earlier discharge, findings from a study revealed. The results of the study were reported in an abstract scheduled for release at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The meeting was canceled because of COVID-19.

“We reduced the use of Foley catheters in our target population by more than 50%, which led to a decrease in the rate of hospital-acquired UTI and positively affected other perioperative outcomes,” reported Sanjit R. Konda, MD, an orthopedic surgeon with New York University Langone Health.

The quality initiative was introduced about 2 years ago specifically to reduce the risk of UTI in older patients admitted for femur or hip fractures. Previously at the level 1 trauma center where this quality initiative was introduced, placement of Foley catheters in these types of patients had been routine.

After the policy change, Foley catheters were only offered to these trauma patients 55 years of age or older when more than three episodes or urinary retention had been documented with a bladder scan. Urinary retention was defined as a volume of at least 600 mL.

When outcomes in 184 patients treated in the 15 months after the policy change were compared with 393 treated in the prior 38 months, Foley catheter use was substantially and significantly reduced (43.5% vs. 95.5%; P < .001), Dr. Konda said in an interview.

Although the lower rate of UTI following the policy change fell short of statistical significance (10.33% vs. 14.5%; P = .167), the policy change was associated with a decreased time to surgery (33.27 vs. 38.54 hours; P = .001), shorter length of stay (6.89 vs. 8.34 days; P < .001), and higher rate of home discharge (22.8% vs. 15.6%; P = .038).

When those who avoided a Foley catheter were compared with those who did not after the policy change, there was a significant reduction in UTI (4.81% vs. 17.4%; P = .014). In addition, patients who avoided a Foley catheter had a decreased time to surgery (P = .014), shorter length of stay (P < .001) and an almost 900% greater likelihood of home discharge (odds ratio, 9.9; P < .001).

“This quality initiative does increase the number of bladder scans required, meaning more work for nurses, but the program was developed in collaboration with our nursing staff, who were supportive of the goals,” Dr. Konda reported.

Reducing the incidence of UTI is an important initiative because the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and other third-party payers employ this as a quality metric, according to Dr. Konda. This explains why hospital administrators generally embrace effective strategies to reduce UTI rates.

The improvement in outcomes, including the reduction in UTIs and length of stay, has cost implications, which will be evaluated in a future analysis, according to Dr. Konda.

Although this quality initiative was undertaken in a level 1 trauma center, Dr. Konda believes the same principles can be applied to other settings.

Jennifer A. Meddings, MD, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, agreed. Active in the evaluation of strategies to reduce hospital-acquired complications, Dr. Meddings published a study of procedural appropriateness ratings to guide strategies for improving the likelihood that catheters are employed only when needed (BMJ Qual Saf. 2019;28:56-66).

“In addition to avoiding UTI, reducing unnecessary placement of Foley catheters also eliminates the risk of trauma to the urinary tract,” Dr. Meddings said. This is a complication that is not well appreciated because the trauma is not always documented, according to Dr. Meddings, who believes increased risk of both UTI and urinary tract trauma should discourage use of Foley catheters when there is not a specific indication.

Although there are criteria other than excess bladder volume to determine when to consider a Foley catheter, Dr. Meddings encourages any systematic approach that increases the likelihood that catheters are not placed unnecessarily. She emphasized that a hip fracture by itself “is not a criterion for catheterization.”

Dr. Konda reported a financial relationship with Stryker.
 

A quality initiative to restrict the use of Foley catheters in middle-aged and geriatric trauma patients with hip fracture reduced the risk of urinary tract infections (UTI) and led to earlier discharge, findings from a study revealed. The results of the study were reported in an abstract scheduled for release at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The meeting was canceled because of COVID-19.

“We reduced the use of Foley catheters in our target population by more than 50%, which led to a decrease in the rate of hospital-acquired UTI and positively affected other perioperative outcomes,” reported Sanjit R. Konda, MD, an orthopedic surgeon with New York University Langone Health.

The quality initiative was introduced about 2 years ago specifically to reduce the risk of UTI in older patients admitted for femur or hip fractures. Previously at the level 1 trauma center where this quality initiative was introduced, placement of Foley catheters in these types of patients had been routine.

After the policy change, Foley catheters were only offered to these trauma patients 55 years of age or older when more than three episodes or urinary retention had been documented with a bladder scan. Urinary retention was defined as a volume of at least 600 mL.

When outcomes in 184 patients treated in the 15 months after the policy change were compared with 393 treated in the prior 38 months, Foley catheter use was substantially and significantly reduced (43.5% vs. 95.5%; P < .001), Dr. Konda said in an interview.

Although the lower rate of UTI following the policy change fell short of statistical significance (10.33% vs. 14.5%; P = .167), the policy change was associated with a decreased time to surgery (33.27 vs. 38.54 hours; P = .001), shorter length of stay (6.89 vs. 8.34 days; P < .001), and higher rate of home discharge (22.8% vs. 15.6%; P = .038).

When those who avoided a Foley catheter were compared with those who did not after the policy change, there was a significant reduction in UTI (4.81% vs. 17.4%; P = .014). In addition, patients who avoided a Foley catheter had a decreased time to surgery (P = .014), shorter length of stay (P < .001) and an almost 900% greater likelihood of home discharge (odds ratio, 9.9; P < .001).

“This quality initiative does increase the number of bladder scans required, meaning more work for nurses, but the program was developed in collaboration with our nursing staff, who were supportive of the goals,” Dr. Konda reported.

Reducing the incidence of UTI is an important initiative because the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and other third-party payers employ this as a quality metric, according to Dr. Konda. This explains why hospital administrators generally embrace effective strategies to reduce UTI rates.

The improvement in outcomes, including the reduction in UTIs and length of stay, has cost implications, which will be evaluated in a future analysis, according to Dr. Konda.

Although this quality initiative was undertaken in a level 1 trauma center, Dr. Konda believes the same principles can be applied to other settings.

Jennifer A. Meddings, MD, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, agreed. Active in the evaluation of strategies to reduce hospital-acquired complications, Dr. Meddings published a study of procedural appropriateness ratings to guide strategies for improving the likelihood that catheters are employed only when needed (BMJ Qual Saf. 2019;28:56-66).

“In addition to avoiding UTI, reducing unnecessary placement of Foley catheters also eliminates the risk of trauma to the urinary tract,” Dr. Meddings said. This is a complication that is not well appreciated because the trauma is not always documented, according to Dr. Meddings, who believes increased risk of both UTI and urinary tract trauma should discourage use of Foley catheters when there is not a specific indication.

Although there are criteria other than excess bladder volume to determine when to consider a Foley catheter, Dr. Meddings encourages any systematic approach that increases the likelihood that catheters are not placed unnecessarily. She emphasized that a hip fracture by itself “is not a criterion for catheterization.”

Dr. Konda reported a financial relationship with Stryker.
 

A simple tool to guide choice of antithrombotic therapy following total joint arthroplasty led to a reduction in pulmonary embolism (PE) after being introduced systemwide, according to a prospectively tracked evaluation of a large patient cohort. The results of the study were reported in an abstract scheduled for release at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The meeting was canceled because of COVID-19.

“We developed a simplified scoring system for evaluating risk of thromboembolism and guiding prophylaxis that led to a significant reduction in events across a large integrated health care system,” reported James Wylie, MD, associate medical director for hip and knee preservation and orthopedic research at Intermountain Healthcare, Salt Lake City, Utah.

The goal of the methodology was to create a uniform and evidence-based approach to risk assessment in order to guide selection of appropriate venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis. The tool takes into account the need to individualize antithrombotic drugs for risk of both VTE and for bleeding.

“VTE is a major threat following total joint replacement, but not all patients require anticoagulants. Recent evidence supports a shift to aspirin for low-risk patients,” explained Dr. Wylie in an interview.

The risk tool assigns points for such factors as history of VTE, older age, history of coronary artery disease, history of cancer, and increased body mass index. There are two possible ratings to guide strategies. Those with standard risk are candidates for 81 mg of aspirin twice daily. Those with high risk are candidates for 2.5 mg of apixaban, also administered twice daily. Custom dosing of warfarin is an alternative for the latter group. Regardless of strategy, prophylaxis is administered for 30 days following arthroplasty

“The risk score is calculated automatically, because you have to click a box in the electronic medical record for all of those factors as part of admission orders,” Dr. Wylie said.

The protocol was introduced in July 2017 and adoption was tracked prospectively over 18 months. In an evaluable cohort of 20,284 patients, PE rates in the 71% of patients adherent to the protocol were compared with the 29% who were not.

Over the observation period, the rates of PE were 0.34% and 0.62% (P = .004) for those adherent and nonadherent, respectively. The rate of unplanned readmissions and death, which were secondary outcomes, were both numerically lower in the group treated by adherent surgeons, but the differences did not reach statistical significance.

Adoption of the protocol by surgeons did increase over the course of the observation period, and this correlated with a decrease in unplanned readmissions. Bleeding-related readmission was a rare event in this analysis and did not significantly increase over time, according to Dr. Wylie.

The risk assessment tool, developed by a multispecialty team at Intermountain Healthcare, was based on a review of hundreds of published papers and guidelines, according to Nathan Momberger, MD, who is the associate medical director of total joint replacement at Intermountain and was a coauthor on this study. A member of the team that developed the risk assessment tool, Dr. Momberger noted that new risk score was developed at a time when clinicians have been moving quickly away from warfarin to direct oral anticoagulants.

“None of our surgeons were using the same VTE prophylaxis when we started this project,” Dr. Momberger said. This was a motivation for developing a systemwide approach. In the 22 participating hospitals, there were 50 surgeons performing total knee arthroplasty and 40 surgeons were performing total hip surgery at the time the new protocol was introduced.

Further analyses will provide a more detailed analysis of the effect of the protocol on other thrombotic events, including deep vein thrombosis, and on cost. Since these data were analyzed, protocol adoption has increased and now exceeds 80%, according to Dr. Wylie.

Although a standardized approach to VTE prophylaxis following total joint arthroplasty is attractive, the ideal strategy remains controversial, according to Sunny Parikh, MD, an orthopedic surgeon affiliated with Colchester (England) General Hospital.

As a coauthor of a recent study that quantified symptomatic VTE rates at his and a neighboring hospital over a 3-year period (BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2020;21:95), Dr. Parikh reported that VTE rates did not reach zero even with a prolonged course of the low-molecular-weight heparin enoxaparin.

At 90 days, the symptomatic VTE rate was only 0.3% for total knee arthroplasty but reached 1.2% for total hip arthroplasty.

“At the time of this study we were using enoxaparin for 28 days following total hip replacements and for 14 days following total knee replacements,” Dr. Parikh reported. Since this study, his institution has switched to a regimen recommended by the U.K.’s National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).

Under the NICE guidelines, VTE prophylaxis for total hip arthroplasty is 40 mg enoxaparin once daily for 14 days followed by 75 mg aspirin for another 14 days, according to Dr. Parikh. For total knee arthroplasty, the standard regimen is 75 mg aspirin for 14 days.

For those who might not be best managed with the standard approach, “there is no clear guideline.” Rather, in patients with renal or liver impairment, “we discuss the case with the hematology team to adjust the doses,” Dr. Parikh reported.

The advantage of a standardized approach applied to all or most patients is that is eliminates disparities, but Dr. Parikh agreed that risk-adjusted prophylaxis might be warranted for optimal outcomes.

Dr. Wylie reported a financial relationship with Arthrex.
 

A simple tool to guide choice of antithrombotic therapy following total joint arthroplasty led to a reduction in pulmonary embolism (PE) after being introduced systemwide, according to a prospectively tracked evaluation of a large patient cohort. The results of the study were reported in an abstract scheduled for release at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The meeting was canceled because of COVID-19.

“We developed a simplified scoring system for evaluating risk of thromboembolism and guiding prophylaxis that led to a significant reduction in events across a large integrated health care system,” reported James Wylie, MD, associate medical director for hip and knee preservation and orthopedic research at Intermountain Healthcare, Salt Lake City, Utah.

The goal of the methodology was to create a uniform and evidence-based approach to risk assessment in order to guide selection of appropriate venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis. The tool takes into account the need to individualize antithrombotic drugs for risk of both VTE and for bleeding.

“VTE is a major threat following total joint replacement, but not all patients require anticoagulants. Recent evidence supports a shift to aspirin for low-risk patients,” explained Dr. Wylie in an interview.

The risk tool assigns points for such factors as history of VTE, older age, history of coronary artery disease, history of cancer, and increased body mass index. There are two possible ratings to guide strategies. Those with standard risk are candidates for 81 mg of aspirin twice daily. Those with high risk are candidates for 2.5 mg of apixaban, also administered twice daily. Custom dosing of warfarin is an alternative for the latter group. Regardless of strategy, prophylaxis is administered for 30 days following arthroplasty

“The risk score is calculated automatically, because you have to click a box in the electronic medical record for all of those factors as part of admission orders,” Dr. Wylie said.

The protocol was introduced in July 2017 and adoption was tracked prospectively over 18 months. In an evaluable cohort of 20,284 patients, PE rates in the 71% of patients adherent to the protocol were compared with the 29% who were not.

Over the observation period, the rates of PE were 0.34% and 0.62% (P = .004) for those adherent and nonadherent, respectively. The rate of unplanned readmissions and death, which were secondary outcomes, were both numerically lower in the group treated by adherent surgeons, but the differences did not reach statistical significance.

Adoption of the protocol by surgeons did increase over the course of the observation period, and this correlated with a decrease in unplanned readmissions. Bleeding-related readmission was a rare event in this analysis and did not significantly increase over time, according to Dr. Wylie.

The risk assessment tool, developed by a multispecialty team at Intermountain Healthcare, was based on a review of hundreds of published papers and guidelines, according to Nathan Momberger, MD, who is the associate medical director of total joint replacement at Intermountain and was a coauthor on this study. A member of the team that developed the risk assessment tool, Dr. Momberger noted that new risk score was developed at a time when clinicians have been moving quickly away from warfarin to direct oral anticoagulants.

“None of our surgeons were using the same VTE prophylaxis when we started this project,” Dr. Momberger said. This was a motivation for developing a systemwide approach. In the 22 participating hospitals, there were 50 surgeons performing total knee arthroplasty and 40 surgeons were performing total hip surgery at the time the new protocol was introduced.

Further analyses will provide a more detailed analysis of the effect of the protocol on other thrombotic events, including deep vein thrombosis, and on cost. Since these data were analyzed, protocol adoption has increased and now exceeds 80%, according to Dr. Wylie.

Although a standardized approach to VTE prophylaxis following total joint arthroplasty is attractive, the ideal strategy remains controversial, according to Sunny Parikh, MD, an orthopedic surgeon affiliated with Colchester (England) General Hospital.

As a coauthor of a recent study that quantified symptomatic VTE rates at his and a neighboring hospital over a 3-year period (BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2020;21:95), Dr. Parikh reported that VTE rates did not reach zero even with a prolonged course of the low-molecular-weight heparin enoxaparin.

At 90 days, the symptomatic VTE rate was only 0.3% for total knee arthroplasty but reached 1.2% for total hip arthroplasty.

“At the time of this study we were using enoxaparin for 28 days following total hip replacements and for 14 days following total knee replacements,” Dr. Parikh reported. Since this study, his institution has switched to a regimen recommended by the U.K.’s National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).

Under the NICE guidelines, VTE prophylaxis for total hip arthroplasty is 40 mg enoxaparin once daily for 14 days followed by 75 mg aspirin for another 14 days, according to Dr. Parikh. For total knee arthroplasty, the standard regimen is 75 mg aspirin for 14 days.

For those who might not be best managed with the standard approach, “there is no clear guideline.” Rather, in patients with renal or liver impairment, “we discuss the case with the hematology team to adjust the doses,” Dr. Parikh reported.

The advantage of a standardized approach applied to all or most patients is that is eliminates disparities, but Dr. Parikh agreed that risk-adjusted prophylaxis might be warranted for optimal outcomes.

Dr. Wylie reported a financial relationship with Arthrex.
 

A simple tool to guide choice of antithrombotic therapy following total joint arthroplasty led to a reduction in pulmonary embolism (PE) after being introduced systemwide, according to a prospectively tracked evaluation of a large patient cohort. The results of the study were reported in an abstract scheduled for release at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The meeting was canceled because of COVID-19.

“We developed a simplified scoring system for evaluating risk of thromboembolism and guiding prophylaxis that led to a significant reduction in events across a large integrated health care system,” reported James Wylie, MD, associate medical director for hip and knee preservation and orthopedic research at Intermountain Healthcare, Salt Lake City, Utah.

The goal of the methodology was to create a uniform and evidence-based approach to risk assessment in order to guide selection of appropriate venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis. The tool takes into account the need to individualize antithrombotic drugs for risk of both VTE and for bleeding.

“VTE is a major threat following total joint replacement, but not all patients require anticoagulants. Recent evidence supports a shift to aspirin for low-risk patients,” explained Dr. Wylie in an interview.

The risk tool assigns points for such factors as history of VTE, older age, history of coronary artery disease, history of cancer, and increased body mass index. There are two possible ratings to guide strategies. Those with standard risk are candidates for 81 mg of aspirin twice daily. Those with high risk are candidates for 2.5 mg of apixaban, also administered twice daily. Custom dosing of warfarin is an alternative for the latter group. Regardless of strategy, prophylaxis is administered for 30 days following arthroplasty

“The risk score is calculated automatically, because you have to click a box in the electronic medical record for all of those factors as part of admission orders,” Dr. Wylie said.

The protocol was introduced in July 2017 and adoption was tracked prospectively over 18 months. In an evaluable cohort of 20,284 patients, PE rates in the 71% of patients adherent to the protocol were compared with the 29% who were not.

Over the observation period, the rates of PE were 0.34% and 0.62% (P = .004) for those adherent and nonadherent, respectively. The rate of unplanned readmissions and death, which were secondary outcomes, were both numerically lower in the group treated by adherent surgeons, but the differences did not reach statistical significance.

Adoption of the protocol by surgeons did increase over the course of the observation period, and this correlated with a decrease in unplanned readmissions. Bleeding-related readmission was a rare event in this analysis and did not significantly increase over time, according to Dr. Wylie.

The risk assessment tool, developed by a multispecialty team at Intermountain Healthcare, was based on a review of hundreds of published papers and guidelines, according to Nathan Momberger, MD, who is the associate medical director of total joint replacement at Intermountain and was a coauthor on this study. A member of the team that developed the risk assessment tool, Dr. Momberger noted that new risk score was developed at a time when clinicians have been moving quickly away from warfarin to direct oral anticoagulants.

“None of our surgeons were using the same VTE prophylaxis when we started this project,” Dr. Momberger said. This was a motivation for developing a systemwide approach. In the 22 participating hospitals, there were 50 surgeons performing total knee arthroplasty and 40 surgeons were performing total hip surgery at the time the new protocol was introduced.

Further analyses will provide a more detailed analysis of the effect of the protocol on other thrombotic events, including deep vein thrombosis, and on cost. Since these data were analyzed, protocol adoption has increased and now exceeds 80%, according to Dr. Wylie.

Although a standardized approach to VTE prophylaxis following total joint arthroplasty is attractive, the ideal strategy remains controversial, according to Sunny Parikh, MD, an orthopedic surgeon affiliated with Colchester (England) General Hospital.

As a coauthor of a recent study that quantified symptomatic VTE rates at his and a neighboring hospital over a 3-year period (BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2020;21:95), Dr. Parikh reported that VTE rates did not reach zero even with a prolonged course of the low-molecular-weight heparin enoxaparin.

At 90 days, the symptomatic VTE rate was only 0.3% for total knee arthroplasty but reached 1.2% for total hip arthroplasty.

“At the time of this study we were using enoxaparin for 28 days following total hip replacements and for 14 days following total knee replacements,” Dr. Parikh reported. Since this study, his institution has switched to a regimen recommended by the U.K.’s National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).

Under the NICE guidelines, VTE prophylaxis for total hip arthroplasty is 40 mg enoxaparin once daily for 14 days followed by 75 mg aspirin for another 14 days, according to Dr. Parikh. For total knee arthroplasty, the standard regimen is 75 mg aspirin for 14 days.

For those who might not be best managed with the standard approach, “there is no clear guideline.” Rather, in patients with renal or liver impairment, “we discuss the case with the hematology team to adjust the doses,” Dr. Parikh reported.

The advantage of a standardized approach applied to all or most patients is that is eliminates disparities, but Dr. Parikh agreed that risk-adjusted prophylaxis might be warranted for optimal outcomes.

Dr. Wylie reported a financial relationship with Arthrex.
 

When results in a series of robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasties (TKA) were compared with a series of arthroplasties performed manually by the same surgeon, results were comparable even though the robotic procedures included a learning phase. The results of the study were reported in an abstract scheduled for release at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The meeting was canceled because of COVID-19.

“Robotics appears to level the playing field for those who are less experienced, so that robotic total knee arthroplasty might be particularly well suited to low-volume surgeons,” reported Sridhar R. Rachala, MD, assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery, University of Buffalo (N.Y.).

In this retrospective cohort study, radiographic and clinical outcomes were evaluated in 164 total knee arthroplasties performed manually over an 8-month period and compared with 300 procedures performed robotically by the same experienced surgeon over the subsequent 15-month period.

There were no significant differences between patient groups for mean age or body mass index. Dr. Rachala, who performed both sets of procedures, reported inherent differences in technique. Specifically, the mechanical alignment was planned for a traditional neutral mechanical axis, while the robotic procedures were planned in kinematic alignment.

When evaluated at 1 year, the mean KOOS JR (Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome for Joint Replacement) scores were not significantly different for the robotic and manually performed procedures (76.0 vs. 73.9; P = .54). There were also no differences in the final extension (P = .64) or flexion (P = .59).

However, the difference in mean length of stay (2.0 vs. 2.4 days; P = .0002) favored the robotic approach, and the higher proportion of patients discharged to home after robotic surgery (73% vs. 66%; P = .11) suggested a favorable trend. Planned and postoperative alignment was within two degrees for both groups and not significantly different.

“The robotic series were at a disadvantage because it included cases that I performed when first switching to this approach,” reported Dr. Rachala in an interview.

Although a growing number of total hip arthroplasties are performed robotically, there have not so far been many comparisons of clinical outcomes among surgeons experienced with both approaches, according to Dr. Rachala. Acknowledging that a single-surgeon experience could be considered a limitation of this series, Dr. Rachala also considers it a potential strength. Dr. Rachala was highly experienced with manually instrumented total knee arthroplasty when he switched.

“Positioning and alignment are not just more accurate but easier to perform with robotic assistance,” he said, explaining why this approach is likely to offer a particular advantage to surgeons who perform these types of arthroplasties at low volume. He noted that robotic programming helps prevent errors and adopt alternative more personalized alignments.

Although Dr. Rachala acknowledged that long-term and controlled studies are needed, his experience suggests that robotic-assisted procedures are emerging as a viable alternative with advantages for the surgeon as well as the patient.

The principle that robotic assistance can add consistency to total joint arthroplasty is valid, according to Gwo-Chin Lee, MD, an associate professor of orthopaedic surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. “Robotic-assisted arthroplasty improves the accuracy and consistency of the procedure, which can potentially reduce the likelihood of failure. In knees, it is proven to be valuable in unicompartmental replacements in which results are correlated to a surgeon’s surgical volume. It has an equalizing effect relative to a surgeon with more extensive experience,” Dr. Lee said.

The senior author of a recent systematic review and meta-analysis of robotic-assisted unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (J Knee Surg. 2020 Jan 30; doi: 10.1055/s-0040-1701455), Dr. Lee said, “While the impact of robotics on other metrics including patient satisfaction and early recovery continues to be debated among surgeons who specialize in total knee arthroplasties, the technology can aid surgeons in component position, sizing, and ligament balance, particularly for the lower-volume surgeons and ultimately lead to more predictable outcomes.”

Dr. Rachala reports a financial relationship with Avanos and Stryker.

SOURCE: Rachala S et al. AAOS 2020. Abstract P0091.

When results in a series of robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasties (TKA) were compared with a series of arthroplasties performed manually by the same surgeon, results were comparable even though the robotic procedures included a learning phase. The results of the study were reported in an abstract scheduled for release at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The meeting was canceled because of COVID-19.

“Robotics appears to level the playing field for those who are less experienced, so that robotic total knee arthroplasty might be particularly well suited to low-volume surgeons,” reported Sridhar R. Rachala, MD, assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery, University of Buffalo (N.Y.).

In this retrospective cohort study, radiographic and clinical outcomes were evaluated in 164 total knee arthroplasties performed manually over an 8-month period and compared with 300 procedures performed robotically by the same experienced surgeon over the subsequent 15-month period.

There were no significant differences between patient groups for mean age or body mass index. Dr. Rachala, who performed both sets of procedures, reported inherent differences in technique. Specifically, the mechanical alignment was planned for a traditional neutral mechanical axis, while the robotic procedures were planned in kinematic alignment.

When evaluated at 1 year, the mean KOOS JR (Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome for Joint Replacement) scores were not significantly different for the robotic and manually performed procedures (76.0 vs. 73.9; P = .54). There were also no differences in the final extension (P = .64) or flexion (P = .59).

However, the difference in mean length of stay (2.0 vs. 2.4 days; P = .0002) favored the robotic approach, and the higher proportion of patients discharged to home after robotic surgery (73% vs. 66%; P = .11) suggested a favorable trend. Planned and postoperative alignment was within two degrees for both groups and not significantly different.

“The robotic series were at a disadvantage because it included cases that I performed when first switching to this approach,” reported Dr. Rachala in an interview.

Although a growing number of total hip arthroplasties are performed robotically, there have not so far been many comparisons of clinical outcomes among surgeons experienced with both approaches, according to Dr. Rachala. Acknowledging that a single-surgeon experience could be considered a limitation of this series, Dr. Rachala also considers it a potential strength. Dr. Rachala was highly experienced with manually instrumented total knee arthroplasty when he switched.

“Positioning and alignment are not just more accurate but easier to perform with robotic assistance,” he said, explaining why this approach is likely to offer a particular advantage to surgeons who perform these types of arthroplasties at low volume. He noted that robotic programming helps prevent errors and adopt alternative more personalized alignments.

Although Dr. Rachala acknowledged that long-term and controlled studies are needed, his experience suggests that robotic-assisted procedures are emerging as a viable alternative with advantages for the surgeon as well as the patient.

The principle that robotic assistance can add consistency to total joint arthroplasty is valid, according to Gwo-Chin Lee, MD, an associate professor of orthopaedic surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. “Robotic-assisted arthroplasty improves the accuracy and consistency of the procedure, which can potentially reduce the likelihood of failure. In knees, it is proven to be valuable in unicompartmental replacements in which results are correlated to a surgeon’s surgical volume. It has an equalizing effect relative to a surgeon with more extensive experience,” Dr. Lee said.

The senior author of a recent systematic review and meta-analysis of robotic-assisted unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (J Knee Surg. 2020 Jan 30; doi: 10.1055/s-0040-1701455), Dr. Lee said, “While the impact of robotics on other metrics including patient satisfaction and early recovery continues to be debated among surgeons who specialize in total knee arthroplasties, the technology can aid surgeons in component position, sizing, and ligament balance, particularly for the lower-volume surgeons and ultimately lead to more predictable outcomes.”

Dr. Rachala reports a financial relationship with Avanos and Stryker.

SOURCE: Rachala S et al. AAOS 2020. Abstract P0091.

When results in a series of robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasties (TKA) were compared with a series of arthroplasties performed manually by the same surgeon, results were comparable even though the robotic procedures included a learning phase. The results of the study were reported in an abstract scheduled for release at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The meeting was canceled because of COVID-19.

“Robotics appears to level the playing field for those who are less experienced, so that robotic total knee arthroplasty might be particularly well suited to low-volume surgeons,” reported Sridhar R. Rachala, MD, assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery, University of Buffalo (N.Y.).

In this retrospective cohort study, radiographic and clinical outcomes were evaluated in 164 total knee arthroplasties performed manually over an 8-month period and compared with 300 procedures performed robotically by the same experienced surgeon over the subsequent 15-month period.

There were no significant differences between patient groups for mean age or body mass index. Dr. Rachala, who performed both sets of procedures, reported inherent differences in technique. Specifically, the mechanical alignment was planned for a traditional neutral mechanical axis, while the robotic procedures were planned in kinematic alignment.

When evaluated at 1 year, the mean KOOS JR (Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome for Joint Replacement) scores were not significantly different for the robotic and manually performed procedures (76.0 vs. 73.9; P = .54). There were also no differences in the final extension (P = .64) or flexion (P = .59).

However, the difference in mean length of stay (2.0 vs. 2.4 days; P = .0002) favored the robotic approach, and the higher proportion of patients discharged to home after robotic surgery (73% vs. 66%; P = .11) suggested a favorable trend. Planned and postoperative alignment was within two degrees for both groups and not significantly different.

“The robotic series were at a disadvantage because it included cases that I performed when first switching to this approach,” reported Dr. Rachala in an interview.

Although a growing number of total hip arthroplasties are performed robotically, there have not so far been many comparisons of clinical outcomes among surgeons experienced with both approaches, according to Dr. Rachala. Acknowledging that a single-surgeon experience could be considered a limitation of this series, Dr. Rachala also considers it a potential strength. Dr. Rachala was highly experienced with manually instrumented total knee arthroplasty when he switched.

“Positioning and alignment are not just more accurate but easier to perform with robotic assistance,” he said, explaining why this approach is likely to offer a particular advantage to surgeons who perform these types of arthroplasties at low volume. He noted that robotic programming helps prevent errors and adopt alternative more personalized alignments.

Although Dr. Rachala acknowledged that long-term and controlled studies are needed, his experience suggests that robotic-assisted procedures are emerging as a viable alternative with advantages for the surgeon as well as the patient.

The principle that robotic assistance can add consistency to total joint arthroplasty is valid, according to Gwo-Chin Lee, MD, an associate professor of orthopaedic surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. “Robotic-assisted arthroplasty improves the accuracy and consistency of the procedure, which can potentially reduce the likelihood of failure. In knees, it is proven to be valuable in unicompartmental replacements in which results are correlated to a surgeon’s surgical volume. It has an equalizing effect relative to a surgeon with more extensive experience,” Dr. Lee said.

The senior author of a recent systematic review and meta-analysis of robotic-assisted unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (J Knee Surg. 2020 Jan 30; doi: 10.1055/s-0040-1701455), Dr. Lee said, “While the impact of robotics on other metrics including patient satisfaction and early recovery continues to be debated among surgeons who specialize in total knee arthroplasties, the technology can aid surgeons in component position, sizing, and ligament balance, particularly for the lower-volume surgeons and ultimately lead to more predictable outcomes.”

Dr. Rachala reports a financial relationship with Avanos and Stryker.

SOURCE: Rachala S et al. AAOS 2020. Abstract P0091.

Prior to shoulder surgery, application of 3% hydrogen peroxide is a simple and inexpensive strategy to reduce the risk of postoperative cultures of Cutibacterium acnes, according to findings from a prospective randomized trial. The results were reported in an abstract scheduled for release at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The meeting was canceled because of COVID-19.

“This approach is simple, cheap, and does not rely on patient compliance,” explained Surena Namdari, MD, associate professor of orthopedic surgery at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia.

C. acnes, formerly known as Propionibacterium acnes, is increasingly seen as an important target for prevention of postoperative shoulder infections because of published reports that it is the most commonly isolated bacterium from such infections, Dr. Namdari said in an interview.

In the prospective, randomized trial, male patients scheduled for shoulder arthroscopy were recruited if they did not have active acne, history of psoriatic or eczematous lesions, or recent antibiotic use. Most of the preoperative preparation of the surgical site was the same in the experimental and control arms. This included hair clipping, application of 2% chlorhexidine, and cleansing with saturated 7.5% povidone-iodine solution surgical scrub brushes.

The difference was that 3% hydrogen peroxide–soaked gauzes were applied to perioperative skin of those randomized to the experimental group but not to controls. All patients received routine preoperative oral antibiotics as well as perioperative applications of a formulation containing 2% chlorhexidine gluconate and 70% isopropyl alcohol.

Following surgery, 11 (18.6%) of the 59 patients in the experimental arm versus 23 (34.8%) of the 66 patients randomized to the control group had positive cultures for C. acnes (P = .047), according to the trial results, which have now been published (J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2020;29:212-6).

There were no cases of skin reactions in either the experimental or control groups.

Topical skin cleansers that contain peroxide, such as benzoyl peroxide, have been shown to have a C. acnes decolonizing effect if applied repeatedly in the days prior to surgery, but Dr. Namdari suggested the problem with this approach is that it depends on patient compliance. A prophylaxis included in the preoperative routine eliminates this potential problem.

C. acnes is an anaerobic bacterium that is part of the resident flora of the skin around several joints, including the knee and the hip, but it is particularly common in the posterior shoulder. Colonization has been found substantially more common in men than in women, according to Dr. Namdari.

The specific threat posed by C. acnes to risk of postoperative infections “is still being defined,” and this trial was not large enough to associate the reduction in postoperative C. acnes cultures with a reduced risk of an adverse clinical outcome, but Dr. Namdari says that the data do show that the nearly 50% reduction in positive cultures was achieved efficiently and inexpensively with no apparent risk.

Several previous studies have also evaluated strategies for reducing C. acnes skin burden on the basis of expected protection against postoperative infection. In one, which associated a 3-day preoperative course of benzoyl peroxide with a reduction in the skin burden of C. acnes, the authors also concluded that this approach deserves consideration in routine skin preparation for shoulder arthroplasty (J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2018;27:1539-44).

“We believe that a preoperative skin prep protocol that reduces C. acnes load on the skin would likely lead to reduced postoperative infections,” reported the senior author, Mohit N. Gilotra, MD, assistant professor, University of Maryland, Baltimore. Contacted about the rationale for reducing C. acnes skin burden without objective evidence of an impact on postoperative infection risk, Dr. Gilotra indicated these strategies make sense.

“It seems to be true for staph infections and is a reasonable assumption to make here,” he added. “Future work will help determine how much benzoyl peroxide, hydrogen peroxide, or other skin prep can reduce surgical site infection.”

Dr. Namdari reports financial relationships with multiple device and pharmaceutical companies but none relevant to this study.

SOURCE: Namdari S et al. AAOS 2020. Abstract P0808.

Prior to shoulder surgery, application of 3% hydrogen peroxide is a simple and inexpensive strategy to reduce the risk of postoperative cultures of Cutibacterium acnes, according to findings from a prospective randomized trial. The results were reported in an abstract scheduled for release at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The meeting was canceled because of COVID-19.

“This approach is simple, cheap, and does not rely on patient compliance,” explained Surena Namdari, MD, associate professor of orthopedic surgery at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia.

C. acnes, formerly known as Propionibacterium acnes, is increasingly seen as an important target for prevention of postoperative shoulder infections because of published reports that it is the most commonly isolated bacterium from such infections, Dr. Namdari said in an interview.

In the prospective, randomized trial, male patients scheduled for shoulder arthroscopy were recruited if they did not have active acne, history of psoriatic or eczematous lesions, or recent antibiotic use. Most of the preoperative preparation of the surgical site was the same in the experimental and control arms. This included hair clipping, application of 2% chlorhexidine, and cleansing with saturated 7.5% povidone-iodine solution surgical scrub brushes.

The difference was that 3% hydrogen peroxide–soaked gauzes were applied to perioperative skin of those randomized to the experimental group but not to controls. All patients received routine preoperative oral antibiotics as well as perioperative applications of a formulation containing 2% chlorhexidine gluconate and 70% isopropyl alcohol.

Following surgery, 11 (18.6%) of the 59 patients in the experimental arm versus 23 (34.8%) of the 66 patients randomized to the control group had positive cultures for C. acnes (P = .047), according to the trial results, which have now been published (J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2020;29:212-6).

There were no cases of skin reactions in either the experimental or control groups.

Topical skin cleansers that contain peroxide, such as benzoyl peroxide, have been shown to have a C. acnes decolonizing effect if applied repeatedly in the days prior to surgery, but Dr. Namdari suggested the problem with this approach is that it depends on patient compliance. A prophylaxis included in the preoperative routine eliminates this potential problem.

C. acnes is an anaerobic bacterium that is part of the resident flora of the skin around several joints, including the knee and the hip, but it is particularly common in the posterior shoulder. Colonization has been found substantially more common in men than in women, according to Dr. Namdari.

The specific threat posed by C. acnes to risk of postoperative infections “is still being defined,” and this trial was not large enough to associate the reduction in postoperative C. acnes cultures with a reduced risk of an adverse clinical outcome, but Dr. Namdari says that the data do show that the nearly 50% reduction in positive cultures was achieved efficiently and inexpensively with no apparent risk.

Several previous studies have also evaluated strategies for reducing C. acnes skin burden on the basis of expected protection against postoperative infection. In one, which associated a 3-day preoperative course of benzoyl peroxide with a reduction in the skin burden of C. acnes, the authors also concluded that this approach deserves consideration in routine skin preparation for shoulder arthroplasty (J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2018;27:1539-44).

“We believe that a preoperative skin prep protocol that reduces C. acnes load on the skin would likely lead to reduced postoperative infections,” reported the senior author, Mohit N. Gilotra, MD, assistant professor, University of Maryland, Baltimore. Contacted about the rationale for reducing C. acnes skin burden without objective evidence of an impact on postoperative infection risk, Dr. Gilotra indicated these strategies make sense.

“It seems to be true for staph infections and is a reasonable assumption to make here,” he added. “Future work will help determine how much benzoyl peroxide, hydrogen peroxide, or other skin prep can reduce surgical site infection.”

Dr. Namdari reports financial relationships with multiple device and pharmaceutical companies but none relevant to this study.

SOURCE: Namdari S et al. AAOS 2020. Abstract P0808.

Prior to shoulder surgery, application of 3% hydrogen peroxide is a simple and inexpensive strategy to reduce the risk of postoperative cultures of Cutibacterium acnes, according to findings from a prospective randomized trial. The results were reported in an abstract scheduled for release at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The meeting was canceled because of COVID-19.

“This approach is simple, cheap, and does not rely on patient compliance,” explained Surena Namdari, MD, associate professor of orthopedic surgery at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia.

C. acnes, formerly known as Propionibacterium acnes, is increasingly seen as an important target for prevention of postoperative shoulder infections because of published reports that it is the most commonly isolated bacterium from such infections, Dr. Namdari said in an interview.

In the prospective, randomized trial, male patients scheduled for shoulder arthroscopy were recruited if they did not have active acne, history of psoriatic or eczematous lesions, or recent antibiotic use. Most of the preoperative preparation of the surgical site was the same in the experimental and control arms. This included hair clipping, application of 2% chlorhexidine, and cleansing with saturated 7.5% povidone-iodine solution surgical scrub brushes.

The difference was that 3% hydrogen peroxide–soaked gauzes were applied to perioperative skin of those randomized to the experimental group but not to controls. All patients received routine preoperative oral antibiotics as well as perioperative applications of a formulation containing 2% chlorhexidine gluconate and 70% isopropyl alcohol.

Following surgery, 11 (18.6%) of the 59 patients in the experimental arm versus 23 (34.8%) of the 66 patients randomized to the control group had positive cultures for C. acnes (P = .047), according to the trial results, which have now been published (J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2020;29:212-6).

There were no cases of skin reactions in either the experimental or control groups.

Topical skin cleansers that contain peroxide, such as benzoyl peroxide, have been shown to have a C. acnes decolonizing effect if applied repeatedly in the days prior to surgery, but Dr. Namdari suggested the problem with this approach is that it depends on patient compliance. A prophylaxis included in the preoperative routine eliminates this potential problem.

C. acnes is an anaerobic bacterium that is part of the resident flora of the skin around several joints, including the knee and the hip, but it is particularly common in the posterior shoulder. Colonization has been found substantially more common in men than in women, according to Dr. Namdari.

The specific threat posed by C. acnes to risk of postoperative infections “is still being defined,” and this trial was not large enough to associate the reduction in postoperative C. acnes cultures with a reduced risk of an adverse clinical outcome, but Dr. Namdari says that the data do show that the nearly 50% reduction in positive cultures was achieved efficiently and inexpensively with no apparent risk.

Several previous studies have also evaluated strategies for reducing C. acnes skin burden on the basis of expected protection against postoperative infection. In one, which associated a 3-day preoperative course of benzoyl peroxide with a reduction in the skin burden of C. acnes, the authors also concluded that this approach deserves consideration in routine skin preparation for shoulder arthroplasty (J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2018;27:1539-44).

“We believe that a preoperative skin prep protocol that reduces C. acnes load on the skin would likely lead to reduced postoperative infections,” reported the senior author, Mohit N. Gilotra, MD, assistant professor, University of Maryland, Baltimore. Contacted about the rationale for reducing C. acnes skin burden without objective evidence of an impact on postoperative infection risk, Dr. Gilotra indicated these strategies make sense.

“It seems to be true for staph infections and is a reasonable assumption to make here,” he added. “Future work will help determine how much benzoyl peroxide, hydrogen peroxide, or other skin prep can reduce surgical site infection.”

Dr. Namdari reports financial relationships with multiple device and pharmaceutical companies but none relevant to this study.

SOURCE: Namdari S et al. AAOS 2020. Abstract P0808.

Proprietary templating software to guide the positioning of total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) generate very different measures for inclination and version, according to a study that compared four programs and reported in an abstract scheduled for release at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The meeting was canceled due to COVID-19.

“It is not a question of one software being better than another. They are just different, and they are device specific,” reported Brent B. Wiesel, MD, chief of the shoulder service at the MedStar Georgetown Orthopaedic Institute, Washington.

The variations were substantial and clinically relevant, suggesting that surgeons need to be aware of these differences when switching between the devices, according to Dr. Wiesel. He said that there is no gold standard for positioning total shoulder arthroplasty, which prevents any conclusion about the superiority of one over the other.

In this study, 76 CT scans obtained from shoulders of patients with glenohumeral arthritis were analyzed for native glenoid version and inclination by the ArthrexVIP, Tornier BluePrint, Stryker TrueSight, and ExactechGPS software programs. Dr. Wiesel explained that these are among the most commonly used programs, but there are others.

After extracting the recommended version and inclination measures from each software program, agreement between measures was calculated with an analysis of variance (ANOVA) test. The variance across programs was highly significant for both native glenoid version and inclination (P < .001).

Inter-rater reliability of the software outputs analyzed with Krippendorff’s alpha, for which a value of 1.0 signals perfect agreement and a value of 0 signals complete disagreement, reinforced the discord. For the 76 scans, the values for version and inclination were 0.272 and 0.303, respectively. Both are extremely low.

“The suggested threshold for high reliability is a value of 0.8 or greater,” said Dr. Wiesel, who was contacted about these data after the AAOS annual meeting was canceled. “The lowest acceptable limit for reliability is 0.667 or greater.”

There was disagreement across all programs. The only agreement to reach an acceptable Krippendorff’s alpha was generated by the Tornier BluePrint and Stryker TrueSight programs. These programs modestly agreed on version (0.706 on the Krippendorff’s alpha), but agreement on inclination was below the acceptable threshold.

“In other words, if you take the same scan from the same patient, you will get different angles from these different templating software programs,” Dr. Wiesel said.

There are several messages from these data, according to Dr. Wiesel. In addition to demonstrating the programs generate outputs that do not agree, he suggested that the values provided by the programs should not be considered absolute. Rather, the software values should be interpreted in the context of the individual patient.

“It is easy to get lazy, but it is important to remember that the software is a tool rather than something that will do the procedure for you,” Dr. Wiesel said. He reported that when the software guidance is not consistent with his own experience, he proceeds cautiously.

“On several occasions when the software has provided measures that are not consistent with my own perception, I have not been happy when I went with the software,” he said. “So typically I go with my gut when there is a discrepancy, and the data from this study supports that.”

Because of the difficulty in creating a gold standard for templating when there are multiple variables that influence optimal positioning of components, Dr. Wiesel suggested that “crowd thinking” might eventually determine the values that produce the best results. By crowd thinking, he was referring to Big Data analysis, collating data from a large number of cases performed by a large number of surgeons.

“All of these software programs provide reasonable guidance, but each has different advantages and disadvantages, and it is important to be aware that they are different,” Dr. Wiesel reported.

There are differences in the templating software, and they should be taken into consideration, according to another expert who has looked at this issue. Senior author of a randomized trial evaluating planning strategies for total shoulder arthroplasty ( J Bone Joint Surg AM. 2019:101;446-57), Eric T. Ricchetti, MD, an orthopedic surgeon and director of the shoulder center at the Cleveland Clinic, offered a similar perspective on templating.

“I agree that surgeons should be familiar with the differences that exist in templating software,” Dr. Ricchetti said. Basing his remarks on his own experience and reiterating the conclusion of the AAOS study, he added, “the methods that are used to identify the bone anatomy of the shoulder can vary across software programs, potentially resulting in differences in subsequent measures of glenoid pathology, such as version and inclination, that may impact surgical decision making.”

Dr. Wiesel reports no potential conflicts of interest.

SOURCE: Wiesel B et al. AAOS 2020. Abstract 212.

Proprietary templating software to guide the positioning of total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) generate very different measures for inclination and version, according to a study that compared four programs and reported in an abstract scheduled for release at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The meeting was canceled due to COVID-19.

“It is not a question of one software being better than another. They are just different, and they are device specific,” reported Brent B. Wiesel, MD, chief of the shoulder service at the MedStar Georgetown Orthopaedic Institute, Washington.

The variations were substantial and clinically relevant, suggesting that surgeons need to be aware of these differences when switching between the devices, according to Dr. Wiesel. He said that there is no gold standard for positioning total shoulder arthroplasty, which prevents any conclusion about the superiority of one over the other.

In this study, 76 CT scans obtained from shoulders of patients with glenohumeral arthritis were analyzed for native glenoid version and inclination by the ArthrexVIP, Tornier BluePrint, Stryker TrueSight, and ExactechGPS software programs. Dr. Wiesel explained that these are among the most commonly used programs, but there are others.

After extracting the recommended version and inclination measures from each software program, agreement between measures was calculated with an analysis of variance (ANOVA) test. The variance across programs was highly significant for both native glenoid version and inclination (P < .001).

Inter-rater reliability of the software outputs analyzed with Krippendorff’s alpha, for which a value of 1.0 signals perfect agreement and a value of 0 signals complete disagreement, reinforced the discord. For the 76 scans, the values for version and inclination were 0.272 and 0.303, respectively. Both are extremely low.

“The suggested threshold for high reliability is a value of 0.8 or greater,” said Dr. Wiesel, who was contacted about these data after the AAOS annual meeting was canceled. “The lowest acceptable limit for reliability is 0.667 or greater.”

There was disagreement across all programs. The only agreement to reach an acceptable Krippendorff’s alpha was generated by the Tornier BluePrint and Stryker TrueSight programs. These programs modestly agreed on version (0.706 on the Krippendorff’s alpha), but agreement on inclination was below the acceptable threshold.

“In other words, if you take the same scan from the same patient, you will get different angles from these different templating software programs,” Dr. Wiesel said.

There are several messages from these data, according to Dr. Wiesel. In addition to demonstrating the programs generate outputs that do not agree, he suggested that the values provided by the programs should not be considered absolute. Rather, the software values should be interpreted in the context of the individual patient.

“It is easy to get lazy, but it is important to remember that the software is a tool rather than something that will do the procedure for you,” Dr. Wiesel said. He reported that when the software guidance is not consistent with his own experience, he proceeds cautiously.

“On several occasions when the software has provided measures that are not consistent with my own perception, I have not been happy when I went with the software,” he said. “So typically I go with my gut when there is a discrepancy, and the data from this study supports that.”

Because of the difficulty in creating a gold standard for templating when there are multiple variables that influence optimal positioning of components, Dr. Wiesel suggested that “crowd thinking” might eventually determine the values that produce the best results. By crowd thinking, he was referring to Big Data analysis, collating data from a large number of cases performed by a large number of surgeons.

“All of these software programs provide reasonable guidance, but each has different advantages and disadvantages, and it is important to be aware that they are different,” Dr. Wiesel reported.

There are differences in the templating software, and they should be taken into consideration, according to another expert who has looked at this issue. Senior author of a randomized trial evaluating planning strategies for total shoulder arthroplasty ( J Bone Joint Surg AM. 2019:101;446-57), Eric T. Ricchetti, MD, an orthopedic surgeon and director of the shoulder center at the Cleveland Clinic, offered a similar perspective on templating.

“I agree that surgeons should be familiar with the differences that exist in templating software,” Dr. Ricchetti said. Basing his remarks on his own experience and reiterating the conclusion of the AAOS study, he added, “the methods that are used to identify the bone anatomy of the shoulder can vary across software programs, potentially resulting in differences in subsequent measures of glenoid pathology, such as version and inclination, that may impact surgical decision making.”

Dr. Wiesel reports no potential conflicts of interest.

SOURCE: Wiesel B et al. AAOS 2020. Abstract 212.

Proprietary templating software to guide the positioning of total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) generate very different measures for inclination and version, according to a study that compared four programs and reported in an abstract scheduled for release at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The meeting was canceled due to COVID-19.

“It is not a question of one software being better than another. They are just different, and they are device specific,” reported Brent B. Wiesel, MD, chief of the shoulder service at the MedStar Georgetown Orthopaedic Institute, Washington.

The variations were substantial and clinically relevant, suggesting that surgeons need to be aware of these differences when switching between the devices, according to Dr. Wiesel. He said that there is no gold standard for positioning total shoulder arthroplasty, which prevents any conclusion about the superiority of one over the other.

In this study, 76 CT scans obtained from shoulders of patients with glenohumeral arthritis were analyzed for native glenoid version and inclination by the ArthrexVIP, Tornier BluePrint, Stryker TrueSight, and ExactechGPS software programs. Dr. Wiesel explained that these are among the most commonly used programs, but there are others.

After extracting the recommended version and inclination measures from each software program, agreement between measures was calculated with an analysis of variance (ANOVA) test. The variance across programs was highly significant for both native glenoid version and inclination (P < .001).

Inter-rater reliability of the software outputs analyzed with Krippendorff’s alpha, for which a value of 1.0 signals perfect agreement and a value of 0 signals complete disagreement, reinforced the discord. For the 76 scans, the values for version and inclination were 0.272 and 0.303, respectively. Both are extremely low.

“The suggested threshold for high reliability is a value of 0.8 or greater,” said Dr. Wiesel, who was contacted about these data after the AAOS annual meeting was canceled. “The lowest acceptable limit for reliability is 0.667 or greater.”

There was disagreement across all programs. The only agreement to reach an acceptable Krippendorff’s alpha was generated by the Tornier BluePrint and Stryker TrueSight programs. These programs modestly agreed on version (0.706 on the Krippendorff’s alpha), but agreement on inclination was below the acceptable threshold.

“In other words, if you take the same scan from the same patient, you will get different angles from these different templating software programs,” Dr. Wiesel said.

There are several messages from these data, according to Dr. Wiesel. In addition to demonstrating the programs generate outputs that do not agree, he suggested that the values provided by the programs should not be considered absolute. Rather, the software values should be interpreted in the context of the individual patient.

“It is easy to get lazy, but it is important to remember that the software is a tool rather than something that will do the procedure for you,” Dr. Wiesel said. He reported that when the software guidance is not consistent with his own experience, he proceeds cautiously.

“On several occasions when the software has provided measures that are not consistent with my own perception, I have not been happy when I went with the software,” he said. “So typically I go with my gut when there is a discrepancy, and the data from this study supports that.”

Because of the difficulty in creating a gold standard for templating when there are multiple variables that influence optimal positioning of components, Dr. Wiesel suggested that “crowd thinking” might eventually determine the values that produce the best results. By crowd thinking, he was referring to Big Data analysis, collating data from a large number of cases performed by a large number of surgeons.

“All of these software programs provide reasonable guidance, but each has different advantages and disadvantages, and it is important to be aware that they are different,” Dr. Wiesel reported.

There are differences in the templating software, and they should be taken into consideration, according to another expert who has looked at this issue. Senior author of a randomized trial evaluating planning strategies for total shoulder arthroplasty ( J Bone Joint Surg AM. 2019:101;446-57), Eric T. Ricchetti, MD, an orthopedic surgeon and director of the shoulder center at the Cleveland Clinic, offered a similar perspective on templating.

“I agree that surgeons should be familiar with the differences that exist in templating software,” Dr. Ricchetti said. Basing his remarks on his own experience and reiterating the conclusion of the AAOS study, he added, “the methods that are used to identify the bone anatomy of the shoulder can vary across software programs, potentially resulting in differences in subsequent measures of glenoid pathology, such as version and inclination, that may impact surgical decision making.”

Dr. Wiesel reports no potential conflicts of interest.

SOURCE: Wiesel B et al. AAOS 2020. Abstract 212.

In older patients undergoing hemiarthroplasty for repair of a hip fracture, cemented fixation reduces the risk of aseptic revisions, according to a large retrospective cohort analysis reported in an abstract scheduled for release at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The meeting was canceled due to COVID-19.

“These data suggest surgeons should consider cemented over uncemented femoral stem fixation in the absence of contraindications,” reported Kanu M. Okike, MD, an orthopedic surgeon with the Hawaii Permanente Medical Group, Kaiser Moanalua Medical Center, Honolulu.

The finding was drawn from a cohort analysis conducted in the United States. Several studies conducted in Europe and elsewhere, including randomized trials, have also favored cement.

“Cemented fixation is becoming a standard of care for elderly individuals outside of the U.S., but this study was conducted to evaluate the U.S. experience,” explained Dr. Okike in an interview.

Citing 2018 American Joint Replacement Registry data, Dr. Okike reported that more than half of hemiarthroplasties in the United States are still being fixed without cement.

The retrospective cohort analysis was undertaken with the Kaiser Permanente Hip Fracture Registry, selecting patients age 60 years or older who underwent hemiarthroplasty for hip fracture between 2009 and 2017. Of the 12,491 patients, 6,449 (51.6%) included cement fixation, and the remaining were uncemented.

After controlling for confounders, including age, sex, body mass index, and comorbidities, the incidence of aseptic revision 1 year after repair was 3.0% in the uncemented group and 1.3% in the cemented group. By hazard ratio (HR), the risk of aseptic revision, which was the primary endpoint, was increased by more than 75% (HR 1.77; 95% confidence interval, 1.43-2.19; P < .001).

Of the secondary outcomes evaluated, such as medical complications at 90 days or mortality at 1 year, none were significantly different between the two arms.

A post hoc analysis suggested that a higher risk of periprosthetic fracture explained the higher rates of aseptic revision in the uncemented group, according to Dr. Okike, whose data have now been published (JAMA. 2020;323:1077-84).

Surgeon preference was also evaluated in this study as an instrumental variable. When patients treated by a surgeon with a preference for cemented fixation were compared with those treated by a surgeon with a preference for cementless repair, the relative advantage of cement for the primary outcome was similar (HR, 1.74; P = .02).

These data are consistent with trials outside of the United States. For example, a randomized trial with 160 patients conducted in New Zealand associated cemented fixation with a lower risk of periprosthetic fracture (1 vs. 18) and superior Oxford hip scores (J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2012;94:577-83). Similarly, a randomized trial of 141 patients conducted in Sweden associated cemented fixation with lower rate of periprosthetic fracture (0 vs. 9) and improved outcomes on several instruments, including the Harris Hip Scale (Bone Joint J. 2015;97-B:1475-80).

Cemented fixation generally requires a slightly longer operating time, but it is not otherwise more difficult or more expensive, according to Dr. Okike. He believes these results encourage cemented fixation in older patients without contraindications. This is already specifically recommended in AAOS guidelines for the management of hip fractures in elderly patients.

An orthopedic surgeon who has published frequently on total hip arthroplasty, Emil van Haaren, MD, of Zuyderland Medical Center, Heerlen, the Netherlands, confirmed that cemented hemiarthroplasty is considered “the golden standard of care” at his institution. In one study for which he served as the senior author, survival was characterized as excellent in older patients receiving cemented hip arthroplasty that were followed for more than 10 years (J Arthroplasty. 2016;31:194-8).

“We routinely use cemented prosthesis in hip fracture management when an arthroplasty is indicated,” he reported, echoing the contention by Dr. Okike that this approach is dominant in many centers outside of the United States.

Dr. Okike reports no potential conflicts of interest.

SOURCE: Okiki KM et al. JAMA. 2020;323:1077-84.

In older patients undergoing hemiarthroplasty for repair of a hip fracture, cemented fixation reduces the risk of aseptic revisions, according to a large retrospective cohort analysis reported in an abstract scheduled for release at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The meeting was canceled due to COVID-19.

“These data suggest surgeons should consider cemented over uncemented femoral stem fixation in the absence of contraindications,” reported Kanu M. Okike, MD, an orthopedic surgeon with the Hawaii Permanente Medical Group, Kaiser Moanalua Medical Center, Honolulu.

The finding was drawn from a cohort analysis conducted in the United States. Several studies conducted in Europe and elsewhere, including randomized trials, have also favored cement.

“Cemented fixation is becoming a standard of care for elderly individuals outside of the U.S., but this study was conducted to evaluate the U.S. experience,” explained Dr. Okike in an interview.

Citing 2018 American Joint Replacement Registry data, Dr. Okike reported that more than half of hemiarthroplasties in the United States are still being fixed without cement.

The retrospective cohort analysis was undertaken with the Kaiser Permanente Hip Fracture Registry, selecting patients age 60 years or older who underwent hemiarthroplasty for hip fracture between 2009 and 2017. Of the 12,491 patients, 6,449 (51.6%) included cement fixation, and the remaining were uncemented.

After controlling for confounders, including age, sex, body mass index, and comorbidities, the incidence of aseptic revision 1 year after repair was 3.0% in the uncemented group and 1.3% in the cemented group. By hazard ratio (HR), the risk of aseptic revision, which was the primary endpoint, was increased by more than 75% (HR 1.77; 95% confidence interval, 1.43-2.19; P < .001).

Of the secondary outcomes evaluated, such as medical complications at 90 days or mortality at 1 year, none were significantly different between the two arms.

A post hoc analysis suggested that a higher risk of periprosthetic fracture explained the higher rates of aseptic revision in the uncemented group, according to Dr. Okike, whose data have now been published (JAMA. 2020;323:1077-84).

Surgeon preference was also evaluated in this study as an instrumental variable. When patients treated by a surgeon with a preference for cemented fixation were compared with those treated by a surgeon with a preference for cementless repair, the relative advantage of cement for the primary outcome was similar (HR, 1.74; P = .02).

These data are consistent with trials outside of the United States. For example, a randomized trial with 160 patients conducted in New Zealand associated cemented fixation with a lower risk of periprosthetic fracture (1 vs. 18) and superior Oxford hip scores (J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2012;94:577-83). Similarly, a randomized trial of 141 patients conducted in Sweden associated cemented fixation with lower rate of periprosthetic fracture (0 vs. 9) and improved outcomes on several instruments, including the Harris Hip Scale (Bone Joint J. 2015;97-B:1475-80).

Cemented fixation generally requires a slightly longer operating time, but it is not otherwise more difficult or more expensive, according to Dr. Okike. He believes these results encourage cemented fixation in older patients without contraindications. This is already specifically recommended in AAOS guidelines for the management of hip fractures in elderly patients.

An orthopedic surgeon who has published frequently on total hip arthroplasty, Emil van Haaren, MD, of Zuyderland Medical Center, Heerlen, the Netherlands, confirmed that cemented hemiarthroplasty is considered “the golden standard of care” at his institution. In one study for which he served as the senior author, survival was characterized as excellent in older patients receiving cemented hip arthroplasty that were followed for more than 10 years (J Arthroplasty. 2016;31:194-8).

“We routinely use cemented prosthesis in hip fracture management when an arthroplasty is indicated,” he reported, echoing the contention by Dr. Okike that this approach is dominant in many centers outside of the United States.

Dr. Okike reports no potential conflicts of interest.

SOURCE: Okiki KM et al. JAMA. 2020;323:1077-84.

In older patients undergoing hemiarthroplasty for repair of a hip fracture, cemented fixation reduces the risk of aseptic revisions, according to a large retrospective cohort analysis reported in an abstract scheduled for release at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The meeting was canceled due to COVID-19.

“These data suggest surgeons should consider cemented over uncemented femoral stem fixation in the absence of contraindications,” reported Kanu M. Okike, MD, an orthopedic surgeon with the Hawaii Permanente Medical Group, Kaiser Moanalua Medical Center, Honolulu.

The finding was drawn from a cohort analysis conducted in the United States. Several studies conducted in Europe and elsewhere, including randomized trials, have also favored cement.

“Cemented fixation is becoming a standard of care for elderly individuals outside of the U.S., but this study was conducted to evaluate the U.S. experience,” explained Dr. Okike in an interview.

Citing 2018 American Joint Replacement Registry data, Dr. Okike reported that more than half of hemiarthroplasties in the United States are still being fixed without cement.

The retrospective cohort analysis was undertaken with the Kaiser Permanente Hip Fracture Registry, selecting patients age 60 years or older who underwent hemiarthroplasty for hip fracture between 2009 and 2017. Of the 12,491 patients, 6,449 (51.6%) included cement fixation, and the remaining were uncemented.

After controlling for confounders, including age, sex, body mass index, and comorbidities, the incidence of aseptic revision 1 year after repair was 3.0% in the uncemented group and 1.3% in the cemented group. By hazard ratio (HR), the risk of aseptic revision, which was the primary endpoint, was increased by more than 75% (HR 1.77; 95% confidence interval, 1.43-2.19; P < .001).

Of the secondary outcomes evaluated, such as medical complications at 90 days or mortality at 1 year, none were significantly different between the two arms.

A post hoc analysis suggested that a higher risk of periprosthetic fracture explained the higher rates of aseptic revision in the uncemented group, according to Dr. Okike, whose data have now been published (JAMA. 2020;323:1077-84).

Surgeon preference was also evaluated in this study as an instrumental variable. When patients treated by a surgeon with a preference for cemented fixation were compared with those treated by a surgeon with a preference for cementless repair, the relative advantage of cement for the primary outcome was similar (HR, 1.74; P = .02).

These data are consistent with trials outside of the United States. For example, a randomized trial with 160 patients conducted in New Zealand associated cemented fixation with a lower risk of periprosthetic fracture (1 vs. 18) and superior Oxford hip scores (J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2012;94:577-83). Similarly, a randomized trial of 141 patients conducted in Sweden associated cemented fixation with lower rate of periprosthetic fracture (0 vs. 9) and improved outcomes on several instruments, including the Harris Hip Scale (Bone Joint J. 2015;97-B:1475-80).

Cemented fixation generally requires a slightly longer operating time, but it is not otherwise more difficult or more expensive, according to Dr. Okike. He believes these results encourage cemented fixation in older patients without contraindications. This is already specifically recommended in AAOS guidelines for the management of hip fractures in elderly patients.

An orthopedic surgeon who has published frequently on total hip arthroplasty, Emil van Haaren, MD, of Zuyderland Medical Center, Heerlen, the Netherlands, confirmed that cemented hemiarthroplasty is considered “the golden standard of care” at his institution. In one study for which he served as the senior author, survival was characterized as excellent in older patients receiving cemented hip arthroplasty that were followed for more than 10 years (J Arthroplasty. 2016;31:194-8).

“We routinely use cemented prosthesis in hip fracture management when an arthroplasty is indicated,” he reported, echoing the contention by Dr. Okike that this approach is dominant in many centers outside of the United States.

Dr. Okike reports no potential conflicts of interest.

SOURCE: Okiki KM et al. JAMA. 2020;323:1077-84.