Clinical orthopaedics and related research
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Is Neighborhood Socioeconomic Deprivation Associated With Outcomes Following Primary THA and TKA? A Systematic Review Utilizing the Area Deprivation Index

Jun 11, 2026

This systematic review investigates the association between neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation, as measured by the Area Deprivation Index (ADI), and postoperative outcomes following primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The authors found that higher ADI scores correlated with increased healthcare utilization, worse patient-reported outcomes, and a higher incidence of postoperative complications, suggesting that socioeconomic factors significantly influence surgical outcomes. The study highlights the importance of incorporating ADI into clinical practice to better address the needs of patients from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Is Higher Surgeon Volume Associated With Lower Complication and Revision Risk After Distal Radius Fracture Surgery? A Population-based Cohort Study of 13,389 Patients

Jun 10, 2026

This study investigates the relationship between surgeon annual case volume and the risk of complications and revision surgery following distal radius fracture surgery. The authors found that complication rates plateau at approximately 20 procedures per year, while the risk of revision surgery stabilizes at around 10 procedures annually, suggesting that higher surgical volume is associated with better patient outcomes. These findings highlight the importance of maintaining surgical proficiency and have implications for training and health system planning.

Do Perineural Dexamethasone and Dexmedetomidine Improve Analgesia and Inflammatory Response After Lumbar Spine Surgery?

Jun 5, 2026

The authors investigate whether the addition of perineural adjuvants, specifically dexamethasone and dexmedetomidine, to an ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block (ESPB) improves postoperative analgesia and reduces inflammatory responses in patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery. Their findings indicate that both adjuvants prolong the time to first rescue opioid administration and reduce pain scores, with dexamethasone showing superior effects in lowering systemic inflammation. This study suggests a tailored approach to selecting adjuvants based on desired analgesic outcomes and opioid consumption.

Preoperative Shoulder Stiffness Was Accompanied by Distinct Supraspinatus Tendon Inflammatory Signatures but Not Inferior Long-term Outcomes After Rotator Cuff Repair

Jun 5, 2026

This study investigates whether preoperative shoulder stiffness affects functional recovery and inflammatory characteristics of the supraspinatus tendon in patients undergoing rotator cuff repair. The authors found that while patients with stiffness had worse initial function, they achieved greater improvements in clinical outcomes post-surgery compared to those without stiffness, without experiencing inferior long-term results. Additionally, the inflammatory signatures in the tendons of patients with stiffness were distinct, suggesting a unique biological context that may inform postoperative management strategies.

Diabetes Is Associated With Higher Odds of Junctional Complications and More Reoperations After Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery: A Propensity-matched Study

Jun 4, 2026

This study investigates the relationship between diabetes and mechanical complications following adult spinal deformity surgery, specifically examining the odds of proximal junctional failure, revision-free survivorship, radiographic alignment, and patient-reported outcomes. The findings indicate that patients with diabetes have a significantly higher risk of proximal junctional failure and lower revision-free survivorship compared to non-diabetic patients, although no substantial differences in radiographic alignment or patient-reported outcomes were observed. The authors suggest that increased awareness and monitoring of junctional complications in diabetic patients may be warranted.

Synovial Fluid Leukocyte Count and Differential Are Poor Standalone Rule-in Tests for Periprosthetic Joint Infection: Results of a Methodological Audit and Reanalysis of the 2025 Meta-analysis Underpinning the Unified Periprosthetic Joint Infection Criteria

Jun 3, 2026

The authors aimed to evaluate the methodological rigor of the 2025 meta-analysis supporting the Unified Periprosthetic Joint Infection (PJI) Criteria and to determine whether synovial fluid leukocyte count and polymorphonuclear cell percentage are reliable standalone tests for diagnosing PJI. Their findings revealed critical limitations in the original meta-analysis, including data integrity issues and high heterogeneity, leading to the conclusion that these tests do not provide sufficient or generalizable rule-in performance for PJI, with low positive predictive values. Consequently, the authors recommend against using these thresholds as standalone criteria and advocate for a multimodal diagnostic approach.

Is Robotic-assisted THA Associated With Decreased Risk of All-cause Revision or Revision for Dislocation? An Analysis of the American Joint Replacement Registry

Jun 3, 2026

The authors aimed to determine whether robot-assisted total hip arthroplasty (THA) is associated with a decreased risk of all-cause revision and revision for dislocation compared to conventional THA, using data from the American Joint Replacement Registry. Their findings revealed no significant difference in the overall revision rates at two years; however, robot-assisted THA was linked to a lower risk of revision due to dislocation. This suggests that while robotic assistance may not reduce all-cause revisions, it could be beneficial in minimizing early dislocation-related revisions.

Are LGBTQ+ Allyship Symbols Associated With Patient Trust in the Orthopaedic Surgeon? A Dual Cohort Survey

Jun 1, 2026

This study investigates whether the display of LGBTQ+ allyship symbols, specifically rainbow flags, affects patient trust in orthopaedic surgeons. The authors found no significant difference in trust levels between surgeons displaying these symbols and those who did not, although certain demographic factors influenced patient perceptions. Ultimately, while allyship symbols may not broadly impact trust, they could foster varying levels of trust among specific patient subgroups, suggesting that individual surgeons should consider their patient demographics when deciding to display such symbols.

Does First Metatarsal Head Lowering During Minimally Invasive Chevron Akin Osteotomy Yield No Significant Difference in Patient-reported Outcomes Compared With Second Distal Metatarsal Minimally Invasive Osteotomy for Treating Intractable Plantar Keratosis?

May 28, 2026

The authors investigate whether minimally invasive chevron Akin osteotomy (MICA) with first metatarsal head lowering yields different patient-reported outcomes compared to MICA combined with second distal metatarsal minimally invasive osteotomy (DMMO) in treating intractable plantar keratosis associated with hallux valgus. They found that while both procedures effectively resolved keratosis, they differed in their impact on metatarsal height and functional outcomes, with first metatarsal head lowering showing greater improvement in sports-related activities but also leading to more discomfort beneath the first metatarsal. The study highlights the importance of assessing metatarsal height when choosing surgical techniques for this condition.

What Is the Relationship Between Clinician-reported and Patient-reported Outcomes in Orthopaedic Surgery?

May 26, 2026

The authors investigate the relationship between clinician-reported outcome measures (CROMs) and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in orthopaedic surgery, specifically examining how these measures correlate across different conditions and their responsiveness to clinical changes. They find that condition-specific PROMs generally correlate more strongly with corresponding CROMs, particularly soft CROMs, while hard CROMs are more effective in short-term rehabilitation settings. The study suggests that a combination of condition-specific PROMs and hard CROMs should be utilized for a comprehensive assessment of patient outcomes in orthopaedic research.