Rationalizing routine postoperative blood testing following elective shoulder arthroplasty

Abstract

BackgroundImprovements in perioperative care have decreased complication rates following arthroplasty surgery and enabled outpatient surgery. Although studies have suggested selective routine postoperative blood tests for lower limb arthroplasty, there is currently a paucity of research into its utility for shoulder arthroplasty. Our aim was to define an algorithm based on Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) value as part of a predictive algorithm to identify low-risk patients undergoing elective anatomic and reverse shoulder arthroplasty that can safely do without routine postoperative blood tests. MethodsElectronic medical records were retrospectively reviewed for patients who underwent elective primary shoulder arthroplasty at our institution, both anatomic and reverse, between January 2009 and October 2020. Inclusion criteria included patients who underwent reverse or anatomic shoulder arthroplasty for glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis or rotator cuff arthropathy and had documented preoperative and postoperative blood tests including full blood count and serum electrolytes. Exclusion criteria included patients who had revision and trauma indications for surgery because of the increased complication rates associated with these indications. Variables recorded included age, gender, body mass index, indication for surgery, comorbidities, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, CCI score, preoperative blood test values from preadmission assessment, postoperative day one blood test values, and interventions required based on blood results. ResultsA total of 140 patients were included in the study. Eighteen patients (12.85%) required intervention based on postoperative blood tests, the most common indications being anemia and hyponatremia. Patients that required intervention had higher CCI (P = .001) and lower preoperative hemoglobin (P = .014). With the application of cutoff values of hemoglobin of ≥106 g/L, and CCI score of less than 4, only one patient in our study required intervention. ConclusionRoutine postoperative blood test following primary elective shoulder arthroplasty is not required in low-risk patients, defined as those with a CCI score of <4 and a preoperative hemoglobin of >106 g/L.