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Background With the substantially growing trend of the aging populations in China and the rest of the world, the number of total hip and total knee arthroplasty (THA and TKA) cases are increasing dramatically. It is important to develop practical strategies to improve the quality of healthcare and better outcome for patients undergoing THA and TKA. Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathways have been reported to promote earlier recovery and be beneficial for patients. We propose the hypothesis that the ERAS pathway could reduce the length of stay (LOS) in hospital for patients undergoing primary THA or TKA. Methods/Design This trial is a prospective, open-labelled, multi-centered, randomized controlled trial that will test the superiority of the ERAS pathway in term of LOS in hospital for the patients undergoing primary THA or TKA compared to current non-ERAS clinical practice. A total of 640 patients undergoing primary THA or TKA will be randomly allocated to either ERAS pathway (ERAS group) or conventional care according to individual participating center (non-ERAS group). The primary outcome is the total LOS in hospital; the secondary outcomes include postoperative LOS, all-cause mortality by 30 days after operation, in-hospital complications, early mobilization, postoperative pain control, total in-hospital cost, and readmission rate by 30 days after discharge from the hospital. Discussion This trial is designed to evaluate the superiority of the ERAS pathway to conventional non-ERAS clinical practice in reducing the LOS. The results may provide new insight into the clinical applications of the ERAS pathway for THA and TKA. Trial registration National Institutes of Health Clinical Trials Registry, NCT03517098 . Registered on 4 May 2018.

Purpose Rivaroxaban is a newly developed oral medicine that direct inhibits factor Xa for the prevention and treatment of thromboembolic disorders. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban versus enoxaparin, a medicine routinely used for thromboprophylaxis after total hip or knee arthroplasty. Methods We performed a meta-analysis of relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) identified in PubMed, Cochrane library, and Embase. The primary efficacy outcome for our meta-analysis was total venous thromboembolism (VTE) and all-cause mortality. The primary safety outcome was bleeding events, which were categorized as major, clinically relevant non-major, or minor events. Results Eight RCTs, involving 15,586 patients, were included in our meta-analysis. Compared to enoxaparin, thromboprophylaxis with rivaroxaban was associated with significantly fewer VTE and all-cause mortality [9,244 patients, risk ratio (RR) 0.56, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.39–0.80] cases and a similar incidence of bleeding cases (major bleeding events: 13,384 patients, RR 1.65, 95% CI 0.93-2.93; clinically relevant non-major bleeding events: 13,384 patients, RR 1.21, 95% CI 0.98–1.50; total bleeding events, 13,384 patients, RR 1.10, 95% CI 0.97–1.24). The total hip or knee arthroplasty subgroup analysis revealed consistent efficacy and safety findings. Conclusions Rivaroxaban was more effective than the recommended dose of enoxaparin and had a similar safety profile for thromboprophylaxis after hip and knee arthroplasty.

To present a clear and comprehensive summary of the published data on unicompartmental knee replacement (UKA) or total knee replacement (TKA), comparing domains of outcome that have been shown to be important to patients and clinicians to allow informed decision making. Systematic review using data from randomised controlled trials, nationwide databases or joint registries, and large cohort studies. Medline, Embase, Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials (CENTRAL), and Clinical Trials.gov, searched between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 2018. Studies published in the past 20 years, comparing outcomes of primary UKA with TKA in adult patients. Studies were excluded if they involved fewer than 50 participants, or if translation into English was not available. 60 eligible studies were separated into three methodological groups: seven publications from six randomised controlled trials, 17 national joint registries and national database studies, and 36 cohort studies. Results for each domain of outcome varied depending on the level of data, and findings were not always significant. Analysis of the three groups of studies showed significantly shorter hospital stays after UKA than after TKA (-1.20 days (95% confidence interval -1.67 to -0.73), -1.43 (-1.53 to -1.33), and -1.73 (-2.30 to -1.16), respectively). There was no significant difference in pain, based on patient reported outcome measures (PROMs), but significantly better functional PROM scores for UKA than for TKA in both non-trial groups (mean difference -0.58 (-0.88 to -0.27) and -0.32 (-0.48 to -0.15), respectively). Regarding major complications, trials and cohort studies had non-significant results, but mortality after TKA was significantly higher in registry and large database studies (risk ratio 0.27 (0.16 to 0.45)), as were venous thromboembolic events (0.39 (0.27 to 0.57)) and major cardiac events (0.22 (0.06 to 0.86)). Early reoperation for any reason was higher after TKA than after UKA, but revision rates at five years remained higher for UKA in all three study groups (risk ratio 5.95 (1.29 to 27.59), 2.50 (1.77 to 3.54), and 3.13 (1.89 to 5.17), respectively). TKA and UKA are both viable options for the treatment of isolated unicompartmental osteoarthritis. By directly comparing the two treatments, this study demonstrates better results for UKA in several outcome domains. However, the risk of revision surgery was lower for TKA. This information should be available to patients as part of the shared decision making process in choosing treatment options. PROSPERO number CRD42018089972.

Background Patient-reported outcome measures (PROM) might be better for comparing consultant surgeons' outcomes than mortality. Objectives To describe variation in outcomes between consultants, compare the number of outlying consultants according to different measures, explore the effect that the hospital in which a consultant works has on their outcomes and determine the scope for improving outcomes by reducing variation between consultants. Method Consultants performing hip replacement (n=948), knee replacement (1130) and hernia repair (974) in National Health Service hospitals in England in 2009–2012; disease-specific and generic PROMs and complications; fixed-effects and multilevel models to assess consultant outcomes, were all compared. Influence of patient factors and hospital factors was assessed. Results Fixed-effects models showed that most consultants are ‘as or better than expected’. However, unlike with mortality, some consultants are more than three SDs ‘worse than expected’ according to disease-specific PROMs (2.4% for hip and 1.2% for knee replacement), generic PROMs (1.2% and 1.0%) and incidence of complications (1.8% and 0.8%). The proportion of consultants worse than expected is less with random-effects models. Controlling for hospital factors reduced the proportion further. After controlling for known patient characteristics, consultants and hospitals contribute little towards variation in patient outcomes. Conclusions PROMs offer a more appropriate and sensitive method for comparing consultants’ outcomes. The influence of hospitals must be considered to ensure comparisons are meaningful. Improvements will be achieved by shifting the distribution of consultants rather than by reducing variation between them.

Purpose Multimodal thromboprophylaxis includes preoperative thromboembolic risk stratification and autologous blood donation, surgery performed under regional anaesthesia, postoperative rapid mobilisation, use of pneumatic compression devices and chemoprophylaxis tailored to the patient’s individual risk. We determined the 90-day rate of venous thromboembolism (VTE), other complications and mortality in patients who underwent primary elective hip and knee replacement surgery with multimodal thromboprophylaxis. Methods A total of 1,568 consecutive patients undergoing hip and knee replacement surgery received multimodal thromboprophylaxis: 1,115 received aspirin, 426 received warfarin and 27 patients received low molecular weight heparin and warfarin with or without a vena cava filter. Results The rate of VTE, pulmonary embolism, proximal deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and distal DVT was 1.2, 0.36, 0.45 and 0.36 %, respectively, in patients who received aspirin. The rates in those who received warfarin were 1.4, 0.9, 0.47 and 0.47 %, respectively. The overall 90-day mortality rate was 0.2 %. Conclusions Multimodal thromboprophylaxis in which aspirin is administered to low-risk patients is safe and effective following primary total joint replacement.

“Fast-track” protocols has improved surgical care with a reduction in length of hospital stay (LOS) in total hip (THA) and knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, the effects of continuous refinement of perioperative care lack detailed assessment. We studied time-related changes in LOS and morbidity after THA and TKA within a collaboration with continuous scientific refinement of perioperative care. Prospective multicentre consecutive cohort study between 2010 and 2017 from nine high-volume orthopaedic centres with established fast-track THA and TKA protocols. Prospective collection of comorbidities and complete 90-day follow-up from the Danish National Patient Registry and medical records. Of 36,935 procedures median age was 69 [62 to 75] years and 58% women. LOS declined from three [two to three] days in 2010 to one [one to two] day in 2017. LOS > 4 days due to “medical” or “surgical” complications, and “with no recorded morbidity” declined from 4.4 to 2.7%, 1.5 to 0.6%, and 3.8 to 1.3%, respectively. 90-days readmission rate declined from 8.6 to 7.7%. Our multicentre study in a socialized healthcare setting was associated with a continuous reduction in LOS and morbidity after THA and TKA.

Background Displaced femoral neck fractures usually are treated with hemiarthroplasty. However, the degree to which the design of the implant used (cemented or uncemented) affects the outcome is not known and may be therapeutically important. Questions/purposes In this randomized controlled trial, we sought to compare cemented with cementless fixation in bipolar hemiarthroplasties at 5 years in terms of (1) Harris hip scores; (2) femoral fractures; (3) overall health outcomes using the Barthel Index and EQ-5D scores; and (4) complications, reoperations, and mortality since our earlier report on this cohort at 1-year followup. Methods We present followup at a median of 5 years after surgery (range, 56–65 months) from a randomized trial comparing a cemented hemiarthroplasty (112 hips) with an uncemented, hydroxyapatite-coated hemiarthroplasty (108 hips), both with a bipolar head. Results were previously reported at 1-year followup. Harris hip scores, Barthel Index, and EQ-5D scores were assessed by one research nurse and one orthopaedic surgeon. Complications and reoperations were determined by chart review and radiographs examined by three orthopaedic surgeons. Sixty patients (56%) had died in the cemented group and 63 (60%) in the uncemented group. Respectively, three and two patients (2.7% and 1.9%) were completely lost to followup. Results Harris hip scores at 5 years were higher in the uncemented group than in the cemented group (86.2 versus 76.3; mean difference 9.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.9–17.9). The prevalence of postoperative periprosthetic femoral fractures was 7.4% in the uncemented group and 0.9% in the cemented group (hazard ratio [HR], 9.3; 95% CI, 1.16–74.5). Barthel Index and EQ-5D scores were not different between the groups. Between 1 and 5 years, we found no additional infections or dislocations. The mortality rate was not different between the groups (HR, 1.2; 95% CI, 0.82–1.7). Conclusions Both arthroplasties may be used with good medium-term results after displaced femoral neck fractures. The uncemented hemiarthroplasty may result in higher hip scores but appears to carry an unacceptably high risk of later femoral fractures. Level of Evidence Level I, therapeutic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

ObjectivesTo investigate predictors of 10-year risk of revision and 1-year risk of prosthetic joint infection (PJI) and death following total hip/total knee arthroplasty (THA/TKA) in (1) patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compared with patients with osteoarthritis (OA); and (2) patients with RA treated with biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARD) within 90 days preceding surgery compared with non-treated.MethodsRegister-based cohort study using the Danish National Patient Register, the DANBIO rheumatology register (RA-specific confounders and treatment episodes) and the Danish Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Registers. Survival analyses were used to calculate confounder-adjusted sub-HRs (SHR) and HRs.ResultsIn total, 3913 patients with RA with THA/TKA were compared with 120 499 patients with OA. Patients with RA had decreased risk of revision (SHR 0.71 (0.57–0.89)), but increased risk of PJI (SHR=1.46 (1.13–1.88)) and death (HR=1.25 (1.01–1.55)). In DANBIO, 345 of 1946 patients with RA with THA/TKA had received bDMARD treatment within 90 days preceding surgery. bDMARD-treated patients did not have a statistically significant increased risk of revision (SHR=1.49 (0.65–3.40)), PJI (SHR=1.61 (0.70–3.69)) nor death (HR=0.75 (0.24–2.33)) compared with non-treated. Glucocorticoid exposure (HR=2.87 (1.12–7.34)) and increasing DAS28 (HR=1.49 (1.01–2.20)) were risk factors for mortality.ConclusionPatients with RA had a decreased 10-year risk of revision while the risk of death and PJI was increased compared with patients with OA following THA/TKA. bDMARD exposure was not associated with statistically significant increased risk of neither PJI nor death in this study. Glucocorticoid exposure and increased disease activity were associated with an increased risk of death.

The aims of this study were to assess (1) if postoperative joint pain can predict long-term all-cause mortality after total joint arthroplasty (TJA), and (2) if postoperative joint pain was associated with causes of death (COD) in TJA patients. Patients who underwent total knee or hip arthroplasty were assessed once for their postoperative joint pain at least one-year after TJA using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index Likert 3.0 pain subscale. Three pain definitions were utilized: “sustained pain” – pain on all five questions, “pain while active” – pain while walking and taking stairs, and “pain at rest” – pain while sitting/lying and at night while in bed. Patients reporting no pain were classified as controls. Associations between postoperative joint pain and mortality were assessed using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression to adjust for age at TJA, sex, body mass index (BMI), cardiovascular diseases (CVD), and cancer. The distribution of COD between pain groups and controls were compared using Fisher’s exact test. A total of 727 patients were included in the study, of which 129 (18%) were deceased. The prevalence of postoperative sustained pain, pain while active, and pain at rest at 4-year after TJA was 10, 17, and 12%, respectively. The all-cause mortality rate at 11-year after TJA was 20, 26, 19, and 15% in these pain groups and controls, respectively, significantly higher in pain while active group (p = 0.006). Pain while active was positively associated with mortality when knee and hip patients were analyzed together and separately (p ≤ 0.03, hazard ratio (HR)≥1.80), and the significances became stronger after adjusting for age at surgery, sex, BMI, CVD, and cancer (p < 0.001, HR ≥ 2.57). No association was observed between postoperative joint pain and COD. Our results demonstrated that postoperative joint pain could be an important predictor for long-term all-cause mortality in TJA patients.

Arthroplasty is indicated for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who experience significant joint damage, including bone erosions, cartilage degradation and joint deformities. However, studies on its associations with all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and venous thromboembolism (VTE) among patients with RA are scarce. Our aim was to evaluate the relation of knee arthroplasty or hip arthroplasty to all-cause mortality, relative risk of CVD and incident VTE among patients with RA. We included patients with RA (ages≥20 years) from a large United Kingdom primary care database (i.e., IQVIA Medical Research Database). The primary outcome was all-cause mortality (n = 4,774 for knee arthroplasty, n = 3,362 for hip arthroplasty). The secondary outcomes included incident CVD (n = 4,350 for knee arthroplasty, n = 2,390 for hip arthroplasty) and incident VTE (n = 4,574 for knee arthroplasty, n = 3,174 for hip arthroplasty). We conducted propensity score-matched cohort studies to compare the risks of each outcome between subjects with and without knee arthroplasty (n = 2,387 each) and those with and without hip arthroplasty (n = 1,681 each), respectively. We found that subjects with knee arthroplasty had a 23% lower risk of mortality than those without knee arthroplasty (HR: 0.77, 95%CI: 0.65–0.90). Similarly, a lower, albeit non-statistically significant, risk of mortality was observed among subjects with hip arthroplasty than those without arthroplasty (HR: 0.87, 95%CI: 0.73–1.04). Compared with those without arthroplasty, subjects with knee or hip arthroplasty had a lower risk of CVD. The corresponding HRs were 0.86 (95%CI: 0.73–1.01) and 0.84 (95%CI: 0.69–1.02), respectively. Both subjects with knee or hip arthroplasty showed a higher risk of VTE than their counterparts (HR for knee arthroplasty: 1.63 [95%CI: 1.23–2.17]; HR for hip arthroplasty: 2.19 [95%CI: 1.54–3.11]). The associations of arthroplasty with the risks of mortality, CVD and VTE were generally consistent across strata of age and sex, with HR ranges from 0.71–3.75 for knee arthroplasty and 0.66–3.36 for hip arthroplasty. In this large population-based cohort of patients with RA, knee arthroplasty was associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality, while both knee and hip arthroplasty were associated with a higher risk of VTE. No significant associations were observed with CVD. These findings highlight potential long-term benefits and risks of joint replacement in RA, but given the observational design and possibility of residual confounding, the results should be interpreted as associations rather than causal effects. Further studies are warranted to confirm these observations and to better understand the mechanisms underlying these associations.