Preoperative Hypoalbuminemia Predicts Poor Short-term Outcomes for Hip Fracture Surgery

Risk factors for postoperative hypoalbuminemia in ovarian cancer: a predictive nomogram

OBJECTIVE

Postoperative hypoalbuminemia increases the risk of delayed wound healing and infections and prolongs hospital stays, and may even increases mortality. Hypoalbuminemia is commonly observed after radical ovarian cancer surgery. The primary aim of this study is to determine risk factors for postoperative hypoalbuminemia after radical ovarian cancer surgery, and to develop a prediction nomogram for its prevention and management.

METHODS

This retrospective study analyzed patients who underwent radical ovarian cancer surgery at Ya'an People's Hospital, Sichuan Province, China, from January 2018 to December 2023. All surgeries were performed by the same surgical team. A total of 142 patients were included for analysis. Patients were divided into two groups based on their serum albumin(ALB) levels on postoperative day 1: the hypoalbuminemia group (ALB < 35 g/L) and the control group (ALB ≥ 35 g/L). Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify risk factors, and a prediction nomogram was developed based on the statistical results. The prediction performance of the risk factors and the model was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

RESULTS

Among the 142 patients, 69 developed postoperative hypoalbuminemia, with an incidence rate of 48.6%. Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression analyses revealed that the independent risk factors for postoperative hypoalbuminemia in ovarian cancer patients included: preoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) level, preoperative ALB level, excessive intraoperative net fluid gain, weight loss > 5% in the month prior to surgery, and concomitant gastrointestinal surgery. The nomogram model, based on these five independent risk factors (Area Under the Curve [AUC] = 0.898, 95% CI: 0.846-0.949, sensitivity: 0.826, specificity: 0.836).

CONCLUSION

Preoperative CRP level, preoperative ALB level, excessive intraoperative net fluid gain, weight loss > 5% in the month prior to surgery, and concomitant gastrointestinal surgery are independent risk factors for postoperative hypoalbuminemia in patients undergoing radical ovarian cancer surgery. The nomogram prediction model, based on these five factors, can effectively predict the risk of postoperative hypoalbuminemia, offering a guide for managing this complication.

Admission deep venous thromboembolism of the lower extremity in patients of subtrochanteric fractures: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Subtrochanteric fractures, which constitute 5-10% of proximal femoral fractures, are particularly challenging due to their high incidence of nonunion and failure of internal fixation. The incidence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in the lower extremities is notably higher among patients with orthopedic trauma, leading to significantly increased healthcare costs and prolonged hospitalization. The number of studies focusing on the incidence and risk factors among the patients with subtrochanteric fractures was quite limited. Therefore, there is a lack of effective methods of identification and predication. The study aimed to examine the occurrence and contributing factors of DVT in the lower limbs following subtrochanteric fractures in patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Retrospective analysis was performed on the patients with subtrochanteric fracture who were admitted from August 2019 to October 2022. All patients received ultrasound doppler scanning to detect lower extremity DVT. Demographic information, comorbid conditions, and serum markers levels from patients including red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin (HGB), lymphocyte (LYM), triglyceride (TG) and etc. were collected for analysis. Variables that demonstrated significant differences were subsequently introduced into multiple regression models to identify the independent risk factors associated with DVT.

RESULTS

A total of 120 patients were included, including 80 males and 40 females, with an average age of 58.3 ± 16.14years. A total of 51 patients were diagnosed to have DVT, with an incidence of 42.50%. There was significant difference between two groups in terms of albumin (ALB) (P = 0.0008), total protein (TP)(P = 0.019), RBC(P = 0.013), HGB (P = 0.032) and D-dimer levels (P = 0.007). However, multivariate analyses identified increased D-dimer level(>750 ng/ml) and reduced serum albumin as independent factors. The ROC curve indicated that a D-dimer level of 750 ng/ml was the optimal cut-off value for diagnosing DVT in patients with subtrochanteric fractures, with a sensitivity of 56.52% and specificity of 82.35%. The optimal cut-off value of ALB was determined to be 36.6 g/L, with a sensitivity of 73.2% and the specificity of 41.2%. The area under the curve of 0.63 indicates that this cut-off moderately effectively distinguishes between conditions related to ALB levels.

CONCLUSIONS

D-dimer level and serum albumin are independent factors of DVT in patients with subtrochanteric fractures. These data are helpful in assessing risks of DVT, and guiding the subsequent individualized intervention program.

Association between preoperative serum albumin levels and length of stay in elderly patients with hip fractures: A nonlinear relationship

Previous studies have provided relatively limited evidence in examining the impact of preoperative serum albumin levels on the length of hospital stay (LOS) in patients with hip fractures. This study aimed to elucidate the association between preoperative serum albumin levels and LOS in elderly patients with hip fractures. This retrospective cohort study included 1444 elderly patients undergoing surgical treatment for hip fractures at the Second People's Hospital of Shenzhen from January 2012 to December 2021. The main exposure variable was serum albumin level, and the outcome variable was LOS. A generalized additive model was used to identify the nonlinear relationship between serum albumin levels and LOS, and saturation effects were calculated using a two-piecewise linear regression model. Subgroup analysis was conducted using stratified logistic regression. The median LOS was 10 (8-15) days among all included patients. After adjusting for potential confounding factors (age, sex, comorbidities, hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, duration of surgery, surgical method, intraoperative blood loss, red cell distribution width, estimated glomerular filtration rate, blood urea nitrogen, postoperative pneumonia, and transfer to ICU), a nonlinear relationship was found between serum albumin levels and LOS, with a turning point at 3.06. On the left side of the turning point, the effect size was not statistically significant (β = 1.84, 95% CI -1.00 to 4.68, P = .2042), while on the right side of the turning point, for every 1 g/dL increase in albumin, LOS decreased by 1.05 days (β = -1.05, 95% CI -1.90 to -0.20, P = .0162). A nonlinear relationship was observed between preoperative serum albumin levels and LOS in elderly patients with hip fractures. When albumin levels were >3.06 g/dL, they were negatively correlated with LOS. This has important implications for clinicians in the development of nutritional improvement strategies.

Hypoalbuminemia predicts early postoperative complications following noninfectious revision total shoulder arthroplasty

PURPOSE

This study investigates the association between preoperative hypoalbuminemia and 30-day postoperative complications following noninfectious revision total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA).

METHODS

The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried for all patients who underwent noninfectious revision TSA from 2015 to 2021. The study population was divided into two groups based on preoperative serum albumin: normal albumin (≥ 3.5 g/dL) and hypoalbuminemia (< 3.5 g/dL). Logistic regression analysis was conducted to investigate the relationship between preoperative hypoalbuminemia and postoperative complications.

RESULTS

Compared to normal albumin, hypoalbuminemia was independently associated with a significantly greater likelihood of experiencing any complication (odds ratio [OR] 3.26, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.04-5.19; P < .001), sepsis (OR 9.92, 95% CI 1.29-76.35; P = .028), blood transfusions (OR 2.89, 95% CI 1.20-6.93; P = .017), non-home discharge (OR 2.88, 95% CI 1.55-5.35; P < .001), readmission (OR 3.46, 95% CI 1.57-7.58; P = .002), and length of stay > 2 days (OR 3.00, 95% CI 1.85-4.86; P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative hypoalbuminemia was associated with early postoperative complications following revision TSA.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III; Retrospective Cohort Comparison; Prognosis Study.

Development of Prediction Model for 1-year Mortality after Hip Fracture Surgery

Purpose

Hip fractures are associated with increased mortality. The identification of risk factors of mortality could improve patient care. The aim of the study was to identify risk factors of mortality after surgery for a hip fracture and construct a mortality model.

Materials and Methods

A cohort study was conducted on patients with hip fractures at two institutions. Five hundred and ninety-seven patients with hip fractures that were treated in the tertiary hospital, and another 147 patients that were treated in a secondary hospital. The perioperative data were collected from medical charts and interviews. Functional Assessment Measure score, Short Form-12 and mortality were recorded at 12 months. Patients and surgery variables that were associated with increased mortality were used to develop a mortality model.

Results

Mortality for the whole cohort was 19.4% at one year. From the variables tested only age >80 years, American Society of Anesthesiologists category, time to surgery (>48 hours), Charlson comorbidity index, sex, use of anti-coagulants, and body mass index <25 kg/m2 were associated with increased mortality and used to construct the mortality model. The area under the curve for the prediction model was 0.814. Functional outcome at one year was similar to preoperative status, even though their level of physical function dropped after the hip surgery and slowly recovered.

Conclusion

The mortality prediction model that was developed in this study calculates the risk of death at one year for patients with hip fractures, is simple, and could detect high risk patients that need special management.

Association between admission albumin levels and 30-day readmission after hip fracture surgery in geriatric patients: a propensity score-matched study

PURPOSE

This study aimed to evaluate the correlation admission albumin levels and 30-day readmission after hip fracture surgery in geriatric patients.

METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, 1270 geriatric patients admitted for hip fractures to a level I trauma center were included. Patients were stratified by clinical thresholds and albumin level quartiles. The association between admission albumin levels and 30-day readmission risk was assessed using multivariate logistic regression and propensity score-matched analyses. The predictive accuracy of albumin levels for readmission was evaluated by ROC curves. The dose-response relationship between albumin levels and readmission risk was examined.

RESULTS

The incidence of 30-day readmission was significantly higher among hypoalbuminemia patients than those with normal albumin levels (OR = 2.090, 95%CI:1.296-3.370, p = 0.003). Furthermore, propensity score-matched analyses demonstrated that patients in the Q2(35.0-37.9 g/L) (OR 0.621, 95%CI 0.370-1.041, p = 0.070), Q3(38.0-40.9 g/L) (OR 0.378, 95%CI 0.199-0.717, p < 0.001) and Q4 (≥ 41 g/L) (OR 0.465, 95%CI 0.211-0.859, p = 0.047) quartiles had a significantly lower risk of 30-day readmission compared to those in the Q1(< 35 g/L) quartile. These associations remained significant after propensity score matching (PSM) and subgroup analyses. Dose-response relationships between albumin levels and 30-day readmission were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Lower admission albumin levels were independently associated with higher 30-day readmission rates in elderly hip fracture patients. Our findings indicate that serum albumin may assist perioperative risk assessment, and prompt correction of hypoalbuminemia and malnutrition could reduce short-term readmissions after hip fracture surgery in this high-risk population.

Shoulder arthroscopy in elderly patients: malnutrition and early postoperative outcomes

Background

This study investigates the association between the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI), a simple, readily available malnutrition risk index, and 30-day postoperative complications following shoulder arthroscopy.

Methods

The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was used to identify all patients aged ≥65 years who underwent shoulder arthroscopy between 2015 and 2021. The study population was indexed into 3 cohorts of preoperative GNRI: normal/reference (GNRI >98), moderate malnutrition (92≤ GNRI ≤98), and severe malnutrition (GNRI <92). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to investigate the connection between preoperative GNRI and postoperative complications.

Results

Severe malnutrition was independently significantly associated with a greater likelihood of any complication (odds ratio [OR]: 11.70, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.58-15.94; P < .001), sepsis (OR: 26.61, 95% CI: 10.86-65.21; P < .001), septic shock (OR: 7.53, 95% CI: 1.56-36.32; P = .012), blood transfusions (OR: 25.38, 95% CI: 6.40-100.59; P < .001), pulmonary embolism (OR: 7.25, 95% CI: 1.27-41.40; P = .026), surgical site infection (OR: 22.08, 95% CI: 7.51-64.97; P < .001), nonhome discharge (OR: 15.75, 95% CI: 9.83-25.23; P < .001), readmission (OR: 2.69, 95% CI: 1.52-4.74; P < .001), unplanned reoperation (OR: 6.32, 95% CI: 2.23-17.92; P < .001), length of stay >2 days (OR: 23.66, 95% CI: 16.25-34.45; P < .001), and mortality (OR: 14.25, 95% CI: 2.89-70.40; P = .001).

Conclusion

GNRI-based malnutrition is strongly predictive of perioperative complications following shoulder arthroscopy in geriatric patients and has utility as an adjunctive risk stratification tool.

Factors Associated With Hip Fracture Length of Stay Among Older Adults in a Community Hospital Setting

INTRODUCTION

Hip fractures in geriatric populations constitute a heavy burden on the healthcare system. The study goal was to identify patient, hospital, and surgical factors associated with hospital length of stay (LOS) for geriatric patients with hip fractures requiring surgical intervention in a community hospital setting.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional retrospective chart review of geriatric hip fractures that underwent surgical fixation at a community hospital between 2017 and 2019. The scope of the surgeries was limited to cephalomedullary device fixation or hemiarthroplasty hip fracture surgeries. Sliding hip screw or total hip arthroplasty procedures and patients who died during the index hospitalization were excluded. Median tests were conducted to examine differences between the groups. Unadjusted and adjusted truncated negative binomial regression models were used to examine the factors associated with LOS.

RESULTS

Bivariate analyses revealed results that the factors associated with a longer LOS were preoperative anemia (P = 0.029), blood transfusion (P = 0.022), and the number of days between admission and surgery (P = 0.001). The adjusted regression model results suggested that older patients, patients who underwent surgery more than one day after admission, current smokers, malnourished patients, patients with sepsis, and patients with a history of a thromboembolic event had statistically significant (P < 0.05) longer LOS. However, patients who live in institutions (nursing homes or assisted living) had a shorter LOS than those who live at home alone or with family (P < 0.05).

DISCUSSION

Older adult patients who underwent surgery with a cephalomedullary device or hip hemiarthroplasty for a hip fracture and had preoperative anemia, postoperative blood transfusions, and increased days between admission and surgery had a longer LOS. Additional factors positively associated with a longer LOS included current smokers, malnourishment, admission with sepsis, and patients with a history of a thromboembolic event. Of interest, institutionalized patients had a shorter LOS than those living at home alone or with family.

Hypoalbuminemia increases complications in elderly patients operated for hip fracture

BACKGROUND

Hip fracture is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in elderly people. A drop in serum albumin after hip surgery has been reported, but few data are available on the effect on complications. The aim of this study was to assess the role of two distinct orthopedic surgical procedures (fixation or prosthesis) and pre-surgery albumin serum level on the development of clinical complications.

METHODS

Of 176 subjects aged 65 and older with hip fracture hospitalized either in orthopedics or geriatrics ward in a 15-month period, the data of 152 patients were analyzed. Interventions were fixation or prosthesis. Measurements included gender, age, surgical procedure, medical complications, admission albumin level (g/L), and post-surgical albumin level (g/L).

RESULTS

All patients (n = 152), regardless of the surgical procedure, underwent a loss of albumin from (mean ± standard deviation) 32.6 ± 4.3 to 25.0 ± 3.8 g/L. Complications were associated with albumin level both at pre-surgery (no complications mean ± SD 33.9 ± 3.5 g/L; n = 80; complications mean ± SD 31.2 ± 4.7 g/L; n = 72; p < 0.001) and post-surgery (no complications mean ± SD 26.2 ± 3.5 g/L; n = 80; complications mean ± SD 23.7 ± 3.6 g/L; n = 72; p < 0.001). When considering a multivariable model, an increased risk in the incidence of complications was found in subjects with preoperative albumin below 30 g/L (reference albumin greater than or equal to 30 g/L; OR 3.74; CI 95% 1.43-9.80) and in subjects undergoing prosthesis procedure (reference: fixation; OR 1.97; CI 95% 1.00-3.88).

CONCLUSIONS

We observed that fixation and prosthesis were associated with a decrease in albumin level. Given a low pre-surgery level of albumin, the risk of complications was higher than in patient with pre-surgery normal level of albumin. This pilot study suggests further prospective research, considering whether albumin administration could be effective in preventing a fall in the albumin level after surgery, thus reducing the postoperative complication rate.

Interfacility Transfer Patients With Pelvic, Acetabular, and Lower Extremity Fractures Are at Higher Risk for Major Complications and Readmissions

OBJECTIVE

To compare the adverse event profile and patient comorbidity profile of lower extremity orthopaedic trauma patients admitted via interfacility transfer (IT) to direct admission (DA) patients from home.

METHODS

A total of 39,497 patients from 2012 to 2019 were identified in the American College of Surgeon National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. DA patients were compared with IT patients for differences in preoperative comorbidities, adverse events, length of stay, and readmissions in the 30-day postoperative period. Student t tests were used to assess continuous variables. Pearson χ 2 test and odds ratios (ORs) were used for categorical variables.

RESULTS

The IT group comprised 7167 patients, and the DA group comprised 32,330 patients. IT patients were on average older (65.5 vs. 58.8 years, P < 0.01), more likely to be American Society of Anesthesiologists Status >2 ( P < 0.01), and had a worse comorbidity profile for numerous preoperative risk factors. IT patients had significantly higher rates of mortality [3.3% vs. 1.4%; odds ratio (OR) 2.29; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.96-2.77], major complications (10.2% vs. 6.1%; OR 1.74; 95% CI, 1.60-1.91), significantly higher readmission rates (5.8% vs. 4.8%, P < 0.01, OR 1.22 95% CI, 1.09-1.36), and more infectious complications (7% vs. 4.7%; OR 1.54; 95% CI, 1.38-1.71) than DA patients. Transfer remained a significant factor predicting major adverse events in regression analysis controlling for patient characteristics and fracture type ( P < 0.01; B 1.197; 95% CI, 1.09-1.32).

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed that IT patients undergoing operative management of pelvic, acetabular, and lower extremity fractures are at a significantly increased risk of major complications, readmission, and have a higher morbidity burden than DA patients. As healthcare transitions to value-based care and bundled payments, hospitals that accept a high volume of ITs will face exposure to added risk and financial penalties without adequate policy protections.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Comparison of Prognostic Value of 10 Biochemical Indices at Admission for Prediction Postoperative Myocardial Injury and Hospital Mortality in Patients with Osteoporotic Hip Fracture

Aim: To evaluate the prognostic impact at admission of 10 biochemical indices for prediction postoperative myocardial injury (PMI) and/or hospital death in hip fracture (HF) patients. Methods: In 1273 consecutive patients with HF (mean age 82.9 ± 8.7 years, 73.5% women), clinical and laboratory parameters were collected prospectively, and outcomes were recorded. Multiple logistic regression and receiver-operating characteristic analyses (the area under the curve, AUC) were preformed, the number needed to predict (NNP) outcome was calculated. Results: Age ≥ 80 years and IHD were the most prominent clinical factors associated with both PMI (with cardiac troponin I rise) and in-hospital death. PMI occurred in 555 (43.6%) patients and contributed to 80.3% (49/61) of all deaths (mortality rate 8.8% vs. 1.9% in non-PMI patients). The most accurate biochemical predictive markers were parathyroid hormone > 6.8 pmol/L, urea > 7.5 mmol/L, 25(OH)vitamin D < 25 nmol/L, albumin < 33 g/L, and ratios gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) to alanine aminotransferase > 2.5, urea/albumin ≥ 2.0 and GGT/albumin ≥ 7.0; the AUC for developing PMI ranged between 0.782 and 0.742 (NNP: 1.84−2.13), the AUC for fatal outcome ranged from 0.803 to 0.722, (NNP: 3.77−9.52). Conclusions: In HF patients, easily accessible biochemical indices at admission substantially improve prediction of hospital outcomes, especially in the aged >80 years with IHD.

Preoperative Hypoalbuminemia Is Associated With Early Morbidity and Mortality After Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty

Hypoalbuminemia is associated with early morbidity and mortality in revision total knee arthroplasty. We evaluated the effect of preoperative hypoalbuminemia on 30-day morbidity and mortality in revision total hip arthroplasty (THA). The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database was queried from 2015 to 2018 to identify patients who underwent revision THA. Patients were stratified based on the presence or absence of preoperative hypoalbuminemia and their odds of a major complication or death within 30 days of revision THA with multivariate logistic regression. After Bonferroni correction for these 2 primary outcomes, statistical significance was defined as P<.025. A total of 2492 revision THAs with complete data were identified, of which 486 (20%) had preoperative hypoalbuminemia. Preoperative hypoalbuminemia increased the absolute risk of a major complication by 15.3% compared with patients with revision THA without hypoalbuminemia (30% vs 14.7%, P<.001). Patients with preoperative hypoalbuminemia also had nearly a 7-fold higher incidence of death (3.3%) compared with those with revision THA without preoperative hypoalbuminemia (0.5%, P<.001). After logistic regression, the odds of having a major complication after revision THA with preoperative hypoalbuminemia within 30 days were increased by 80% (odds ratio, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.4-2.3; P<.001), and the odds of death within 30 days were increased by 210% (odds ratio, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.2-7.8; P=.020). Hypoalbuminemia is associated with early morbidity and mortality after revision THA. [Orthopedics. 2022;45(5):281-286.].

The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index Is an Independent Predictor of Adverse Outcomes for Total Joint Arthroplasty Patients

BACKGROUND

Malnutrition affects patient outcomes after total joint arthroplasty (TJA). Although hypoalbuminemia has been used as a surrogate, there is no unanimous method for screening and assessing malnutrition. This study aimed to determine if malnutrition, as defined by the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI), is independently correlated with short-term (<30 days) postoperative complications and prognosis in patients undergoing TJA.

METHODS

The 2016-2019 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program was queried for all patients aged >65 years who underwent TJA. Based on GNRI value, patients were divided into 3 groups: normal nutrition (GNRI >98), moderate malnutrition (GNRI 92-98), and severe malnutrition (GNRI <92). After adjusting for potential confounders, multivariable regression models were used to analyze the association between GNRI and patient outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 191,087 patients were included in the study. Prevalence of malnutrition based on body mass index (<18.5 kg/m²), albumin (<3.5 mg/dL), and GNRI (≤98) was 0.41% (784), 4.17% (7975), and 15.83% (30,258). Adjusted analysis showed that compared with normal nutrition, moderate and severe malnutrition status were associated with a higher rate of transfusion, readmission, and postoperative length of stay over 8 days (P < .05). Severe malnutrition was also associated with pneumonia, surgical site infection, urinary tract infection, sepsis, and revision surgery (P < .05).

CONCLUSION

Malnutrition, as defined by GNRI, is an independent predictor of adverse outcomes after TJA, including 30-day readmission, revision surgery, and increased length of stay. GNRI can be used to routinely screen and assess patient nutritional status before TJA and counsel patients and families appropriately.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level 3: Retrospective Cohort Study.

Malnutrition, Body Mass Index, and Associated Risk of Complications After Posterior Lumbar Spine Fusion: A 3:1 Matched Cohort Analysis

OBJECTIVE

The effect of malnutrition on outcomes after posterior lumbar fusion (PLF) remains understudied. This study analyzes the effect of malnutrition across a comprehensive range of body mass index (BMI) on complications after PLF.

METHODS

The Pearldiver Mariner database was queried between 2010 and 2020 using International Classification of Diseases (Ninth and Tenth Revisions) codes for malnutrition and Current Procedural Terminology codes for PLF. Patients were identified with preoperative BMI diagnosis codes and partitioned into one of the following BMI cohorts: underweight (BMI <20), normal (BMI 19-30), obese (BMI 30-40), and morbidly obese (BMI >40). An additional all-BMI cohort was created using patients with any BMI code. All cohorts were matched 1:3 to control patients within the same BMI group without malnutrition based on age, gender, and Charlson comorbidity index. Complication rates were calculated using the Pearson χ² method with statistical significance set to P < 0.05.

RESULTS

The number of patients in each cohort were 1106 (all-BMI), 227 (underweight), 808 (normal), 667 (obese), and 449 (morbidly obese). Statistical analysis showed that the all-BMI cohort had greater odds of complications related to instrumentation (odds ratio [OR]: 2.28; P < 0.001), need for revision fusion (OR: 2.04; P < 0.001), pulmonary complications (OR: 1.45; P < 0.001), sepsis (OR: 2.89; P < 0.001), surgical site complications (OR: 1.87; P < 0.001), and urinary complications (OR: 1.41; P < 0.001). No difference was noted between the BMI-specific cohorts for complication risk.

CONCLUSION

Our analysis indicates that malnutrition may independently increase PLF complication risk. Surgeons may consider preoperative optimization for malnutrition patients to reduce complication risk.

Malnutrition is Common and Increases the Risk of Adverse Medical Events in Older Adults With Femoral Fragility Fractures

BACKGROUND

Femoral fragility fractures are one of the most common injuries managed by orthopedic surgeons. Malnutrition influences the poor outcomes observed in this population. Our purpose was to assess the annual trends of malnutrition diagnosis and determine risk factors for malnutrition and complications in patients 65 years and older presenting with femoral fragility fractures. We hypothesized that malnutrition would increase the risk of postoperative wound infection, wound dehiscence, non-union, and mortality.

METHODS

The PearlDiver database was reviewed from 2010 to 2020. Patients ≥ 65-years-old with femur fractures treated with operative fixation were identified by CPT code. A preoperative diagnosis of malnourished state was defined by ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes and patients were divided into malnourished and non-malnourished cohorts. Patients were tracked for one year following operative fixation of a femoral fragility fracture for the occurrence of infection, wound dehiscence, nonunion and mortality. The rates of these complications were compared between malnourished and nonmalnourished cohorts.

RESULTS

There were 178,283 total femoral fragility fractures identified in patients aged 65-years or older. The overall prevalence of malnutrition diagnosis in this geriatric population was 12.8%. Documented malnutrition in femoral fragility fractures increased from 1.6% to 32.9% from 2010-2020 (P<0.0001). Compared to patients without malnutrition, patients with malnutrition are at increased risk of mortality (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.2558 - 1.3752, p < 0.0001), are more likely to develop a wound infection (OR 1.49; 95% CI 1.252 - 1.7626; p < 0.0001), more likely to have a wound dehiscence (OR 1.55; 95% CI 1.3416 - 1.7949; p < 0.0001), and more likely to develop non-union (1.89; 95% CI 1.6946 - 2.1095; p < 0.0001). Multiple demographic variables were associated with malnutrition diagnosis including higher age, higher Charlson Comorbidity Index, female sex, dementia, and institutionalization. Parkinson's disease, feeding difficulty and institutionalization demographic variables had the highest risk of malnutrition.

CONCLUSION

The current study found that malnutrition diagnosis significantly increases the risk of adverse medical events in elderly adults with femoral fragility fractures. The rates of malnutrition increased steadily from 2010-2020. This trend is likely a result of increased awareness and testing for malnutrition, not reflecting an actual increased prevalence of malnutrition. Multiple expected demographic variables are associated with diagnosis of malnutrition. Level of Evidence: III.

Conditionally Essential Amino Acid Supplementation Reduces Postoperative Complications and Muscle Wasting After Fracture Fixation: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Postoperative complications and substantial loss of physical function are common after musculoskeletal trauma. We conducted a prospective randomized controlled trial to assess the impact of conditionally essential amino acid (CEAA) supplementation on complications and skeletal muscle mass in adults after operative fixation of acute fractures.

METHODS

Adults who sustained pelvic and extremity fractures that were indicated for operative fixation at a level-I trauma center were enrolled. The subjects were stratified based on injury characteristics (open fractures and/or polytrauma, fragility fractures, isolated injuries) and randomized to standard nutrition (control group) or oral CEAA supplementation twice daily for 2 weeks. Body composition (fat-free mass [FFM]) was measured at baseline and at 6 and 12 weeks postoperatively. Complications were prospectively collected. An intention-to-treat analysis was performed. The relative risk (RR) of complications for the control group relative to the CEAA group was determined, and linear mixed-effects models were used to model the relationship between CEAA supplementation and changes in FFM.

RESULTS

Four hundred subjects (control group: 200; CEAA group: 200) were enrolled. The CEAA group had significantly lower overall complications than the control group (30.5% vs. 43.8%; adjusted RR = 0.71; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.55 to 0.92; p = 0.008). The FFM decreased significantly at 6 weeks in the control subjects (-0.9 kg, p = 0.0205), whereas the FFM was maintained at 6 weeks in the CEAA subjects (-0.33 kg, p = 0.3606). This difference in FFM was not seen at subsequent time points.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that CEAA supplementation has a protective effect against common complications and early skeletal muscle wasting after operative fixation of extremity and pelvic fractures. Given the potential benefits of this inexpensive, low-risk intervention, multicenter prospective studies in focused trauma populations are warranted.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Serum creatinine to cystatin C ratio reflects preoperative and early postoperative walking ability in older patients with hip fracture

BACKGROUND

The sarcopenia index (SI), calculated as the ratio of serum creatinine to cystatin C levels, reflects skeletal muscle mass and strength. Patients with hip fracture (HF) and sarcopenia have poor functional outcomes, and many require long-term care after surgery. We hypothesized that the SI can predict preoperative and early postoperative functional outcomes.

METHODS

Preoperative serum creatinine and cystatin C were measured to calculate the SI for patients with surgically treated HF (n = 130, mean age: 87.8 ± 6.9 years). Walking ability before and 2 weeks after surgery was assessed, and patients were dichotomized into independent and assistance groups. To assess the validity of the SI, we examined its correlation with the quality [computed tomography (CT) value] and quantity (cross-sectional area) of the muscles around the hip on the non-operated side, which were preoperatively measured using CT. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to evaluate the prognostic value of the SI.

RESULTS

The SI of the preoperative independent (n = 77) and assistance groups (n = 53) significantly differed (70.2 ± 12.4 and 60.1 ± 9.8, respectively, P < 0.000001). At 2 weeks after surgery, the SI was significantly higher in the independent group (n = 31, 73.0 ± 14.9) than in the assistance group (n = 99, 64.0 ± 10.7, P = 0.0003). In the preoperative independent group, 28 could walk independently after surgery (SI: 74.8 ± 14.0) while 49 required assistance (SI: 67.7 ± 10.6, P = 0.01). For patients with femoral neck fracture (FNF), the SIs were significantly higher in the postoperative independent group (78.6 ± 15.7) than in the postoperative assistance group (63.2 ± 10.9, P = 0.002). Logistic regression analysis showed that the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of the SI for postoperative walking ability was 0.95 (0.91-0.99, P = 0.03). The correlations of SIs with CT values and cross-sectional areas were as follows: iliopsoas at the apex of the femoral head, r = 0.40, P < 0.001 and r = 0.49, P < 0.001, respectively; rectus femoris at the level of the lessor trochanter, r = 0.26, P = 0.007 and r = 0.37, P < 0.001, respectively. ROC analysis for predicting postoperative walking ability in preoperative independent patients with HF and FNF revealed areas under the curve (95% confidence interval) of 0.63 (0.50-0.76) and 0.80 (0.65-0.96), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with HF, the SI correlated with preoperative walking ability and could predict postoperative walking ability. Among patients who could walk independently before surgery, those with high SIs could walk independently early in the postoperative period. The SI is beneficial for estimating walking ability in patients with HF.

Risk factors of hospitalization costs and length of stay for tibial plateau fractures

PURPOSE

This study aimed to analyze the factors influencing the length of stay (LOS) and the cost of hospital stay in patients with tibial plateau fractures (TPFs).

METHODS

We enrolled 233 patients with TPFs in this retrospective study. The general conditions, hematological indicators, and imaging data of hospitalized patients were collected. The factors influencing the cost and LOS were determined by a multivariate logistic regression model controlling confounding factors. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve is used to determine the sensitivity and specificity of risk factors.

RESULTS

The hospitalization cost of hypoproteinemia was significantly higher than that of the standard group (OR 3.07; 95% CI 1.23-7.69; P = 0.017); Low hemoglobin levels in the male will significantly affect patient hospitalization costs (OR 8.32; 95% CI 2.82-24.57; P = 0.015), will also extend the LOS (OR 3.02; 95% CI 1.15-7.89; P = 0.024). Among Schatzker classification of the tibial plateau, hospitalization costs of type V, VI above fractures were significantly higher than those of class I, II, III, and IV fractures (OR 8.78; 95% CI 3.34-23.09; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

In this study, hypoproteinemia and the Schatzker classification appeared to be a useful indicator for predicting hospitalization costs for TPFs patients; Male hemoglobin level appears to be an independent risk factor for hospital cost and LOS.

A Prediction Modeling Based on the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) Knee Score for Poor Postoperative Functional Prognosis of Elderly Patients with Patellar Fractures

Background

The main aim of this study was to develop a nomogram prediction model for poor functional prognosis after patellar fracture surgery in the elderly based on the hospital for special surgery (HSS) knee score.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of 168 elderly patients with patellar fractures was performed to collect demographic data, knee imaging, and functional prognosis preoperatively and during the 6-month postoperative follow-up period. Good functional prognosis of knee joint was defined as the percentage of HSS knee scores on the injured side relative to the uninjured side ≥ 80% at six-month postoperative review. Multifactorial linear regression analysis and logistic regression analysis were then used to identify risk factors of functional prognosis and develop the nomogram prediction model. Furthermore, the validity and accuracy of the prediction model were evaluated using C-index, area under the curve (AUC), and decision curve analyses.

Results

The final screening from the 12 potential risk factors yielded three high-risk factors which were included in the nomogram prediction model: advanced age (OR 0.28 (95% CI 0.11-0.67), P = 0.005), sarcopenia (OR 0.11 (95% CI 0.05-0.26), P < 0.001), and low albumin level (OR 1.14 (95% CI 1.02-1.29), P = 0.025). The model had a good predictive ability with an AUC of 0.857 (95% CI (0.783-0.929)) for the training group and a C-index of 0.836 for the overall sample. In addition, the decision analysis curve indicated that the model had good clinical applicability.

Conclusion

Our predictive model is effective in predicting the risk of poor functional prognosis after patellar fracture surgery in the elderly by assessing high-risk factors such as advanced age, sarcopenia, and serum albumin levels. This prediction model can help clinicians to make individualized risk prediction, early identification of patients at high risk for poor functional outcome, and appropriate interventions.

Malnutrition in elective shoulder arthroplasty: a multi-institutional retrospective study of preoperative albumin and adverse outcomes

BACKGROUND

Malnutrition is associated with poor postoperative outcomes after knee, hip, and spine surgery. However, whether albumin labs should be part of the routine preoperative workup for shoulder arthroplasty remains understudied. This study investigated the role of preoperative albumin levels in predicting common postoperative adverse outcomes in patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty.

METHODS

All shoulder arthroplasty cases performed at 2 tertiary referral centers between July 2013 and May 2019 (institution 1) and between June 2007 and Feb 2020 (institution 2) were reviewed. A total of 421 primary and 71 revision elective shoulder arthroplasty cases had preoperative albumin levels recorded. Common demographic variables and relevant Elixhauser comorbidities were pulled. Outcomes gathered included extended (>3 days) postoperative inpatient length of stay (eLOS), 90-day readmission, and discharge to rehab or skilled nursing facility (SNF).

RESULTS

The prevalence of malnutrition (albumin <3.5 g/dL) was higher in the revision group compared with the primary group (36.6% vs. 19.5%, P = .001). Reverse shoulder arthroplasty (P = .013) and increasing American Society of Anesthesiologists score (P = .016) were identified as independent risk factors for malnutrition in the primary group. In the revision group, liver disease was associated with malnutrition (P = .046). Malnourished primary shoulder arthroplasty patients had an increased incidence of eLOS (26.8% vs. 13.6%, P = .003) and discharge to rehab/SNF (18.3% vs. 10.3%, P = .045). On univariable analysis, low albumin had an odds ratio (OR) of 2.34 for eLOS (P = .004), which retained significance in a multivariable model including age, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, sex, and body mass index (OR 2.11, P = .03). On univariable analysis, low albumin had an OR of 1.94 for discharge to SNF/rehab (P = .048), but this did not reach significance in the multivariable model. Among revisions, malnourished patients had an increased incidence of eLOS (30.8% vs. 6.7%, P = .014) and discharge to rehab/SNF (26.9% vs. 4.4%, P = .010). In both the primary and revision groups, there was no difference in 90-day readmission rate between patients with low or normal albumin.

CONCLUSION

Malnutrition is more prevalent among revision shoulder arthroplasty patients compared with those undergoing a primary procedure. Primary shoulder arthroplasty patients with low preoperative albumin levels have an increased risk of eLOS and may have an increased need for postacute care. Low albumin was not associated with a risk of 90-day readmissions. Albumin level merits further investigation in large, prospective cohorts to clearly define its role in preoperative risk stratification.

Low Psoas Lumbar Vertebral Index Is Associated with Mortality after Hip Fracture Surgery in Elderly Patients: A Retrospective Analysis

The psoas-to-lumbar index (PLVI) has been reported as a simple and easy way to measure central sarcopenia. However, only few studies have evaluated the association between PLVI and survival in surgical patients. This study evaluated the association between preoperative PLVI and mortality in elderly patients who underwent hip fracture surgery. We retrospectively analyzed 615 patients who underwent hip fracture surgery between January 2014 and December 2018. The median value of each PLVI was calculated according to sex, and the patients were categorized into two groups on the basis of the median value (low PLVI group vs. high PLVI group). Cox regression analysis was performed to evaluate the risk factors for 1 year and overall mortalities. The median values of PLVI were 0.62 and 0.50 in men and women, respectively. In the Cox regression analysis, low PLVI was significantly associated with higher 1 year (hazard ratio (HR): 1.87, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.18–2.96, p = 0.008) and overall mortalities (HR: 1.51, 95% CI: 1.12–2.03, p = 0.006). Low PLVI was significantly associated with a higher mortality. Therefore, PLVI might be an independent predictor of mortality in elderly patients undergoing hip fracture surgery.

A novel machine-learning algorithm for predicting mortality risk after hip fracture surgery

INTRODUCTION

Although several risk stratification models have been developed to predict hip fracture mortality, efforts are still being placed in this area. Our aim is to (1) construct a risk prediction model for long-term mortality after hip fracture utilizing the RSF method and (2) to evaluate the changing effects over time of individual pre- and post-treatment variables on predicting mortality.

METHODS

1330 hip fracture surgical patients were included. Forty-five admission and in-hospital variables were analyzed as potential predictors of all-cause mortality. A random survival forest (RSF) algorithm was applied in predictors identification. Cox regression models were then constructed. Sensitivity analyses and internal validation were performed to assess the performance of each model. C statistics were calculated and model calibrations were further assessed.

RESULTS

Our machine-learning RSF algorithm achieved a c statistic of 0.83 for 30-day prediction and 0.75 for 1-year mortality. Additionally, a COX model was also constructed by using the variables selected by RSF, c statistics were shown as 0.75 and 0.72 when applying in 2-year and 4-year mortality prediction. The presence of post-operative complications remained as the strongest risk factor for both short- and long-term mortality. Variables including fracture location, high serum creatinine, age, hypertension, anemia, ASA, hypoproteinemia, abnormal BUN, and RDW became more important as the length of follow-up increased.

CONCLUSION

The RSF machine-learning algorithm represents a novel approach to identify important risk factors and a risk stratification models for patients undergoing hip fracture surgery is built through this approach to identify those at high risk of long-term mortality.

Hypoalbuminaemia in orthopaedic trauma patients in a rural hospital in South Africa

BACKGROUND

The deleterious effects of hypoalbuminaemia in the peri-operative period are well documented. We aimed to review serum albumin levels in a cohort of orthopaedic trauma patients to determine the prevalence of hypoalbuminaemia. Secondarily, we aimed to identify factors associated with an increased risk of hypoalbuminaemia.

METHODS

A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed of data collected prospectively at a regional hospital serving primarily a rural population in South Africa.

RESULTS

Two hundred ninety-five patients were included in the study. Twenty-nine per cent of the cohort was found to have hypoalbuminaemia. Femur neck fractures (p < 0.001), intertrochanteric fractures (p = 0.004), tibial plateau fractures (p = 0.034) and polytrauma (p = 0.013) were associated with hypoalbuminaemia. The mean albumin level was lower in HIV-positive patients when compared to HIV-negative patients (35.7 g/L vs 37.5 g/L, p = 0.007). The presence of comorbidities other than HIV, like diabetes mellitus (p = 0.001), previous pulmonary tuberculosis (p = 0.034) and chronic renal failure (p = 0.007) was associated with hypoalbuminaemia.

CONCLUSION

In this cohort of orthopaedic trauma patients from rural South Africa, we found a 29% prevalence of hypoalbuminaemia at the time of presentation. High-risk subgroups include patients with pre-existing comorbidities and increased age, as well as patients presenting with polytrauma, femoral neck, intertrochanteric femur or tibial plateau fractures.

Mortality and Medical Complications of Subtrochanteric Fracture Fixation

The aim of this study was to define the incidence and investigate the associations with mortality and medical complications, in patients presenting with subtrochanteric femoral fractures subsequently treated with an intramedullary nail, with a special reference to advancement of age. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review, covering an 8-year period, of all patients admitted to a Level 1 Trauma Centre with the diagnosis of subtrochanteric fractures was conducted. Normality was assessed for the data variables to determine the further use of parametric or non-parametric tests. Logistic regression analysis was then performed to identify the most important associations for each event. A p-value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: A total of 519 patients were included in our study (age at time of injury: 73.26 ± 19.47 years; 318 female). The average length of hospital stay was 21.4 ± 19.45 days. Mortality was 5.4% and 17.3% for 30 days and one year, respectively. Risk factors for one-year mortality included: Low albumin on admission (Odds ratio (OR) 4.82; 95% Confidence interval (95%CI) 2.08-11.19), dementia (OR 3.99; 95%CI 2.27-7.01), presence of pneumonia during hospital stay (OR 3.18; 95%CI 1.76-5.77) and Charlson comorbidity score (CCS) > 6 (OR 2.94; 95%CI 1.62-5.35). Regarding the medical complications following the operative management of subtrochanteric fractures, the overall incidence of hospital acquired pneumonia (HAP) was 18.3%. Patients with increasing CCS (CCS 6-8: OR 1.69; 95%CI 1.00-2.84/CCS > 8: OR 2.02; 95%CI 1.03-3.95), presence of asthma/chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (OR 2.29; 95%CI 1.37-3.82), intensive care unit (ICU)/high dependency unit (HDU) stay (OR 3.25; 95%CI 1.77-5.96) and a length of stay of more than 21 days (OR 8.82; 95%CI 1.18-65.80) were at increased risk of this outcome. The incidence of post-operative delirium was found to be 10.2%. This was associated with pre-existing dementia (OR 4.03; 95%CI 0.34-4.16), urinary tract infection (UTI) (OR 3.85; 95%CI 1.96-7.56), need for an increased level of care (OR 3.16; 95%CI 1.38-7.25), pneumonia (OR 2.29; 95%CI 1.14-4.62) and post-operative deterioration of renal function (OR 2.21; 95%CI 1.18-4.15). The incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) was 3.7% (pulmonary embolism (PE): 8 patients; deep venous thrombosis (DVT): 11 patients), whilst the incidence of myocardial infarction (MI)/cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) was 4.0%. No evidence of the so called "weekend effect" was identified on both morbidity and mortality. Regression analysis of these complications did not reveal any significant associations. Conclusions: Our study has opened the field for the investigation of medical complications within the subtrochanteric fracture population. Early identification of the associations of these complications could help prognostication for those who are at risk of a poor outcome. Furthermore, these could be potential "warning shots" for clinicians to act early to manage and in some cases prevent these devastating complications that could potentially lead to an increased risk of mortality.

Controlling nutritional status score predicts postoperative complications after hip fracture surgery

Background

Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score is calculated using laboratory values, including serum albumin, total cholesterol concentration, and total lymphocyte count; it is reportedly valuable for making nutritional assessments. One advantage of CONUT score over other nutritional assessments is that it can be calculated retrospectively using only objective laboratory values. Studies demonstrated that CONUT score was a useful tool for predicting prognosis and complications in various surgical conditions. Nevertheless, few studies utilized the score as a potential predictive marker for postoperative complications among hip fracture patients. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between CONUT score and postoperative complications in hip fracture patients.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 211 elderly patients who underwent hip fracture surgery at a single institution from 2013 to 2018. CONUT score was calculated using preoperative routine laboratory tests for serum albumin, total cholesterol concentration, and total lymphocyte count. As potential confounders, we extracted data such as patient age, sex, fracture type, and general conditions/comorbidities, as defined by the American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status (ASA-PS) classification and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). Postoperative complications were defined as a Clavien-Dindo classification of 1 or more. Simple and multivaribale logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the incidence of postoperative complications as the outcome measures.

Results

The mean age [IQR] was 86 [80–90], and 80.1% of the reviewed patients were female. Based on the CONUT scores, 78.7% of hip fracture patients were classified as malnourished; 18% experienced postoperative complications. Simple analyses revealed significant risk factors for postoperative complications, including age, the ASA-PS, the CCI, and the CONUT score. Multivariable analysis found that CONUT score was the independent risk factor for postoperative complications (odd ratio = 1.21, 95% confidence interval = 1.01–1.45, p = 0.04).

Conclusions

Preoperative CONUT scores are independently associated with the incidence of postoperative complications. CONUT score can be used for risk assessment in hip fracture patients to predict early postoperative complications.

The Role of Malnutrition in Ninety-Day Outcomes After Total Joint Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

Research has linked malnutrition to more complications in total joint arthroplasty (TJA) patients. The role of preoperative albumin in predicting length of stay (LOS) and 90-day outcomes remains understudied. Often, an albumin cut-off ≤3.5 g/dL is used as proxy for malnutrition, although this value remains understudied. This preoperative level may be missing some patients at risk for adverse events post TJA.

METHODS

TJA patients at a single institution from 2013 to 2018 were reviewed for preoperative albumin level. In total, 4047 cases (total knee arthroplasty: 2058; total hip arthroplasty: 1989) had available data, including 90-day readmissions, 90-day emergency department (ED) visits, and postoperative LOS.

RESULTS

About 5.6% experienced a readmission and 9.6% had at least one ED visit within 90 days. Overall prevalence of malnutrition was 3.6%, and this cohort experienced a longer average LOS (3.5 vs 2.2 days, P < .0001) and was more likely to experience a readmission (16% vs 5%, P < .0001) or ED visit (18% vs 9%, P = .0005). Additionally, albumin ≤3.5 g/dL was correlated with more frequent discharge to skilled nursing facility/rehab (30.8% vs 14.7%, P < .0001), increased risk for 90-day readmission with univariable (odds ratio [OR] 1.79, P < .0001) and multivariable logistic regression (OR 1.55, P < .0001), and increased risk for 90-day ED visits with univariable (OR 1.62, P < .0001) and multivariable regression (OR 1.35, P < .0001). The optimal albumin cut-off was 3.94 g/dL in a univariable model for 90-day readmission.

CONCLUSION

Screening for malnutrition may serve a role in preoperative evaluation. An albumin cutoff value of 3.5 g/dL may miss some at-risk patients.