Elective Shoulder Arthroplasty Research Articles

The effect of a statewide COVID-19 shelter-in-place order on shoulder arthroplasty for proximal humerus fracture volume and length of stay

BackgroundAlthough the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted elective shoulder arthroplasty throughput, traumatic shoulder arthroplasty procedures are less apt to be postponed. We sought to evaluate shoulder arthroplasty utilization for fracture during the COVID-19 pandemic and California's associated shelter-in-place order compared to historical controls. MethodsWe conducted a cohort study with historical controls, identifying patients who underwent shoulder arthroplasty for proximal humerus fracture in California using our integrated electronic health record. The time period of interest was following the implementation of the statewide shelter-in-place order: March 19, 2020-May 31, 2020. This was compared to three historical periods: January 1, 2020-March 18, 2020, March 18, 2019-May 31, 2019, and January 1, 2019-March 18, 2019. Procedure volume, patient characteristics, in-hospital length of stay, and 30-day events (emergency department visit, readmission, infection, pneumonia, and death) were reported. Changes over time were analyzed using linear regression adjusted for usual seasonal and yearly changes and age, sex, comorbidities, and postadmission factors. ResultsSurgical volume dropped from an average of 4.4, 5.2, and 2.6 surgeries per week in the historical time periods, respectively, to 2.4 surgeries per week after shelter-in-place. While no more than 30% of all shoulder arthroplasty procedures performed during any given week were for fracture during the historical time periods, arthroplasties performed for fracture was the overwhelming primary indication immediately after the shelter-in-place order. More patients were discharged the day of surgery (+33.2%, P = .019) after the shelter-in-place order, but we did not observe a change in any of the corresponding 30-day events. ConclusionsThe volume of shoulder arthroplasty for fracture dropped during the time of COVID-19. The reduction in volume could be due to less shoulder trauma due to shelter-in-place or a change in the indications for arthroplasty given the perceived higher risks associated with intubation and surgical care. We noted more patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty for fracture were safely discharged on the day of surgery, suggesting this may be a safe practice that can be adopted moving forward. Level of EvidenceLevel III; Retrospective Case-control Comparative Study

Investigating the International Normalized Ratio Thresholds for Complication in Shoulder Arthroplasty

In patients on warfarin anticoagulation therapy, elective shoulder arthroplasty surgeons must carefully balance bleeding and embolic risks. Currently, an international normalized ratio (INR) threshold of 1.5 is supported in the setting of elective surgery. However, no previous study has investigated the optimal preoperative INR target specifically in shoulder arthroplasty. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of preoperative INR with rates of transfusion, complication, and readmission/revision surgery in shoulder arthroplasty. Patients who underwent elective shoulder arthroplasty were identified in a national database. The primary outcome of interest was the risk for all-cause complication at 30 days postoperatively. Major and minor complication, revision surgery, and readmission rates were also investigated. From 2006 to 2016, 1,014 procedures were identified who had undergone elective shoulder arthroplasty with a perioperative INR lab result within 24 hours of surgery. In our cohort, 550 patients (54.2%) were women, with an average age of 71.0 ± 9.8 years. After controlling for confounders, patients with a preoperative INR > 1.5 were 18.9 times as likely to have a major complication as those with a preoperative INR ≤ 1.0 (P = 0.003). Patients with an INR of 1.25 < INR ≤ 1.5 did not have a statistically significant risk of minor or major complication in comparison with those with an INR ≤ 1.0 (P = 0.23, P = 0.67). Although recent hip and knee arthroplasty literature has found that an INR < 1.25 may be an optimal preoperative INR goal, our results did not find an increased risk for bleeding and complication with an INR ≤ 1.5 for shoulder arthroplasty. These results support current guidelines recommending a preoperative INR ≤ 1.5 for shoulder arthroplasty.

The association between bisphosphonate use and aseptic revision risk in primary elective shoulder arthroplasty

BackgroundThe total joint literature has shown promising results of bisphosphonate use on decreasing early bone loss after hip and knee arthroplasty and reducing aseptic revision risk though a higher risk of periprosthetic fracture has also been reported. We sought to evaluate the association between bisphosphonate use and aseptic revision risk in patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty. MethodsA US integrated healthcare system's registry was used to identify 6204 patients who underwent primary elective shoulder arthroplasty for osteoarthritis (2005-2016). Preoperative bisphosphonate users (defined as having at ≥6-month supply and 80% adherence) were compared to nonbisphosphonate users. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression was used to evaluate aseptic revision risk according to bisphosphonate use while adjusting for confounders. Secondary analysis stratified by age (40-64, ≥65 years) and bone quality status (normal, osteopenia, osteoporosis, or unknown). ResultsAt the time of index procedure, 564 (9.1%) were considered as bisphosphonate users. We failed to observe a difference in aseptic revision risk by bisphosphonate use (hazard ratio = 0.92, 95% confidence interval = 0.50-1.72). No association was observed even after stratifying by bone quality and age. No revisions for periprosthetic fracture occurred in the bisphosphonate user group during follow-up. ConclusionsWhile prior studies in lower extremity joint arthroplasty cohorts have observed a differential risk for revision surgery with bisphosphonate use, we failed to observe any associations between bisphosphonate use and revision risk in a cohort of shoulder arthroplasty patients. Level of EvidenceLevel III; Retrospective Cohort Comparative Study

Preoperative total lymphocyte count was not associated with adverse postoperative events following elective shoulder arthroplasty

BackgroundWith the heightened focus on lowering adverse postoperative events through preoperative patient optimization, malnutrition may be a modifiable risk factor that could be addressed and lead to improved postoperative outcomes. However, an understanding of the association between malnutrition status and adverse postoperative events following shoulder arthroplasty is lacking. We sought to evaluate the association between preoperative malnutrition status, identified via the total serum lymphocyte count, and adverse postoperative events following shoulder arthroplasty. MethodsWe conducted a cohort study using data from Kaiser Permanente's Shoulder Arthroplasty Registry. Patients who underwent elective primary shoulder arthroplasty were identified (2005-2016). Patients with a preoperative total lymphocyte count <1500 cells/mm3 were defined as malnourished. A competing risk Cox multistate model was used to evaluate the association between malnutrition and revision or death with stratification by age. Multiple logistic regression was used to evaluate 5-year deep infection, 90-day emergency department visit, 90-day readmission, and 90-day venous thromboembolism. Receiver operating characteristic curves were generated for discrete total lymphocyte counts to determine whether a threshold exists to identify patients at higher risk of adverse postoperative events. ResultsThe final study cohort comprised 6956 shoulder arthroplasty patients, with 2133 (30.7%) identified as malnourished. No difference in septic or aseptic revision risks was observed when comparing patients with and without malnutrition; however, malnourished patients had a higher risk for death, regardless of age (<60 years: hazard ratio = 2.25, 95% confidence interval = 1.07-4.73; ≥60 years: hazard ratio = 1.47, 95% confidence interval = 1.28-1.70). We did not observe a difference in likelihood of deep infection, emergency department visit, readmission, or venous thromboembolism. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis suggested preoperative total lymphocyte count performed poorly at differentiating adverse events. ConclusionOnly a higher mortality risk was observed to be associated with total lymphocyte count-defined malnutrition in patients undergoing elective shoulder arthroplasty. When instead looking at total lymphocyte count continuously, an optimal threshold for discriminating risk of adverse postoperative events could not be identified. Further study is needed to identify an appropriate indicator of malnutrition in shoulder arthroplasty patients and if this indicator can be modified to improve patient status and quality of care. Level of EvidenceLevel III; Retrospective Cohort Comparative Study

A single dose of tranexamic acid reduces blood loss after reverse and anatomic shoulder arthroplasty: a randomized controlled trial

Hematoma formation and the need for blood transfusions are commonly reported complications after shoulder arthroplasty. Tranexamic acid (TXA) has been widely used in hip and knee arthroplasty to decrease perioperative blood loss. The role of TXA is still being established in shoulder arthroplasty. We conducted a double-blind randomized controlled trial comparing intravenous TXA vs. placebo in 60 patients undergoing primary anatomic or reverse shoulder arthroplasty. Of these patients, 29 received a placebo whereas 31 received a single dose of 2 g of intravenous TXA. Patient demographic characteristics, as well as drain tube output, blood loss, hematoma formation, transfusion requirement, length of hospital stay, and pain score, were recorded. Patients were followed up for 12 weeks to assess for complications. Patients who received TXA had a lower drain tube output at all time points: 41 mL vs. 133 mL at 6 hours, 75 mL vs. 179 mL at 12 hours, and 94 mL vs. 226 mL at 24 hours (P < .001 for all). They also had a higher postoperative hemoglobin (Hb) level (12.3 g/dL vs. 11.4 g/dL, P = .009), lower change in Hb level (1.7 g/dL vs. 2.3 g/dL, P = .011), lower total Hb loss (0.078 g vs. 0.103 g, P = .042), lower blood volume loss (0.55 L vs. 0.74 L, P = .021), higher postoperative hematocrit level (36.7% vs. 34.6%, P = .020), and lower hematocrit change (5.4% vs. 7.6%, P = .022). There was no significant difference in pain score or length of hospital stay, and no patients required a transfusion. A single dose of 2 g of intravenous TXA decreases blood loss and drain tube output in primary anatomic and reverse arthroplasty of the shoulder. No differences were detected in the occurrence of complications, need for transfusion, pain score, or length of hospital stay. With the mounting evidence now available, patients undergoing elective primary shoulder arthroplasty should be given intravenous TXA to decrease perioperative blood loss.

Association Between Serum Testosterone Levels and Cutibacterium Skin Load in Patients Undergoing Elective Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Cohort Study.

Background:Cutibacterium periprosthetic joint infections are important complications of shoulder arthroplasty. Although it is known that these infections are more common among men and that they are more common in patients with high levels of Cutibacterium on the skin, the possible relationship between serum testosterone levels and skin Cutibacterium levels has not been investigated.Methods:In 51 patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasties, total serum testosterone, free testosterone, and sex hormone binding globulin levels obtained in the clinic before the surgical procedure were compared with the levels of Cutibacterium on the skin in clinic, on the skin in the operating room prior to the surgical procedure, and on the dermal wound edge of the incised skin during the surgical procedure.Results:Clinic skin Cutibacterium loads were strongly associated with both clinic free testosterone levels (tau, 0.569; p < 0.001) and total serum testosterone levels (tau, 0.591; p < 0.001). The prepreparation skin and wound Cutibacterium levels at the time of the surgical procedure were also significantly associated with both the clinic total serum testosterone levels (p < 0.001) and the clinic free testosterone levels (p < 0.03). A multivariate analysis demonstrated that serum testosterone was an independent predictor of high skin Cutibacterium loads, even when age and sex were taken into account. Patients taking supplemental testosterone had higher free testosterone levels and tended to have higher skin Cutibacterium loads. Patients who underwent the ream-and-run procedure had higher total and free testosterone levels and higher skin Cutibacterium loads.Conclusions:Testosterone levels are predictive of skin Cutibacterium levels in patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty. This relationship deserves further investigation both as a risk stratification tool and as a potential area for intervention in reducing shoulder periprosthetic joint infection.Level of Evidence:Prognostic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Prevalence and Treatment of Osteoporosis Prior to Elective Shoulder Arthroplasty.

Introduction:The rate of preoperative osteoporosis in lower extremity arthroplasty is 33%. The prevalence of osteoporosis in shoulder arthroplasty patients is inadequately studied. The purpose of this study was to (1) determine the prevalence of osteoporosis in patients undergoing elective shoulder arthroplasty, (2) report the percentage of patients having dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) testing before surgery, and (3) determine the percentage of patients who have been prescribed osteoporosis medications within 6 months before or after surgery.Methods:This retrospective case series included all adults aged 50 years and older who underwent elective shoulder arthroplasty at a single tertiary care center over an 8-year period. National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) criteria for screening and treatment were applied.Results:Two hundred fifty-one patients met the inclusion criteria; 171 (68%) met the criteria for DEXA testing, but only 31 (12%) had this testing within 2 years preoperatively. Eighty patients (32%) met the NOF criteria for receipt of pharmacologic osteoporosis treatment, and 17/80 (21%) received a prescription for pharmacotherapy.Discussion:Two-thirds of elective shoulder arthroplasty patients meet the criteria to have bone mineral density measurement done, but less than 20% have this done. One in three elective shoulder arthroplasty patients meet the criteria to receive osteoporosis medications, but only 20% of these patients receive therapy.

Early postoperative pain relief after total shoulder arthroplasty

BackgroundPatients undergoing elective shoulder arthroplasty have highly variable pain experiences. We sought to characterize preoperative patient characteristics associated with fast and slow pain relief after elective total shoulder arthroplasty and evaluated whether differences in early pain recovery predicted longer term pain relief. MethodsWe identified 324 patients undergoing elective primary shoulder arthroplasty, reverse and anatomic, between 2015 and 2018 from our prospective registry. Postoperative pain relief was defined as the difference in preoperative and 2-week postoperative pain intensity. Three groups were then created: fast responders (top decile), slow responders (bottom decile), and normal responders. Multinomial regression was used to identify preoperative patient factors associated with either slow or fast pain responses. ResultsFactors associated with a fast pain response included older age and being married. A slow pain response was associated with being unmarried. Pain intensity was lower in the fast responders at 6 weeks (0.60 ± 0.80 vs. 3.4 ± 2.50, P < .05) and 3 months (0.60 ± 0.90 vs. 2.60 ± 2.30, P < .05), but there was no difference at 1 year (0.30 ± 0.60 vs. 1.00 ± 1.10, P = .068) and 2 years (0.50 ± 1.30 vs. 1.40 ± 2.10, P = .183) postoperatively. ConclusionThe postoperative pain experience after shoulder arthroplasty seems to be influenced by patient age and marital status. Patients with marginal improvement in pain relief should be counseled that their recovery may be more prolonged, but by the 1-year mark they are likely to achieve comparably low pain levels to other patients. Level of evidenceLevel III; Retrospective Design; Prognosis Study

Predictors of Long-term Opioid Use After Elective Primary Total Shoulder Arthroplasty

Opioids are prescribed routinely for pain after total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA). This study was designed to characterize opioid use after elective primary TSA and identify predictors of long-term postoperative opioid use. The authors used the MarketScan administrative claims database to identify 5676 adults who underwent elective primary TSA between 2010 and 2015 and had 1 year or more of continuous insurance enrollment, including prescription drug coverage, postoperatively. Long-term postoperative opioid use was defined as filling prescriptions totaling a 120-day or greater supply during the 3- to 12-month postoperative period. The authors performed univariate regression analysis with age, sex, US region, anatomic or reverse TSA, anxiety, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, depression, diabetes, history of drug abuse, hypertension, obesity, osteoporosis, history of myocardial infarction, and current tobacco use. Variables that were significant at P<.05 were included in multivariate logistic regression. Overall, 16% of patients had long-term postoperative opioid use, which was strongly predicted by the multivariate model (area under the curve, 0.77; P<.001). The strongest predictors in the multivariate analysis were preoperative opioid use (odds ratio [OR], 4.7; 95% CI, 4.0-5.5), history of drug abuse (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.3-4.9), depression (OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.6-2.3), anxiety (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.2-1.7), surgery performed in the Western United States (OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.3-2.4), and reverse TSA (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.2-1.8). Most patients do not have long-term opioid use after elective primary TSA. Strong predictors of long-term postoperative opioid use are preoperative opioid use, history of drug abuse, depression, anxiety, reverse TSA, and surgery performed in the Western United States. [Orthopedics. 2021;44(1):58-63.].

Prevalence and predictors of persistent pain 2 years after total shoulder arthroplasty

BackgroundElective total shoulder arthroplasty is highly successful, but there is a subset of patients who continue to experience pain after this procedure. The purposes of this study were to elucidate the prevalence and patient characteristics predictive of persistent pain after shoulder arthroplasty. MethodsWe identified patients who had received an elective primary shoulder arthroplasty (anatomic or reverse) between 2016 and 2017 from our prospectively maintained, single-surgeon registry. Patients were stratified by the presence or absence of persistent pain at 2 years postoperatively, as defined by a Visual Analog Pain score of ≥2. This value was chosen in accordance with previously reported values for minimal clinically important differences. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with persistent pain. ResultsOf the 244 patients included for analysis, 46(18.9%) had persistent pain at 2 years postoperatively. The average pain score in this group was found to be significantly greater than the patients without pain (3.6 ± 1.6 vs 0.14 ± 0.35, P< .001). Patients with persistent pain had a higher incidence of preoperative opioid use (26.1% vs 13.6%, P= .038), diabetes (28.3% vs 11.6%, P= .004), number of self-reported allergies (3 ± 4.8 vs 1.9 ± 2.3,P= .03), peak postoperative inpatient pain (8.1 ± 1.9 vs 6.9 ± 2.1,P< .001), incidence of prior ipsilateral shoulder surgery (50% vs 30%, P= .011), and a higher percentage received a reverse shoulder arthroplasty (87% vs 70.7%, P= .024). The patient characteristics that were independently predictive of persistent pain were history of prior ipsilateral shoulder surgery (odds ratio 2.44; 95% confidence interval 1.21-4.91; P = .013) and greater postoperative inpatient pain intensity (odds ratio, 1.26 per 1 unit increase; 95% confidence interval 1.03-1.55; P = .024). ConclusionAbout 1 in 5 patients report persistent pain after elective primary shoulder arthroplasty. Prompt identification of at-risk patients (eg, those with severe postoperative inpatient pain and a history of prior shoulder surgery) may prove effective in optimizing the pain experience after shoulder arthroplasty. Level of evidenceLevel III; Cohort Study with Prospective Data and Retrospective Study Design.

Effect of Insurance Status on Clinical Outcomes After Shoulder Arthroplasty.

Shoulder arthroplasty is an effective treatment option for patients with symptomatic shoulder arthritis and rotator cuff arthropathy. Although there have been reports of variations in complication rates according to insurance type, few studies have examined the effect of payer status on functional outcomes. Patients who underwent elective shoulder arthroplasty performed by a single fellowship-trained surgeon and had a minimum of 1 year of follow-up were queried. Patient characteristics were compared across insurance types. Each patient completed the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) questionnaire preoperatively and postoperatively. A generalized linear mixed model was specified to predict ASES score at 1 year and included preoperative ASES score as an adjustment variable. A total of 84 patients underwent 91 procedures. Before surgery, ASES score differed by insurance type (P=.014), with lower scores in the Medicaid cohort compared with the private insurance cohort (20.4 vs 38.8, P=.009). After controlling for baseline ASES score, postoperative ASES score at 1-year follow-up differed by insurance type (P<.001). Patients with private insurance had better ASES scores (85.6) than patients with Medicaid (55.2) (P<.001) and workers' compensation (57.1) (P=.028). Patients with Medicare (80.6) had better ASES scores at follow-up compared with those with Medicaid (P<.001). Patients with Medicaid are at risk for significantly lower postoperative functional outcome scores after shoulder arthroplasty compared with patients with private insurance and Medicare. In this study, patients with Medicaid had lower preoperative ASES scores compared with other groups. These observed differences are likely multifactorial and should be acknowledged when counseling patients. [Orthopedics. 2020;43(6):e523-e528.].

Postoperative opioid utilization associated with revision risk following primary shoulder arthroplasty

With a substantial increase in utilization of primary shoulder arthroplasty, it is important to understand risk factors that may signal early failure and need for revision. Recent studies have reported that sustained postoperative opioid use is associated with a higher revision risk after total hip or knee arthroplasty. In this study, we evaluated postoperative opioid utilization as a risk factor for revision after primary shoulder arthroplasty. We conducted a cohort study using data from a United States integrated health care system's Shoulder Arthroplasty Registry. Patients who had a primary elective shoulder arthroplasty were identified (2009-2017); those with cancer or who underwent other arthroplasty procedures (either shoulder, hip, or knee) within the preceding year were excluded. Cumulative daily opioid utilization during the first year postoperative, calculated as oral morphine equivalents (OME), was categorized into 3 exposure groups: high user (≥15 mg OME daily), moderate user (<15 mg OME daily), and no opioid use (reference group). The exposure window was stratified into 2 time periods: postoperative days 1-90 and postoperative days 91-360. Multivariable Cox proportional-hazards regression was used to evaluate the association between postoperative opioid use and aseptic revision risk. The final study sample included 8325 shoulder arthroplasty procedures. Of these individuals, 3707 (45%) received some opioid within the 1 year before the index procedure. We failed to observe a difference in aseptic revision risk between opioid utilization in the first 90 days postoperatively, regardless of dose. After the first 90 days, a higher revision risk was observed for high opioid users compared with nonusers (hazard ratio = 1.62, 95% confidence interval = 1.10-2.41), and no association was observed for moderate users (hazard ratio = 1.25, 95% confidence interval = 0.82-1.91). We found a positive association between opioid consumption and aseptic revision risk after primary shoulder arthroplasty. This study cannot determine if opioids have a direct physiological cause that increases the risk of revision; rather it is likely that opioid consumption is a marker of chronic pain, poor function, and/or poor coping mechanisms. Further study is needed to determine if programs designed to decrease opioid use may impact revision risk after shoulder arthroplasty.

Cephalic vein patency after deltopectoral approach to the shoulder and the effect on upper extremity edema

BackgroundThe effect of the direction of cephalic vein mobilization in a deltopectoral approach to the shoulder on limb edema is unknown. The primary objective was to evaluate the effect of the direction of cephalic vein mobilization/ligation on limb edema after elective shoulder arthroplasty. The secondary objectives were to: evaluate the effect of the arthroplasty procedure performed on limb edema; correlate postoperative ultrasonographic patency with intraoperative assessment. MethodsA cohort of 62 patients undergoing primary shoulder arthroplasty using the deltopectoral approach were enrolled and prospectively followed. Exclusion criteria included: surgery for fracture and prior open anterior shoulder procedure. Surgeons documented the direction of vein mobilization and if it was ligated. Patency was assessed by doppler ultrasound and standardized limb circumference measurement preoperatively, at 2 weeks and 12 weeks postoperatively. ResultsArm circumference was significantly increased at 2 weeks in all cohorts (lateral, p<0.001; medial, p = 0.007; ligated, p = 0.011) and at 12 weeks in the laterally-mobilized (p = 0.022) and ligated cohorts (p = 0.003) as compared to preoperatively. Reverse shoulder arthroplasty demonstrated significantly greater arm circumference at 12 weeks as compared to total shoulder arthroplasty (p = 0.014). Intraoperative determination of patency was moderately correlated with 2- and 12-week (r = 0.70, 0.59) ultrasound assessment. ConclusionMedial cephalic vein mobilization in a deltopectoral approach resulted in significantly less arm edema at 3-months when compared to lateral mobilization/ligation. Reverse shoulder arthroplasty demonstrated greater arm edema at 3-months when compared to total shoulder arthroplasty. Intraoperative determination of cephalic vein patency was moderately correlated with postoperative vein patency as assessed by ultrasound. Level of EvidenceIII.

High prevalence of outpatient falls following elective shoulder arthroplasty

This study characterized the prevalence and risk factors of inpatient and outpatient postoperative falls in patients undergoing elective shoulder arthroplasty. A retrospective chart review of 198 patients undergoing anatomic or reverse total shoulder arthroplasty or hemiarthroplasties at one institution between 2015 and 2017 was reviewed to determine the prevalence of inpatient and outpatient falls up to 90 days after discharge. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to assess potential risk factors for postoperative falls including demographics, indication for surgery, surgical procedure, medical history, length of hospital stay, perioperative hemoglobin, need for transfusion, and discharge disposition. There were 23 falls in 22 patients within a 90-day postoperative period. The inpatient fall rate was 1.0% (2 of 198). The outpatient fall rate was 10.6% (21 of 198). Outpatient falls resulted in emergency department evaluation in 23.8% of cases (5 of 21), readmission in 19.0% (4 of 21), injury to an anatomic site other than the shoulder in 19.0% (4 of 21), and injury at the surgical site (eg, periprosthetic humeral fracture) in 4.8% (1 of 21). No significant risk factors were identified for inpatient falls. Independent risk factors for an outpatient fall were female sex (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 4.79; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.32, 17.4; P = .007), increased length of hospital stay (aOR = 1.23; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.45; P = .02), and history of a movement disorder (aOR = 7.20; 95% CI: 1.22, 42.6; P = .03). A high outpatient fall rate of 10.6% within 90 days after discharge raises the concern that falls after shoulder arthroplasty are significantly higher than previously reported.

Delayed hospital discharge after total shoulder arthroplasty: why, and who is at risk?

BackgroundThere is growing policy interest in reducing the length of stay (LOS) after discretionary orthopedic surgery but few data to guide improvement efforts. We characterized the primary reasons and predisposing factors associated with extended LOS after elective total shoulder arthroplasty.MethodsWe retrospectively identified 415 patients undergoing elective primary total shoulder arthroplasty between 2016 and 2017. Extended LOS was defined as a stay greater than the 75th percentile. Medical records were manually reviewed to ascertain the primary reason for extended LOS. Multivariable logistic regression modeling was used to determine preoperative characteristics associated with prolonged hospitalization.ResultsThe most common reason for extended LOS was pain (41%), followed by medical problems (39%), limited social support (18%), and blood transfusions (2%). Only 41% of patients with delayed discharges had documented adverse events (any medical or surgical problem), all of which were minor. The top 4 medical issues were transient hypoxemia (42%), nausea and/or vomiting (13%), electrolyte abnormalities (12%), and altered mental status (10%). In decreasing order of magnitude, the predictors of prolonged LOS were greater number of self-reported allergies, female sex, unmarried patient, diabetes, lower American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, depression, reverse shoulder arthroplasty, and American Society of Anesthesiologists score of 3 or greater. Operative time did not correlate with LOS.ConclusionsProlonged hospitalizations after shoulder arthroplasty are commonly related to pain and limited social support. Sociodemographic and psychological factors seem to have more influence than patient infirmity and technical issues. These findings support a comprehensive approach to care with attention to the physical, mental, and social determinants of health.

Lower-extremity total joint arthroplasty in shoulder arthroplasty patients: does the order of the lower-extremity total joint arthroplasty matter?

As total joint arthroplasty (TJA) utilization increases, arthroplasties of multiple joints in a patient are more common. An understanding of the success of shoulder arthroplasty patients also requiring a lower-extremity (hip or knee) TJA is lacking. We evaluated the following questions: (1) Is there a difference in the revision risk following shoulder arthroplasty in patients who also undergo a lower-extremity TJA compared with those who do not? (2) Does the revision risk differ depending on the sequence of the procedures? Patients who underwent elective primary shoulder arthroplasty from 2009 through 2015 were identified using Kaiser Permanente's shoulder arthroplasty registry. Patients with a lower-extremity TJA were identified using the institution's total joint replacement registry. Revision related to the index shoulder was modeled via Cox regression stratified by procedure type and adjusted for confounders. Of the 4751 shoulder arthroplasties identified, 1285 (27.0%) underwent a prior hip and/or knee arthroplasty and 483 (10.2%) underwent a hip and/or knee arthroplasty following the index shoulder arthroplasty. No difference was found in all-cause shoulder revision risk with lower-extremity TJA before (hazard ratio, 1.38; 95% confidence interval, 0.97-1.96) or after (hazard ratio, 1.30; 95% confidence interval, 0.82-2.06) the index shoulder arthroplasty compared with patients who underwent a shoulder arthroplasty only. In our study sample, we did not observe shoulder revision surgery risk to be different in patients who also underwent a lower-extremity TJA, regardless of the sequence of the 2 procedures. Future prospective studies should investigate whether the timing of the lower-extremity TJA in relation to the shoulder procedure impacts the latter's success.

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) after elective hip, knee and shoulder arthroplasty: protocol for a prospective cohort study

BackgroundThe number of hip, knee and shoulder arthroplasties continues to rise worldwide. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development has launched an initiative (called PaRIS Initiative) for the systematic collection of Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) in patients undergoing elective hip and knee arthroplasty. The Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute (IOR) was selected as a pilot center for the launch of the Initiative in Italy given that IOR hosts the Registry of Orthopedic Prosthetic Implants (RIPO), a region-wide registry which collects joint implant data from all the hospitals in the Emilia-Romagna Region. In this specific geographic area information related to PROMs after joint replacement is unknown. This paper describes the protocol of a study (PaRIS-IOR) that aims to implement the collection of a set of PROMs within an existing implant registry in Italy. The study will also investigate the temporal trend of PROMs in relation to the type of prosthesis and the type of surgical intervention.MethodsThe PaRIS-IOR study is a prospective, single site, cohort study that consists of the administration of PROMs questionnaires to patients on the list for elective arthroplasty. The questionnaires will be administered to the study population within 30 days before surgery, and then at 6 and 12 months following surgery. The study population will consist of consecutive adult patients undergoing either hip, knee or shoulder arthroplasty. The collected data will be linked with those routinely collected by the RIPO in order to assess the temporal trend of PROMs in relation to the type of prosthesis and the type of surgical intervention.DiscussionThe PaRIS-IOR study could have important implications in targeting the factors influencing functional outcomes and quality of life reported by patients after hip, knee and shoulder arthroplasty, and will also represent the first systematic collection of PROMs related to arthroplasty in Italy.Trial registrationProtocol version (1.0) and trial registration data are available on the platform www.clinicaltrial.gov with the identifier NCT03790267, first posted on December 31, 2018.

Paper #20 - Factors associated with high pain intensity after total shoulder arthroplasty

Introduction: As reimbursement becomes increasingly tied to quality and patient experience, there is growing interest in alleviation of postoperative pain combined with optimal opioid stewardship. We characterized predictors of severe inpatient pain after elective total shoulder arthroplasty, and evaluated its association with opioid use, operative time, hospital length of stay, discharge disposition, and cost.

Opioid-free shoulder arthroplasty: a prospective study of a novel clinical care pathway

Opioid therapy has been a cornerstone of perioperative pain control for decades in the United States, despite our increased understanding of the morbidity and mortality linked to opioids. The purpose of this study is to explore the safety, efficacy, and feasibility of an entirely opioid-free perioperative pathway in patients undergoing elective shoulder arthroplasty. Thirty-five patients undergoing elective total shoulder arthroplasty with a mean age of 71 (range, 50-87) years elected into a comprehensive opioid-free, multimodal pain management protocol. Opioid use was completely eliminated for all points in the perioperative period including during regional and general anesthesia. Data were collected regarding patient-reported pain, opioid consumption in the perioperative period, postoperative delirium, nausea, constipation, and falls. Pain level at the primary outcome point of 24 hours or discharge was rated at 2.5 on the numeric rating scale. Stable, low pain scores were demonstrated at all time points postoperatively. Low rates of nausea, falls, and constipation were reported. Only 1 patient required "rescue" opioid medications during the in-patient stay, and an additional patient was given a low-dose opioid prescription at the 2-week postoperative appointment. An opioid-free, multimodal pain management pathway is a safe and effective option in properly selected patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty with a very low risk of requiring rescue opioids. This study is the first such study to present a surgical protocol entirely free of opioids at all portions of the patient care pathway.

Predicting Discharge Disposition After Shoulder Arthroplasty in the United States.

Postdischarge management for shoulder replacement continues to be performed on a case-by-case basis, with no uniform guidelines dictating management. The goal of this study was to develop a nomogram to preoperatively predict a patient's discharge disposition after elective shoulder arthroplasty. Patients who underwent elective shoulder arthroplasty between 2012 and 2015 were identified in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify risk factors for discharge to a postacute care facility, and these results were used to create a predictive nomogram. From 2012 to 2015, 8,363 procedures were identified. In our cohort, 962 patients (11.5%) were discharged to a postacute care facility, and 7,492 patients (88.5%) were discharged home. Preoperative functional status, followed by American Society of Anesthesiologists Class and age, had the strongest predictive value for discharge disposition after shoulder arthroplasty. Discharge disposition can be predicted using a nomogram with commonly identified preoperative and intraoperative variables. Level III, retrospective cohort design, observational study.