The Journal of arthroplasty
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While hip and knee total joint arthroplasty (TJA) patients experience marked improvement in pain relief and function, many patients experience nuisance symptoms, which may cause discomfort and dissatisfaction. ⋯ Nuisance symptoms after hip/knee TJA are very common. Despite the high prevalence, impact on overall satisfaction is minimal and patient satisfaction remains high. Careful preoperative counseling regarding prevalence is prudent and will help establish realistic expectations following TJA.
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Previous studies have demonstrated preoperative anemia to be a strong risk factor for periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) in total joint arthroplasty (TJA). Allogeneic blood transfusion can be associated with increased risk of PJI after primary and revision TJA. Tranexamic acid (TXA) is known to reduce blood loss and the need for allogeneic blood transfusion after TJA. The hypothesis of this study is that administration of intravenous TXA would result in a reduction in PJI after TJA. ⋯ TXA can help reduce the rate of PJI after primary TJA. This protective effect is likely interlinked to reduction in blood loss, lower need for allogeneic blood transfusion, and issues related to immunomodulation associated with blood transfusion.
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Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is the second most common surgery performed in Canada. Understanding and improving quality metrics associated with such high-volume procedures is of utmost importance to maximize value within the healthcare system, which is a balance between cost and quality. Although rates and predictors of hospital readmission and emergency department (ED) visits following TKA have previously been described in privatized healthcare settings, few studies have evaluated trends in length of stay (LOS), hospital readmissions, and ED visits following TKA in a universal single-payer system. ⋯ We identified a significant increase in ED visits following TKA in Ontario between 2003 and 2016, with no corresponding increase in hospital readmissions despite a significant temporal trend toward shorter LOS. Predictors of ED visits and readmissions were similar, including male gender, lower income, higher comorbidities, and lacking a PCP visit postoperatively. Increased rates of ED visits following TKA in Ontario represent a quality problem, as they are associated with increased cost to the public healthcare system without any substantial benefit. Interventions aimed at redirecting patients from the ED for minor postoperative concerns should be investigated, as this is likely to improve care by reducing costs, improving efficiency, and enhancing patient experience.
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Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) designs are developed to optimize kinematics and improve patient satisfaction. The cruciate retaining (CR) and medially stabilized (MS) TKA designs have reported good mid-term follow-up outcomes. However, reasons for consistently high rates of patient dissatisfaction following a TKA remain poorly understood. To further investigate this, we compared the short-term functional outcomes and quality of life, using patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and range of motion (ROM), between a CR and MS TKA. ⋯ Patients who underwent the MS-TKA scored significantly better on the FJS and the quality of life subscale of the KOOS and KOOS-12 than those who underwent a CR-TKA. All other assessed PROMs and ROM were comparable between the 2 groups and demonstrated that both implants facilitated symptom relief and improved daily function at 1 year postoperatively. These findings suggest that at short-term follow-up, the MS device is more likely to allow a patient to "forget" that a joint has been replaced and restore their quality of life. Long-term assessment of MS-TKA design outcomes in larger cohorts is recommended.