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Background When analyzing the outcomes of joint arthroplasty, an important factor to consider is patient comorbidities. The presence of multiple comorbidities has been associated with longer hospital stays, more postoperative complications, and increased mortality. The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification system score is a measure of a patient's overall health and has been shown to be associated with complications and mortality after joint arthroplasty. The Rx-Risk score is another measure for determining the number of different health conditions for which an individual is treated, with a possible score ranging from 0 to 47. Questions/purposes For patients undergoing THA or TKA, we asked: (1) Which metric, the Rx-Risk score or the ASA score, correlates more closely with 30- and 90-day mortality after TKA or THA? (2) Is the Rx-Risk score correlated with the ASA score? Methods This was a retrospective analysis of the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry (AOANJRR) database linked to two other national databases, the National Death Index (NDI) database and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), a dispensing database. Linkage to the NDI provided outcome information on patient death, including the fact of and date of death. Linkage to the PBS was performed to obtain records of all medicines dispensed to patients undergoing a joint replacement procedure. Patients were included if they had undergone either a THA (119,076 patients, 131,336 procedures) or TKA (182,445 patients, 215,712 procedures) with a primary diagnosis of osteoarthritis, performed between 2013 and 2017. We excluded patients with missing ASA information (THA: 3% [3055 of 119,076]; TKA: 2% [4095 of 182,445]). This left 127,761 primary THA procedures performed in 116,021 patients (53% [68,037 of 127,761] were women, mean age 68 ± 11 years) and 210,501 TKA procedures performed in 178,350 patients (56% [117,337 of 210,501] were women, mean age 68 ± 9 years) included in this study. Logistic regression models were used to determine the concordance of the ASA and Rx-Risk scores and 30-day and 90-day postoperative mortality. The Spearman correlation coefficient (r) was used to estimate the correlation between the ASA score and Rx-Risk score. All analyses were performed separately for THAs and TKAs. Results We found both the ASA and Rx-Risk scores had high concordance with 30-day mortality after THA (ASA: c-statistic 0.83 [95% CI 0.79 to 0.86]; Rx-Risk: c-statistic 0.82 [95% CI 0.79 to 0.86]) and TKA (ASA: c-statistic 0.73 [95% CI 0.69 to 0.78]; Rx-Risk: c-statistic 0.74 [95% CI 0.70 to 0.79]). Although both scores were strongly associated with death, their correlation was moderate for patients undergoing THA (r = 0.45) and weak for TKA (r = 0.38). However, the median Rx-Risk score did increase with increasing ASA score. For example, for THAs, the median Rx-Risk score was 1, 3, 5, and 7 for ASA scores 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. For TKAs, the median Rx-Risk score was 2, 4, 5, and 7 for ASA scores 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Conclusion The ASA physical status and RxRisk were associated with 30-day and 90-day mortality; however, the scores were only weakly to moderately correlated with each other. This suggests that although both scores capture a similar level of patient illness, each score may be capturing different aspects of health. The Rx-Risk may be used as a complementary measure to the ASA score. Level of evidence Level III, therapeutic study.

Despite years of study, controversy remains regarding the optimal graft for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), suggesting that a single graft type is not ideal for all patients. A large community based ACLR Registry that collects prospective data is a powerful tool that captures information and can be analyzed to optimize surgery for individual patients. The studies highlighted in this paper were designed to optimize and individualize ACLR surgery and have led to changes in surgeon behavior and improvements in patient outcomes. Kaiser Permanente (KP) is an integrated health care system with 10.6 million members and more than 50 hospitals. Every KP member who undergoes an ACLR is entered into the Registry, and prospectively monitored. The Registry uses a variety of feedback mechanisms to disseminate Registry findings to the ACLRR surgeons and appropriately influence clinical practices and enhance quality of care. Allografts were found to have a 3.0 times higher risk of revision than bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) autografts. Allograft irradiation >1.8 Mrad, chemical graft processing, younger patients, BPTB allograft, and male patients were all associated with a higher risk of revision surgery. By providing feedback to surgeons, overall allograft use has decreased by 27% and allograft use in high-risk patients ≤21 years of age decreased 68%. We have identified factors that influence the outcomes of ACLR. Statement of Clinical Significance: We found that information derived from an ACLR Registry and shared with the participating surgeons directly decreased the use of specific procedures and implants associated with poor outcomes.

Background There is a high burden of antipsychotic use in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) and there is concern regarding potential inappropriate prescribing of antipsychotics in response to mild behavioural symptoms. Antipsychotic use has been associated with a higher risk of mortality in community-dwelling older adults with dementia, but few studies have examined associations upon RACF entry. Aims To examine associations between incident antipsychotic use and risk of mortality for people with and without diagnosed dementia in RACFs. Methods A retrospective cohort study, employing a new-user design (individuals did not receive an antipsychotic 6 months before enrolment) of 265,820 people who accessed RACFs in Australia between 1/4/2008 and 30/6/2015 was conducted. Cox regression models were used to examine adjusted associations between antipsychotic use in the first 100 days of RACF entry and mortality. Results In the 100 days after entering care, 29,455 residents (11.1%) were dispensed an antipsychotic. 180,956 (68.1%) residents died [38,249 (14.4%) were related to cerebrovascular causes] over a median 2.1 years (interquartile range 1.0–3.6) follow-up. Of the residents included, 119,665 (45.0%) had a diagnosis of dementia. Incident antipsychotic use was associated with higher risk of mortality in residents with dementia (adjusted hazard ratio 1.20, 95% confidence interval 1.18–1.22) and without dementia (1.28, 1.24–1.31). Conclusion Initiation of antipsychotics after moving to RACFs is associated with a higher risk of mortality. Careful consideration of the potential benefits and harms should be given when starting a new prescription for antipsychotics for people moving to RACFs.

Objective: To examine the prevalence of psychotropic medicine dispensing before and after older people enter residential care. Design: Retrospective national cohort study; analysis of Registry of Senior Australians (ROSA) data. Setting, participants: All concession card-holding residents of government-subsidised residential aged care facilities in Australia who entered residential care for at least three months between 1 April 2008 and 30 June 2015. Main outcome measures: Proportions of residents dispensed antipsychotic, benzodiazepine, or antidepressant medicines during the year preceding and the year after commencing residential care,by quarter. Results: Of 322 120 included aged care residents, 68 483 received at least one antipsychotic (21.3%; 95% CI, 21.1–21.4%), 98 315at least one benzodiazepine (30.5%; 95% CI, 30.4–30.7%), and 122 224 residents at least one antidepressant (37.9%; 95% CI,37.8–38.1%) during their first three months of residential care;31 326 of those dispensed antipsychotics (45.7%), 38 529 of those dispensed benzodiazepines (39.2%), and 25 259 residents dispensed antidepressants (19.8%) had not received them in the year preceding their entry into care. During the first three months of residential care, the prevalence of antipsychotic (prevalence ratio[PR], 3.37; 95% CI, 3.31–3.43) and antidepressant dispensing (PR,1.05; 95% CI, 1.04–1.07) were each higher for residents with than for those without dementia; benzodiazepine dispensing was similar for both groups (PR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.99–1.02). Conclusions: Dispensing of psychotropic medicines to older Australians is high before they enter residential care but increases markedly soon after entry into care. Non-pharmacological behavioural management strategies are important for limiting the prescribing of psychotropic medicines for older people in the community or in residential care. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Care quality has important implications for people with dementia. We examined trends and geographical variation of four clinical quality indicators (CQIs) in Australia. This retrospective cohort study included all people with dementia using Australian government-subsidised aged care in 2008–2016 (n = 373,695). Quality indicator data were derived from linked national aged care, health, and pharmaceutical datasets. Negative binomial regression modelling assessed trends in CQI performance over time (2011–2016) and funnel plots examined geographical variation in performance. The incidence rate of antipsychotic medicine dispensing decreased slightly from 1.17/1000 person-days to 1.07/1000 person-days (adjusted incidence rate ratio (aIRR) = 0.98, 95%CI 0.98–0.99). Cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine dispensing did not change (aIRR = 1.02, 95%CI 1.00–1.04), while exposure to high sedative load increased slightly from 1.39/1000 person-days to 1.44/1000 person-days (aIRR = 1.01, 95%CI 1.00–1.01). Dementia and delirium-related hospitalisations increased slightly from 0.17/1000 person-days to 0.18/1000 person-days (aIRR = 1.02, 95%CI 1.01–1.03). There was marked variation in cholinesterase inhibitor and memantine dispensing by geographical area (0–41%). There has been little change in four indicators of dementia care quality in Australian aged care users over time. Cholinesterase inhibitor and memantine dispensing varied substantially by geographical region. Existing strategies to improve national performance on these indicators appear to be insufficient, despite the significant impact of these indicators on outcomes for people with dementia.

IntroductionPatient comobidity at time of primary joint replacement (JR) impacts on outcomes including revision and mortality. Understanding changes in comorbidity profiles is important when assessing change in outcomes over time. Most arthroplasty registries have limited comorbidity information due to their minimum dataset. One approach to obtaining additional comorbidity data is linking registry data with national administrative data. Objectives and ApproachObjectives were to quantify pre-operative comorbidity profile of patients undergoing primary total hip replacement (THR) and total knee replacement (TKR) for osteoarthritis. Also, to examine temporal trends in individual comorbidities for THR and TKR patients. National pharmaceutical dispensing data were linked with THR and TKR arthroplasty patients. Medication dispensing histories in 12-months preceding JR (2003-2017) for 237,333 THR and 394,965 TKR patients, were mapped to 47 comorbidity classes using the Rx-Risk-V measure - a pharmacy-based measure of comorbidity. Comorbidity scores were calculated by summing comorbidity categories for individual patients. Trends in comorbidity scores/categories were described, with comorbidity information presented by PBS beneficiary category (concessional/general), stratified by age (

IntroductionInfection is a major complication following joint replacement (JR) surgery. However, little data exist on baseline use of antibiotics following primary JR and how use changes with subsequent revision surgery. Objectives & ApproachOur study objectives were to describe community use of antibiotics before and after primary total hip replacement (THR) and change in use pre and post revision procedure. Registry data were linked with national medication dispensing data using probabilistic record linkage. Patients with THR for osteoarthritis in a private hospital between 1999 and 2017 were included. Three groups were analysed: patients with primary procedures revised for infection, revised for non-infection reasons and those not revised. Rate of antibiotic dispensing/month was calculated as number of patients dispensed at least one antibiotic in a given month divided by number of patients at-risk. ResultsThere were 102,577 patients included in the non-revised group, 3,156 revised for non-infection and 520 revised for infection. Prior to primary THR, baseline antibiotic dispensing rate was 9-11%/month in all groups. Post-primary rates were similar (10-11%) for non-revised and revised non-infection patients but higher (16-17%) for revised-infection patients. In 1, 6 and 12 months preceding revision for infection, antibiotic use was 55%, 27% and 22%, respectively. For patients revised for non-infection, antibiotic use was 21%, 14%, 13%, respectively. One-month following revision for infection, 82% of patients were dispensed antibiotics, remaining high (38%) at 6-months and 28% at 12-months. In the revision non-infection group, antibiotic use was 48% first month post-surgery, reducing rapidly to 15% at 6-months. Conclusion / ImplicationsNon-revision and revision non-infection patients had similar antibiotic dispensing before and after surgery. Revision infection patients however, maintained higher antibiotic dispensing post-primary, pre and post revision. This may reflect either ongoing infection, need for long-term suppressive therapy or reluctance of treating physicians to terminate treatment.

IntroductionMonitoring of joint replacement (JR) data from the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry (AOANJRR) has reduced revision rates and improved surgical practice. Outcome assessment post-arthroplasty is limited however, to revision (reoperation) surgery and mortality outcomes. The AOANJRR National Data Linkage project seeks to broaden the scope of outcomes investigation in Australia by linking registry and health administrative datasets. Objectives and ApproachUsing linked registry and administrative data, the project seeks to describe and quantify national/regional trends and variation in major complications (infection, dislocation, arthrofibrosis, chronic pain, venous thromboembolism, cardiac events), malignancy and health service utilisation (readmissions, emergency encounters and inpatient rehabilitation) following hip, knee and shoulder joint replacement surgery. Evidence will be generated on how these outcomes are associated with and vary according to patient, surgical, implant, hospital and pharmacological factors. As Australia lacks a national identifier, seven linkage agencies are probabilistically linking AOANJRR hip, knee and shoulder replacement data (1999-2017) with 20 datasets. Datasets include government-subsidised health services, procedural and prescription data. Hospital separations and emergency attendance data from Australia’s eight jurisdictions together with national cancer registry and rehabilitation service data are also planned for linkage. Linked data are maintained in a secure remote access computing environment. ResultsTo date, national Medicare Benefits Schedule, Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and the Australian Cancer Database data have been linked with >900,000 AOANJRR patients, representing 607.6 million health service records (1999-2018), 467.7 million prescriptions (2002-2018) and 184,000 cancer records, respectively. Remaining linked data will be available in mid-2020. Some initial summary results across a selected range of studies will be presented. Conclusion / ImplicationsThis national data-linkage program will identify areas for improvement in joint replacement surgery and modifiable risk factors contributing to poor patient outcomes.

Purpose of Review: We provide an overview of recent research into the relationship between preoperative opioid use and total joint replacement outcomes. Recent Findings: Recent findings indicate that total joint replacement patients with a history of preoperative opioid use experience higher rates of infection, revision, short-term complications, and prolonged postoperative opioid use, along with fewer improvements in pain and function following surgery. These risks are particularly pronounced among chronic opioid users. While the baseline risk profiles of these patients may contribute to higher rates of adverse outcomes, it is also plausible that certain outcomes are directly impacted by opioid use through mechanisms such as opioid-induced hyperalgesia and immunosuppression. There is little available data on the efficacy of interventions that aim to mitigate these risks. Summary: Well-designed clinical trials are needed to evaluate the efficacy of targeted perioperative interventions that aim to improve outcomes for this high-risk surgical population. Where such trials are not feasible, additional high-quality observational studies are necessary to further our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the relationships between opioid use and specific adverse outcomes. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Purpose Ultraviolet radiation from sunlight contributes to age-related cataract and skin cancer. The EPHA2 gene is implicated in both these diseases. The purpose of this study was to determine whether age-related cataract and skin cancer are associated in a cohort of older Australians. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed using the Historical Cohort of the Registry of Senior Australians. Individuals aged ≥65 years or aged ≥50 years and of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, who had an aged care eligibility assessment between July 2005 and June 2015, and had a history of cataract surgery and/or skin cancer according to the Australian Government Medicare Benefits Schedule dataset, during the 3-year period prior, were evaluated (N = 599,316). A multivariable logistic regression model was used to determine association and multiple hypothesis correction was employed. Results Of the evaluated individuals, 87,097 (14.5%) had a history of cataract and 170,251 (28.4%) a history of skin cancer. Among those with a history of cataract, 20,497 (23.5%), 1127 (1.3%), and 14,730 (16.9%) individuals had a concurrent history of keratinocyte, melanoma, and premalignant/solar keratosis, respectively. Those with a history of cataract were 19% more likely to have a history of skin cancer (odds ratio [OR], 1.19; 95% confidence interval [CI], (1.17-1.21). Co-occurrence of keratinocyte skin cancer was 16% (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.14-1.18), melanoma 21% (OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.13-1.29), and premalignant/solar keratosis 19% (OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.17-1.22) more in the presence than absence of history of cataract. Conclusions Age-related cataract is positively associated with skin cancer and its subtypes, including premalignant lesions in an older Australian population.

BACKGROUND: Despite wide adoption of hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated femoral stems in THA, no studies have found differences in the risk of revision surgery with its use or investigated the interaction of different prosthesis designs with stem coating. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk of revision in THAs with HA-coated stems compared with non-HA-coated. To achieve this purpose, we asked: (1) What is the difference in risk of revision of THAs with HA-coated femoral stems compared with non-HA-coated using an aggregate analysis? (2) What is the difference in risk of revision of THAs with HA-coated femoral stems compared with non-HA-coated for five prosthesis types that used the same femoral and acetabular component combination but where the femoral stem had both a HA and non-HA coating option? METHODS: The Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry analyzed cementless primary THA registered between September 1, 1999, and December 31, 2014. Of the 147,645 cases that fit our selection criteria, 81.1% (N = 119,673) had HA-coated stems. Overall (that is, all procedures with any prostheses in the registry) and five prosthesis designs where both an HA-coated stem and non-HA-coated stem exist (Zimmer’s VerSys®/Trilogy® [N = 3924], Biomet’s Mallory-Head®/Mallory-Head [N = 2538], Smith & Nephew’s SL-Plus/EP Fit-Plus [N = 2028], Biomet’s Taperloc®/Exceed [N = 1668], and Biomet’s Taperloc/Mallory-Head [N = 1240]) were evaluated. Revision surgery was the outcome of interest. Survival analyses were conducted and hazard ratios (HRs) were adjusted for age, sex, bearing surface, femoral head size, and acetabular component HA coating. RESULTS: In the overall cohort, HA stems had a lower any-cause revision risk after 6 months (HR, 0.83; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.72-0.95; p = 0.007). However, the risk of revision varied when we evaluated the effect of HA on revision for specific prothesis combinations that had both HA and non-HA options for the femoral stem. VerSys/Trilogy, Mallory-Head/Mallory-Head, Taperloc/Exceed, and Taperloc/Mallory-Head did not have a lower risk of any-cause revision with HA-coated stems compared with non-HA-coated. Only the SL-Plus/EP Fit-Plus subgroup showed a lower risk of revision for loosening (HR, 0.17; 95% CI, 0.06-0.44 between 0 and 7 years; p < 0.001) with HA- compared with non-HA-coated stems, but this was observed after an early (< 6 months) higher risk of revision for any reason (HR, 2.88; 95% CI, 1.15-7.21; p = 0.024). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, HA coating of femoral stems was found to be associated with a 17% lower risk of revision for any reason. However, the lower risk of revision associated with HA was not consistent for all prosthesis designs where both HA- and non-HA-coated femoral stem versions were available. Some HA-coated stems have higher revision rates compared with their non-HA-coated versions. Our findings suggest that the effect of HA coating on revision risk varies depending on prosthesis design. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II, therapeutic study.

Objective: The purposes of this study were to evaluate the (1) change in incidence rate of shoulder arthroplasty, the (2) utilization of shoulder arthroplasty for specific indications, and the (3) surgeon volume trends associated with these procedures between 2005 and 2013. Methods: A population based cohort study was conducted using the over 7 million members of an integrated healthcare system in California. Shoulder arthroplasty cases performed between 2005 and 2013 were identified using a Shoulder Arthroplasty Registry. Annual shoulder arthroplasty incidence rates per 100,000 patients were determined, and adjusted yearly changes in rates were estimated using incidence rate ratios (IRRs). Changes in surgeon volumes by year and number of surgeons performing different procedures were also compared. Results: The incidence of shoulder arthroplasty per 100,000 members increased from 6.1 (95% confidence interval [CI] 5.5-6.7) in 2005 to 13.4 (95% CI 12.5-14.2) in 2013. In patients with osteoarthritis, there was increasing utilization of total shoulder arthroplasty (IRR=1.12, 95% CI 1.11-1.14) and decreasing utilization of hemiarthroplasty (IRR=0.91, 95% CI 0.89-0.94). For patients with rotator cuff tear arthropathy, there was an increase in utilization of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (IRR=1.33, 95% CI 1.29-1.37) but no change in hemiarthroplasty (IRR=0.99, 95% CI 0.92-1.05). The average surgeon yearly volume increased for total shoulder arthroplasty (p-value

Context Postmarket surveillance is limited in the ability to detect medical device problems. Electronic health records can provide real-time information that might help with device surveillance. Specifically, the frequency of postsurgery care might indicate early problems and determine high-risk patients requiring more active surveillance. Objective To evaluate whether intensity of postsurgery care is associated with revision risk after total joint arthroplasty (TJA). Design Using an integrated health care system's TJA registry, we identified primary TJA performed between April 2001 and July 2013 (22,953 knees and 9904 hips). Survival analyses evaluated the frequency of specific types of outpatient and inpatient utilization 0 to 90 and 91 to 180 days postoperatively and revision risk. Main outcome measures Revision surgery occurring at least 6 months after primary TJA. Results Knee arthroplasty recipients with 3 or more outpatient orthopedic allied health/nurse visits within 90 days had a 2.2 times (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.6-2.9) higher risk of revision within the first 2 years postoperatively and 10.1 times higher risk (95% CI = 7.6-13.3) after 2 years. Compared with hip arthroplasty recipients who had 0 to 3 visits, patients with 6 or more outpatient orthopedic office visits within 90 days had a 15.7 times (95% CI = 5.7-42.9) higher risk of revision. Similar results were observed for 91-day to 180-day visits. Conclusion Future studies are needed to determine if more specific data on reasons for the higher frequency of outpatient visits can refine these findings and elicit more specific recommendations for TJA devices.

Background: Aged care support services in Australia are delivered through home care packages, permanent residential care, respite care and transition care. This study aimed to determine age and gender specific incidence rates of aged care service utilisation in Australia between 2008-09 and 2015–16.Methods: This is a population-based epidmiological study of people accessing aged care services in Australia. The trends and characteristics of people (over the age of 65 years old) accessing aged care services in Australia were evaluated, using data (2008–09 and 2015–16) from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and Australian Bureau of Statistics. The yearly utilisation incidence rates (per 1000 people) per service type were calculated and changes inincidence rate ratios (IRR) of service utilisation for the study period were estimated using Poisson regression models. Results: The proportion of older Australians aged ≥65 years who used aged care services remained similar between 2008-09 (5.4%, N = 208,247) and 2015–16 (5.6%, N = 248,669). However, the incidence use of specific services changed during the study period. Specifically, admissions into permanent residential care decreased (from 23.8/1000 people in 2008–09 to 19.6/1000 in 2015–16, at a IRR of 0.84/year, p < 0.001) but increased for transition care(from 4.3/1000 in 2008–09 to 6.6/1000 in 2015–16, at a IRR of 1.57/year, p < 0.001) and home care packages (from 8.04/1000 in 2008–09 to 12.0/1000 per 1000 in 2015–16, at a IRR of 1.52/year, p < 0.001). Between 2008-09 and 2015–16, the greatest changes in IRR were observed in males aged 80–89 years accessing transition care (IRR =1.68/year, p < 0.001). A higher proportion of people aged between 80-89 years (≥45%), females (≥60%), Australiaborn (≥ 60%) and English speakers (≥80%) used all the service types. Conclusions: Patterns of service utilisation for aged care services changed over the study period with a decrease in incidence of individuals accessing permanent residential care but increased for other service types. This finding reflects changes in attitudes regarding ageing in place and policies. These findings are helpful to inform key stakeholders on service planning to further improve quality of the aged-care services in Australia. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Background: The optimal graft for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) remains controversial. Purpose: To compare the risk of aseptic revision between bone–patellar tendon–bone (BPTB) autografts, hamstring autografts, and soft tissue allografts. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: Prospectively collected ACLR cases reconstructed with BPTB autografts, hamstring autografts, and soft tissue allografts were identified using the Kaiser Permanente ACLR Registry. Aseptic revision was the endpoint. The type of graft and allograft processing method (nonprocessed, Results: The cohort included 14,015 cases: there were 8924 (63.7%) male patients, there were 6397 (45.6%) white patients, 4557 (32.5%) ACLRs used BPTB autografts, 3751 ACLRs (26.8%) used soft tissue allografts, and 5707 (40.7%) ACLRs used hamstring autografts. The median age was 34.6 years for soft tissue allografts, 24.3 years for hamstring autografts, and 22.0 years for BPTB autografts. The crude nonadjusted revision rates were 85 (1.9%) in BPTB autograft cases, 132 (2.3%) in hamstring autograft cases, and 83 (2.2%) in soft tissue allograft cases. After adjusting for age, sex, and race, compared with hamstring autografts, a higher risk of revision was found with allografts with ≥1.8 Mrad without chemical processing after 2.5 years (hazard ratio [HR], 3.88; 95% CI, 1.48-10.12) and ≥1.8 Mrad with chemical processing after 1 year (HR, 3.43; 95% CI, 1.58-7.47) and with BioCleanse processed grafts at any time point (HR, 3.02; 95% CI, 1.40-6.50). Nonprocessed allografts and those irradiated with Conclusion: When soft tissue allografts are used for ACLR, processing and time from surgery affect the risk of revision. Tissue processing has a significant effect on the risk of revision surgery, which is most profound with more highly processed grafts and increases with increasing follow-up time. Surgeons and patients need to be aware of the increased risks of revision with the various soft tissue allografts used for ACLR.

Background and purpose — The effect of total joint arthroplasty (TJA) on physical activity is not fully understood. We investigated the change in physical activity after TJA and patient factors associated with change. Patients and methods — Using a total joint replacement registry,primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) patients (n = 5,678) and knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients (n = 11,084) between January 1,2010 and December 31, 2012 were identified. Median age at THA was 68 and median age at TKA was 67. Change in self-reported physical activity (minutes per week) from before TJA (within 1year of surgery) to after TJA (1–2 years) was the outcome of interest.Patient demographics and comorbidities were evaluated as risk factors. Multiple linear regression was used. Results — Median physical activity before surgery was 50 min/week (IQR: 0–140) for THA patients and 58 (IQR: 3–143) for TKA patients. Median physical activity after surgery was 150 min/week (IQR: 60–280) for both THA patients and TKA patients. Following TJA, 50% of patients met CDC/WHO physical activity guideline criteria. Higher body mass index was associated with lower change in physical activity (THA: −7.1 min/week; TKA: −5.9 min/week). Females had lower change than males (THA: −11 min/week; TKA: −9.1 min/week). In TKA patients, renal failure was associated with lower change (−17 min/week), as were neurological disorders (−30 min/week). Interpretation — Self-reported minutes of physical activity increased from before to after TJA, but 50% of TJA patients did not meet recommended physical activity guideline criteria.Higher body mass index, female sex, and specific comorbidities were found to be associated with low change in physical activity.Patient education on the benefits of physical activity should concentrate on these subgroups of patients. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Lack of consensus continues regarding the benefit of anteriorly based surgical approaches for primary total hip arthroplasty (THA). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk of aseptic revision, septic revision, and dislocations for various approaches used in primary THAs from a community-based healthcare organization.(1) What is the incidence of aseptic revision, septic revision, and dislocation for primary THA in a large community-based healthcare organization? (2) Does the risk of aseptic revision, septic revision, and dislocation vary by THA surgical approach?The Kaiser Permanente Total Joint Replacement Registry was used to identify primary THAs performed between April 1, 2001 and December 31, 2011. Endpoints were septic revisions, aseptic revisions, and dislocations. The exposure of interest was surgical approach (posterior, anterolateral, direct lateral, direct anterior). Patient, implant, surgeon, and hospital factors were evaluated as possible confounders. Survival analysis was performed with marginal multivariate Cox models. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) are reported. A total of 42,438 primary THAs were available for analysis of revision outcomes and 22,237 for dislocation. Median followup was 3 years (interquartile range, 1-5 years). The registry's voluntary participation is 95%. The most commonly used approach was posterior (75%, N = 31,747) followed by anterolateral (10%, N = 4226), direct anterior (4%, N = 1851), and direct lateral (2%, N = 667).During the study period 785 hips (2%) were revised for aseptic reasons, 213 (0.5%) for septic reasons, and 276 (1%) experienced a dislocation. The revision rate per 100 years of observation was 0.54 for aseptic revisions, 0.15 for septic revisions, and 0.58 for dislocations. There were no differences in adjusted risk of revision (either septic or aseptic) across the different THA approaches. However, the anterolateral approach (adjusted HR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.13-0.63, p = 0.002) and direct anterior approach (adjusted HR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.22-0.87, p = 0.017) had a lower risk of dislocation relative to the posterior approach. There were no differences in any of the outcomes when comparing the direct anterior approach with the anterolateral approach.Anterior and anterolateral surgical approaches had the advantage of a lower risk of dislocation without increasing the risk of early revision.Level III, therapeutic study.

Objective To examine whether an underlying diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or osteoarthritis (OA) impacts the 90-day readmission rates after total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods We analyzed prospectively collected data from an integrated health care system, Total Joint Replacement Registry, of adults with RA or OA undergoing unilateral primary THA or TKA during 2009–2011. Adjusted logistic regression models for 90-day readmission were fit. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated. Study year was an effect modifier for the outcome; therefore separate analyses were conducted for each of the 3 study years. Results Of the 34,311 patients, 496 had RA and 33,815 had OA. Comparisons of RA and OA patients, respectively, were 73% and 61% women, 45% and 70% white, and patients had a mean age of 61 versus 67 years (P

Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence and change in analgesic medications use prior to joint replacement in older patients between 2001 and 2012. Methods: A population based epidemiological study was conducted. Opioids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), paracetamol, corticosteroid injections, medications for neuropathic pain, hypnotics, and muscle relaxants supplied 1 year prior to total knee replacement (TKR, n = 15,517) and hip replacement (THR, n = 10,018) were assessed. Patient characteristics and surgical indication adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) are provided. Results: From 2001 to 2012, in the TKR cohort (median age 78.9) the prevalence of opioid use prior to surgery increased from 37% to 49% (PR = 1.01, 95% CI 1.00-1.01, P = 0.01), while in the THR cohort (median age 81.1) it increased from 44% to 54% (PR = 1.01, 95% CI 1.01-1.02, P < 0.001). Paracetamol use increased from 52% to 61% (PR = 1.0, 95% CI 1.0-1.0, P = 0.913) in the TKR cohort and from 55% to 67% (PR = 1.01, 95% CI 1.00-1.01, P = 0.005) in the THR cohort. Neuropathic pain medication use increased from 5% to 11% in the TKR cohort (PR = 1.04, 95% CI 1.02-1.06, P < 0.0001) and from 6% to 12% in the THR cohort (PR = 1.06, 95% CI 1.04-1.09, P < 0.0001). NSAID use decreased from 76% to 50% in the TKR cohort (PR = 0.96, 95% CI 0.95-0.96, P < 0.0001), and from 81% to 47% in THR cohort (PR = 0.95, 95% CI 0.94-0.95, P < 0.0001). Corticosteroid injections prevalence also decreased (TKR: 21-18%, PR = 0.97, 95% CI 0.96-0.97, P < 0.001, THR: 18-17%, PR = 0.97, 95% CI 0.96-0.98, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Pain medication utilization prior to joint replacement surgery changed significantly in this national older cohort of patients during the 2000s. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Background: The survivorship of implants after revision total hip arthroplasty and risk factors associated with re-revision are not well defined. We evaluated the re-revision rate with use of the institutional total joint replacement registry. The purpose of this study was to determine patient, implant, and surgeon factors associated with re-revision total hip arthroplasty. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted. The total joint replacement registry was used to identify patients who had undergone revision total hip arthroplasty for aseptic reasons from April 1, 2001, to December 31, 2010. The end point of interest was re-revision total hip arthroplasty. Risk factors evaluated for re-revision total hip arthroplasty included: patient risk factors (age, sex, body mass index, race, and general health status), implant risk factors (fixation type, bearing surface, femoral head size, and component replacement), and surgeon risk factors (volume and experience). A multivariable Cox proportional hazards model was used. Results: Six hundred and twenty-nine revision total hip arthroplasties with sixty-three (10%) re-revisions were evaluated. The mean cohort age (and standard deviation) was 57.0 ± 12.4 years, the mean body mass index (and standard deviation) was 29.5 ± 6.1 kg/m2, and most of the patients were women (64.5%) and white (81.9%) and had an American Society of Anesthesiologists score of

Although studies have reported lower radiological wear in highly crosslinked polyethylene (HXLPE) versus conventional polyethylene in total hip arthroplasty (THA), there is limited clinical evidence on the risk of revision of these polyethylene THA bearing surfaces.We asked: (1) Do primary THAs with a metal-on-conventional polyethylene bearing surface have a higher risk of revision (all-cause or aseptic) than metal-on-HXLPE? (2) Is the risk of revision (all-cause or aseptic) higher for conventional polyethylene versus HXLPE when the effect of femoral and acetabular components is controlled for in prosthesis-specific analyses?The Kaiser Permanente's Total Joint Replacement Registry was used to identify metal-on-conventional polyethylene and metal-on-HXLPE primary THAs (N = 26,823) performed between April 2001 and December 2011. The registry has 95% voluntary participation and 8% were lost to followup during the 10-year study period. Endpoints of interest were all-cause and aseptic revisions. Descriptive statistics and marginal Cox regression models with propensity score adjustments were applied to compare risk of revision for metal-on-conventional polyethylene versus metal-on-HXLPE THAs and to evaluate two specific manufacturers' hip implant designs while controlling for femoral and acetabular components. Of the 26,823 THAs included in the study, 1815 (7%) were metal-on-conventional polyethylene and 25,008 (93%) were metal-on-HXLPE.At 7 years followup, the cumulative incidence of revision was 5.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.4%-6.7%) for metal-on-conventional and 2.8% (95% CI, 2.6%-3.2%) for metal-on-HXLPE. There was a higher adjusted risk of all-cause (hazard ratio [HR], 1.75; 95% CI, 1.37-2.24; p0.001) and aseptic (HR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.46-2.50; p0.001) revisions among metal-on-conventional polyethylene bearing surface hips compared with metal-on-HXLPE. Results were similar within manufacturer hip designs with the same femoral and acetabular components. Conclusions Metal-on-conventional polyethylene THA bearing surfaces have a higher risk of revision compared with metal-on-HXLPE bearing surfaces. Clinicians should consider the use of HXLPE when using a polyethylene bearing in THA.Level II, cohort study.

Background:Knowledge of patient characteristics, surgical fixation, graft choice, outcomes, and concurrent injuries of revision anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is limited.Purpose:To describe the current cohort of revision ACLR captured by a community registry and the outcomes observed in the registered patients.Study Design:Case series; Level of evidence, 4.Methods:Patients who underwent revision ACLR registered between February 2005 and June 2014, by 200 surgeons in 46 hospitals, were evaluated. The Kaiser Permanente ACLR Registry (KPACLRR) collected data intraoperatively and postoperatively using paper forms, electronic medical records, administrative claims data, and patient-reported outcomes. The KPACLRR cohort was longitudinally followed, and outcomes were prospectively ascertained. Outcomes (ie, revisions, subsequent operative procedures, deep surgical site infections, and deep venous thrombosis) were adjudicated via a chart review. Descriptive statistics were employed.Results:Of 2019 patients who underwent revision ACLR, at a median follow-up of 2.2 years (interquartile range, 1.0-3.8 years), 212 (10.5%) required subsequent operative procedures, and 86 (4.3%) were revised a second time. At the time of revision, 55.1% of the patients had at least 1 concurrent meniscal injury, and 26% of those were repairable. Cartilage injuries were present in 42.0% of patients. Deep surgical site infections occurred in 12 patients (0.6%), deep venous thrombosis occurred in 5 patients (0.3%), and 1 patient (0.1%) had a pulmonary embolism.Conclusion:Revision ACLR can be performed with a low short-term revision rate and relatively few complications. At the time of revision, nearly half of these patients had an irreparable meniscal injury, and slightly less than half had a cartilage injury. A large community-based ACLR registry is useful in informing surgeons of current treatment practices, prevalence of concurrent injuries, and outcomes associated with the procedures, especially infrequent procedures such as revision ACLR.

Background: Patients generally choose to undergo anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) to return to their active lifestyles. However, returning to their previous activity level may result in a retear of their reconstructed knee or an injury to their contralateral anterior cruciate ligament (CACL). Purpose: To determine the risk factors associated with revision ACLR and contralateral ACLR (CACLR), compare the survival of the reconstructed ACL with the CACL, and determine how the risk factors associated with revision ACLR compare with those for CACLR. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of prospectively collected data from the Kaiser Permanente ACLR registry between February 1, 2005, and September 30, 2012, was conducted. Primary ACLR cases without history of contralateral knee ACL injury were included. The study endpoints included revision ACLR and CACLR. Graft type (bone–patellar tendon–bone [BPTB] autograft, hamstring autograft, and allograft) was the main exposure of interest, and patient characteristics were evaluated as risk factors for revision ACLR and CACLR. Survival analyses were conducted. Results: A total of 17,436 ACLRs were evaluated. The median age was 27.2 years (interquartile range, 18.7-37.7 years), and 64% were males. The 5-year survival for index ACLR was 95.1% (95% CI, 94.5%-95.6%), and for CACL it was 95.8% (95% CI, 95.2%-96.3%). Overall, the cohort had a mean of 2.4 ± 1.7 years of follow-up; 18.2% were lost to follow-up. There were fewer CACLRs per 100 years of observation (0.83) than there were revision ACLRs (1.05) during the study period ( P < .001). There was a statistically significant difference in the density of revision ACLR and CACL in BPTB autografts (0.74 vs 1.06, respectively; P = .010), hamstring autografts (1.07 vs 0.81; P = .042), and allografts (1.26 vs 0.67; P < .001). The risk factors for revision ACLR and contralateral surgery were different ( P < .05). After adjusting for covariates, factors associated with higher risk of revision ACLR were as follows: allografts, hamstring autografts, male sex, younger age, lower body mass index (BMI), and being white as opposed to black. Factors associated with higher risk of CACLR were as follows: younger age, female sex, and lower BMI. Conclusion: The 5-year revision-free and CACLR-free survival rate in this study was 95.1% and 95.8%, respectively. Allografts and hamstring autografts had a higher risk of revision ACLR surgery, and BPTB autografts had a higher risk of CACLR. Males were found to have a higher risk of revision ACLR, and females had a higher risk of CACLR. Increasing age and increasing BMI decreased the risk of both revision and CACLR.

This study compared the total joint arthroplasty (TJA) surgical outcomes of patients who had bariatric surgery prior to TJA to TJA patients who were candidates but did not have bariatric surgery. Patients were retrospectively grouped into: Group 1 (n = 69), those with bariatric surgery > 2 years prior to TJA, Group 2 (n = 102), those with surgery within 2 years of TJA, and Group 3 (n = 11,032), those without bariatric surgery. In Group 1, 2.9% (95% CI 0.0–6.9%) had complications within 1 year compared to 5.9% (95% CI 1.3%–10.4%) in Group 2, and 4.1% (95% CI 3.8%–4.5%) in Group 3. Ninety-day readmission (7.2%, 95% CI 1.1%–13.4%) and revision density (3.4/100 years of observation) was highest in Group 1. Bariatric surgery prior to TJA may not provide dramatic improvements in post-operative TJA surgical outcomes. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Background and purpose — The prevalence of chronic renal disease (CRD) is rising worldwide. Patients with CRD are more likely to have associated medical problems and are at greater risk of postoperative morbidity and mortality. We evaluated patient characteristics and risk of early revision, surgical site infection (SSI), thromboembolic events, mortality, and re-admission of patients with CRD undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We hypothesized that this patient population would have higher rates of complications. Patients and methods — We conducted a retrospective analysis of data that had been prospectively collected by a Total Joint Replacement Registry. All primary TKAs performed from 2005 through 2010 were included. 41,852 primary TKA cases were evaluated, of which 2,686 (6.4%) TKA procedures had been performed in CRD patients. Patient characteristics, comorbidities, and general health status were evaluated. Cox proportional hazard regressions and logistic regressions were used to evaluate the association of CRD with outcomes while adjusting for confounding variables. Results — The mean age of the CRD cohort was 67 years and approximately two-thirds of the patients were female. The median follow-up time was 2.1 years. Compared to TKA patients without CRD the CRD patients were older, had poorer general health, and had a higher prevalence of comorbidities. They had a higher incidence of deep SSI (0.9% vs. 0.7%), superficial SSI (0.5% vs. 0.3%), deep vein thrombosis (0.6% vs. 0.4%), any-time mortality (4.7% vs. 2.4%), 90-day mortality (0.4% vs. 0.2%), and 90-day re-admission (10% vs. 6.0%) than patients without CRD. However, after adjustment for confounding variables, CRD patients were at 1.9 times (95% CI: 1.1–3.5) increased risk of superficial SSI, 1.3 times (CI: 1.1–1.6) increased risk of re-admission within 90 days, and 1.5 times (CI: 1.2–1.8) increased risk of mortality at any point after the procedure. The risks of all other complications were not statistically significantly different in patients with CRD compared to patients without CRD. Conclusions — CRD patients undergoing TKA have more comorbidities and a higher risk for superficial SSI, 90-day re-admission, and any-time mortality. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Background and purpose With younger patients seeking reconstructions and the activity-based demands placed on the arthroplasty construct, consideration of the role that implant characteristics play...

Background: While shoulder arthroplasty is a well established treatment for a variety of conditions about the shoulder, the results of shoulder replacement in younger patients are not as predictable. The purpose of this study is to examine the indications for shoulder arthroplasty in patients 59 years old and younger, and to analyze revision rates between younger and older patients. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of shoulder arthroplasties performed within a statewide integrated healthcare system between 2005 and 2010. Patients were stratified into 2 groups based on age at time of index replacement procedure: younger patients (� 59 years) and older patients (>59 years). Results: There were 2981 primary arthroplasties followed for a median time of 2.2 years (interquartile range, 1.0-3.8), 90 (3.0%) of which required revisions. After adjusting for procedure type and diagnosis, younger patients had a two times higher risk (95% CI 1.2-3.5, P ¼ .007) of revision than older patients. When looking at the risk of revision in younger and older patients separately, the risk of revision in hemiarthroplasty (RR ¼ 4.5 vs RR ¼ 1.7) and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RR ¼ 33.6 vs RR ¼ 3.0) compared to total shoulder arthroplasty were higher in younger patients compared to older patients. Conclusion: This study suggests patients 59 years and younger have an increased risk of revision at early follow-up. The higher risk of revision in younger patients receiving hemiarthroplasty may support the use of total shoulder arthroplasty in patients 59 years of age and younger. Level of evidence: Level III, Retrospective Cohort Design, Treatment Study. 2013 Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Board of Trustees.

Meniscus injuries are common in patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears. Patient demographics, surgeon characteristics, and concurrent diagnostic factors affecting the prevalence of meniscus repairs in patients undergoing ACL reconstruction (ACLR) by community-based orthopaedic surgeons have not been fully studied.Patient (age, sex, race, and body mass index [BMI]), surgeon (sports medicine fellowship training status and case volume), and injury characteristics (1 or both menisci injured, injury location, and concurrent cartilage injury) and surgical venue (case volume) are associated with a higher likelihood of meniscus repair.Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.A cross-sectional study using data from a large community-based ACLR registry was performed. Patients with a meniscus injury and primary ACLR between February 2005 and June 2010 were included in the study. Meniscus repair rates by patient, surgeon, and injury characteristics were described. Associations were evaluated using generalized linear models.During the study period, 5712 primary ACLRs with a meniscus tear diagnosis were registered. There was 1 torn meniscus in 4248 (74.4%) patients, and both menisci were torn in 1464 (25.6%) patients. Medial meniscus tears were repaired in 1192 (31.2%) of 3818 cases; the remaining 2626 (68.8%) tears were not repaired, underwent alternative treatment (meniscectomy, trephination, rasped), or were left in situ. Lateral meniscus tears were repaired in 893 (26.6%) of 3358 cases; the remaining 2465 (73.4%) tears underwent alternative treatment or were left in situ. Adjusted models showed that younger patient age (P.001), lower patient BMI (P.001), surgeon's sports medicine fellowship training (P.001), higher surgeon case volume (P.001), higher surgical venue volume (P = .019), and medial meniscus tears (P.001) were all associated with a higher likelihood of a meniscus repair.Younger patient age, lower patient BMI, surgeon's sports medicine fellowship training, higher surgeon case volume, and higher site volume are associated with a higher likelihood of a meniscus repair in patients undergoing primary ACLR in a large cohort from a community-based ACLR registry.

Background: Orthopaedic registries have shown value in tracking and surveillance of patients, implants, and outcomes associated with procedures. No current anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction registry (ACLRR) exists in the United States. Purpose: To describe the current cohort captured by an institutional ACLRR and describe the outcomes observed in the registered patients and how findings from the ACLRR are disseminated. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: The anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions (ACLRs) registered between February 2005 and September 2011 by 244 surgeons in 48 medical centers were evaluated. The ACLRR collected data intra- and postoperatively using paper forms and electronic medical records. The ACLRR cohort was longitudinally followed and outcomes were prospectively ascertained. Outcomes (ie, revisions, subsequent operations, venous thromboembolism, and surgical site infections) were adjudicated via chart review. Descriptive statistics are used to describe the cohort and Kaplan-Meier curves to evaluate survival. Results: During the study period, 16,192 ACLRs (15,101 primary and 1091 revisions) with a median follow-up of 1.6 years (interquartile range, 0.7-2.8 years) were registered. Male patients received 64% of both primary and revision ACLRs. The mean age at surgery was 29.5 years (SD, 11.4 years) for primary and revision reconstructions. Cartilage injuries were noted in 25.2% of primary and 37.5% of revision ACLRs, and meniscal injuries were identified in 60.8% and 53.2%, respectively. Autografts were used in 57.6% of primary ACLRs and 20.9% of revisions. Allografts were used in 42.4% of primaries and 78.8% of revisions. In primary ACLR, the most common femoral and tibial fixation types were interference screws (42.2% and 79.7%, respectively). Fixation type distribution was nearly identical in primaries and revisions. Of the primary ACLRs, 3.7% had subsequent operations on the same knee and 1.7% on the contralateral knee. Deep surgical site infection developed in 0.3% of primaries and 0.8% of revisions. Symptomatic deep vein thromboses were seen in 0.2% of both primaries and revisions. The overall revision rate was 1.7%. Lower rates of graft survival were identified in younger patients and those with allografts. Conclusion: Large, community-based ACLRRs are useful in informing participating surgeons of current treatment practices, prevalence of concurrent injuries, and outcomes associated with the procedures. Information from the ACLRR can be used to develop interactive patient and surgeon tools that can be used to optimize patient care.

Background: Prior research about symptomatic venous thromboembolism (VTE) after shoulder arthroplasty has not determined whether procedure type (hemiarthroplasty, total shoulder arthroplasty, or reverse shoulder arthroplasty) or surgical indication (traumatic or elective) represent risk factors for VTE after shoulder replacement. Questions/purposes: We therefore asked whether the risk of symptomatic VTE events and mortality within 90 days of shoulder arthroplasty was influenced by (1) procedure type, and (2) surgical indication (traumatic or elective). Methods: We performed a retrospective database review of symptomatic VTE events and mortality within 90 days of shoulder arthroplasty in a large (30-hospital) integrated healthcare system over a 5-year period, from January 2005 to December 2009. We compared the likelihood of VTE and death in patients undergoing reverse shoulder arthroplasties (RSAs), total shoulder arthroplasties (TSAs), and hemiarthroplasties (HAs), and we compared the likelihood of VTE and death in patients who underwent elective shoulder arthroplasties with those who underwent shoulder arthroplasty in the setting of acute trauma. Results: In the 2574 eligible shoulder arthroplasties identified during the study period, VTE developed in 1.01% of patients (deep vein thrombosis 0.51% and pulmonary embolism 0.54%). With the numbers available, no differences were observed in rates of VTE or mortality by procedure type. A trend toward increased VTE occurred more frequently in patients having surgery for traumatic indications than after elective surgery (1.71% versus 0.80%; p = 0.055). A higher likelihood of 90-day mortality was observed in trauma patients compared with elective (odds ratio = 7.4; 95% CI, 2.4–25.2). Conclusions: VTE occurred infrequently in this study sample. These data support future risk and benefit assessment of routine pharmacologic VTE prophylaxis in the perioperative treatment of patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty, especially in all RSA and traumatic HA subsets, where the risk of VTE may be higher. Level of Evidence: Level II, prognostic study. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

We examined the association of graft type with the risk of early revision of primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) in a community-based sample. A retrospective analysis of a cohort of 9817 ACLRs recorded in an ACLR Registry was performed. Patients were included if they underwent primary ACLR with bone–patellar tendon–bone autograft, hamstring tendon autograft or allograft tissue. Aseptic failure was the main endpoint of the study. After adjusting for age, gender, ethnicity, and body mass index, allografts had a 3.02 times (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.93 to 4.72) higher risk of aseptic revision than bone–patellar tendon–bone autografts (p < 0.001). Hamstring tendon autografts had a 1.82 times (95% CI 1.10 to 3.00) higher risk of revision compared with bone–patellar tendon–bone autografts (p = 0.019). For each year increase in age, the risk of revision decreased by 7% (95% CI 5 to 9). In gender-specific analyses a 2.26 times (95% CI 1.15 to 4.44) increased risk of hamstring tendon autograft revision in females was observed compared with bone–patellar tendon–bone autograft. We conclude that allograft tissue, hamstring tendon autografts, and younger age may all increase the risk of early revision surgery after ACLR. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:623–8.

Background: The use of allograft tissue for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) remains controversial. Purpose: To compare the risk of aseptic revision between bone–patellar tendon–bone (BPTB) autografts and BPTB allografts. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of prospectively collected data was conducted using the Kaiser Permanente ACLR Registry. A cohort of patients who underwent primary unilateral ACLR with BPTB autografts and BPTB allografts was identified. Aseptic revision was the endpoint. The type of graft and allograft processing method (nonprocessed, Results: The BPTB cohort consisted of 5586 patients: 3783 (67.7%) were male, 2359 (42.2%) were white, 1029 (18.4%) had allografts (nonprocessed: 155; Conclusion: When BPTB allograft tissue was used for ACLR, an overall 4.54 times adjusted higher risk of revision was observed compared with surgery performed with a BPTB autograft. Whether the tissue was irradiated with either high- or low-dose radiation, chemically processed, or not processed at all made little difference in the risk of revision. The differences in the revision risk were also consistent in younger and older patients. Surgeons and patients should be aware of the increased risk of revision when a BPTB allograft is used for ACLR.

Background Well-designed studies of complications and readmission rates in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) with osteonecrosis are lacking. Our objective was to examine if a diagnosis of osteonecrosis was associated with complications, mortality and readmission rates after THA. Methods We analyzed prospectively collected data from an integrated healthcare system’s Total Joint Replacement Registry of adults with osteonecrosis vs. osteoarthritis (OA) undergoing unilateral primary THA during 2001–2012, in an observational cohort study. We examined mortality (90-day), revision (ever), deep (1 year) and superficial (30-day) surgical site infection (SSI), venous thromboembolism (VTE, 90-day), and unplanned readmission (90-day). Age, gender, race, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists class, and diabetes were evaluated as confounders. We used logistic or Cox regression to calculate odds or hazard ratios (OR, HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results Of the 47,523 primary THA cases, 45,252 (95.2%) had OA, and 2,271 (4.8%) had osteonecrosis. Compared to the OA, patients with osteonecrosis were younger (median age 55 vs. 67 years), and were less likely to be female (42.5% vs. 58.3%) or White (59.8% vs. 77.4%). Compared to the OA, the osteonecrosis cohort had higher crude incidence of 90-day mortality (0.7% vs. 0.3%), SSI (1.2% vs. 0.8%), unplanned readmission (9.6% vs. 5.2%) and revision (3.1% vs. 2.4%). After multivariable-adjustment, patients with osteonecrosis had a higher odds/hazard of mortality (OR: 2.48; 95% CI:1.31–4.72), SSI (OR: 1.67, 95%CI:1.11–2.51), unplanned 90-day readmissions (OR: 2.20; 95% CI:1.67–2.91) and a trend towards higher revision rate 1-year post-THA (HR: 1.32; 95% CI: 0.94–1.84), than OA patients. Conclusions Compared to OA, a diagnosis of osteonecrosis was associated with worse outcomes post-THA. A detailed preoperative discussion including the risk of complications is needed for informed consent from patients with osteonecrosis. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12891-016-1385-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Background: The incidence of joint arthroplasty is increasing worldwide. International estimates of future demand for joint arthroplasty have used models that propose either an exponential future increase, despite obvious system constraints, or static increases, which do not account for past trends. Country-specific projection estimates that address limitations of past projections are necessary. In Australia, a high-income country with the 7th highest incidence of TKA and 15th highest incidence of THA of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, the volume of TKAs and THAs increased 198% between 1994 and 2014. Questions/purpose: To determine the projected incidence and volume of primary TKAs and THAs from 2014 to 2046 in the Australian population older than 40 years. Methods: Australian State and Territory Health Department data were used to identify TKAs and THAs performed between 1994 and 1995 and 2013 and 2014. The Australian Bureau of Statistics was the source of the population estimates for the same periods and population-projected estimates until 2046. The incidence rate (IR), 95% CI, and prediction interval (PI) of TKAs and THAs per 100,000 Australian citizens older than 40 years were calculated. Future IRs were estimated using a logistic model, and volume was calculated from projected IR and population. The logistic growth model assumes the existence of an upper limit of the TKA and THA incidences and a growth rate directly related to this incidence. At the beginning, when the observed incidence is much lower than the asymptote, the increase is exponential, but it decreases as it approaches the upper limit. Results: A 66% increase in the IR of primary THAs between 2013 and 2046 is projected for Australia (2013: IR = 307 per 100,000, [95% CI, 262-329 per 100,000] compared with 2046: IR= 510 per 100,000, [95% PI, 98-567 per 100,000]), which translates to a 219% increase in the volume during this period. For TKAs the IR is expected to increase by 26% by 2046 (IR = 575 per 100,000; 95% PI, 402-717 per 100,000) compared with 2013 (IR = 437 per 100,000; 95% CI, 397-479 per 100,000) and the volume to increase by 142%. Conclusion: A large increase in the volume of arthroplasties is expected using a conservative projection model that accounts for past surgical trends and future population changes in Australia. These findings have international implications, as they show that using country- specific, conservative projection approaches, a substantial increase in the number of these procedures is expected. This increase in joint arthroplasty volume will require appropriate workforce planning, resource allocation, and budget planning so that demand can be met. Level of Evidence: Level II, economic and decision analysis. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Objective: The purpose of our study was to estimate the future incidence rate (IR) and volume of primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in the United States from 2015 to 2050 using a conservative projection model that assumes a maximum IR of procedures. Furthermore, our study compared these projections to a model assuming exponential growth, as done in previous studies, for illustrative purposes. Methods: A population based epidemiological study was conducted using data from US National Inpatient Sample (NIS) and Census Bureau. Primary TKA procedures performed between 1993 and 2012 were identified. The IR, 95% confidence intervals (CI), or prediction intervals (PI) of TKA per 100,000 US citizens over the age of 40 years were calculated. The estimated IR was used as the outcome of a regression modelling with a logistic regression (i.e., conservative model) and Poisson regression equation (i.e., exponential growth model). Results: Logistic regression modelling suggests the IR of TKA is expected to increase 69% by 2050 compared to 2012, from 429 (95%CI 374-453) procedures/100,000 in 2012 to 725 (95%PI 121-1041) in 2050. This translates into a 143% projected increase in TKA volume. Using the Poisson model, the IR in 2050 was projected to increase 565%, to 2854 (95%CI 2278-4004) procedures/100,000 IR, which is an 855% projected increase in volume compared to 2012. Conclusions: Even after using a conservative projection approach, the number of TKAs in the US, which already has the highest IR of knee arthroplasty in the world, is expected to increase 143% by 2050. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Background: The surgical technique for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction has evolved as a result of improved understanding of ligament biomechanics, anatomy, device development, and failed reconstructions. Studies on surgical technique preferences have been limited to surgeon surveys, which are subject to selection and recall bias.The purpose of this study was to evaluate ACL reconstruction surgical technique and yearly revision rate trends in a community-based setting. Methods: A population-based epidemiological study was conducted using data on primary ACL reconstruction procedures registered in an ACL reconstruction registry from 2007 to 2014. Changes in the incidence rates of different types of femoral tunnel drilling methods, different types of grafts and graft fixation, and revisions were studied. Adjusted incidence rate ratios (IRRs) are provided. Results: Of the 21,686 ACL reconstructions studied, 72.4% were performed by sports medicine fellowship-trained surgeons. The incidence rate of femoral tunnel drilling via a tibial tunnel decreased at an adjusted rate of 26% per year (IRR = 0.74, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.71 to 0.78), from 56.4% to 17.6% during the study period. The incidence rate of medial portal drilling increased from 41.3% to 65.1% at an adjusted rate of 11% per year (IRR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.09 to1.13), and the incidence rate of drilling through a lateral approach increased from 2.3% to 17.3% at an adjusted rate of53% per year (IRR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.39 to 1.67). There was no change in the use of hamstring autograft, bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft, or tibial tendon allograft. Use of first-generation bioabsorbable femoral and tibial fixation decreased for all graft types. For soft-tissue grafts, usage of suspensory metal femoral fixation increased 12% to 13% per year (IRR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.09 to 1.15 for tibial tendon grafts; IRR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.10 to 1.15 for hamstring grafts). For bone-patellar tendon-bone autografts, the use of femoral fixation with interference biocomposite screws increased 7%per year (IRR = 1.07, 95% CI = 1.04 to 1.10). On the tibial side, utilization of biocomposite screws increased for all grafttypes. No association was found between revision rate and the year of the primary operation. Conclusions: Surgeons changed their femoral tunnel drilling technique over the study period, whereas the incidence rates of specific graft utilization remained stable. There has been a shift away from first-generation bioabsorbable fixation and increasing use of biocomposite fixation across all graft types. Early cumulative revision rates remained stable. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Selective patellar resurfacing continues in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We define the demographics of patients selected for this procedure and report their short-term, aseptic revision rate. A community-based Total Joint Replacement Registry (TJRR) comprising 39,000 TKAs with median follow-up of 24.5 months was evaluated. Patients who underwent bicompartmental TKA were younger (p

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe the infrastructure of the total joint replacement registry of a large integrated healthcare system and emphasize challenges associated with orthopedic device classification and evaluation. Methods Using a large integrated healthcare system innovative infrastructure including electronic health record data, administrative data sources, and registry data collection, we evaluated device choice and outcomes of total hip arthroplasty (THA). Devices were classified into type of bearing surface (alternative versus traditional). Multiple imputation was used to accommodate missing data, and a logistic regression model was applied to assess the impact of patient and surgeon factors on choice of bearing surface. A Cox regression model was used to evaluate risk of aseptic revision while controlling for surgeon, site, and patient characteristics. Adjusted cumulative probability-of-event curves were created, comparing survival of alternative against traditional bearings of devices, with aseptic revision as the outcome of interest. Results The study sample consisted of 25377 primary THAs with an average follow-up of 2.7years. Choice of bearing surface varied by surgeon and patient characteristics. After adjusting for patient, surgeon, and hospital covariates, results showed that the risk of aseptic revision associated with alternative bearings did not differ significantly from traditional bearing surfaces (hazard ratio=1.33; 95% confidence interval: 0.90, 1.98). Conclusions Clinically rich data from a registry with linkages to electronic health records and other administrative databases improve identification of exposures, outcomes, and patient subgroups in medical device evaluation. These various data sources facilitate refined adjustment for potential confounders such as hospital, surgeon, and patient factors and ensure comprehensive device performance evaluation within registries. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. key words—total joint replacement; arthroplasty; registry; selection model; bearing surfaces

Accurate prosthesis classification is critical for total joint arthroplasty surveillance and assessment of comparative effectiveness. Historically, prosthesis classification was based solely on the names of the prosthesis manufacturers. As a result, prosthesis designs changed without corresponding name changes, and other prostheses' names changed over time without substantial design modifications. As the number of prostheses used in total joint arthroplasty on the market increased, catalog and lot numbers associated with prosthesis descriptions were introduced by manufacturers. Currently, these catalog and lot numbers are not standardized, and there is no consensus on categorization of these numbers into brands or subbrands. Classification of the attributes of a prosthesis also varies, limiting comparisons of prostheses across studies and reports. The development of a universal prosthesis classification system would standardize prosthesis classification and enhance total joint arthroplasty research collaboration worldwide. This is a current area of focus for the International Consortium of Orthopaedic Registries (ICOR). National joint arthroplasty registries play a critical role in the detection of total joint arthroplasty revision rates, identification of patients during recalls and advisories, and comparative effectiveness research. In order to monitor and evaluate total joint arthroplasty procedures, the specific prostheses associated with the procedure must be accurately identified and classified. This is necessary to determine and report the outcome of those prostheses either alone or in combination with other prostheses and also to determine outcomes relevant to specific attributes and characteristics of the prostheses. In order to organize and store information specific to each prosthesis, registries have developed databases of prostheses reported to the registry. These have usually been developed in an ad hoc way by each registry, and there has been no standardized way of creating these databases. At the recent International Consortium of Orthopaedic Registries (ICOR) meeting, it was determined that developing a standardized approach would enable the development of a universal prosthesis database that all registries could use, which would not only ensure consistency of reporting between registries but also enhance inter-registry collaboration. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Background Improved narcotic pain management after total joint arthroplasty (TJA) is necessary to help battle the opioid epidemic. The goal of this study was to determine the sources of prescriptions prescribed to TJA patients. Methods An evaluation of opioid use in patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA) was performed between 2008 and 2012. Using a Total Joint Replacement Registry and pharmacy data, opioids dispensed to TJA patients were identified. The main outcome of interest was who prescribed opioids to patients in the year before and after surgery. Results Primary care (pre-TKA 31% TKA, post-TKA 38%, pre-THA 34%, post-THA 40%) and internal medicine (27% pre-TKA, post-TKA 37%, pre-THA 32%, post-THA 40%) were the highest prescribers in the year before, and after, TJA. For TKA patients, orthopedists prescribed 9% of the opioids in the year before surgery, 47% in days 1-90 after surgery, and 14% in days 271-360. Similarly, in THA patients, orthopedists prescribed 14% of the opioids in the year before surgery, 40% in days 1-90 after surgery, and 14% in days 271-360. Conclusion Patients receive opioid prescriptions from multiple physician types before, and after, TJA. The majority of preoperative, and late postoperative, narcotics were not provided by their surgeons. Orthopedic surgeons may not even know that their TJA patients continue to receive opioids. Coordination of opioid care with health-care providers and greater communication with patients on narcotic use expectations should be promoted.

The Kaiser Permanente National Total Joint Replacement Registry (TJRR) is a national level database designed as a postmarket surveillance system for elective total hip and knee replacement. As of March 31, 2007, the TJRR recorded 16,945 primary total hip arthroplasties (THA), 2144 revisions (11.2%); and 30,815 total knee arthroplasties (TKA), 1794 revisions (5.5%). Statistically significant findings include: older age and higher American Society of Anesthesiology risk scores for revision THAs. Osteoarthritis is the most common diagnosis for THA and TKA, and aseptic loosening and instability are most common in revision THAs and TKAs. The TJRR has provided a mechanism for recalls, identified patients at risk for early revisions and changed practice by providing feedback to physicians.

Background and purpose There are limited population-based data on utilization, outcomes, and trends in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The purpose of this study was to examine TKA utilization and short-term outcomes in a pre-paid health maintenance organization (HMO), and to determine whether rates and revision burden changed over time. We also studied whether this population is representative of the general population in California and in the United States. Interpretation The incidence of primary and revision TKA increased between 1995 and 2005. The rates of postoperative complications were low. Comparisons of the study population and the underlying general populations of interest indicate that this population can be used to predict the incidences and outcomes of TKA in the general population of California and of the United States as a whole. Methods Using hospital utilization and membership databases from 1995 through 2004, we calculated incidence rates (IRs) of primary and revision TKA for every 10,000 health plan members. The demographics of the HMO population were compared to published census data from California and the United States. Results The age and sex distributions of the study population were similar to those of the general population in California and the United States. 15,943 primary TKAs and 1,137 revision TKAs were performed during the 10-year period. Patients below the age of 65 accounted for one-third of all primary replacements and one-third of all revision replacements. IRs of primary TKAs increased from 6.3 per 10,000 in 1995 to 11.0 per 10,000 in 2004, at a rate of 5% per year (p < 0.001). IRs of revision TKAs increased from 0.41 per 10,000 in 1995 to 0.74 per 10,000 in 2004 (p = 0.4). Revision burden remained stable over the 10-year observation period. Surgical complications were higher in revision TKA than in primary TKA (10% vs. 7.7%; p = 0.007). 90-day complication rates for primary and revision TKA including death were 0.3% and 0.6% (p = 0.1) and for pulmonary embolism 0.5% and 0.4% (p = 0.6). 90-day re-admission rates for primary and revision TKA including infection were 0.5% and 4.2% (p < 0.001), for myocardial infarction 0.1% each, and for pneumonia 0.2% and 0.4% (p = 0.08).

Background: A limited number of large multiethnic cohorts of patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) exist; therefore, little is known about racial differences in preoperative and intraoperative characteristics of patients undergoing this procedure. Purpose: To evaluate preoperative patient, surgeon, and hospital characteristics and intraoperative findings associated with various patient races undergoing ACLR. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A cross-sectional study of patients undergoing primary ACLR (performed between January 1, 2008 and September 30, 2012) was conducted. The Kaiser Permanente ACLR Registry was used to identify the cases and variables for the study. The variables of age, sex, time from injury to surgery, body mass index, sport at the time of injury, concomitant injury (menisci, cartilage, other ligament), surgeon training, and surgeon and site volumes were evaluated. Race was categorized into white (reference), Hispanic, Asian, and black. Polychotomous regression models were employed. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs are provided. Results: A total of 14,278 ACLRs were evaluated; there were 7401 (51.8%) ACLRs performed on white, 3912 (27.4%) on Hispanic, 1894 (13.3%) on Asian, and 1071 (7.5%) on black patients. Men predominated overall as well as in each of the race categories. Compared with white patients, after adjusting for all covariates, Asian (OR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.10-1.40) and Hispanic (OR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.39-1.67) patients undergoing ACLR were more likely to be male than female, and black patients were more likely to be female (OR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.60-0.80). All racial groups tended to undergo ACLR in younger age bands compared with white patients, with black patients having the highest odds of being Conclusion: In this large representative sample of patients undergoing ACLR in the United States, 48.2% of the cohort was nonwhite, and racial variations in sex, age, sport at injury, and intraoperative findings at ACLR were identified. Understanding the differences in ACL injury presentation and concomitant injuries by race can be useful in helping tailor the development of an ACL injury prevention program, during the informed consent process, and in the arthroscopic portion of the procedure according to patient race–specific characteristics.

Background Several challenges are associated with collecting clinically meaningful post-operative outcomes. The widespread implementation of electronic medical records (EMR) offers a new opportunity to evaluate surgical outcomes using routinely collected data in these systems. This study evaluated whether surgical outcomes can be ascertained from EMR’s hospital and outpatient encounters. Specifically, we evaluated anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions (ACLR) outcomes. Methods A retrospective cohort study of 6985 ACLRs performed between 2/2005-9/2012 was conducted. Patient encounters during days 1–90 and days 91–180 after ACLR surgery were the exposures of interest. Nine hospital and eight outpatient encounter types were evaluated. The main endpoint of the study was revision surgery six months after ACLR. Results The cohort was 66.7% male, the mean age was 28 (standard deviation = 11) years-old, and the incidence of revision was 1.5% (n = 105). After adjustments, in days 1–90 post-ACLR, compared to patients with 0–4 orthopedic office visits, patients with 5–9 (hazard ratio (HR) = 9.9, 95% confidence interval(CI), 4.3–23.2) and those with 10 or more (HR = 13.8, 95%CI, 5.6–33.8) visits had a higher risk of revision. In days 91–180, patients with any outpatient hospital encounters (HR = 2.5, 95%CI 1.4–4.5) had a higher risk of revision than patients without visits. Additionally, patients with 4–5 regular office visits (HR = 3.8 times, 95%CI, 2.0–7.0) had a higher risk of revision surgery than those with 0–1 visits. Discussion The number of post-operative outpatient visits was associated with ACLR revision surgery. Using EMR encounters to assess surgical outcomes is a viable option for monitoring ACLR patients. The simple assessment of visit types and number of encounters alone can provide valuable information regarding the normal course of rehabilitation of a surgical patient and possible deviation from this normal course. In large cohorts of patients, this type of patient surveillance can assist surgeons with monitoring their patients.

Background: Joint arthroplasty patients have a high prevalence of co-morbidities and this impacts their surgical outcomes. There are different ways to ascertain co-morbidities and appropriate measurement is necessary. The purpose of this study was to: (1) describe the prevalence of co-morbidities in a cohort of total hip arthroplasty (THA) and knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients using two diagnoses-based measures (Charlson and Elixhauser) and one prescription-based measure (RxRisk-V); (2) compare the agreement of co-morbidities amongst the measures. Methods: A cross-sectional study of Australian veterans undergoing THAs (n = 11,848) and TKAs (n = 18,972) between 2001 and 2012 was conducted. Seventeen co-morbidities were identified using the Charlson, 30 using the Elixhauser, and 42 using the RxRisk-V measure. Agreement between co-morbidities was calculated using Kappa (κ) statistics. Results: Combining measures, 64 conditions were identified, of these 28 were only identified using the RxRisk-V, 11 using the Elixhauser, and 2 using the Charlson. The most prevalent conditions was pain treated with anti-inflammatories (58.7 % THAs, 55.9 % TKAs), pain treated with narcotics (55.0 % THAs, 50.9 % TKAs), hypertension (56.0 % THAs and TKAs), and anticoagulation disorders (53.0 % THAs, 48.6 % TKAs). Diabetes was the only condition with substantial agreement (all κ > 0.6) amongst all measures. When comparing the diagnoses based algorithms, agreement was high for overlapping conditions (all κ > 0.71). Conclusions: Different measures identified different co-morbidities, provided different estimates for the same co-morbidity, and had different levels of agreement for common co-morbidities. This highlights the importance of understanding co-morbidity measures and using them appropriately in studies and case-mix adjustments analyses. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

BackgroundTotal hip arthroplasty (THA) is often performed in patients who are older and may take bisphosphonates to treat a variety of conditions, most commonly osteoporosis. However, the clinical effects of bisphosphonate use on patients who have undergone THA are not well described.Questions/purposes(1) Is bisphosphonate use in patients with osteoarthritis undergoing primary THA associated with a change in the risk of all-cause revision, aseptic revision, or periprosthetic fracture compared with patients not treated with bisphosphonates? (2) Does the risk of bisphosphonate use and revision and periprosthetic fracture vary by patient bone mineral density and age?MethodsA retrospective cohort study of 12,878 THA recipients for the diagnosis of osteoarthritis was conducted; 17.8% of patients were bisphosphonate users. Data sources for this study included a joint replacement registry (93% voluntary participation) and electronic health records and an osteoporosis screening database with complete capture of cases as part of the Kaiser Permanente integrated healthcare system. The endpoints for this study were revision surgery for any cause, aseptic revision, and periprosthetic fracture. The exposure of interest was bisphosphonate use; patients were considered users if prescriptions were continuously refilled for a period equal to or longer than 6 months. Bone quality (based on dual-energy x-ray absorptiometery ordered based on the National Osteoporosis Foundation's clinical guidelines taken within 5 years of the THA) and patient age (< 65 versus ≥ 65 years) were evaluated as effect modifiers. Patient, surgeon, and hospital factors were evaluated as confounders. Cox proportional hazards models were used. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were determined.ResultsAge- and sex-adjusted risks of all-cause (HR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.33-0.74; p < 0.001) and aseptic revision (HR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.34-0.81; p = 0.004) was lower in bisphosphonate users than in nonusers. The adjusted risk of periprosthetic fractures in patients on bisphosphonates was higher than in patients not on bisphosphonates (HR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.13-3.27; p = 0.016). Lower risks of all-cause revision and aseptic revision were observed in patients with osteopenia (HR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.29-0.84; and HR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.29-0.99, respectively) and osteoporosis (HR, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.08-0.62; and HR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.11-0.99, respectively).ConclusionsPatients considered bisphosphonate users who underwent THA had a lower risk for revision surgery. Bisphosphonate use was associated with a higher risk of periprosthetic fractures in younger patients with normal bone quantity. Evaluation of bone quality and bisphosphonate use for the diagnosis of osteoporosis is encouraged in patients with osteoarthritis who are candidates for primary THA. Further research is required to determine the optimal duration of therapy because long-term bisphosphonate use has been associated with atypical femur fractures.Level of evidenceLevel III, therapeutic study.

Highly crosslinked polyethylene (HXLPE) was introduced to reduce wear and associated osteolysis in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, there is limited clinical evidence that HXLPE is more effective than conventional polyethylene (CPE) in TKA.(1) Do primary TKAs with HXLPE tibial inserts have a lower risk of revision (all-cause, aseptic, and septic) than TKAs with CPE tibial inserts? (2) In NexGen TKA (Zimmer Inc, Warsaw, IN, USA) bearings, do HXLPE tibial inserts have a lower risk of revision (all-cause, aseptic, and septic) than CPE tibial inserts? (3) In Press-Fit Condylar TKA (PFC or PFC Sigma; DePuy Inc, Warsaw, IN, USA), do HXLPE tibial inserts have a lower risk of revision (all-cause, aseptic, and septic) than procedures performed with CPE tibial inserts?The Kaiser Permanente Total Joint Replacement Registry was used to identify primary TKAs (N = 77,084) performed during the study period (April 2001 to December 2011) with cobalt-chromium alloy on CPE (CoCr-CPE) and CoCr-HXLPE bearings. The registry has 95% voluntary participation and less than 9% were loss to followup during the 10-year study period. A total of 60,841 (79%) had CoCr-CPE bearings, 11,048 (14%) had CoCr-HXLPE bearings, and 5195 (7%) were unknown. Specific knee implant designs (NexGen, Zimmer and PFC-Sigma, DePuy Inc) were also evaluated. These implants represented 41% (31,793) and 49% (37,457), respectively, of the 77,084 TKAs of known implant types registered during that period; implant selection was at the discretion of the attending surgeon. Descriptive statistics and marginal Cox regression models with propensity score adjustments were applied to compare risk of revision for CoCr-CPE versus CoCr-HXLPE TKA bearings.At 5 years followup, cumulative incidence of revision for CoCr-CPE and CoCr-XLPE were 2.7% and 3.1%, respectively. Adjusted risks of all-cause (hazard ratio [HR], 1.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.86-1.29; p = 0.620), aseptic (HR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.77-1.32; p = 0.954), and septic revision (HR, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.81-1.51; p = 0.519) did not differ in patients with CoCr-XLPE bearings compared with CoCr-CPE. Within TKAs with NexGen components, the adjusted risks of all-cause (HR, 1.14; 95% CI, 0.86-1.51; p = 0.354), aseptic (HR, 1.14; 95% CI, 0.79-1.65; p = 0.493), and septic revision (HR, 1.14; 95% CI, 0.76-1.73; p = 518) were similar in patients with CoCr-XLPE compared with those with CoCr-CPE bearings. Finally, within the TKAs with PFC components, the adjusted risks of all-cause (HR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.49-1.30; p = 0.369), aseptic (HR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.62-1.14; p = 0.123), and septic revision (HR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.51-1.85; p = 0.929) were also similar in patients with CoCr-XLPE compared with those with CoCr-CPE bearings.In this large study, we did not find differences in risk of revision for CoCr-HXLPE compared with CoCr-CPE bearings at 5 years followup. In selecting HXLPE in TKA, clinicians should consider the increased cost and lack of available evidence of performance for greater than 10 years followup. Future studies are necessary to evaluate longitudinal outcomes of CoCr-HXLPE versus conventional TKA bearings.Level III, therapeutic study.

Introduction: Hip fracture is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. A large integrated health care system developed a registry to characterize its current patient population with hip fractures. This report describes the population, methods used, and outcomes of patients registered during the initial three years (2009-2011). Methods: Cases of hip fracture recorded from January 2009 through December 2011 were ascertained using the Kaiser Permanente Hip Fracture Registry. The registry collects information on patient, procedure, surgeon, facility, and surgical outcomes. Outcomes monitored included length of stay, readmissions, mortality, revisions, surgical site infections, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, pneumonia, pressure ulcers, dislocations, and myocardial infarction. Results: The population (N = 12,562) was predominantly white (77.8%), women (68.6%), and older (71.6% aged ≥ 75 years), and 32% had at least 5 comorbidities. The average length of follow-up was 1.1 years (standard deviation = 0.9). The most prevalent comorbidities were hypertension (70.8%) and anemia (29.4%). Femoral neck fractures (54.6%) were the most common fracture type. Hemiarthroplasty was the most common procedure (33.1%). Most fractures were treated by medium-volume (10 to 29 cases per year) surgeons (68.4%) at high-volume (≥ 130 cases per year) facilities (63.0%). The 90-day readmission rate was 22.1%, and the mortality rate was 12.3%. The most common postoperative complications were pneumonia (11.4%) and pressure ulcers (2.9%). There were 2.2 revisions per 100 observation years. Conclusion: A hip fracture registry provides important information regarding patient characteristics, intraoperative practices, and postoperative outcomes, which can be analyzed, interpreted, and used to reduce morbidity and mortality. Refereed/Peer-reviewed