Season of the year influences infection rates following total hip arthroplasty

AIM To research the influence of season of the year on periprosthetic joint infections.METHODS We conducted a retrospective review of the entire Medicare files from 2005 to 2014. Seasons were classified as spring, summer, fall or winter. Regional variations were accounted for by dividing patients into four geographic regions as per the United States Census Bureau(Northeast, Midwest, West and South). Acute postoperative infection and deep periprosthetic infections within 90 d after surgery were tracked. RESULTS In all regions, winter had the highest incidence of periprosthetic infections(mean 0.98%, SD 0.1%) and was significantly higher than other seasons in the Midwest, South and West(P < 0.05 for all) but not the Northeast(P = 0.358). Acute postoperative infection rates were more frequent in the summer and were significantly affected by season of the year in the West.CONCLUSION Season of the year is a risk factor for periprosthetic joint infection following total hip arthroplasty(THA). Understanding the influence of season on outcomes following THA is essential when risk-stratifying patients to optimize outcomes and reduce episode of care costs.

Effect of opioid dependence or abuse on opioid utilization after shoulder arthroplasty

AIM To examine whether opioid dependence or abuse has an effect on opioid utilization after anatomic or reverse total shoulder arthroplasty(TSA).METHODS All anatomic TSA(ICD-9 81.80) and reverse shoulder arthroplasty(RSA)(ICD-9 81.88) procedures from 2007 to 2015 were queried from within the Humana claims database utilizing the Pearl Diver supercomputer(Colorado Springs, CO). Study groups were formed based on the presence or absence of a previous history of opioid dependence(ICD-9 304.00 and 304.03) or abuse(ICD-9 305.50 and 305.53). Opioid utilization among the groups was tracked monthly up to 1 year post-operatively utilizing National Drug Codes. A secondary analysis was performed to determine risk factors for pre-operative opioid dependence or abuse.RESULTS Two percent of TSA(157 out of 7838) and 3% of RSA(206 out of 6920) patients had a history of opioid dependence or abuse. For both TSA and RSA, opioid utilization was significantly higher in opioid dependent patients at all post-operative intervals(P < 0.01) although the incidence of opioid use among groups was similar within the first post-operative month. After TSA, opioid dependent patients were over twice as likely to fill opioid prescriptions during the post-operative months 1-12. Following RSA, opioid dependent patients were over 3 times as likely to utilize opioids from months 3-12. Age less than 65 years, history of mood disorder, and history of chronic pain were significant risk factors for pre-operative opioid dependence/abuse in patients who underwent TSA or RSA.CONCLUSION Following shoulder arthroplasty, opioid use between opioid-dependent and non-dependent patients is similar within the first post-operative month but is greater among opioid-dependent patients from months 2-12.

Dermatomyositis and polymyositis in total hip arthroplasty

BACKGROUND Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies(IIM)are systemic autoimmune disorders such as dermatomyositis(DM),polymyositis(PM),inclusion body myopathy,and autoimmune necrotizing myopathy that,similar to osteoarthritis,affect quality of life and activities of daily living.Moreover,these patients are often burdened with chronic pain and disability;however,the outcomes and risk of total hip arthroplasty(THA)in this patient population remain unclear.AIM To evaluate 90-d complications and costs in patients with these conditions.METHODS A retrospective case control study was designed by accessing data from the Medicare dataset available on the PearlDiver server.Patients with IIM,here,those with DM and PM were matched based on possible confounding variables to a cohort without these diseases and with the same 10-year risk of mortality as defined by the Charlson Comorbidity Index Score(CCI).Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to evaluate complications and t-tests to evaluate 90-d Medicare reimbursements as markers of costs after THA.RESULTS The total sample was 1090 patients with each cohort comprised of 545.Females were 74.9%of the population.The mean CCI was 5.89(SD 2.11).Those with IIM had increased rates of pneumonia[odds ratio(OR)1.45,P<0.001]and pulmonary embolism(OR 1.46,P=0.035)and decreased hematoma risks(OR 0.58,P=0.00).90-d costs were on average$1411 greater for those with IIM yet not significantly different(P=0.034).CONCLUSION Patients with IIM have an increased 90-d rate of pneumonia and pulmonary embolism concomitant with a decreased hematoma rate consistent with their procoagulatory state.Further attention to increased resource utilization in these patients is also warranted.