Coordinated and tailored work rehabilitation: a randomized controlled trial with economic evaluation undertaken with workers on sick leave due to musculoskeletal disorders

Introduction In Denmark, the magnitude and impact of work disability on the individual worker and society has prompted the development of a new "coordinated and tailored work rehabilitation" (CTWR) approach. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of CTWR with conventional case management (CCM) on return-to-work of workers on sick leave due to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Methods The study was a randomized controlled trial with economic evaluation undertaken with workers on sick leave for 4-12 weeks due to MSDs. CTWR consists of a work disability screening by an interdisciplinary team followed by the collaborative development of a RTW plan. The primary outcome variable was registered cumulative sickness absence hours during 12 months follow-up. Secondary outcomes were work status as well as pain intensity and functional disability, measured at baseline, 3 and 12 months follow-up. The economic evaluation (intervention costs, productivity loss, and health care utilization costs) was based on administrative data derived from national registries. Results For the time intervals 0-6 months, 6-12 months, and the entire follow-up period, the number of sickness absence hours was significantly lower in the CTWR group as compared to the control group. The total costs saved in CTWR participants compared to controls were estimated at US $1,366 per person at 6 months follow-up and US$ 10,666 per person at 12 months follow-up. Conclusions Workers on sick leave for 4-12 weeks due to MSD who underwent "CTWR" by an interdisciplinary team had fewer sickness absence hours than controls. The economic evaluation showed that-in terms of productivity loss-CTWR seems to be cost saving for the society

Outcome in design-specific comparisons between highly crosslinked and conventional polyethylene in total hip arthroplasty 163,368 hip replacements in the Nordic Arthroplasty Register Association database with 5-11 years of follow-up

Background and purpose - Most registry studies regarding highly crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) have focused on the overall revision risk. We compared the risk of cup and/or liner revision for specific cup and liner designs made of either XLPE or conventional polyethylene (CPE), regarding revision for any reason and revision due to aseptic loosening and/or osteolysis.Patients and methods - Using the Nordic Arthroplasty Register Association (NARA) database, we identified cup and liner designs where either XLPE or CPE had been used in more than 500 THAs performed for primary hip osteoarthritis. We assessed risk of revision for any reason and for aseptic loosening using Cox regression adjusted for age, sex, femoral head material and size, surgical approach, stem fixation, and presence of hydroxyapatite coating (uncemented cups).Results - The CPE version of the ZCA cup had a risk of revision for any reason similar to that of the XLPE version (p = 0.09), but showed a 6-fold higher risk of revision for aseptic loosening (p < 0.001). The CPE version of the Reflection All Poly cup had an 8-fold elevated risk of revision for any reason (p < 0.001) and a 5-fold increased risk of revision for aseptic loosening (p < 0.001). The Charnley Elite Ogee/Marathon cup and the Trilogy cup did not show such differences.Interpretation Whether XLPE has any advantage over CPE regarding revision risk may depend on the properties of the polyethylene materials being compared, as well as the respective cup designs, fixation type, and follow-up times. Further research is needed to elucidate how cup design factors interact with polyethylene type to affect the risk of revision

Total hip arthroplasties in the Dutch Arthroplasty Register (LROI) and the Nordic Arthroplasty Register Association (NARA): comparison of patient and procedure characteristics in 475,685 cases

Background and purpose - Collaborations between arthroplasty registries are important in order to create the possibility of detecting inferior implants early and improve our understanding of differences between nations in terms of indications and outcomes. In this registry study we compared patient and procedure characteristics, and revision rates in the Nordic Arthroplasty Register Association (NARA) database and the Dutch Arthroplasty Register (LROI).Patients and methods - All total hip arthroplasties (THAs) performed in 2010-2016 were included from the LROI (n = 184,862) and the NARA database (n = 290,823), which contains data from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland. Descriptive statistics and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses based on all reasons for revision and stratified by fixation were performed and compared between countries.Results - In the Netherlands, the proportion of patients aged < 55 years (9%) and male patients (34%) was lower than in Nordic countries (< 55 years 11-13%; males 35-43%); the proportion of osteoarthritis (OA) (87%) was higher compared with Sweden (81%), Norway (77%), and Denmark (81%) but comparable to Finland (86%). Uncemented fixation was used in 62% of patients in the Netherlands, in 70% of patients in Denmark and Finland, and in 28% and 19% in Norway and Sweden, respectively. The 5-year revision rate for THAs for OA was lower in Sweden (2.3%, 95% CI 2.1-2.5) than in the Netherlands (3.0%, CI 2.9-3.1), Norway (3.8%, CI 3.6-4.0), Denmark (4.6%, CI 4.4-4.8), and Finland (4.4%, CI 4.3-4.5). Revision rates in Denmark, Norway, and Finland were higher for all fixation groups.Interpretation - Patient and THA procedure characteristics as well as revision rates evinced some differences between the Netherlands and the Nordic countries. The Netherlands compared best with Denmark in terms of patient and procedure characteristics, but resembled Sweden more in terms of short-term revision risk. Combining data from registries like LROI and the NARA collaboration is feasible and might possibly enable tracking of potential outlier implants

Similar early mortality risk after cemented compared with cementless total hip arthroplasty for primary osteoarthritis: data from 188,606 surgeries in the Nordic Arthroplasty Register Association database

Background and purpose - Current literature indicates no difference in 90-day mortality after cemented compared with cementless total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, previous studies are hampered by potential selection bias and suboptimal adjustment for comorbidity confounding. Therefore, we examined the comorbidity-adjusted mortality up to 90 days after cemented compared with cementless THA performed due to osteoarthritis.Patients and methods - Using the Nordic Arthroplasty Register Association database, 2005-2013, we included 108,572 cemented and 80,034 cementless THA due to osteoarthritis. We calculated the Charlson comorbidity index of each patient based on data from national patient registers. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate unadjusted all-cause mortality. Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for 14, 30-, and 90-day mortality comparing cemented with cementless THA, adjusting for age, sex, comorbidity, nation, and year of surgery.Results - Cumulative all-cause mortality within 90 days was 0.41% (CI 0.37-0.46) after cemented and 0.26% (CI 0.22-0.30) after cementless THA. The adjusted HR for cemented vs. cementless fixation was 0.97 (CI 0.79-1.2), and similar risk estimates were obtained for mortality within 14 (adjusted HR 0.91 [CI 0.64-1.3]) and 30 days (adjusted HR 0.94 [CI 0.71-1.3]). We found no clinically relevant differences in mortality between cemented and cementless THA in analyses stratified by age, sex, Charlson comorbidity index, or year of surgery.Interpretation - After adjustment for comorbidity as an important confounder, we observed similar early mortality between the 2 fixation techniques

The accuracy and precision of radiostereometric analysis in monitoring tibial plateau fractures

Background and purpose: The application of radiostereometric analysis (RSA) to monitor stability of tibial plateau fractures during healing is both limited and yet to be validated. We therefore evaluated the accuracy and precision of RSA in a tibial plateau fracture model. Methods: Combinations of 3, 6, and 9 markers in a lateral condyle fracture were evaluated with reference to 6 proximal tibial arrangements. Translation and rotation accuracy was assessed with displacement-controlled stages, while precision was assessed with dynamic double examinations. A comparison of error according to marker number and arrangement was completed with 2-way ANOVA models. Results: The results were improved using more tantalum markers in each segment. In the fracture fragment, marker scatter in all axes was achieved by a circumferential arrangement (medial, anterior, and lateral) of the tantalum markers above the fixation devices. Markers placed on either side of the tibial tuberosity and in the medial aspect of the fracture split represented the proximal tibial reference segment best. Using 6 markers with this distribution in each segment, the translation accuracy (root mean square error) was less than 37 μm in all axes. The precision (95% confidence interval) was less than ± 16 μm in all axes in vitro. Rotation, tested around the x-axis, had an accuracy of less than 0.123° and a precision of ± 0.024°. Interpretation: RSA is highly accurate and precise in the assessment of lateral tibial plateau fracture fragment movement. The validation of our center's RSA system provides evidence to support future clinical RSA fracture studies.Lucian B Solomon, Aaron W Stevenson, Stuart A Callary, Thomas R Sullivan, Donald W Howie, and Mellick J Chehad

Effect of local TGF-β1 and IGF-1 release on implant fixation: comparison with hydroxyapatite coating: A paired study in dogs

Background and purpose Hydroxyapatite (HA) coating stimulates the osseointegration of cementless orthopedic implants. Recently, locally released osteogenic growth factors have also been shown experimentally to stimulate osseointegration so that bone fills gaps around orthopedic implants. Here, we have compared the effect of local release of TGF-β 1 and IGF-1 with that of hydroxyapatite coating on implant fixation