The Journal of arthroplasty
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Little is known about the impact of resident involvement on complication rates following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The goal of our study was to determine the impact of resident involvement on complications following primary TKA. ⋯ Using a multivariate logistic regression which incorporated propensity score adjustment, no differences were seen in morbidity and mortality following those cases with resident involvement (OR: 1.15, P = 0.129). In the first large scale, comprehensive analysis of resident impact on short-term morbidity and mortality, no increase in complications was observed with resident involvement in primary TKA.
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This study aimed to determine the quality of information available on the internet regarding Total Hip Replacement (THR). The unique websites identified were categorised by type and assessed using the DISCERN score, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria, and a novel (THR)-specific content score. The presence of the Health On the Net (HON) code, a reported quality assurance marker, was noted. ⋯ Governmental & Non-Profit Organizations websites attained the highest DISCERN score. Sites that bore the HONcode seal obtained significantly higher DISCERN and THR content scores than those without the certification. Physicians should recommend the HONcode seal to their patients as a reliable indicator of website quality or, better yet, refer patients to sites they have personally reviewed.
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This study purpose is to analyze outcomes of modern intramedullary (IM) nails with a locked distal screw versus periarticular locking plates for peri-prosthetic supracondylar femur fractures in TKA. Ninety-five consecutive fractures in 91 patients were retrospectively reviewed. Fixation included 29 knees with a retrograde IM nail and 66 periarticular locked plates. ⋯ There were 2 (9%) nonunions in the IM nail group and 12 non-unions/delayed-unions (19%) in the locked plate group (P = 0.34). A mean of 5.0 distal screws was used in locked plates versus 3.8 distal screws in the IM nails (P < 0.001). Despite a greater quantity of screws in the distal fragment, the failure rate of locked plating was twice that of IM nail fixation.
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A femoral nerve catheter (FNC) is often used to minimize pain following total knee arthroplasty (TKA), but complications including inpatient falls, may increase as a result, despite fall prevention protocols. We evaluated the rate of falls in 707 primary TKAs performed with an FNC at a major academic center from May 2009 to September 2012. ⋯ At a rate of 2.7%, postoperative fall is one of the most common complications of TKA at our institution. While pain control may be good with the use of FNCs following primary TKA, improvements in fall prevention strategies or the use of alternative postoperative pain control modalities may need to be considered.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Comparing the effects of single shot sciatic nerve block versus posterior capsule local anesthetic infiltration on analgesia and functional outcome after total knee arthroplasty: a prospective, randomized, double-blinded, controlled trial.
Peripheral nerve blocks appear to provide effective analgesia for patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty. Although the literature supports the use of femoral nerve block, addition of sciatic nerve block is controversial. In this study we investigated the value of sciatic nerve block and an alternative technique of posterior capsule local anesthetic infiltration analgesia. 100 patients were prospectively randomized into three groups. ⋯ There were no differences in pain scores between groups. Sciatic nerve block provided a brief clinically insignificant opioid sparing effect. We conclude that sciatic nerve block and posterior local anesthetic infiltration do not provide significant analgesic benefits.