BACKGROUND: The clinical impact of the surgical approach in total hip arthroplasty (THA) has been widely reviewed. This study evaluated the total encounter and 90-day costs of THA for 2 surgical approaches (posterior [P] and direct anterior [DA]) in 1 tertiary health system.
METHODS: This is a retrospective review of 2,101 THAs (1,092 P and 1,009 DA) by 4 surgeons (2 with the highest volume of DA and P, respectively) from 2017 to 2022 at 1 academic center. Demographics, comorbidities, operative time, length of hospital stay, 90-day hospital returns, and complications were compared. The total encounter cost and 90-day postoperative cost were itemized. Multivariable regression analyses evaluated associations with increased cost at each time point.
RESULTS: The DA cohort had a higher median encounter cost ($8,348.66 versus 7,332.42, P < .01), resulting from higher intraoperative (P < .01) and radiology (P < .01) expenses. Regression analyses demonstrated the DA was independently associated with increased encounter costs (odds ratio 1.1; 95% confidence interval 1.1 to 1.1; P < .01). There was a higher incidence of 90-day emergency department visits in the DA cohort (16 versus 12%, P = .02), with a trend toward increased readmissions. There was no difference in 90-day reoperations. Median 90-day cost was higher in the DA cohort ($126.99 versus 0.00, P < .01), and regression analyses demonstrated the DA had an association with increased 90-day cost (odds ratio 2.2; 95% confidence interval 1.5 to 3.0; P < .01).
CONCLUSIONS: Despite a younger patient population, the DA was independently associated with increased encounter and 90-day costs in a single academic hospital system. This study may underestimate the cost difference, as capital costs such as specialized tables were not analyzed.

BACKGROUND: Robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty is increasingly used in revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA), with imageless systems recently receiving Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. However, there remains a paucity of literature on the use of robotic assistance in revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA). This paper describes the imageless surgical technique for robotic revision TKA using a second-generation robotic system and details both intraoperative and 90-day outcomes.
METHODS: This was a retrospective review of 115 robotic revision TKAs from March 2021 to May 2023 at 3 tertiary academic centers. Patient demographics, perioperative surgical data, and 90-day outcomes were collected. Pain and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System scores preoperatively and postoperatively were recorded. All-cause reoperations at the final follow-up were detailed. The mean patient age was 65 years (range, 43 to 88), and 58% were women. The mean follow-up time was 13 months (range, 3 to 51).
RESULTS: The most common indications for rTKA were instability (n = 37, 32%) and aseptic loosening (n = 42, 37%). There were 83 rTKAs to a posterior-stabilized liner, 22 to a varus-valgus constrained liner, and 5 to a hinged construct. The median polyethylene size was 11 (interquartile range, 10 to 13), and 93% of patients had their joint line restored within 5 millimeters of the native contralateral knee. Within the 90-day postoperative window, there were 8 emergency department visits and 2 readmissions. At the final follow-up, there were 5 reoperations and 2 manipulations under anesthesia. There were 4 patients who required irrigation and debridement after superficial wound dehiscence, and one had an arthrotomy disruption after a fall.
CONCLUSIONS: This review demonstrates favorable intraoperative and 90-day outcomes and suggests that imageless robotic surgery is a promising modality in rTKA. Further studies comparing the longitudinal outcomes after robotic and conventional rTKA are warranted.

Despite increasing interest toward managing isolated ankle fractures in an outpatient setting, evidence of its safety remains largely limited. The 2007 to 2014 Humana Administrative Claims database was queried to identify patients undergoing open reduction internal fixation for unimalleolar, bimalleolar, or trimalleolar isolated closed ankle fractures. Two cohorts (outpatient versus inpatient) were then matched on the basis of age, sex, race, region, fracture type (uni-/bi-/trimalleolar) and Elixhauser Comorbidity Index to control for selection bias. Multivariate regression analyses were performed to report independent impact of outpatient-treated ankle fracture surgery on 90-day complications, readmission, and emergency department visit rates. Independent-samples t test was used to compare global 90-day costs between cohorts. A total of 5317 inpatient-treated and 6941 outpatient-treated closed ankle fractures were included in the final cohort. After matching and multivariate analyses, patients with outpatient ankle fractures, compared with patients with inpatient ankle fractures, had statistically lower rates of pneumonia (2.3% versus 4.0%; p < .001), myocardial infarction (0.9% versus 1.8%; p = .005), acute renal failure (2.2% versus 5.3%; p < .001), urinary tract infections (7.4% versus 12.3%; p < .001), and pressure ulcers (0.9% versus 2.0%; p = .001). Outpatient ankle fractures also had lower rates of 90-day readmissions (9.7% versus 14.1%; p < .001) and emergency department visits (13.8% versus 16.2%; p = .028). Last, overall 90-day costs for outpatient ankle fractures were nearly $9000 lower than costs for inpatient ankle fractures ($12,923 versus $21,866; p < .001). Based on our findings, it appears that outpatient treatment of ankle fractures can be deemed safe and feasible in a select cohort of patients.

BACKGROUND: The number of total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) procedures performed annually is increasing as a result of an aging population and an increased access to subspecialty-trained upper extremity arthroplasty surgeons. An up-to-date analysis of the incidence of, risk factors for, and reasons for 90-day readmissions in primary anatomic TSA has yet to be performed.
OBJECTIVE: To characterize 90-day readmissions on a national level. An understanding of these data will help to predict resource utilization and expenses in shoulder arthroplasty.
METHODS: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3.
METHODS: All adult patients undergoing elective primary TSA in 2014 who were included in the National Readmission Database were included in the analysis. Two cohorts were created according to 90-day readmission status. Multivariable analysis was then performed to determine predictors of 90-day readmissions. Reasons for 30-, 60-, and 90-day readmissions were identified, and total hospital resource utilization was calculated.
RESULTS: An estimated 26,023 patients were identified. The 30-, 60-, and 90-day rates of readmissions were 0.6%, 1.2%, and 1.7%, respectively. There was no difference in comorbidity burden between the cohorts. Medicare payer status (odds ratio [OR], 1.63; 95% CI, 1.00-2.65; P = .05), transfer to a skilled nurse facility (OR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.05-2.14; P = .02), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.04-1.66; P = .02) were identified as predictors of 90-day readmission. Female sex decreased odds of 90-day readmission (OR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.59-0.87; P = .001). Ninety-day readmissions were associated with significant cost increases (P < .001). The most common identifiable reason for related readmissions was a hardware-related complication at all time points.
CONCLUSIONS: While uncommon, 90-day readmissions after primary TSA are associated with significant patient morbidity and ultimately substantial hospital costs. Truncating readmission analysis at a 30-day period will miss most arthroplasty-related hospital readmissions.

Caused by perceptions regarding unnecessary healthcare resource utilization, high costs of care, and financial incentives towards \"cherry-picking\" cases in physician owned hospitals, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010 imposed restrictions on existing physician-owned hospitals from expanding. Despite an increasing number of individuals requiring access to spine surgical care, no study has evaluated the surgical safety and costs of elective posterior lumbar fusions (PLFs) being performed in physician-owned vs. non-physician-owned hospitals.
We assessed differences in 90-day costs and outcomes between patients undergoing elective 1- to 3-level PLFs at physician-owned hospitals vs. nonphysician-owned hospitals.
Retrospective cohort study of 2007 to 2014 100% Medicare claims database.
The 2007 to 2014 Medicare 100% Standard Analytical Files (SAF100) was queried using International Classification of Diseases 9th Edition (ICD-9) procedure code for patients undergoing elective 1- to 3-level PLFs (81.07, 81.08, and 81.62). The Medicare Hospital Compare database was used to identify provider codes for physician-owned hospitals. These provider codes were cross-referenced to identify records of patients receiving elective PLFs at these hospitals from the SAF100 database.
Ninety day complications, readmissions, emergency department (ED) visits, charges, and costs.
Multivariate logistic and linear regression analyses were used to assess significant differences in 90-day complications, readmissions, charges and costs between the two groups.
A total of 6,679 (2.9%) patients received an elective PLF at a physician-owned hospital (N=39; 2.2%) whereas 225,090 (97.1%) received surgery at nonphysician-owned hospital (N=1,774; 97.8%). After controlling for age, gender, region, hospital factors (socio-economic status area, urban vs. rural location and volume) and Elixhauser co-morbidity index, undergoing surgery at physician-owned hospital was associated with lower odds of thromboembolic complications (OR 0.66 [95% CI 0.53-0.82]; p<.001), urinary tract infections (OR 0.87 [95% CI 0.79-0.95]; p=.002) and renal complications (OR 0.52 [95% CI 0.43-0.63]; p<.001) within 90-days following the surgery. Patients undergoing PLFs at physician-owned hospitals vs. nonphysician-owned hospitals also had lower risk-adjusted inpatient charges (-$10,218), inpatient costs (-$2,302), 90-day charges (-$9,780) and 90-day costs (-$2,324). No significant differences were noted between physician-owned and nonphysician-owned hospitals with regards to 90-day wound complications (OR 1.08 [95% CI 0.94-1.22]; p=.279), pulmonary complications (OR 1.06 [95% CI 0.97-1.17]; p=.187), cardiac complications (OR 0.92 [95% CI 0.83-1.01]; p=.089), septic complications (OR 0.77 [95% CI 0.56-1.01]; p=.073), all-cause ED visits (OR 0.96 [95% CI 0.89-1.04]; p=.311), revision surgery (OR 1.09 [95% CI 0.72-1.59]; p=.653) and readmissions (OR 0.98 [95% CI 0.89-1.08]; p=.680).
Our results suggest that patients undergoing elective 1- to 3-level PLFs at physician-owned hospitals do not experience a greater number of complications and/or readmissions while having lower risk-adjusted charges and costs over the 90-day episode of care. The findings call on the need for revaluation/reconsideration of the ACAs restriction on the expansion of these physician-owned hospitals.

UNASSIGNED: An adequate characterization of 90-day readmissions after primary reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) on a national level remains to be undertaken. As bundled payment models become more prevalent, an improved understanding of readmission data will help to predict resource utilization and expenses.
UNASSIGNED: All adult patients who underwent elective primary RTSA in 2014 in the National Readmission Database were included in the analysis. Two cohorts were created based on 90-day readmission status. Multivariate analysis was then performed to determine predictors of 90-day readmissions. Reasons for 30-, 60-, and 90-day readmissions were identified. Total hospital resource utilization was calculated.
UNASSIGNED: An estimated 25,196 patients were identified. The 30-, 60-, and 90-day rates of readmissions were 0.6%, 1.2%, and 1.7%, respectively. Diabetes (odds ratio [OR], 1.42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14-1.78), hypertension (OR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.28-2.08), paralysis (OR, 3.61; 95% CI, 1.63-7.97), and solid tumor without metastasis (OR, 2.72; 95% CI, 1.21-6.12) were identified as independent predictors of 90-day readmission. Ninety-day readmissions were associated with a significant increase in cost (P = .02). The most common related reason for 90-day readmission was hardware-related complications at all time points.
UNASSIGNED: Although uncommon, 90-day readmissions after primary RTSA are associated with significant patient morbidity and consequently substantial hospital costs.

BACKGROUND: Interest in outpatient arthroplasty has grown in response to increasing emphasis on the efficient delivery of safe, high-quality medical care. This study evaluated 90-day episode-of-care complications after outpatient total elbow arthroplasty (TEA).
METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 28 patients discharged the same day after primary TEA for 90-day episode-of-care complications, reoperations, and readmissions. Postoperative complications and elbow range of motion measurements were recorded and evaluated at the latest follow-up. All patients were contacted and given a satisfaction survey to assess their outpatient experience. Univariate logistic regression was performed for each risk factor to evaluate the risk for major and minor complications. Statistical significance was set as P < .05.
RESULTS: Final follow-up data were available for 28 patients at an average of 14 months. Major complications within 90 days of surgery occurred in 7.1% of patients, ulnar nerve paresthesias occurred in 42.8% of patients, and minor wound problems occurred in 39.2% of patients. Five reoperations occurred after the 90-day postoperative period. All ulnar paresthesias and minor wound complications had resolved by the latest follow-up. Univariate regression analysis revealed a significant correlation between smoking and minor wound complications (P = .038). The satisfaction survey had an 85.7% response rate, with 91.7% of patients stating they were happy they went home the same day, and 95.8% feeling more confident and in control of their lives.
CONCLUSIONS: The risk profile of carefully selected patients undergoing same-day discharge after TEA is acceptable when combined with close follow-up.