Outpatient Total Shoulder Arthroplasty Research Articles

Comparing Comorbidity Burden Between Patients Undergoing Ambulatory Rotator Cuff Repair Versus Inpatient Anatomic Total Shoulder Arthroplasty

BACKGROUNDRotator cuff repair (RCR) patients routinely undergo same-day discharge in an ambulatory setting, while anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) cases have historically been performed in an inpatient hospital setting. For healthier patients, however, TSA has increasingly transitioned to same-day discharge. Understanding whether a true difference in comorbidity burden exists between these patient groups would inform the appropriateness of outpatient TSA in an ambulatory setting. METHODSA retrospective review was performed of patients undergoing primary TSA and same-day, ambulatory RCR performed between September 2017 and May 2021 at a single institution by 3 fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons. Selected sociodemographic factors and the Elixhauser Comorbidity Index (30 variables) were used to summarize and compare comorbidity burden. Only patients >50 years old were included. Chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis testing was used to compare the prevalence or severity for categorical and continuous variables, respectively. RESULTS1433 cases met inclusion criteria, including 146 (34%) primary inpatient TSAs and 287 (66%) ambulatory RCRs. There were few differences in comorbidity burden between TSA and RCR, with TSA having a significantly higher prevalence for only 4 Elixhauser comorbidities and RCR having a higher prevalence of 1 comorbidity, although none survive a Bonferroni correction. TSA patients had a significantly higher prevalence of uncomplicated (p = 0.04192) and complicated hypertension (p = 0.0336), chronic pulmonary disease (p = 0.0045), and cardiac arrhythmia (p = 0.0031). The prevalence of diabetes (p = 0.029758) was significantly higher among RCR patients. Additionally, age (p = 0.011) was significantly higher among TSA patients. Of the TSA cohort, there were 10 incidences (1%) of 90-day readmission whereas there were 14 incidences (5%) of 90-day readmissions after RCR. CONCLUSIONSOverall, few differences in the prevalence of individual comorbidities (and sociodemographic parameters) existed between patients undergoing outpatient rotator cuff repair and inpatient primary anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty. Comorbidities with larger differences can be either optimized preoperatively or managed chronically, and given these similarities, TSA may be similarly appropriate for ambulatory settings, particularly as efficiencies in operative time and improvements in regional anesthesia continue to evolve.

Differences in total shoulder arthroplasty utilization and 30-day outcomes among White, Black, and Hispanic patients: do disparities exist in the outpatient setting?

In the United States, efforts to improve efficiency and reduce healthcare costs are shifting more total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) surgeries to the outpatient setting. However, whether racial and ethnic disparities in access to high-quality outpatient TSA care exist remains to be elucidated. The purpose of this study was to assess racial/ethnic differences in relative outpatient TSA utilization and perioperative outcomes using a large national surgical database. White, Black, and Hispanic patients who underwent TSA between 2017 and 2021 were identified from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database. Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics were collected, and rates of outpatient utilization, adverse events, readmission, reoperation, non-home discharge, and mortality within 30 days of surgery were compared between racial/ethnic groups. Race/ethnicity-specific trends in utilization of outpatient TSA were assessed, and multivariable logistic regression was used to adjust for baseline demographic factors and comorbidities. A total of 21,186 patients were included, consisting of 19,135 (90.3%) White, 1,093 (5.2%) Black, and 958 (4.5%) Hispanic patients and representing 17,649 (83.3%) inpatient and 3,537 (16.7%) outpatient procedures. Black and Hispanic patients were generally younger and less healthy than White patients, yet incidences of complications, non-home discharge, readmission, reoperation, and death within 30 days were similar across groups following outpatient TSA (p>0.050 for all). Relative utilization of outpatient TSA increased by 28.7% among White patients, 29.5% among Black patients, and 38.6% among Hispanic patients (ptrend<0.001 for all). Hispanic patients were 64% more likely than White patients to undergo TSA as an outpatient procedure across the study period (OR: 1.64, 95% CI 1.40-1.92, p<0.001), whereas odds did not differ between Black and White patients (OR: 1.04, 95% CI 0.87-1.23, p=0.673). Relative utilization of outpatient TSA remains highest among Hispanic patients but has been significantly increasing across all racial and ethnic groups, now accounting for more than one-third of all TSA procedures. Considering outpatient TSA is associated with fewer complications and lower costs, increasing utilization may represent a promising avenue for reducing disparities in orthopedic shoulder surgery.

Patient-selection algorithm for outpatient shoulder arthroplasty in ambulatory surgery center: a retrospective update

Outpatient total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) presents a safe alternative to inpatient arthroplasty, while helping meet the rapidly rising volume of shoulder arthroplasty needs and minimizing health care costs. Identifying the correct patient for outpatient surgery is critical to maintaining the safety standards with TSA. This study sought to update an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) TSA patient-selection algorithm previously published by our institution. A retrospective chart review of TSAs was performed in an ASC at a single institution to collect patient demographics, perioperative risk factors, and postoperative outcomes with regard to reoperations, hospital admissions, and complications. The existing ASC algorithm for outpatient TSA was altered based on collected perioperative information, review of pertinent literature, and anesthesiology recommendations. A total of 319 TSAs were performed in an ASC in 298 patients over 7 years. Medically related complications occurred in 3 patients (0.9%) within 90 days of surgery, 2 of whom required hospital admission (0.6%) for acute kidney injury and pulmonary embolus. There were no instances of major cardiac events. Orthopedic-related complications occurred in 11 patients (3.4%), with hematoma development requiring evacuation and instability requiring revision being the most common causes. There was a low rate of perioperative complications and hospital admissions, confirming the safety of TSAs in an ASC setting. Based on prior literature and the population included, a pre-existing patient-selection algorithm was updated to better reflect increased comfort, knowledge, and data regarding safe patient selection for TSA in an ASC.

Trends and outcomes of outpatient total shoulder arthroplasty after its removal from CMS's inpatient-only list

In January 2021, the US Medicare program approved reimbursement of outpatient total shoulder arthroplasties (TSA), including anatomic and reverse TSAs. It remains unclear whether shifting TSAs from the inpatient to outpatient setting has affected clinical outcomes. Herein, we describe the rate of outpatient TSA growth and compare inpatient and outpatient TSA complications, readmissions, and mortality. Medicare fee-for-service claims for 2019-2022Q1 were analyzed to identify the trends in outpatient TSAs and to compare 90-day postoperative complications, all-cause hospital readmissions, and mortality between outpatients and inpatients. Outpatient cases were defined as those discharged on the same day of the surgery. To reduce the COVID-19 pandemic's impact and selection bias, we excluded 2020Q2-Q4 data and used propensity scores to match 2021-2022Q1 outpatients with inpatients from the same period (the primary analysis) and from 2019-2020Q1 (the secondary analysis), respectively. We performed both propensity score-matched and -weighted multivariate analyses to compare outcomes between the two groups. Covariates included sociodemographics, preoperative diagnosis, comorbid conditions, the Hierarchical Condition Category risk score, prior year hospital/skilled nursing home admissions, annual surgeon volume, and hospital characteristics. Nationally, the proportion of outpatient TSAs increased from 3% (619) in 2019Q1 to 22% (3456) in 2021Q1 and 38% (6778) in 2022Q1. A total of 55,166 cases were identified for the primary analysis (14,540 outpatients and 40,576 inpatients). Overall, glenohumeral osteoarthritis was the most common indication for surgery (70.8%), followed by rotator cuff pathology (14.6%). The unadjusted rates of complications (1.3 vs 2.4%, P<.001), readmissions (3.7 vs 6.1%, P<.001), and mortality (0.2 vs 0.4%, P=.024) were significantly lower among outpatient TSAs than inpatient TSAs. Using 1:1 nearest matching, 12,703 patient pairs were identified. Propensity score-matched multivariate analyses showed similar rates of postoperative complications, hospital readmissions, and mortality between outpatients and inpatients. Propensity score-weighted multivariate analyses resulted in similar conclusions. The secondary analysis showed a lower hospital readmission rate in outpatients (odds ratio: 0.8, P<.001). There has been accelerated growth in outpatient TSAs since 2019. Outpatient and inpatient TSAs have similar rates of postoperative complication, hospital readmission, and mortality.

Outpatient vs. inpatient total shoulder arthroplasty: complication rates, clinical outcomes, and eligibility parameters

Improvements in total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA), fast-track surgery, multimodal anesthesia, and rehabilitation protocols have opened up the possibility of outpatient care that is now routinely practiced at our European institution. The first objective of this study was to define the TSA outpatient population and to verify that outpatient management of TSA does not increase the risk of complications. The second objective was to determine patient eligibility parameters and the third was to compare functional outcomes and identify influencing factors. The study included 165 patients who had primary TSA (106 outpatient and 59 inpatient procedures). The operative technique was the same for both groups. Demographics, complications, readmissions, and revisions were collected. American Society of Anesthesiologists, Constant, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, University of California Los Angeles shoulder, and Shoulder Pain and Disability Index scores were obtained preoperatively and at 1.5, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Satisfaction and visual analog scale pain scores also were documented. Statistical analysis was completed using multivariate linear regression. Outpatients were significantly younger and had lower American Society of Anesthesiologists scores than inpatients. The rates of complications, readmissions, and reoperations were not significantly different between groups. Outpatient surgery was not an independent risk factor for complications. At 1.5 months, better outcomes were noted in the outpatient group for all scores, and these reached statistical significance. Distance to home, dominant side, operative time, and blood loss were not associated with functional results. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that outpatient care was significantly associated with improved scores at 1.5 months and did not affect functional outcomes at 6 and 12 months. This study reports the results of routine outpatient TSA within a European healthcare system. TSA performed in an outpatient setting was not an independent risk factor for complications and seemed to be an independent factor in improving early functional results.

Smoking is an independent risk factor for complications in outpatient total shoulder arthroplasty

Smoking is an independent risk factor for complications in outpatient total shoulder arthroplasty

Identifying risk factors for 30-day readmission after outpatient total shoulder arthroplasty to aid in patient selection

A recent meta-analysis comparing inpatient and outpatient total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) showed no statistically significant differences in complications, readmissions, revisions, and infections. However, there remains no research on the appropriate patient selection for outpatient TSA surgeries. This retrospective review seeks to aid surgeons in refining a safe patient selection algorithm by evaluating risk factors through a large database analysis of TSA surgeries. Patients who underwent TSA between 2015 and 2020 were identified in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Patients with a hospital stay of 0 days were designated as outpatient procedures. Multivariate analyses were used to determine risk factors for 30-day readmission following outpatient TSA and whether risk factors remained significant following overnight hospital stay. A total of 2431 outpatient TSA patients were identified. The incidence of 30-day readmission was 1.8%. The majority of readmissions were due to pulmonary complications. The clinically significant risk factors for 30-day readmission were chronic steroid use (odds ratio [OR] 3.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.34-9.43; P=.011), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (OR 3.11, 95% CI 1.16-8.34; P=.024), and current smoking status (OR 2.27, 95% CI 1.02-5.03; P=.045). After overnight hospital stay, chronic steroid use and current smoking status were not significant, but COPD remained significant. Patients with chronic steroid use, COPD, or current smoking status are at increased risk for 30-day readmission. Inpatient hospital stay appears to benefit patients with chronic steroid use and current smoking status. Patients with COPD should be admitted for inpatient stay postoperatively but may still have high 30-day readmission rates following discharge.

Predicting successful outpatient total shoulder arthroplasty.

Total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) is increasingly performed safely and efficiently as an outpatient procedure in certain patients. Patient selection is often based on surgeon choice, surgeon expertise, or institutional guidelines. One orthopedic research group released a publicly available shoulder arthroplasty outpatient appropriateness risk calculator that considers patient demographic characteristics and comorbidities with the aim of helping surgeons to predict successful outpatient TSA. This study aimed to retrospectively assess the utility of this risk calculator at our institution. Records were obtained for patients undergoing procedure code 23472 at our institution between January 1, 2018, and March 31, 2021. Patients undergoing anatomic TSA in the hospital setting were included. Records were reviewed for demographic characteristics, comorbidities, American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, and surgery duration. These data were entered into the risk calculator to calculate the likelihood of discharge by postoperative day 1. Charlson Comorbidity Index, complications, reoperations, and readmissions were also collected from patient records. Statistical analyses assessed the model's fit with our patient cohort and compared outcome measures between inpatient and outpatient groups. Of the 792 patients whose records were initially obtained, 289 met the inclusion criteria of anatomic TSA performed in the hospital setting. Of these patients, 7 were excluded because of missing data, leaving 282 patients: 166 (58.9%) in the inpatient group and 116 (41.1%) in the outpatient group. We found no significant differences in mean age (66.4 years in inpatient group vs. 65.1 years in outpatient group, P=.28), Charlson Comorbidity Index (3.48 vs. 3.06, P=.080), or American Society of Anesthesiologists class (2.58 vs. 2.66, P=.19). Surgery time was longer in the inpatient group than the outpatient group (85 minutes vs. 77 minutes, P=.001). Overall complication rates were low (4.2% in inpatient group vs. 2.6% in outpatient group, P=.07). Readmissions and reoperations did not differ between groups. There was no difference in the average percentage likelihood of same-day discharge (55.4% in inpatient group vs. 52.4% in outpatient group, P=.24), and a receiver operating characteristic curve to assess fit with the risk calculator demonstrated an area under the curve of 0.55. The shoulder arthroplasty risk calculator performed similarly to chance when retrospectively predicting discharge within 1 day after TSA in our patients. Complications, readmissions, and reoperations were not higher after outpatient procedures. Risk calculators for determining whether a patient should be admitted after TSA should be used cautiously because they may not provide measurable benefit over the use of surgeon experience and expertise in discharge decision making, and other factors may be relevant in the decision to perform outpatient TSA.

Analysis of 90-day complications in outpatient total shoulder arthroplasty

BackgroundThere are limited data documenting the safety and clinical outcomes following outpatient total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) and reverse TSA (RTSA) compared to inpatient shoulder arthroplasty. It was hypothesized that there would be no significant differences in complication and emergency room (ER) visit rate between outpatient TSA and RTSA. MethodsA prospectively maintained institutional registry was retrospectively queried for all patients undergoing primary TSA or RTSA between September 2016 and April 2019 and confirmed as having undergone outpatient surgery, defined as surgery performed at an ambulatory surgery center. Ninety-day complications, readmissions, and ER visits were analyzed for outpatient TSA and RTSA. The 90-day complications included infection, thromboembolic disease (pulmonary embolism, deep venous thrombosis), neurovascular injury, revision surgery, and inflammatory processes. ResultsA total of 140 patients were identified who underwent outpatient TSA or RTSA from 2016 to 2019. Four complications (3.7%) were reported in the TSA cohort, compared to 4 complications (12.9%) reported in the RTSA cohort (P = .060). Three ER visits occurred in the RTSA group compared to 0 in the TSA group (P = .001). Patients who experienced a complication had significantly higher body mass index (TSA: P = .049, RTSA: P = .035). In addition, there were no readmissions or reoperations in either TSA or RTSA patients. ConclusionOverall, the rate of complications, ER visits, and readmission rates in outpatient TSA and RTSA was found to be relatively low given the sample size of this study and minor complications reported. In addition, there were no readmissions or reoperations in either TSA or RTSA patients. Elevated body mass index may significantly increase the risk of complications after both a TSA and RTSA. This study suggests that outpatient TSA and RTSA are safe in selected patients.

Outpatient total shoulder arthroplasty in the ambulatory surgery center: a comparison of early complications in patients with and without glenoid bone loss

The purpose of this study is to compare the 90-day complications and readmission rates between patients undergoing total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) in an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) with glenoid bone loss requiring an augmented glenoid component compared to patients without bone loss. This is a retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing outpatient TSA at an ASC (2018-2021). Readmission, direct transfer, and complications were recorded. Major and minor complications were compared. Secondary outcomes included operative time, estimated blood loss, range of motion, and patient-reported outcome measures. There were 44 patients (45 shoulders) included in the study, 20 with augmented implants for glenoid bone loss and 25 nonaugmented with a concentric glenoid. There were no statistical differences in demographics. Two complications were seen in both the augmented and nonaugmented groups (10% vs. 8%). There were no readmissions or direct transfers. The augmented group had significantly increased preoperative glenoid retroversion (23° vs. 9°, P<.05), posterior humeral head subluxation (78% vs. 61%., P<.05), and longer operative time (124.4 min vs. 112.3 min., P<.05). Patient-specific instrumentation was used in 60% of augmented cases and 29% of nonaugmented cases. There was no significant difference in complications, direct transfers, or readmissions between patients with and without glenoid bone loss being treated in an outpatient ASC. The augmented group had significantly worse preoperative deformities, longer operative times, and increased utilization of patient-specific instrumentation. Outpatient TSA in the setting of glenoid bone loss requiring augmentation was found to be safe and effective at a stand-alone ASC.

Patient outcomes after revision total shoulder arthroplasty in an inpatient vs. outpatient setting.

Total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) is becoming an increasingly common surgical procedure for numerous shoulder conditions. The incidence of revision TSA is increasing because of the increase in primary TSA and the increased utilization of TSA in younger patients. Conducting revision TSA as an outpatient procedure would be beneficial in limiting expenditure and resource allocation but must show a similar complication profile compared to inpatient revision TSA in order to justify its clinical value. The purpose of this study is to compare the outcomes of outpatient revision TSA to inpatient revision TSA and outpatient primary TSA. The American College of Surgeons (ACS) National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database was queried from 2010-2019 to identify all patients who underwent revision TSA (n=1456) in either an inpatient or outpatient setting, as well as patients who underwent primary TSA in an outpatient setting (n=2630). Relevant demographic characteristics were compared between the outpatient revision group and both the inpatient revision and outpatient primary groups. Postoperative complications, readmission, and reoperation rates were also compared between the groups. Patients undergoing inpatient revision TSA exhibited increased rates of preoperative hypertension (P=.013) and had increased prevalence of severe American Society of Anesthesiologists classification (P=.021) compared to patients undergoing outpatient revision TSA. Patients undergoing outpatient revision TSA were significantly more likely to experience complications (P<.001), have longer surgical times (P<.001), and undergo readmission (P=.006) and reoperation (P=.049) compared to patients undergoing outpatient primary TSA. There was no significant increase in rates of overall complication, readmission, or reoperation between patients undergoing revision TSA in an outpatient vs. an inpatient setting. Outpatient revision TSA has higher complication rates, readmission, and reoperation rates compared to outpatient primary TSA, similar to previous findings when comparing revision and primary TSA done as an inpatient. However, there was no increased risk of complications, readmission, or reoperation for outpatient revision TSA compared to inpatient revision TSA. Outpatient revision TSA should be considered by orthopedic surgeons in patients who are medically healthy to undergo the procedure as an outpatient surgery.

Perioperative pain control represents the primary concern for patients considering outpatient shoulder arthroplasty: a survey-based study.

Outpatient (OP) total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) with same-day discharge can now be performed safely in appropriately selected patients. Patient knowledge and perspectives regarding OP TSA are yet unknown and such information may inform surgeon decision-making and provide a framework for addressing patient concerns. The goal of this study was to understand and quantify patient knowledge of and concerns for OP TSA, with a working hypothesis that majority of patients are unaware of OP TSA as a realistic option and that their primary concern would be postoperative pain control. This was a retrospective cohort study at a tertiary care academic medical center including patients who underwent anatomic or reverse shoulder arthroplasty and completed an OP TSA expectations questionnaire/survey. This survey was provided preoperatively and included demographic factors, self-rated health evaluation, and perioperative expectations. Surveys evaluated whether patients undergoingTSA had any prior awareness of OP TSA and evaluated their primary concern with same-day discharge. Secondary questions included an assessment of patient expectations of outcomes of outpatient vs. inpatient surgery as well as their expected length of inpatient stay. A total of 122 patients who underwent anatomic and reverse shoulder arthroplasty completed the questionnaire and comprised the study cohort. Fifty-two (42.6%) of the patients were unaware that OP TSA was an option, and 26 (50%) of these were comfortable with the idea of OP TSA. Comfort with OP TSA was significantly associated with higher subjective patient-reported health status. Fifty-eight patients (47.5%) expected that following TSA they would require <24 hours of in-hospital postoperative care. The primary concern for patients considering OP TSA was postoperative pain control, endorsed by 44.3% of patients, compared with 13.1% of patients stating this would be their primary concern if admitted as an inpatient postoperatively. Pain control being a primary concern was significantly different between those considering outpatient vs. inpatient TSA. Most patients anticipated that OP shoulder arthroplasty would lead to a better (36%) or comparable (53%) outcome, whereas only 11% had concerns that it would lead to a worse outcome. Expanding OP TSA crucially depends on awareness and education. Perceived ability to control pain is an importantconcern. Patients may benefit from preoperative counseling, including emphasizing a comprehensive postoperative pain management strategy.

Business Articles in Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Support Outpatient Total Shoulder Arthroplasty and Identify Factors Impacting Surgery Cost

Objectives: Review business related shoulder and elbow articles in tope general orthopaedic journals and compare to top shoulder and elbow subspecialty journals. Design: Literature review. Intervention: General orthopaedic vs subspecialty journals. Main outcome measurement: Publication type, subject, methods Results: There were a total of 21 shoulder and elbow related business articles across JBJS, B&amp;JJ, CORR, and AAOS during the study time period. That accounts for 0.3% of total publications (21/6098) and 8% of the business publications (21/261) in these journals over this 5 year span. Shoulder and elbow business publications accounted for a wide range of editorial space, ranging from 0% of CORR business publications to 11% of BJ&amp;J publications. Across the five shoulder and elbow surgery journals of interest, there were 57 business related articles published for the 5-year duration. The Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery accounted for 77% of these publications (44/57). Business articles represented 0.8% of articles in the fine shoulder and elbow publications (57/7155) over the study time period. Conclusions: This analysis demonstrates the tendency of shoulder and elbow oriented orthopaedic journals to publish a higher percentage of business articles related to shoulder and elbow surgery compared to general orthopaedics journal. The composition of these business articles demonstrates the recent focus on cost analysis of outpatient shoulder arthroplasty as well as factors that drive cost of shoulder and elbow procedures. The subject of shoulder and elbow business related articles in these journals over the last 5 years demonstrates that this field is increasingly interested in outpatient procedures and identifying ways to safely improve cost efficiency. Level of Evidence: IV review Keywords: Orthopaedic business, shoulder and elbow, cost, value based care, finance, shoulder arthroplasty, total shoulder. (J Ortho Business 2022; Volume 2, Issue 3:pages 18-31)

Trends in outpatient shoulder arthroplasty during the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) era: increased proportion of outpatient cases with decrease in 90-day readmissions.

BackgroundThe COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic has placed an increased burden on health care resources, with hospitals around the globe canceling or reducing most elective surgical cases during the initial period of the pandemic. Simultaneously, there has been an increased interest in performing outpatient total joint arthroplasty in an efficient manner while maintaining patient safety. The purpose of this study was to investigate trends in total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) during the COVID-19 era with respect to outpatient surgery and postoperative complications.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective chart review of all primary anatomic and reverse TSAs performed at our health institution over a 3-year period (January 2018 to January 2021). All cases performed prior to March 2020 were considered the “pre–COVID-19 era” cohort. All cases performed in March 2020 or later comprised the “COVID-19 era” cohort. Patient demographic characteristics and medical comorbidities were also collected to appropriately match patients from the 2 cohorts. Outcomes measured included type of patient encounter (outpatient vs. inpatient), total length of stay, and 90-day complications.ResultsA total of 567 TSAs met the inclusion criteria, consisting of 270 shoulder arthroplasty cases performed during the COVID-19 era and 297 cases performed during the pre–COVID-19 era. There were no significant differences in body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, smoking status, or distribution of pertinent medical comorbidities between the 2 examined cohorts. During the COVID-19 era, 31.8% of shoulder arthroplasties were performed in an outpatient setting. This was significantly higher than the percentage in the pre–COVID-19 era, with only 4.5% of cases performed in an outpatient setting (P < .0001). The average length of stay was significantly reduced in the COVID-19 era cohort (0.81 days vs. 1.45 days, P < .0001). There was a significant decrease in 90-day readmissions during the COVID-19 era. No significant difference in 90-day emergency department visits, 90-day venous thromboembolism events, or 90-day postoperative infections was observed between the 2 cohorts.ConclusionWe found a significant increase in the number of outpatient shoulder arthroplasty cases being performed at our health institution during the COVID-19 era, likely owing to a multitude of factors including improved perioperative patient management and increased hospital burden from the COVID-19 pandemic. This increase in outpatient cases was associated with a significant reduction in average hospital length of stay and a significant decrease in 90-day readmissions compared with the pre–COVID-19 era. The study data suggest that outpatient TSA can be performed in a safe and efficient manner in the appropriate patient cohort.

Inpatient versus outpatient shoulder arthroplasty outcomes: A propensity score matched risk-adjusted analysis demonstrates the safety of outpatient shoulder arthroplasty

ObjectivesBeginning January 1, 2021 total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) was removed from the Medicare (U.S national healthcare for patients ≥ 65years of age) inpatient-only list. Furthermore, there is limited data comparing outpatient and inpatient TSA among recent contemporary large population databases. This study aimed to analyze shoulder arthroplasty outcomes between inpatient and outpatient procedures at the national level. MethodsThe American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database was utilized (2015–2019). Cases with a current procedural terminology of 23472 indicative of primary TSA and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty were included (N = 22,452). Outcomes were then analyzed in two approaches: unmatched analysis and propensity score matched risk-adjusted analysis. ResultsOverall, 9.7% (N = 2,185) of cases were performed outpatient and 90.3% (N = 20,357) of cases were performed inpatient. The rate of outpatient procedures has been steadily increasing (2015: 8.3%, 2016: 14.7%, 2017: 15.8%, 2018: 26.5%, 2019: 34.6%; P < 0.001). Outpatients were more likely to be male (50.7% vs. 43.7%) and younger (age < 65; 37.0% vs. 27.9%) and less likely to be ASA class 3 or 4 (49.5% vs. 58.3%). Outpatients had fewer comorbidities including obesity (46.1% vs. 51.9%), hypertension (60.5% vs. 67.4%), diabetes (15.1 vs. 18.2%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (4.8% vs. 7.0%), bleeding disorders (1.3% vs. 2.5%), or chronic steroid use (3.5% vs. 5.0%; all P < 0.001). In a non-risk matched analysis of outcomes, outpatient procedures displayed lower rates of any adverse event (3.5% vs. 5.3%; P < 0.001), minor adverse events (1.5% vs. 3.0%; P = 0.001), and readmission (2.2% vs. 2.8%; P = 0.025). Following a propensity score matched analysis, two risk matched cohorts of outpatient (N = 2,172) and inpatient (N = 2,172) procedures were identified. Subsequent analysis of outcomes revealed no significant differences in outcome metrics between risk-matched outpatient and inpatient procedures. ConclusionsFrom 2015 to 2019, there has been a four-fold increase in the proportion of outpatient shoulder arthroplasty cases in the ACS-NSQIP database. This study shows that outpatient shoulder arthroplasty may be safely performed in a select cohort of patients without increased risk of adverse events. After adjusting for comorbidities, there were no differences in clinical outcomes or rates of adverse outcomes between inpatient and outpatient shoulder arthroplasty. Level of evidenceRetrospective Observational Study, Level IV.

No significant difference in risk of prolonged opioid use following outpatient versus inpatient total shoulder arthroplasty: A propensity matched analysis.

The purpose of this investigation was to compare rates of filled opioid prescriptions and prolonged opioid use in opioid naïve patients undergoing total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) in inpatient versus outpatient settings. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using a national insurance claims database. Inpatient and outpatient cohorts were created by identifying continuously enrolled, opioid naïve TSA patients. A greedy nearest-neighbor algorithm was used to match baseline demographic characteristics between cohorts with a 1:1 inpatient to outpatient ratio to compare the primary outcomes of filled opioid prescriptions and prolonged opioid use following surgery between cohorts. A total of 11,703 opioid naïve patients (mean age 72.5 ± 8.5 years, 54.5% female, 87.6% inpatient) were included for analysis. After propensity score matching (n = 1447 inpatients; n = 1447 outpatients), outpatient TSA patients were significantly more likely to fill an opioid prescription in the perioperative window compared to inpatients (82.9% versus 71.5%, p < 0.001). No significant differences in prolonged opioid use were detected (5.74% inpatient versus 6.77% outpatient; p = 0.25). Outpatient TSA patients were more likely to fill opioid prescriptions compared to inpatient TSA patients. The quantity of opioids prescribed and rates of prolonged opioid use were similar between the cohorts. Therapeutic Level III.

Trends in outpatient versus inpatient total shoulder arthroplasty over time.

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to investigate the safety of outpatient and inpatient total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) and to investigate changes over time.MethodsPatients undergoing primary TSA during 2006-2019 as part of the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program were identified. Patients were divided into an early cohort (2006-2016, 12,401 patients) and a late cohort (2017-2019, 12,845 patients). Outpatient procedures were defined as those discharged on the day of surgery. Patient comorbidities and rate of adverse events within 30 days postoperatively were compared with adjustment for baseline characteristics using standard multivariate regression.ResultsThere was a significant reduction in complications over time when considering all cases (5.69% in the early cohort vs. 3.67% in the late cohort, adjusted relative risk [RR] = 0.65, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.58-0.73, P < .001). The rate of complications decreased over time among inpatients (5.80% vs. 3.90%, adjusted RR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.60-0.76, P < .001). However, there was no difference in the rate of complications among outpatients over time (1.98% vs. 1.38%, adjusted RR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.28-1.47, P = .293). There were significantly more complications among inpatients vs. outpatients in both the early and late cohorts (early: 5.80% vs. 1.98%, adjusted RR = 2.57, 95% CI = 1.24-5.34, P = .011, late: 3.90% vs. 1.38%, adjusted RR = 2.28, 95% CI = 1.39-3.74, P = .001). TSA became more common in elderly patients over 70 years of age over time in both the inpatient and outpatient cohorts, whereas fewer young patients (aged 18-59 years) underwent TSA in the late cohorts than in the early cohorts for both the inpatient and outpatient samples (P < .001).ConclusionThe overall complication rate of TSA has decreased over time as outpatient TSA has become increasingly common. When contemporary data are examined, the complication rate of outpatient procedures has remained constant over time while that of inpatient procedures decreased, despite the changing demographics of patients undergoing TSA. This indicates that outpatient TSA remains a safe procedure as patient selection criteria have evolved, while the safety of inpatient TSA continues to improve.

Safety and Cost Effectiveness of Outpatient Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review.

Changes in healthcare policy have driven many hospital-based surgeries to the outpatient environment. Multiple studies have shown outpatient total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) is a safe alternative to the inpatient setting. This systematic review evaluates patient selection, perioperative protocols, complications, costs, patient satisfaction, and clinical outcomes of outpatient TSA and compares these with their inpatient counterparts. The Emnbase, Medline, and CENTRAL databases were queried on April 30, 2020, for outpatient TSA studies, identifying 232 articles, with 21 meeting inclusion criteria. This involved 25,808 and 231,408 patients undergoing outpatient and inpatient TSA, respectively. Failed same-day discharge, readmissions, revision surgeries, cost, and complications among outpatient TSA were aggregated when raw numbers were available. Statistical significance for comparisons among outpatient and inpatient TSA within individual studies was alpha = 0.05. Ten studies evaluated same-day discharge rate, with 440 of 446 patients (98.7%) meeting the goals. Fourteen studies evaluated readmissions, revision surgeries, and complications, with readmissions in 238 of 6,133 patients (3.9%), revision surgeries in 32 of 1,484 patients (2.1%), and complications in 376 of 4,977 patients (7.6%). Readmission rates were similar between inpatients and outpatients, with only one study finding more readmissions after inpatient TSA. Complications were more common in inpatient TSA in five studies. Outpatient TSA demonstrated a charge reduction of $25,509 to $53,202 per patient, and patient satisfaction after outpatient TSA was "good to excellent" in more than 95% of patients. Patient selection for outpatient TSA used patient age, medical comorbidities, social support, living proximity to location of surgery, and lack of preoperative opioid use. Outpatient TSA in appropriately selected patients is a safe and cost-effective alternative to inpatient TSA. However, the literature is limited to national database or small retrospective studies. Large prospective, cohort studies are necessary to further assess differences in complication profiles between outpatient and inpatient TSA. Level IV; systematic review.

Single-dose antibiotic regimens in total shoulder arthroplasty are safe in an outpatient surgery setting

BackgroundRecent literature supports that outpatient total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) is a safe alternative to the traditional inpatient setting in appropriately selected patients; however, one concern with outpatient TSA is the inability to administer 24 hours of intravenous (IV) prophylactic antibiotics. The purpose of this study was to determine the infection and revision rates after outpatient TSA using single-dose preoperative IV antibiotics in an ambulatory setting and compare those to TSA performed inpatient with 24 hours of IV antibiotics. MethodsAn institutional database query was used to identify patients undergoing either primary anatomic TSA or reverse TSA. Patients were grouped into inpatient receiving 24 hours of IV antibiotics or outpatient receiving a single dose of IV antibiotics. Outcomes measured included overall infection (superficial and deep) and revision rates (infectious or noninfectious indications). Timing of infection was categorized as early (diagnosis <3 months postoperatively) or late (>3 months postoperatively). Patient demographics and comorbidities were analyzed. ResultsOf the total 1022 patients identified, 896 were inpatient and received 24 hours of IV antibiotics, and 126 patients were outpatient and received a single dose of IV antibiotics prior to TSA at an ambulatory surgery center. Average follow-up was 23 ± 21 and 18 ± 16 months for the 24-hour antibiotic cohort and single-dose cohort, respectively. The 896 patients receiving 24-hour antibiotics were on average 10.3 years older than the 129 patients who received a single dose (<0.001). Patients in the 24-hour cohort also were more likely to have rTSA (<0.0001), diabetes mellitus (=0.001) and hypertension (P ≤ .0001) than those receiving a single dose. Patients receiving a single dose had significantly more nonarthroplasty shoulder surgeries on the operative side than those receiving 24-h antibiotics (P = .04). There were no significant differences in overall postoperative infection rates (P = .71) or revision rates (P = .47). ConclusionPostoperative infection rates were low in both groups. There were no statistically significant differences in postoperative infection or revision rates. Patients in the single-dose cohort were significantly younger and had fewer comorbidities than patients in the 24-hour cohort; however, the single-dose cohort was more likely to have had previous nonarthroplasty shoulder surgery, which was most likely related to stricter patient selection criteria. The results of this study suggest that a single dose of IV antibiotic prophylaxis can be safely used in patients having outpatient TSA in an ambulatory center.Level of Evidence. Level III; Retrospective Cohort

Outpatient Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review Evaluating Outcomes and Cost-Effectiveness.

Orthopaedic surgical procedures are increasingly being performed in outpatient settings. The drive for cost reduction without compromising patient safety and outcomes has increased interest in outpatient total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA). The primary aim of this study was to perform a review of the evidence regarding the outcomes and cost-effectiveness of outpatient TSA. A search of the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases was performed using several keywords: "outpatient," "shoulder replacement," "ambulatory," "day case," "day-case," "shoulder arthroplasty," "same day," and "shoulder surgery." Studies that were published from May 2010 to May 2020 in the English language were considered. Research design, questions, and outcomes were recorded for each study. Qualitative and quantitative pooled analysis was performed on the data where appropriate. Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria. Six retrospective studies compared complication rates between inpatient and outpatient cohorts and found no significant differences. Four studies found that the complication rate was lower in the outpatient cohort compared with the inpatient cohort. In a pooled analysis, the readmission rate after outpatient TSA was significantly lower than the readmission rate after inpatient TSA at 30 days (0.65% vs. 0.95%) and 90 days (2.03% vs. 2.87%) postoperatively (p < 0.05 for both). Four studies evaluated the cost of outpatient TSA in comparison with inpatient TSA. All of these studies found that TSA at an ambulatory surgery center was significantly less costly than TSA at an inpatient facility, both for the health-care system and for the patient. Patient selection for outpatient TSA may depend on several important factors, including the presence or absence of diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease, congestive heart failure, poor functional status, higher American Society of Anesthesiologists class, chronic narcotic use, higher body mass index, and older age. Our results show that patient selection is the most critical factor that predicts the success of outpatient TSA. While outpatient TSA is significantly less costly than inpatient TSA, patients undergoing outpatient TSA are more likely to be healthier than patients undergoing inpatient TSA. More high-quality long-term studies are needed to add to this body of evidence. Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.