Patients Undergoing Shoulder Arthroplasty Research Articles

What Factors Are Associated with Patient-reported Outcome Measure Questionnaire Completion for an Electronic Shoulder Arthroplasty Registry?

There has been an increase in the use of electronic systems to collect patient-reported outcome measures. There is limited data on the added value of electronic reporting on increasing patient response proportions and little knowledge of which patients are more likely to respond. (1) What proportion of patients completed patient-reported outcome questionnaires at baseline and at 1 year and 2 years of follow-up after shoulder arthroplasty, and what methods did they use to complete these questionnaires (either automated or manual data collection)? (2) What factors were associated with questionnaire completion? Our shoulder arthroplasty registry from a high-volume, tertiary care center implemented an electronic platform to collect patient-reported outcomes. A total of 2128 patients underwent shoulder arthroplasty between 2016 and 2019. Patients without an email address on file were excluded; 90% (1907 of 2128) of patients were included in the study. The population was 50% women (954 of 1907) with a mean age of 67 ± 9 years. A query was performed to determine whether patients completed questionnaires by either automated or manual data collection at baseline and 1 year and 2 years of follow-up after shoulder arthroplasty. In a logistic regression analysis, patient factors (such as demographics, education, and living arrangements) were evaluated for their association with whether patients completed these questionnaires. The proportion of questionnaire completion at baseline, 1 year, and 2 years were 72% (1369 of 1907), 47% (456 of 972), and 33% (128 of 393), respectively. Of the patients who completed their questionnaires, 63% (868 of 1369) did so through automated emails at baseline, 84% (381 of 456) did so at 1 year, and 81% (103 of 128) did so at 2 years. The remainder completed their questionnaires through manual data collection with a research assistant: 37% (501 of 1369) at baseline, 16% (75 of 456) at 1 year, and 19% (25 of 128) at 2 years. After controlling for potentially confounding variables like patient demographics, college education, and living arrangements, women were less likely to complete baseline questionnaires than men (odds ratio 0.78 [95% confidence interval 0.62 to 0.99]; p = 0.04), and white patients (OR 1.6 [95% CI 1.05 to 2.44]; p = 0.03) were more likely than nonwhite patients to have complete baseline questionnaires. At 2 years of follow-up, patients with a college education (OR 2.06 [95% CI 1.14 to 3.71]; p = 0.02), those who lived alone (OR 2.11 [95% CI 1.13 to 3.94]; p = 0.02), and those who had higher baseline Shoulder Activity Scale scores (OR 1.05 [95% CI 1.00 to 1.11]; p = 0.04) were more likely to have complete questionnaires than those without a college education, those who lived with other people, and those with lower SAS scores, respectively. The challenges of adopting an online platform include low follow-up proportions and the need for manual assistance by a research assistant to increase patient completion of questionnaires. The knowledge of which patient characteristics are associated with a higher likelihood of completing questionnaires has implications for targeted follow-up or representative sampling of the population in a registry. Populations that are less likely to respond may require more effort to reach to prevent exacerbating health outcome disparities. Random sampling with upweighting of hard-to-reach populations may also provide a solution to achieve a representative population of patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty.

Do patient outcomes and follow-up completion rates after shoulder arthroplasty differ based on insurance payor?

Disparities associated with socioeconomic status (SES) and insurance coverage have been shown to affect outcomes in different medical conditions and surgical procedures. We hypothesized that patients insured by Medicaid will be associated with lower follow-up rates and inferior outcomes relative to those with Medicare or private insurance. Patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty, including anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty, reverse arthroplasty, and hemiarthroplasty, were enrolled preoperatively in an institutional database. Preoperative demographics, payor (Medicaid, Medicare, or private insurance), and baseline American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment Form (ASES) scores were recorded. Postoperatively, patients completed ASES scores at multiple time points. Follow-up completion rate was calculated as the number of follow-up visits completed relative to possible visits. Continuous variables were compared between groups with 1-way analyses of variance, and chi-squared tests were used for categorical variables. Significance was defined as P < .05. There were 491 shoulder replacements performed for 438 patients from 2012-2017. The mean follow-up completed percentage was significantly lower (P < .001) for Medicaid patients (62.6% ± 33.7%) relative to Medicare patients (80.2% ± 26.7%; P < .001) and private insurance patients (77.8% ± 22.1%; P = .001). The ASES Composite score increased significantly for all patients from baseline to final follow-up. At each time point, including before surgery and each postoperative time point, patients with Medicaid insurance had significantly lower ASES Composite scores. The final ASES Composite score was significantly lower in the Medicaid patients (66.1 ± 28.7) relative to private insurance patients (78.3 ± 20.8; P = .023). Medicaid patients had significantly lower preoperative (P < .001) and postoperative (P = .018) ASES Pain subscores. In multivariate regression analysis, Medicaid insurance was associated with both inferior preoperative and postoperative ASES scores relative to patients with Medicare or private insurance. We observed that all patients, regardless of insurance payor, improved by similar magnitudes after shoulder arthroplasty, though patients with Medicaid insurance had significantly lower preoperative and postoperative ASES scores, primarily because of the ASES Pain subscore. Patients with Medicaid insurance also have lower follow-up rates than other payors.

Shoulder arthroplasty in solid organ transplant patients: a retrospective, match paired analysis

Several studies have evaluated total hip and knee arthroplasty in solid organ transplant (SOT) patients; however, there are limited studies evaluating shoulder arthroplasty in SOT patients. This study compares the complications and functional outcomes of SOT patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty with a matched control group. The institution's database was retrospectively reviewed for patients with a history of SOT undergoing primary shoulder arthroplasty (with minimum 2-year follow-up) and compared with a control group matched for age, sex, preoperative diagnosis, and surgical procedure. Preoperative and postoperative range of motionand outcomescores, perioperative surgical and medical complications, hospital length of stay, and mortality were compared. Fifteen patients with previous SOT underwent 19 shoulder arthroplasties. Thirty-four underwent 35 shoulder arthroplasties in the control group. At last follow-up, the SOT group had a significantly worse UCLA score. The SOT group had a significantly worse improvement in UCLA, active elevation, and passive elevation scores in pre- to postoperative scores. There was no difference in length of stay, infection, or surgical complications. Ninety-day readmissions, medically related complications, and required blood transfusion were significantly higher in the SOT group. There was increased mortality in the SOT compared with the control group (death occurred on average 1577 days after arthroplasty). Shoulder arthroplasty in patients with previous SOT appears safe and effective for degenerative shoulder disorders. Patients should be counseled preoperatively that their range of motion and function may not improve as much as their nontransplant cohorts. SOT patients may have increased incidence of postoperative blood transfusions and medically related complications.

Randomized controlled trial of chlorhexidine wash versus benzoyl peroxide soap for home surgical preparation: neither is effective in removing Cutibacterium from the skin of shoulder arthroplasty patients.

Home chlorhexidine washes prior to shoulder surgery are commonly used in an attempt to reduce the skin bacterial load. However, recent studies have suggested that this agent is relatively ineffective against Cutibacterium acne. Benzoyl peroxide soap is a treatment for acne, but evidence regarding its effectiveness as prophylaxis in shoulder surgery is lacking. Therefore, the objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of home chlorhexidine washes with benzoyl peroxide soap (BPO) in patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty surgery in reducing Cutibacterium levels on the skin surface and in the dermis. Fifty male patients planning to undergo shoulder arthroplasty were consented to be randomized into treatment with 4% chlorhexidine solution (CHG) and 10% benzoyl peroxide soap (BPO) used to wash the operative shoulder the night prior and morning of surgery. Skin swabs prior to incision and dermal wound swabs after incision were obtained, and the bacterial load was reported in a semiquantitative manner as the Specimen Cutibacterium Value (SpCuV). The two groups were compared with regards to the percent positivity of the skin surface and incised dermal edge as well as the bacterial load at each site. Skin surface swabs were positive in 100% of patients using CHG and 100% of patients using BPO soap. The Cutibacterium load (SpCuV) on the skin surface was similar between the two groups (CHG 1.6 ± 1.1 vs. BPO 1.5 ± 1.4, p = 0.681). The percentages of dermal cultures that were positive were not significantly different between the two groups (CHG 61% vs BPO 46%, p = 0.369). The Cutibacterium load (SpCuV) on the incised dermal edge was similar between the two groups (CHG 0.8 ± 1.0 vs. BPO 0.8 ± 1.4, p = 0.991). Neither BPO soap nor chlorhexidine washes prior to shoulder surgery were effective in eliminating Cutibacterium from the skin surface or the incised dermal edge. Further study of means of reducing the Cutibacterium load of the skin at the time of shoulder arthroplasty is warranted.

What Is the Accuracy of Three Different Machine Learning Techniques to Predict Clinical Outcomes After Shoulder Arthroplasty?

Machine learning techniques can identify complex relationships in large healthcare datasets and build prediction models that better inform physicians in ways that can assist in patient treatment decision-making. In the domain of shoulder arthroplasty, machine learning appears to have the potential to anticipate patients' results after surgery, but this has not been well explored. (1) What is the accuracy of machine learning to predict the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgery (ASES), University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Constant, global shoulder function, and VAS pain scores, as well as active abduction, forward flexion, and external rotation at 1 year, 2 to 3 years, 3 to 5 years, and more than 5 years after anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (aTSA) or reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA)? (2) What is the accuracy of machine learning to identify whether a patient will achieve clinical improvement that exceeds the minimum clinically important difference (MCID) threshold for each outcome measure? (3) What is the accuracy of machine learning to identify whether a patient will achieve clinical improvement that exceeds the substantial clinical benefit threshold for each outcome measure? A machine learning analysis was conducted on a database of 7811 patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty of one prosthesis design to create predictive models for multiple clinical outcome measures. Excluding patients with revisions, fracture indications, and hemiarthroplasty resulted in 6210 eligible primary aTSA and rTSA patients, of whom 4782 patients with 11,198 postoperative follow-up visits had sufficient preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative data to train and test the predictive models. Preoperative clinical data from 1895 primary aTSA patients and 2887 primary rTSA patients were analyzed using three commercially available supervised machine learning techniques: linear regression, XGBoost, and Wide and Deep, to train and test predictive models for the ASES, UCLA, Constant, global shoulder function, and VAS pain scores, as well as active abduction, forward flexion, and external rotation. Our primary study goal was to quantify the accuracy of three machine learning techniques to predict each outcome measure at multiple postoperative timepoints after aTSA and rTSA using the mean absolute error between the actual and predicted values. Our secondary study goals were to identify whether a patient would experience clinical improvement greater than the MCID and substantial clinical benefit anchor-based thresholds of patient satisfaction for each outcome measure as quantified by the model classification parameters of precision, recall, accuracy, and area under the receiver operating curve. Each machine learning technique demonstrated similar accuracy to predict each outcome measure at each postoperative point for both aTSA and rTSA, though small differences in prediction accuracy were observed between techniques. Across all postsurgical timepoints, the Wide and Deep technique was associated with the smallest mean absolute error and predicted the postoperative ASES score to ± 10.1 to 11.3 points, the UCLA score to ± 2.5 to 3.4, the Constant score to ± 7.3 to 7.9, the global shoulder function score to ± 1.0 to 1.4, the VAS pain score to ± 1.2 to 1.4, active abduction to ± 18 to 21°, forward elevation to ± 15 to 17°, and external rotation to ± 10 to 12°. These models also accurately identified the patients who did and did not achieve clinical improvement that exceeded the MCID (93% to 99% accuracy for patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and 85% to 94% for pain, function, and ROM measures) and substantial clinical benefit (82% to 93% accuracy for PROMs and 78% to 90% for pain, function, and ROM measures) thresholds. Machine learning techniques can use preoperative data to accurately predict clinical outcomes at multiple postoperative points after shoulder arthroplasty and accurately risk-stratify patients by preoperatively identifying who may and who may not achieve MCID and substantial clinical benefit improvement thresholds for each outcome measure. Three different commercially available machine learning techniques were used to train and test models that predicted clinical outcomes after aTSA and rTSA; this device-type comparison was performed to demonstrate how predictive modeling techniques can be used in the near future to help answer unsolved clinical questions and augment decision-making to improve outcomes after shoulder arthroplasty.

Therapeutic postoperative anticoagulation is a risk factor for wound complications, infection, and revision after shoulder arthroplasty

The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between postoperative therapeutic anticoagulation, wound complications, infection, and revision. Using a national insurance database from 2007 to 2016, patients who underwent shoulder arthroplasty with an indication for postoperative therapeutic anticoagulation in the case of atrial fibrillation or acute postoperative venous thromboembolism were identified. Those with a prescription for a therapeutic anticoagulant within 2 weeks of surgery were identified and compared with controls without postoperative therapeutic anticoagulant prescriptions. Wound complications and postoperative infection at 3 and 6 months, and revision shoulder arthroplasty at 6 months and all timepoints were then compared in the database using a multivariable logistic regression analysis. A total of 17,272 patients were included, including 684 patients who received therapeutic anticoagulation and 16,588 controls. Patients receiving therapeutic anticoagulation experienced increased wound complications at 3 months (odds ratio [OR] 3.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.0-4.6, P < .0001) and 6 months (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.7-3.8, P < .0001). Patients receiving therapeutic anticoagulation also experienced increased rates of wound infection at 3 months (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1-2.0, P = .007) and 6 months (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.4-2.3, P < .0001). Finally, patients receiving therapeutic anticoagulation experienced increased rates of revision surgery at 6months (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.3-2.5, P = .0003) and within 9 years (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1-2.0, P = .007). Wound complications and revision rates in patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty who require postoperative therapeutic anticoagulation are significantly elevated compared with controls.

Patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty for failed nonoperative treatment of proximal humerus fracture have low implant survival and low patient-reported outcomes: 837 cases from the Danish Shoulder Arthroplasty Registry

Background and purpose — When nonoperative treatment of proximal humerus fracture (PHF) fails, shoulder arthroplasty may be indicated. We investigated risk factors for revision and evaluated patient-reported outcome 1 year after treatment with either stemmed hemiarthroplasty (SHA) or reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) after previous nonoperative treatment of PHF sequelae.Patients and methods — Data were derived from the Danish Shoulder Arthroplasty Registry and included 837 shoulder arthroplasties performed for PHF sequelae between 2006 and 2015. Type of arthroplasty, sex, age, and surgery period were investigated as risk factors. The Western Ontario Osteoarthritis of the Shoulder index (WOOS) was used to evaluate patient-reported outcome (0–100, 0 indicates worst outcome). Cox regression and linear regression models were used in the statistical analyses.Results — 644 patients undergoing SHA and 127 patients undergoing RTSA were included. During a mean follow-up of 3.7 years, 48 (7%) SHA and 14 (11%) RTSA were revised. Men undergoing RTSA had a higher revision rate than men undergoing SHA (hazard ratio [HR] 6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2–19). 454 (62%) patients returned a complete WOOS questionnaire. The mean WOOS score was 53 for SHA and 53 for RTSA. Patients who were 65 years or older had a better WOOS score than younger patients (mean difference 7, CI 1–12). Half of patients had WOOS scores below 50.Interpretation — Shoulder arthroplasty for PHF sequelae was associated with a high risk of revision and a poor patient-reported outcome. Men treated with RTSA had a high risk of revision.

Osteoporosis and Implant-Related Complications After Anatomic and Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty.

Osteoporosis is a widespread and growing medical condition, with significant orthopaedic implications. However, the effect of osteoporosis on outcomes after total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) is not well understood. The goal of the present study was to characterize the incidence of osteoporosis in patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty and to examine whether patients with osteoporosis undergoing anatomic and reverse TSA are at an increased risk of prosthetic-related complications. Complication rates were calculated for patients with osteoporosis who underwent anatomic and reverse TSA as separate cohorts within 2 years of surgery including loosening/osteolysis, periprosthetic fracture, periprosthetic dislocation, and revision shoulder arthroplasty and compared using a multivariable logistic regression analysis to control for patient demographics and comorbidities during comparisons, including the indication for reverse TSA. The prevalence of an osteoporosis diagnosis at the time of surgery was 14.3% for anatomic TSA patients and 26.2% of reverse TSA patients. Anatomic TSA patients with osteoporosis experienced significantly higher rates of periprosthetic fracture (odds ratio [OR], 1.49; P = 0.017) and revision shoulder arthroplasty (OR, 1.21; P = 0.009) within 2 years of surgery compared with matched controls without osteoporosis. Patients in the reverse TSA group with osteoporosis also had significantly higher rates of periprosthetic fracture (OR, 1.86; P = 0.001) and revision shoulder arthroplasty (OR, 1.42; P = 0.005) within 2 years of surgery compared with matched controls. A significant number of patients undergoing both anatomic and reverse TSA have a concurrent diagnosis of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis represents a significant independent risk factor for periprosthetic fracture and revision shoulder arthroplasty within 2 years of surgery, regardless of the type of implant. Patients with osteoporosis should be counseled on their increased risk of complications after shoulder arthroplasty.

Inconclusive evidence for the efficacy of tranexamic acid in reducing transfusions, postoperative infection or hematoma formation after primary shoulder arthroplasty: A meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis

Tranexamic acid efficacy on clinically relevant adverse outcomes in patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty has been contradictory. The aim of this review was to analyze whether tranexamic acid administration could decrease transfusions, infection and hematoma formation in patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty. PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were searched up to May 2019 for randomized controlled trials comparing tranexamic acid to placebo in shoulder arthroplasty. Random-effect models were performed to meta-analyze the evidence. Trial sequential analysis was used to calculate and to establish the conclusiveness of the evidence derived from the meta-analysis. Four randomized controlled trials comprising 375 patients were included. Meta-analysis showed no effect of tranexamic acid on transfusion rate (RR = 0.48 (adjusted 95% CI 0.05 to 3.85)). The possible effect of tranexamic acid on hematoma formation or infection rates after shoulder arthroplasty is non-estimable with the current evidence. The sample size necessary to reliably determine if tranexamic acid decreases transfusions, infection rates and hematoma formation is not available from the current literature as determined by the trial sequential analysis. While tranexamic acid has proven its efficacy in decreasing blood loss in shoulder arthroplasty, this meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials clarifies that there is currently no conclusive evidence for a positive effect of tranexamic acid upon transfusion rate, infection rates or hematoma formation in patients undergoing primary shoulder arthroplasty.

Utilization and Real-world Effectiveness of Tranexamic Use in Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Population-based Study.

Tranexamic acid (TXA) is increasingly used to reduce blood loss in lower extremity arthroplasty, but limited data exist for its effectiveness in patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty. We aimed to use national data to assess the frequency of use and effectiveness of TXA in patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty. Using national claims data from patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty (Premier Healthcare; 2010 to 2016; n = 82,512; 429 hospitals), we categorized patients according to whether they received perioperative TXA. Multilevel multivariable regression models measured associations between TXA and blood transfusion risk, combined complications (including thromboembolic events, acute renal failure, cerebral infarction, and acute myocardial infarction), and length and cost of hospitalization. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) are reported. Overall, TXA was used in 12.8% (n = 10,582) of patients with a strong increasing trend. After adjustment for relevant covariates, TXA use (compared with no TXA use) was associated with a 36% decrease in transfusion risk (OR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.52 to 0.77; P < 0.05) and a 35% decreased risk for combined complications (OR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.50 to 0.83; P < 0.05). Moreover, TXA use was associated with 6.2% shorter hospital stay (95% CI, -8.0% to -4.4%; P < 0.05), whereas no difference was observed with the cost of hospitalization. In this first large-scale study assessing TXA use and effectiveness in patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty, we found that although TXA utilization is still low, it is associated with a marked decrease in transfusion risk with no increases in complication risk. Effects on the length and cost of hospitalization appeared minor. Future studies should assess whether higher volumes of TXA utilization would translate into more gains on the length and cost of hospitalization. Level III.

Early outcomes and complications of obese patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty: A meta-analysis

ObjectiveThe prevalence of obesity and shoulder arthroplasty have both been increasing in the United States. Although lower extremity arthroplasty literature suggests higher complication rates in these patients, there is a paucity of studies evaluating the outcome of shoulder arthroplasty in obese patients. Our purpose was to perform a meta-analysis to determine clinical outcomes and complications of these patients. MethodsFollowing the PRISMA guidelines, the MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, and Ovid libraries were used to perform a comprehensive literature review to compare complications and outcomes following shoulder arthroplasty between obese and non-obese patients. Our initial search returned 143 publications. Our inclusion criteria included full-text reports, minimum follow-up of 1 year, minimum of 10 patients, no cadaveric or biomechanical studies, only studies published in English, studies involving obese patients undergoing either anatomic or reverse shoulder arthroplasty. A total of 13 studies met the inclusion criteria. These studies were then evaluating using a methodological index for non-randomized studies (MINORS) score. Ultimately, 6 studies met our criteria and were included in the final analysis. ResultsA total of 978 patients were identified from the 6 studies. Patients with a BMI <30 kg/m2 had a complication rate of 9.7% and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score (ASES) increased from 37.4 to 76.7. Patients with a BMI >30 kg/m2 had a complications rate of 6.5% and ASES increased from 34.4 to 76.2. Patients with a BMI >40 kg/m2 ASES increased from 29.5 to 68.6. The postoperative ASES score of 68.6 for patients with a BMI >40 kg/m2 was significantly lower than the ASES score of 76.8 in patients with a BMI <40 kg/m2 (p = 0.007). There were an insufficient number of patients and an insufficient number of complications to perform any meaningful statistical test on complication rates in patients with a BMI >40 kg/m2. ConclusionNo significant difference was observed in number of complications and follow-up ASES scores following shoulder arthroplasty between obese and non-obese patients. Morbidly obese patients (BMI > 40 kg/m2) have a significantly lower ASES follow-up score than non-morbidly obese patients; however, this difference may not be clinically significant. Future studies are needed to investigate outcomes and complications associated with morbidly obese patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty.

Diagnosis and Management of Periprosthetic Joint Infection After Shoulder Arthroplasty.

» The indolent microorganisms responsible for shoulder periprosthetic joint infection make diagnosis difficult because they do not have clear clinical signs or reliable serum laboratory markers.» Administering benzoyl peroxide to the skin of the surgical site and intra-articular injections of antibiotics during a surgical procedure have shown potential for preventing periprosthetic joint infection in patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty.» Measuring the synovial levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and alpha (α)-defensin have demonstrated promise for predicting periprosthetic joint infection in patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty.» Two-stage revision shoulder arthroplasty has been consistently shown in the literature to effectively eradicate infection and have substantial functional improvement, especially in healthy patients.» One-stage revision shoulder arthroplasty has been shown to have eradication rates comparable with those of 2-stage exchange and has the advantages of being more cost-effective and having expedited treatment time.

Correlation of multiple patient-reported outcome measures across follow-up in patients undergoing primary shoulder arthroplasty

Multiple validated outcome scores are used to assess patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a correlation exists between 3 commonly used patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures in this population: Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) Assessment Form, and Simple Shoulder Test (SST). We performed a retrospective review of a shoulder arthroplasty database that routinely collects SPADI, ASES, and SST scores at each visit prospectively. Patients undergoing primary shoulder arthroplasty were identified. Assessments of correlation coefficients (Pearson correlation coefficient for ASES and SPADI scores and Spearman correlation coefficient for SST score) between each combination of PROs were performed overall and at each time point (preoperativelyand 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively) to determine the level of association between PROs. In total, 848 shoulder arthroplasty procedures were performed in 754 patients with 2796 unique clinical encounters. Preoperative correlations among PROs were moderate to strong (range, 0.66-0.77) but had the lowest correlation among all comparisons. Postoperative correlations were strong for all PRO comparisons (range, 0.73-0.94). Postoperative PRO correlations continued to strengthen over longer follow-up, with all values exceeding 0.78 at 2 years postoperatively. Conversion equations between PROs were calculated based on these highly correlated data. After primary shoulder arthroplasty, there exists a high degree of correlation among all 3 studied PROs. Correlations were stronger postoperatively and improved with longer follow-up. Surgeons may use this information to minimize the number of questionnaires patients answer at each follow-up time point, and the conversion equations can be used for study comparison in meta-analyses.

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.

Statistics in Brief: Instrumental Variable Analysis: An Underutilized Method in Orthopaedic Research.

Statistics in Brief: Instrumental Variable Analysis: An Underutilized Method in Orthopaedic Research.

Early outcomes of shoulder arthroplasty according to sex

HypothesisAmong patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty (SA), female patients would have worse outcomes than their male counterparts.MethodsA multicenter prospective cohort of 2364 patients (1365 female and 999 male patients) treated with total SA or reverse total SA from 2007 to 2015 was retrospectively analyzed. Results were assessed using several validated outcome measures and range-of-motion testing. A multivariable analysis identified differences in preoperative values, postoperative values, and preoperative-to-postoperative improvements while adjusting for possible confounders.ResultsThe mean follow-up period was 45.9 ± 23.7 months in female patients and 46.4 ± 23.6 months in male patients. Women underwent SA at a significantly older age (70.8 ± 8.4 years) than men (67.6 ± 8.8 years, P < .01) and began with lower preoperative outcome scores and range-of-motion measurements: American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score (P < .01), Constant score (P < .01), Simple Shoulder Test score (P < .01), active abduction (P < .01), forward flexion (P < .01), and external rotation (P = .02). Postoperatively, both groups showed significant improvement. When we evaluated overall improvement from preoperative values, female patients showed increased improvements in the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score (P = .04) and Simple Shoulder Test score (P < .01), as well as active forward elevation (P < .01) and external rotation (P = .02). However, the difference in improvements did not reach the minimal clinically important difference. Women had a higher incidence of component loosening (P = .03) and periprosthetic fractures due to falls (P = .01), whereas men showed a higher incidence of periprosthetic joint infections (P < .01).ConclusionThis study found that female patients undergo SA at an older age and begin with worse shoulder range of motion and outcome scores than male patients. Although women experienced a greater improvement postoperatively in outcome scores and range of motion, this improvement did not reach the minimal clinically important difference. These findings suggest that male and female patients can expect similar improvements in function after undergoing SA; however, the incidence of complications may vary depending on sex.

The Effect of Race on Early Perioperative Outcomes After Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Propensity Score Matched Analysis.

There is a paucity of data on how racial disparities may affect early outcomes following shoulder arthroplasty. The purpose of this study was to evaluate differences in 30-day complications and readmission rates after shoulder arthroplasty based on race. White and black patients who underwent hemiarthroplasty, anatomic or reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (Current Procedural Terminology codes 23470 and 23472) between 2006 and 2015 were identified in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Black patients were propensity score matched 1:4 based on preoperative demographics and comorbidities to white patients. Multivariable analysis was performed to assess postoperative complications based on race. Of the 12,663 patients with shoulder arthroplasty identified, 10,717 (84.6%) were white and 559 (4.4%) were black. Overall, 557 black patients were matched to 2228 white patients, for a total cohort of 2785 patients (mean age, 63.9±11.7 years; female, 61.0%). Surgical indications were similar between black and white patients. The 2 races had similar rates of overall complications, major complications, minor complications, readmissions, and discharge to facility. Mortality was significantly higher among black patients compared with white patients (0.6% vs 0.05%; P=.033). Black patients also experienced longer operative time (mean, 126.4 vs 112.5 minutes; P<.001) and length of stay (mean, 2.4 vs 2.1 days; P<.001). There was a significant disparity with underutilization of shoulder arthroplasty for black patients in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Black and white patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty experienced similar rates of 30-day complications, readmissions, and discharge to facility. However, black patients experienced greater operative time, total length of stay, and mortality compared with white patients. [Orthopedics. 2019; 42(2):95-102.].

Dialysis dependence and modality impact complication rates after shoulder arthroplasty

The goals of the study were to determine (1) the incidence of dialysis patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty (SA), (2) the association of dialysis modality with complications after SA, and (3) the association of dialysis dependence with death in patients undergoing SA and nonsurgical dialysis-dependent controls. Using an insurance database, we identified dialysis-dependent patients undergoing SA and compared them with a matched control cohort without dialysis use. We performed an analysis comparing patients using peritoneal dialysis (PD), patients using hemodialysis (HD), matched non-dialysis-dependent controls, and matched PD and HD nonsurgical patients. Complications including in-hospital death, emergency department visits, hospital readmission, infection, and revision surgery were assessed. The incidence of SA in dialysis patients has significantly increased. Compared with controls, dialysis-dependent patients had increased rates of in-hospital death (odds ratio [OR], 7.60; P < .0001), emergency department visits (OR, 4.16; P < .0001), hospital admission (OR, 1.63; P < .0001), and infection within 1 year (OR, 1.90; P = .009). Compared with patients receiving HD, PD patients had lower rates of death (OR, 0.40; P = .008), hospital readmission (OR, 0.43; P = .047), and revision surgery (OR, 0.23; P = .037). as well as a lower incidence of infection (OR, 0.30; P = .018). Compared with controls, PD patients had similar rates of most complications. Compared with nonsurgical dialysis-dependent patients, the SA procedure itself was not associated with an increased mortality rate. Although dialysis represents a significant independent risk factor for complications after SA, this risk is highly influenced by the type of dialysis.

Preoperative Opioid Use Among Patients Undergoing Shoulder Arthroplasty Predicts Prolonged Postoperative Opioid Use.

This study determines the incidence of opioid use before shoulder arthroplasty and analyzes its influence on postoperative use. A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty with at least 2-year follow-up was performed. Then, at pre- and postoperative appointments, the patients were asked "Do you take narcotic pain medication (codeine or stronger)?" Among 490 patients included in the study, 35.5% reported preoperative opioid use. These patients had higher incidence of opioid use at 1-year follow-up (29.1% versus 4.9%; odds ratio, 8.320; P < 0.001) and at final follow-up (35.1% versus 7.3%; odds ratio, 6.877; P < 0.001). Opioid usage did not change markedly from 1 year follow-up to final follow-up (P > 0.18). Approximately one-third of patients used opioids preoperatively and were seven times more likely to continue opioid use postoperatively. Opioid usage did not change from 1 year follow-up to final follow-up, suggesting that patients still using opioids at their 1-year appointment were likely to continue opioid use. Level III.

The "July Effect" on Shoulder Arthroplasty: Are Complication Rates Higher at the Beginning of the Academic Year?

The "July effect" is a colloquialism asserting an increased rate of errors at the start of the academic year in teaching hospitals. This retrospective population-based study evaluated for the presence of the July effect in performing shoulder arthroplasty. Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample for 2002 through 2011, a total of 178,590 patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty at academic medical centers were identified and separated into 2 groups: 1) patients admitted during July and 2) patients admitted between August and June. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify associations with inpatient mortality and adverse events, blood transfusion, prolonged length of stay (>75th percentile) and non-routine discharge. After adjusting for patient, procedure, and hospital characteristics in multivariable modeling, admission in July was not associated with increased risk for inpatient mortality (OR 1.6) aggregate morbidity, blood transfusion, prolonged length of stay, and non-routine discharge. This nationwide database analysis shows that shoulder arthroplasty at academic medical centers is not associated with increased perioperative morbidity and resource utilization during the month of July.