What’s New in Orthopaedic Rehabilitation No abstract available

Wound-Healing Following Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy with Use of a Locally Developed AquaVac System as Compared with the Vacuum-Assisted Closure (VAC) System Background: Negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) gained widespread clinical use after its introduction in the 1990s because of its many beneficial effects on the wound environment. However, high treatment costs have limited its use in third-world countries. The present study compares a low-cost, locally developed NPWT system with a commercially available system in terms of efficacy, reliability, ease of application, and safety. Methods: This prospective, randomized controlled trial involved 36 patients who were managed with NPWT with either a low-cost, locally developed system (AquaVac) or a commercially available Vacuum-Assisted Closure Advanced Therapy System (VAC ATS; KCI). The low-cost NPWT system described consists of a converted aquarium pump as a reusable vacuum source and a dressing system that can be found in the hospital supply room: food plastic wrap as an occlusive drape, surgical gauze as wound filler, nasogastric tubes as tubing, and used intravenous (IV) bottles as effluent canisters. The purpose of the study was to compare the 2 systems in terms of (1) time to apply the dressing, (2) exudate levels, (3) amount of granulation tissue, (4) wound size reduction, (5) average cost of treatment, (6) visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores, and (7) complications. Results: The experimental low-cost system had a small but statistically insignificant advantage over the commercially available system in terms of application time, pain during dressing changes, and wound contraction percentage. The 2 systems were comparable in terms of the amount of exudate, granulation tissue coverage, and VAS scores during the course of treatment. No wound or periwound complications were observed. The systems were significantly different in terms of cost, with the AquaVac system being 7 times less expensive than the VAC ATS system ($63.75 compared with $491.38 USD). Conclusions: The low-cost AquaVac system was shown to be comparable with the commercial VAC ATS system, suggesting that it is an effective and safe alternative method for NPWT in resource-challenged settings. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Revision Risk for Total Knee Arthroplasty Converted from Medial Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty: Comparison with Primary and Revision Arthroplasties, Based on Mid-Term Results from the Danish Knee Arthroplasty Registry Background: Medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasties (UKAs) have good clinical outcomes but implant survival is inferior to that of total knee arthroplasties (TKAs). Conversion to a TKA is a reliable option when UKA fails. However, there is controversy regarding these conversions. The aim of this study was to analyze the survival of TKAs converted from UKAs when compared with both primary and revision TKAs. Methods: On the basis of registrations in the Danish Knee Arthroplasty Registry from 1997 to 2017, 1,012 TKAs converted from UKAs were compared with 73,819 primary TKAs and 2,572 revision TKAs. The primary outcome was the risk of revision. Secondarily, the study analyzed the influence of different implants, the indication for the UKA conversion, and surgical volume on the survival of TKA converted from UKA. Third, the study compared the indications for revision. Results: The converted UKAs were mainly mobile-bearing (85%) and, at the time of conversion, the patients were younger (mean [standard deviation], 66 ± 10 years) and more were Charnley class A (55%) compared with patients with primary TKA (70 ± 9 years and 35% class A) or revision TKA (70 ± 10 years and 42% class A) (all p < 0.001). The survival of TKAs converted from UKAs was comparable with that of revision TKAs (p = 0.42) and significantly inferior to the survival of primary TKAs (p < 0.001). This relationship was unaffected by differences between the groups, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 0.94 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.74 to 1.19) compared with revision TKAs and 3.00 (95% CI: 2.47 to 3.66) compared with primary TKAs. The survival of TKA converted from UKA was unaffected by differences in the conversion implants (all p ≥ 0.47), experience with revision surgery (all p ≥ 0.06), and the indications for the UKA-to-TKA conversion (all p ≥ 0.27). Instability (26%) and unexplained pain (13%) were more frequent indications for revisions of TKA converted from UKA (p < 0.001). Conclusions: TKA converted from medial UKA has a 3-fold higher risk of revision when compared with primary TKA. The implant survival resembled that of revision TKA but with a higher prevalence of unexplained pain and instability. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

The Effects of Perioperative Corticosteroids on Dysphagia Following Surgical Procedures Involving the Anterior Cervical Spine: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled, Double-Blinded Clinical Trial Background: Dysphagia is one of the most common complications of surgical procedures in the anterior cervical spine, and can persist up to 2 years postoperatively. Corticosteroids are relatively safe and inexpensive for treating various inflammatory conditions. Perioperative corticosteroid administration for anterior cervical spine procedures may effectively minimize postoperative dysphagia, potentially leading to better outcomes, decreased readmission rates, and improved patient satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of perioperative corticosteroids in decreasing the severity and duration of dysphagia following single-level and multilevel anterior cervical spine procedures. Methods: Seventy-four patients undergoing elective anterior cervical surgical procedures for degenerative conditions were recruited. Patients with prior cervical procedures; with a diagnosis of fracture, malignancy, or infection; or requiring combined anterior-posterior procedures were excluded. Patients were randomized to perioperative intravenous dexamethasone or saline solution. Doses were administered before incision and at 8 and 16 hours postoperatively. Investigators and patients were blinded to the treatment throughout the study. Dysphagia outcomes were assessed with use of the Bazaz dysphagia scale and the Dysphagia Short Questionnaire (DSQ) at 1 day, 2 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months postoperatively. Statistical analysis was performed comparing means and standard deviations; significance was set at p < 0.05. Clinical outcomes were measured with use of the Quality of Life-12 and Neck Disability Index. Results: Sixty-four patients were included in the analysis. There were 49 anterior cervical discectomies and fusions, 8 corpectomies, 1 hybrid procedure (corpectomy and adjacent discectomy), and 6 single-level arthroplasties. Patients who received corticosteroids had significantly better dysphagia scores on both the Bazaz scale and DSQ at most time points up to 6 months postoperatively (p < 0.05). On subgroup analysis, patients with multilevel (≥2-level) fusion benefited significantly from corticosteroids on both scales, whereas those with single-level procedures did not. There were no short-term wound complications or infections, and length of stay and fusion rates were comparable. Conclusions: Perioperative administration of corticosteroids can reduce dysphagia symptoms following multilevel anterior cervical procedures. Benefit was noted immediately and up to 6 months postoperatively. There was no significant effect on short-term wound-healing, infection rates, length of stay, or fusion rates. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Three-Column Classification for Acetabular Fractures: Introduction and Reproducibility Assessment Background: The Judet-Letournel classification has been widely used to diagnose acetabular fractures since it was proposed. However, there has been growing evidence of incompleteness and comprehension difficulty in this classification, which may adversely affect its clinical use. The purposes of this study were to introduce a novel 3-column classification system for acetabular fractures and to evaluate its reliability and reproducibility. Methods: A total of 1,028 patients with acetabular fractures, who had undergone surgical treatment from June 2011 to January 2017 in 7 level-I trauma centers, were recruited into this study. Preoperative radiographs and computed tomographic (CT) scans were conducted for each patient. To evaluate the reproducibility of the 3-column classification system for acetabular fractures, the interobserver and intraobserver reliability (kappa coefficient, κ) of this classification system compared with those of the Judet-Letournel classification system was investigated by 4 observers. Results: A total of 209 patients (20.33%) could not be classified by the Judet-Letournel classification, and 3 cases (0.29%) could not be classified by the novel 3-column classification. The mean κ value of the interobserver reliability for the Judet-Letournel classification was 0.591 (range, 0.508 to 0.681), indicating moderate agreement, whereas the mean κ value was 0.735 (range, 0.594 to 0.930), indicating substantial agreement, when using the 3-column classification. The mean κ value for the intraobserver reliability was 0.751 (range, 0.708 to 0.793) for the Judet-Letournel classification and 0.909 (range, 0.792 to 0.957) for the 3-column classification. Conclusions: The 3-column classification, based on the anatomic character of the acetabulum, showed higher interobserver and intraobserver reliability than the Judet-Letournel classification. Additionally, certain fracture patterns in the 3-column classification scheme generally correlated with surgical approaches. This novel classification system may be used as a supplement to the traditional Judet-Letournel classification system. Clinical Relevance: The 3-column concept of the acetabulum proposed in this study is helpful to master acetabular fractures for less experienced surgeons. The novel classification system could assist with acetabular fracture diagnosis and the choice of surgical approaches.

A Modification of the Fibular Osteotomy for Total Ankle Replacement Through the Lateral Transfibular Approach Background: One disadvantage of lateral transfibular total ankle arthroplasty is the rate of symptoms related to the implant and wound issues requiring implant removal in association with the traditional fibular osteotomy. In the present study, lateral total ankle arthroplasty involving the traditional short oblique fibular osteotomy was compared with arthroplasty involving a long oblique osteotomy (the Foot & Ankle Reconstruction Group osteotomy). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all primary lateral total ankle arthroplasties that had been performed by a single surgeon from May 2013 to October 2016 and had a minimum of 2 years of follow-up. Clinical assessment included patient demographics, wound complications, the need for implant removal, the pain score on a visual analog scale, the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society score, and the Short Form-12 Mental and Physical Component Summary scores. Weight-bearing radiographs were used to assess tibiotalar alignment, implant alignment, and fibular osteotomy healing. Results: One hundred and fifty-nine total ankle arthroplasties were identified. The traditional short fibular osteotomy was used in 50 ankles, and the long oblique osteotomy was used in 109. The rate of survival of the tibial and talar components of the ankle replacements was 100%, and there were no osteotomy nonunions. There was improvement in all clinical parameters, with no significant difference between the 2 groups. Radiographs showed excellent arthroplasty alignment at all time points, with no significant difference between the groups. There was a significant difference in the rates of wound dehiscence (p = 0.011) and fibular implant removal (p < 0.0001), with the long oblique osteotomy having lower rates of both (2.8% and 2.8%, respectively) compared with the short oblique osteotomy (14% and 28%, respectively). Conclusions: In total ankle arthroplasty, modification of the traditional short oblique fibular osteotomy to a long oblique configuration provided excellent 2-year survival rates with good clinical and radiographic outcomes and decreased rates of wound complications and symptoms related to the fibular implant. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Factors Influencing Osseous Union Following Surgical Treatment of Bone Tumors with Use of the Capanna Technique Background: The Capanna technique involves the use of a vascularized fibular graft inlaid in a massive bone graft in intercalary reconstruction for diaphyseal long-bone defects caused by tumor resection. Allograft-host union time varies in different reports, and few studies have focused on the underlying factors affecting union time. The purpose of the present study was to analyze factors relevant to union time and to report complications of the Capanna technique. Methods: We identified 60 patients who underwent segmental reconstruction with use of the Capanna technique following tumor resection (in the humerus in 10 patients, the femur in 33 patients, and the tibia in 17 patients). Multivariable linear multiple regression model analysis was performed with allograft-host osseous union time as the dependent variable. Union time was evaluated on radiographs. Independent variables included age, tumor site, adjuvant treatment, a previous surgical procedure, defect length, fixation method, and fibular viability. A retrieved specimen of the composite was histologically assessed. Results: The mean defect length was 16 cm. All allografts and host bone united, with the mean time to union of 13 months (range, 6 to 27 months). Prolonged union time was associated with devitalization of the fibular graft (p < 0.001), use of chemotherapy (p = 0.031), and a previous surgical procedure (p = 0.048). Patient age (p = 0.742), amount of resection (p = 0.907), operative site (p = 0.508), and fixation method (p = 0.105) were not associated with union time. On histological analysis, we found that the allograft-host cortical junction was united by callus from both periosteum of the host bone and the fibula. Conclusions: The Capanna technique appears to be a reliable method for intercalary reconstruction with a low rate of complications. Devitalization of the transplanted fibula, chemotherapy, and a previous surgical procedure are adverse factors leading to prolonged union time. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Reductions in Race and Ethnic Disparities in Hospital Readmissions Following Total Joint Arthroplasty from 2005 to 2015 Background: Racial and ethnic disparities in hospital readmissions following total joint arthroplasty present opportunities for reducing cost and improving health equity. Despite efforts to reduce readmissions following total joint arthroplasty in the general population, no studies have documented the impact of these efforts on racial and ethnic disparities in total joint arthroplasty readmissions. The purpose of this study was to determine whether comprehensive efforts to reduce hospital readmissions following total joint arthroplasty have impacted racial and ethnic disparities in readmission rates during the period from 2005 to 2015. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis comparing patients readmitted and not readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of a total joint arthroplasty by estimating logistic regression models for clustered data using generalized estimating equations (GEEs) in R. Connecticut hospital discharge data for patients admitted for International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) procedure codes 81.51 and 81.54 (Current Procedural Terminology [CPT] codes 27130 and 27447) during the 2005 to 2015 U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) fiscal years were analyzed. Models included quadratic terms to capture nonlinear time trends in readmissions, as well as terms for the statistical interaction between race or ethnicity and both the linear and quadratic time trends in predicting the odds of readmission. Results: There were 102,510 total admissions to Connecticut hospitals for total joint arthroplasty from 2005 to 2015. The 30-day (all-cause) readmission rate declined from 5.1% in 2005 to 3.6% in 2015, with a steeper downward trend observed from 2009 to 2015. The results from logistic models indicated that black patients (odds ratio [OR], 1.68; p < 0.0001) and Hispanic patients (OR, 1.48; p < 0.0001) were significantly more likely to be readmitted within 30 days of discharge following a total joint arthroplasty than white patients over the study period. The significant interaction of black race and the quadratic time trend in models capturing nonlinear trends in readmission over time indicated that the readmission rates for black patients increased compared with those for white patients from 2005 through 2008 and decreased relative to those for white patients from 2009 to 2015 (OR, 0.24; p = 0.030). Conclusions: Data from Connecticut hospitals show that 30-day readmissions following a total joint arthroplasty declined by 1.5 percentage points from 2005 to 2015, and that this decline was much more pronounced among black patients, resulting in the narrowing of racial disparities in readmission following a surgical procedure. Clinical Relevance: Racial and ethnic minorities have historically been at increased risk for complications and readmission following hospital-based surgical care. This analysis of readmission following total joint arthroplasty reveals that such disparities are remediable and should foster further research on the primary drivers of and remedies for readmission disparities.

Effect of Training Modules on Hip Fracture Surgical Skills Simulation Performance: Early Validation of the AAOS/OTA Simulator Background: A preliminary validation study on a computer-based force-feedback simulation platform demonstrated the ability of the simulator to distinguish between novice and experienced users during a simulated hip-pinning procedure. The purpose of the present study was to further investigate whether the simulator and associated training modules are effective for improving user performance during simulated percutaneous hip-pinning procedures. Methods: With institutional review board approval, 24 medical students at our institution were randomized to “Trained” and “Untrained” groups. After a basic introduction, the Untrained group placed 3 guidewires in a valgus-impacted femoral neck fracture with use of the simulator. The Trained group completed 9 simulator-based training modules before performing the same task. Measured outcomes included an overall performance score and the distance from the pin to various ideals on the femoral neck, femoral head articular surface, and lateral cortex. Performance parameters were compared between groups with the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: The Trained group achieved a significantly higher overall score (median, 29) compared with the Untrained group (median, 6) (p < 0.01), outperformed the Untrained group in 4 specific performance metrics, and trended toward improvement over the Untrained group in 4 pin placement measures (p < 0.2). Conclusions: Completion of novel training modules for percutaneous hip pinning on this fluoroscopic surgery simulator improves skill performance on simulator-based objective measurements and a simulated orthopaedic procedure compared with non-simulator-trained surgically inexperienced users. Improvement in the overall score and on 4 of 13 specific performance parameters implies that the training modules more effectively teach only certain motor and 3-dimensional spatial skills. Clinical Relevance: A valid platform such as the one described here has the potential to improve surgical education in orthopaedic trauma.

In ACL Reconstruction with Patellar Tendon Autograft, Adductor Canal Nerve Blockade Reduced Quadriceps Function Deficits Compared with Femoral Nerve Blockade, but Did Not Differ for Postoperative Pain No abstract available