The Journal of arthroplasty
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Bundled payments are gaining popularity in arthroplasty as a tactic for encouraging providers and hospitals to work together to reduce costs. However, this payment model could potentially motivate providers to avoid unprofitable patients, limiting their access to care. Rigorous risk adjustment can prevent this adverse effect, but most current bundling models use limited, if any, risk-adjustment techniques. This study aims to identify and quantify the financial incentives that are likely to develop with total hip arthroplasty (THA) bundled payments that are not accompanied by comprehensive risk stratification. ⋯ If generalizable, our results suggest that Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services bundled payments encompassing acute inpatient care should be adjusted upward by the aforementioned amounts (regression coefficients above) for advanced age, increasing BMI, cases performed for fractures, elevated ASA grade, and major complications (as defined by Medicare MCC modifiers). Furthermore, these figures likely underestimate costs in many bundling models which incorporate larger proportions of postdischarge care. Failure to adjust for factors affecting costs may create barriers to care for specific patient populations.
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Kidney disease is associated with increased complications in total joint arthroplasty (TJA). The purpose of this study was to determine the association of kidney disease severity as measured by the chronic kidney disease (CKD) staging system with complications after TJA. ⋯ Severe CKD is associated with increased transfusion, length of stay, and in-hospital complications; and complications increased linearly with disease severity. Surgeons should be cognizant of this increase when evaluating TJA patients with renal disease.
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Comparative Study
Bilateral Simultaneous vs Staged Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Comparison of Complications and Mortality.
The purpose of this study was to compare the complications and mortality between bilateral simultaneous total knee arthroplasty (BTKA-Simultaneous) and bilateral staged TKA (BTK-Staged) while adjusting for differences in patient, surgeon, and hospital characteristics. ⋯ There is a lack of evidence to support superiority of either BTKA-Simultaneous or BTKA-Staged.
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There is continued controversy regarding the optimal venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis, particularly for total joint arthroplasty (TJA) patients at higher risk. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of aspirin (ASA) to warfarin in patients with higher risk of VTE. ⋯ Our study demonstrates that ASA is as effective as and safer than warfarin for VTE prophylaxis after TJA, even in patients at higher risk of VTE.
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Given the rising incidence of revision total joint arthroplasty (RJR), bundled payments will likely be applied to RJR in the near future. This study aimed to compare postdischarge adverse events by discharge destination, identify risk factors for discharge placement, and stratify RJR patients based on these risk factors to identify the most appropriate discharge destination. ⋯ RJR patients who are discharged to SNF or IRF have significantly increased risk for unplanned readmissions as compared with patients discharged home. Across risk levels, home discharge destination (when feasible) is the optimal strategy compared with IRF, although the distinction between SNF and home is less clear.