Not all Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasties Are the Same: What Are the Implications in Large Database Studies?

Impact of Large Database Studies on Orthopedic Surgery Literature: Are We Advancing the Field?

Background: While database studies have become more prevalent in the literature, there is concern over their value. In addition, the questions they are suitable to answer are limited. Questions/Purposes: We sought to determine the incidence of database studies in the orthopedic literature and in each subspecialty. In addition, we wanted to assess the impact of database studies on the literature by determining whether citations and Altmetric Attention Scores (AAS) varied by study type (studies using internal or external databases and those not using databases). Methods: We searched PubMed for articles published in impactful orthopedic surgery journals in the year 2018. All articles were discoverable on the Altmetric explorer portal database. Impact was determined by journal impact factor. Study design, subspecialty, number of citations, and AAS were obtained. Univariable analyses were conducted between study type, demographic variables, and the outcome of either citation count or AAS. Multivariable analyses were performed to identify independent predictors of the primary outcomes. Subgroup analyses were performed to differentiate the impact of external and internal database studies compared with non-database studies. Results: A total of 2684 total articles were eligible for inclusion. Of these, 366 studies (13.6%) were database studies. Hip and knee articles had the greatest incidence of database studies. Database studies had significantly more citations (5.9 vs 4.0) and significantly higher AAS (12.8 vs 11.3) compared with non-database studies. External database studies had significantly more citations (6.7 vs 4.8) and significantly higher AAS (14.0 vs 10.7) than internal database studies. Internal database studies had higher traditional citation counts but similar AAS to non-database studies. Conclusions: In 2018, database studies in well-reputed orthopedic journals had a greater number of citations but similar AAS compared with non-database studies. Further studies are warranted.

The use of local adiposity as a proxy for obesity in primary total hip arthroplasty: A systematic review

Introduction

Preoperative optimization of obese patients is a critical component of risk stratification in primary total hip arthroplasty (THA). Body mass index is ubiquitously utilized as a proxy for obesity due to its ease of attainment and simplistic interpretation. The use of adiposity as a proxy for obesity is an emerging concept. Local adiposity provides insight into the magnitude of peri-incisional tissue and has demonstrated an association with postoperative complications. Our objective was to review the literature to determine if local adiposity is a reliable predictor for complications following primary total hip arthroplasty.

Methods

In keeping with the PRISMA guidelines, a database search of PubMed was conducted for articles which reported on the relationship between quantified measures of adiposity at the hip and rates of complication following primary THA. Methodological quality was assessed using GRADE and risk of bias using ROBINS-I.

Results

A total of six articles (N = 2931) met the inclusion criteria. Local adiposity at the hip was measured on anteroposterior radiograph in four articles and was measured intraoperatively in two. Across four of the six articles, adiposity was significantly associated with postoperative complications including prosthesis failure and infection.

Conclusion

The use of BMI as a predictor for postoperative complication has been fraught with inconsistency. There is momentum for adiposity to be used as a proxy for obesity in preoperative THA risk stratification. The current findings demonstrated that local adiposity may be a reliable predictor for complications following primary THA.