Primary Shoulder Arthroplasty Research Articles

Comparison of Reverse and Anatomic Total Shoulder Arthroplasty in Patients With an Intact Rotator Cuff and No Previous Surgery.

This study's purpose is to compare clinical and radiographic outcomes of primary anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (aTSA) and primary reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA) patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and an intact rotator cuff with no previous history of shoulder surgery using a single platform TSA system at a minimum follow-up of 2 years. A total of 370 aTSA patients and 370 rTSA patients matched for age, sex, and length of follow-up from an international multi-institutional Western Institutional Review Board approved registry with a minimum 2-year follow-up were reviewed for this study. All patients had a diagnosis of OA, an intact rotator cuff, and no previous shoulder surgery. All patients were evaluated and scored preoperatively and at latest follow-up using six outcome scoring metrics and four active range of motion measurements. Mean follow-up was 41 months, and the mean age was 73 years. Preoperatively, the rTSA patients had lower outcome metrics and less motion. Postoperatively, aTSA and rTSA patients had similar clinical outcomes, motion, and function, with the only exception being greater external rotation in aTSA exceeding the minimal clinically important difference. Pain relief was excellent, and patient satisfaction was high in both groups. Humeral radiolucent lines were similar in both groups (8%). Complications were significantly higher with aTSA (aTSA = 4.9%; rTSA = 2.2%; P = 0.045), but revisions were similar (aTSA = 3.2%; rTSA = 1.4%; P = 0.086). At a mean of 41 month follow-up, primary aTSA and rTSA patients with OA and an intact rotator cuff with no previous history of shoulder surgery had similar clinical and radiographic outcomes. Greater external rotation was noted in aTSA patients at follow-up. However, aTSA patients had a significantly greater rate of complications compared with rTSA patients. rTSA is a viable treatment option in patients with an intact rotator cuff and no previous shoulder surgery, offering similar clinical outcomes with a lower complication rate. Level III.

Antibiotic-loaded bone cement vs. plain cement as an infection prophylaxis in primary elective shoulder arthroplasty

HypothesisThe use of antibiotic-loaded bone cement (ABC) in the setting of revision arthroplasty for deep infections is a broadly accepted practice. However, its use in the setting of primary arthroplasty continues to be controversial with few studies assessing the efficacy of ABC for primary total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA). The purpose of this study was to determine whether the use of ABC in primary TSA is associated with a difference in the risk of deep infections. MethodsA retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from a United States integrated health-care system’s shoulder arthroplasty registry. Patients aged ≥18 years who underwent primary elective anatomic TSA for osteoarthritis or reverse TSA (RTSA) for rotator cuff arthropathy with implanted cement information were included in the study (2009-2020). We compared patients that received ABC to those who received plain cement and are at risk of revision due to deep infection within 5 years of follow-up using Cox proportional hazard regression weighted with the inverse propensity score, stratified by procedure type. ResultsThe study sample included 6409 TSAs for osteoarthritis and 779 RTSAs for rotator cuff arthropathy performed by 198 surgeons at 58 hospitals. In the TSA group, 20% received ABC; the cumulative infection probability at 5 years of follow-up was 0.5% and 0.6% for the ABC and plain cement groups, respectively. After covariate adjustment, no significant difference in infection risk was found (hazard ratio = 0.72, 95% confidence interval = 0.43-1.21, P = .216). In the RTSA group, 19% received ABC; the cumulative infection probability at 5 years of follow-up was 2.7% and 0.9% for the ABC and plain cement groups, respectively. After covariate adjustment, no significant difference in infection risk was found between the 2 cement groups (hazard ratio = 1.47, 95% confidence interval = 0.66-3.26, P = .341). ConclusionIn this study of more than 7000 primary elective shoulder arthroplasties performed in patients with a standard risk of infection, antibiotic bone cement did not confer any risk-reduction for periprosthetic infection when compared to plain bone cement. Different at-risk pathogen profiles may develop with prolonged use of antibiotic bone cement.

Validation of the Outpatient Arthroplasty Risk Assessment tool for safe same-day discharge after primary shoulder arthroplasty: a retrospective expansion study

BackgroundEarly discharge has been a target of cost-control efforts given the growing demand for joint replacement surgeries. A multisystem medically-based risk-assessment tool known as the Outpatient Arthroplasty Risk Assessment (OARA) score has shown high predictive ability for safe early discharge following an outpatient lower extremity arthroplasty utilizing a score threshold ≤79. Shoulder arthroplasties have been shown to have lower associated medical risks than lower extremity arthroplasties. An OARA score threshold of 110 was recently shown to be safe for same-day discharge (SDD) following shoulder arthroplasties in a series of 422 patients. The purpose of this study is to re-examine the OARA score threshold for shoulder arthroplasties by evaluating its effectiveness in selecting patients for SDD utilizing a larger population of patients. We hypothesize that the OARA score threshold for shoulder arthroplasty will remain higher than the established threshold for lower-extremity arthroplasty. MethodsA retrospective review was performed on 734 consecutive patients who underwent a primary anatomic or reverse total shoulder arthroplasty between April 2018 and December 2020 by a single surgeon. As standard practice, all patients were counseled preoperatively regarding SDD and given the choice to stay overnight. Medical history, length of stay, 30- and 90-day readmissions, and 90-day emergency room and urgent care visits were obtained from medical records. Analysis of variance testing, Chi-square testing, and screening test characteristics compared the performance of OARA scores to that of the American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status. A receiver operating characteristic analysis was completed to determine the optimal OARA score threshold for safe SDD. ResultsThe receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that 102.5 was the optimal preoperative OARA score threshold for safe SDD following a shoulder arthroplasty. The OARA score cutoff of ≤102.5 points demonstrated a sensitivity of 87.0% for identifying SDD patients. OARA scores ≤102.5 also showed a negative predictive value of 80.6% but remained incomprehensive with a specificity of 28.5% (P < .0001) and a positive predictive value of 39.2. Patients with OARA scores ≤102.5 were over 4 times less likely to have a 90-day emergency room visit (P < .001) than those with scores >102.5. There was no difference in 30-day and 90-day readmission rates for patients with OARA scores ≤102.5, ≤110, and ≤79 and American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status ≤2. ConclusionA preoperative OARA score threshold of ≤102.5 is effective and conservative in screening patients for SDD following a shoulder arthroplasty, with low rates of 90-day emergency room visits and readmissions. This threshold is a useful screening tool to identify patients that are not good candidates for SDD.

Impact of sickle cell disease in shoulder arthroplasty: a matched cohort analysis

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic disorder of abnormal hemoglobin synthesis that is known to cause glenohumeral avascular necrosis (AVN). Little has been published on the use of shoulder arthroplasty (SA) for the treatment of glenohumeral AVN in SCD. We report on the clinical and radiographic results and postoperative complications following SA in the patient cohort. A retrospective review was performed identifying 17 primary SAs (9 hemiarthroplasties, 7 anatomic total SAs, and 1 reverse total SA) in patients with a confirmed diagnosis of SCD and a minimum of 2-year follow-up. This cohort was matched (1:2) according to age, sex, body mass index, type of prosthesis, and year of surgery with patients who had undergone hemiarthroplasty or total SA for osteoarthritis (OA) or reverse total SA for cuff tear arthropathy. Outcomes included the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, range of motion, and strength measurements in forward elevation (FE), external rotation (ER), and internal rotation (IR). Our cohort included 9 (52.9%) men with a mean age of 43yr. The average follow-up time was 5.9yr. In patients with SCD, SA provided significant improvements in VAS pain (9.1-3.8; P<.001), FE (95°-128°; P<.001), ER (24°-38°; P<.001), IR score (3.2-5.2; P<.001), FE strength (4.2-4.8; P<.001), ER strength (4.1-4.7; P<.001), IR strength (4.1-4.7; P<.001), and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scores (48.6-73.5; P<.001). When compared to the matched cohort, the SCD group demonstrated higher preoperative (9.1 vs. 3.8; P<.001) and postoperative VAS scores (3.8 vs. 1.3; P<.001). Other clinical outcomes demonstrated no significant differences. There were 5 (29%) complications, 2 (11.8%) episodes of sickle cell crisis, and 3 (18%) reoperations in the SCD cohort. When compared to the matched cohort, there were no statistical differences with respect to complications (29% vs. 12%; P=.140) or reoperations (18% vs. 12%; P=.387). SA is an effective treatment modality for glenohumeral AVN in patients with SCD. Patients may expect improvements in pain, function, motion, and strength. However, final postoperative pain relief may be less than those treated with SA without SCD. Unique perioperative management is necessary to mitigate the risk of postoperative sickle cell crises.

Getting paid less for more: shoulder arthroplasty incidence and reimbursement within Medicare from 2000 to 2019.

Shoulder arthroplasty has grown in popularity in the past 2 decades, especially following US Food and Drug Administration approval of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) in 2003. Studies have shown that Medicare reimbursement for a variety of orthopedic procedures has decreased significantly over the past 2 decades. No study has evaluated this trend in the setting of shoulder arthroplasty, however. The purpose of this study was to assess true reimbursement trends in primary and revision shoulder arthroplasty since2000. Information was collected from the publicly available Medicare Part B National Summary Data Files for the period of 2000 to 2019. Data from Current Procedural Terminology codes 23470 (shoulder hemiarthroplasty), 23472 (TSA), 23473 (single-component revision shoulder arthroplasty), and 23474 (both-component revision shoulder arthroplasty) were analyzed. Reimbursement amounts were adjusted for inflation to May 2021 dollars. From 2000 to 2019, the number of shoulder hemiarthroplasty procedures billed to Medicare decreased 70% (from 5847 to 1750) whereas the number of TSA procedures increased 1527% (from 4044 to 65,477). During the same period, per-procedure Medicare reimbursement for hemiarthroplasty decreased 35% (from $1545.71 to $1003.43) after adjustment for inflation to 2021 dollars. Similarly, TSA reimbursement decreased 22% (from $1600.98 to $1248.76) after adjustment for inflation. For revision procedures, the number of single- and both-component revisions billed to Medicare increased 381% (from 344 to 1655) and 1331% (from 220 to 3147), respectively. Adjusted reimbursement per procedure decreased 36% (from $1931.62 to $1244.49) and 37% (from $2293.08 to $1449.43), respectively. This study shows an increase in the annual volume of primary and revision shoulder arthroplasty procedures from 2000 to 2019. During the same period (2000-2019), true Medicare reimbursement to physicians for TSA decreased when adjusted for inflation. This study provides data that may be useful for surgeons, hospitals, and policy makers to maintain access to quality shoulder arthroplasty care moving forward.

The influence of prior dental pathology on medical complications and peri-prosthetic joint infections following primary shoulder arthroplasty.

Antibiotic prophylaxis before invasive dental procedures is a common practice in the USA. Consensus regarding the influence of prior dental pathology (DP) on postoperative complications is lacking. The objectives are to determine the association of DP prior to shoulder arthroplasty (SA) on: (1) lengths of stay (LOS), (2) medical complications, (3) readmissions, (4) implant-related complications including peri-prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) and (5) healthcare expenditures. The PearlDiver database was queried for primary shoulder arthroplasty from 2010 to 2020. Patients with history of dental caries or dental implant placement before SA represented the study group (n = 1419). Patients without prior DP represented controls (n = 7062). Study group patients were 1:5 ratio matched to controls by age, sex, and comorbidities. Outcomes included LOS, 90-day complications, readmissions, 2-year implant-related complications, and healthcare reimbursements. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (OR) of complications and readmissions. T tests compared LOS and costs. P values < 0.003 were significant. LOS (2.17 vs. 2.07days; p = 0.071) were similar between groups. Patients with DP had higher 90-day medical complications compared to controls (OR: 1.74, p < 0.0001), including myocardial infarctions (2.2% vs. 0.8%; OR: 2.79, p < 0.0001), acute kidney injuries (8.3% vs. 4.6%; OR: 1.92, p < 0.0001), and pneumonias (8.7% vs. 5.3%; OR: 1.72, p < 0.0001). Readmission rates (1.97% vs. 1.54%; p = 0.248) were similar. Two-year implant complications were higher in patients with DP compared to controls (16.1% vs. 11.5%; OR: 1.38, p = 0.0003), including dislocations (6.4% vs. 4.5%; OR: 1.45, p = 0.002) and mechanical loosenings (4.0% vs. 2.4%; OR: 1.67, p = 0.001); however, PJIs were similar (2.2% vs. 1.9%; OR: 1.12, p = 0.583). Healthcare expenditures between groups were similar ($12,611 vs. $12,059; p = 0.075). Patients with prior DP have higher 90-day medical complications and 2-year implant-related complications. Two-year incidence of PJIs were similar between groups. These findings can help shoulder surgeons counsel patients with a pertinent dental history. Retrospective comparative study.

Primary inlay reverse shoulder arthroplasty has a higher rate of revision than onlay reverse shoulder arthroplasty: Analysis from the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry.

Two classes of primary reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA), inlay (in-rTSA), and onlay (on-rTSA) were compared to determine differences in rates of revision. Between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2020, all primary in-rTSA or on-rTSA procedures were compared from a large national arthroplasty registry by cumulative percentage revision (CPR). Kaplan-Meier estimates of survivorship and hazard ratios from Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for age, gender, glenosphere size, and humeral fixation determined any associations to the risk of revision. Of the 14,807 in-rTSA and 6590 on-rTSA procedures, the CPR at seven years was 4.9%. There was an increased risk of revision for in-rTSA vs on-rTSA (p = 0.039) when adjusted for age, gender, glenosphere size, and humeral fixation. Glenosphere size <38 mm adjusted for age and gender (p = 0.016) increased the revision risk. Revision for instability/dislocation occurred more often for in-rTSA vs on-rTSA (p < 0.001) in the first three months. Males had a higher rate of revision than females for in-rTSA (3months+, p = 0.001) and for on-rTSA (p < 0.001). Care should be taken when considering in-rTSA particularly in males, and if preoperative planning suggests a small (<38 mm) glenosphere. Level III, therapeutic study. Original article.

Shoulder arthroplasty in patients with a history of epilepsy is safe and effective

BackgroundThe safety of shoulder arthroplasty for patients with a history of convulsive seizures is unknown. Concerns include the possibility of a postoperative seizure resulting in dislocation, cuff disruption, or implant failure. We sought to compare outcomes and complications following shoulder arthroplasty in patients with and without a history of convulsive seizures. MethodsOur institutional Total Joint Registry Database was queried to identify all patients with a history of convulsive seizures who had undergone a primary shoulder arthroplasty between 2000 and 2018. The query identified 56 shoulders (49 patients) with an average age of 61.8 years. 51.8% of patients were female. This cohort was matched 2:1 to a group of patients with similar surgical and demographic characteristics who did not have a seizure history. Kaplan–Meier estimates and univariate Cox regression models were utilized to compare implant survival and reoperation rates. Patient-reported outcomes, including the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score were also extracted. ResultsAt most recent follow-up, cumulative reoperation rates were equivalent between the groups (P = .9) with 3 reoperations out of 56 shoulders (5.4%) in the seizure group, and 7 reoperations out of 112 shoulders (6.3%) in the nonseizure group. Rates of implant revision were also similar. Five-year Kaplan–Meier survival estimates free of reoperation were 97.8% (95% confidence interval, 91.1-100.0) in the seizure group and 93.1% (95% confidence interval, 87.4-98.9) in the nonseizure group. Postoperatively, 23 of 56 patients in the seizure group had at least 1 known seizure after their index arthroplasty, at an average of 4.4 years after surgery. None of the patients with postoperative seizures sustained a dislocation. Altogether only 3 episodes of prosthetic dislocation were observed, all in the nonseizure group. The only complication attributable to a seizure was an early postoperative seizure resulting in subscapularis failure, although this patient never underwent reoperation. Patient-reported outcomes and range of motion were similar between groups, with average American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scores of 77.2 and 74.9 in the seizure and nonseizure groups, respectively (P = .6). DiscussionReoperation rates and implant survival following shoulder arthroplasty were similar when comparing patients with and without a history of convulsive seizures. Postarthroplasty seizures occurred in a notable number of patients but did not result in any major complications. While it remains prudent to ensure that patients’ seizures are well controlled prior to arthroplasty, our data suggest that individuals with a convulsive seizure disorder can undergo shoulder arthroplasty safely.

Short-term outcomes after primary reverse total shoulder arthroplasty in patients with cervical spine pathology or previous cervical spine surgery compared to those without

BackgroundCervical spine (c-spine) and shoulder pathology have been known to cause similar symptoms and often co-exist, making an accurate diagnosis difficult, especially in an elderly population. Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA) has been shown to decrease pain and improve quality of life when shoulder pathology is the source of pain and disability. The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence of c-spine pathology in a cohort of patients who underwent rTSA and to compare postoperative outcome scores to a cohort without c-spine pathology. MethodsA retrospective review was performed utilizing a single institution's operative records of primary rTSAs. Radiology reports, imaging, and operative reports were reviewed, and presence of any c-spine pathology or previous surgery were recorded. Additionally, postoperative outcome scores (American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons [ASES], Constant Score, University of California, Los Angeles [UCLA], and Simple Shoulder Test [SST]) were evaluated at >2 years post-rTSA. ResultsA total of 438 primary rTSA cases were evaluated. Of these, 143 (32.6%) had documentation of prior c-spine pathology and/or history of previous c-spine surgery. After applying further exclusion criteria, a total of 50 patients with c-spine pathology and 108 patients without c-spine pathology were found to have complete medical records and postoperative outcome scores to allow comparison between groups. Patients without c-spine pathology were found to have statistically higher postoperative UCLA, ASES, and SST scores when compared to patients with c-spine pathology. Patients without c-spine pathology also demonstrated a significant improvement in the difference between their postoperative and preoperative UCLA and ASES scores. ConclusionThis study demonstrated a high prevalence of c-spine pathology (32.6%) in a cohort of patients who underwent primary rTSA. Additionally, short-term outcome scores of patients undergoing rTSA with concomitant c-spine pathology are significantly lower than those of patients without a history of c-spine pathology.

The effect of intravenous tranexamic acid use on blood loss after revision shoulder arthroplasty

BackgroundRevision total- and reverse shoulder arthroplasties have become more common as the incidence of primary shoulder arthroplasties rise and the older population grows. The use of tranexamic acid (TXA) to decrease perioperative blood loss has been well established in literatures; however, its use in revision shoulder arthroplasty has yet to be explored. We retrospectively examined the effect of TXA use on perioperative blood loss during revision shoulder arthroplasties. MethodsThis was a retrospective review of patients ≥18 years of age, who underwent revision total- or reverse shoulder arthroplasties at the investigating institution between June 2013 and December 2020. Patients were stratified into 2 groups based on perioperative intravenous (IV) TXA vs. No TXA exposure. Contraindications to IV TXA included a history of blood clots and coagulopathies. Demographics, medical comorbidities, pre- and post-op hemoglobin, drain output, need for transfusion during hospitalization, duration of surgery, length of hospitalization, emergency department visits within 90 days of surgery, readmission to hospital within 90 days of surgery, and development of postoperative hematoma were analyzed. ResultsA total of 192 procedures (90 IV TXA vs. 102 No TXA) were analyzed. The cohorts did not significantly differ in age, gender, body mass index, breakdown of type of revision, or medical comorbidities. Analysis of the cohorts demonstrated that the IV TXA group had a significantly higher preoperative hemoglobin (12.9 vs. 13.5, P = .012) and postoperative hemoglobin (9.6 vs. 10.5, P < .001), as well as a significantly lower exposure to drain placement (75% vs. 43%, P < .001) and lower drain output per day (145 ml vs. 97.5 ml, P < .001) as compared to the No TXA group following revision shoulder arthroplasty. The results favored the IV TXA group with regard to blood loss, transfusions, duration of surgery, length of stay, and hospital readmissions within 90 days; however, these did not reach statistical significance. ConclusionsTXA use in revision shoulder arthroplasty significantly decreased the drain output; however had no significant effect on blood loss or transfusion rates.

Rationalizing routine postoperative blood testing following elective shoulder arthroplasty

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

Midterm clinical outcome of uncemented short-stem reversed shoulder arthroplasty.

While the incidence of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA) is increasing constantly, newer implants with designs other than the classic Grammont geometry are gaining importance. More anatomic inclination angles and lateralization are supposed to have a positive impact on clinical results and complication rates. Presentation of midterm results therefore is important to support these assumptions. The aim of this study was to report the midterm clinical outcome of primary rTSA with an uncemented humeral short-stem prosthesis (USSP) with a humeral inclination angle of 145° and the analysis of different variables on the outcome. This is a retrospective study of all patients with primary rTSA using an USSP and a combined humeral inclination angle of 145° (Ascend™ flex, Stryker) with a minimum clinical follow-up of 2years. The implant combines a 132.5° inclination for the humeral stem with an additional 12.5° for the polyethylene inlay. Primary outcomes were patient-reported outcome measures: ASES score, simple shoulder test (SST) and subjective shoulder value (SSV). Secondary outcomes were complication and revision rates. We analyzed different variables: preoperatively gender, age, indication for surgery and status of rotator cuff. Also, the glenoid morphology was classified according to Walch and a proximal humerus cortical bone thickness measurement (CBT avg) of 6mm was used as a threshold for osteoporosis. Postoperatively, we analyzed different radiologic parameters: filling ratio, distalization and lateralization angles according to Boutsiadis. A total of 84 out of 99 (85%) patients with a mean FU of 46.7months (range 24-80months) could be included: 62 women and 22 men with a mean age of 74.7years. Mean ASES score significantly increased from 47 preoperatively to 85.8 at the last follow-up (p = 0.001). The postoperative SST reached an average of 65.3 and the mean SSV was 83%. None of the variable parameters analyzed could be identified as a risk factor for a lower outcome defined as a SSV < 70. Three patients (3.6%) had a complication: one incomplete lower plexus lesion, one dislocation and one major hematoma. Surgical revision was needed in two cases (2.4%). The midterm clinical outcome of primary reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA) with an uncemented humeral short stem and a humeral inclination angle of 145° showed good-to-excellent results with a low complication and revision rate independent from a wide range of pre- and postoperative variables. PROMs are comparable to those reported for anatomic TSA with a low complication rate, different to historical studies especially with the Grammont design. Treatment study, Level IV.

Patients with preoperative opioid use and lower resilience scores are more likely to report inadequate pain control after total shoulder arthroplasty

BackgroundThe United States is in a prescriptive opioid crisis, and physicians have a responsibility to their patients and the healthcare system to mitigate irresponsible prescriptive practices. A patient’s preoperative opioid status and brief resilience score (BRS) may be used to individualize analgesic protocols and reduce opioid overprescription. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between preoperative resilience scores and patient-reported pain control after total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA). This study also examines reported pain control in patients with or without preoperative narcotic use 30 days before their procedure. MethodsPatients undergoing elective primary anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (aTSA) or primary reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA) were asked to complete the BRS survey before their procedure and postoperative narcotic pain medication surveys at 1, 4, and 12 weeks after their operation. The patients were then stratified into 2 cohorts based on preoperative opioid usage status. Two-sample equal-variance t-tests were used to test for differences between resilience score group means and adequate pain control after TSA. The differences between preoperative opioid and no preoperative opioid usage cohorts, and perceived pain control and the number of oxycodone pills taken were analyzed for direction and statistical significance using t-tests for continuous variables and chi-squared tests for categorical variables. ResultsThe study cohort consisted of 218 patients, of whom 74 had preoperative opioid use (group O). Patients who reported inadequate pain control after TSA had consistently lower resilience scores at baseline. The BRS group means ± standard deviations after TSA for the adequate vs. inadequate pain control groups respectively were 3.84 vs. 3.48 (P = .010) at week 1, 3.83 vs. 3.53 (P = .055) at week 4, and 3.84 vs. 3.36 (P = .002) at week 12. Of the patients in group O (n = 74), a consistently smaller proportion of patients reported adequate pain control after TSA. Pain control rates among group O vs. nonusers/opioid-naïve patients (group N) respectively were 81.1% vs. 89.6% (P = .080) at week 1, 83.8% vs. 92.4% (P = .055) at week 4, and 82.4% vs. 93.0% (P = .016) at week 12. ConclusionA patient’s resilience score and preoperative opioid consumption are associated with postoperative pain control. Physicians may be able to use these 2 preoperative measures to better individualize postoperative narcotic prescriptive practices and reduce the number of unused opioids.

Incidence and risk factors for deep infection after primary shoulder arthroplasty: a meta-analysis.

Many risk factors associated with deep infections after primary shoulder arthroplasty remain controversial and have not yet been summarized. As such, the aim of the present study was to quantitatively summarize the risk factors associated with deep infections after primary shoulder arthroplasty. Computerized and additional manual searches on the Medline, Embase, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Cochrane central database for potential studies, published from inception to March 2022, were performed. All studies that assessed risk factors for deep infection after primary shoulder arthroplasty were selected without language restrictions. Eligible studies were required to fulfill quality assessment criteria from the Consort statement and to evaluate risk factors for deep infection after primary shoulder arthroplasty. Two reviewers independently extracted the relevant data, with disagreements resolved by consensus. Statistical analyses were performed using Stata version 11.0 (Statacorp LLC, College Station, TX, USA). Seven studies including 493,148 patients who underwent primary shoulder arthroplasty, among whom 1,314 experienced infection (0.3%), were eligible and included in this meta-analysis. Meta-analysis revealed that significantly increased risk factors for infection after primary shoulder arthroplasty included male sex (odds ratio [OR] 1.79 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.23-2.60]), avascular necrosis (OR 2.64 [95% CI 1.61-4.34]), rotator cuff arthropathy (OR 2.14 [95% CI 1.55-2.95]), proximal humerus fracture (OR 2.68 [95% CI 1.93-3.73]), and non-union of humerus fracture (OR 5.32 [95% CI 3.52-8.02]). In contrast, advanced age was associated with a decreased likelihood for development of infection (OR 0.97 [95% CI 0.94-1]). Surgeons should devote close attention to the above-mentioned medical conditions to reduce deep infection after primary shoulder arthroplasty.

Local Infiltration Analgesia Versus Interscalene Block for Pain Management Following Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial.

While providing effective analgesia following shoulder arthroplasty, an interscalene block has known complications. Local infiltration analgesia (LIA) using ropivacaine has been successfully employed in other joint arthroplasties, but its efficacy in shoulder arthroplasty has not been studied extensively. The purpose of this study was to compare pain and opioid consumption between LIA and an interscalene block following shoulder arthroplasty. Patients undergoing primary shoulder arthroplasty were prospectively randomized into 2 groups: the block group received an interscalene block using liposomal bupivacaine, and the injection group received an LIA injection intraoperatively. The LIA injection included ropivacaine, epinephrine, ketorolac, and normal saline solution. Postoperative visual analog scale pain scores, opioid consumption in morphine milligram equivalents, and complications were compared between the groups. The mean pain scores during the first 24 hours postoperatively were used to test noninferiority of LIA compared with an interscalene block. The study included 74 patients (52 men and 22 women with a mean age of 69 years; 37 were in the injection group and 37 in the block group). There was no significant difference between the groups with respect to pain scores at any postoperative time points (p > 0.05), except for the 8-hour time point, when the injection group had a significantly higher pain score than the block group (p = 0.01). There was no significant difference in opioid consumption between the groups at any time points postoperatively (p > 0.05). The amount of intraoperative opioid consumption was significantly higher in the injection group (p < 0.001). In noninferiority testing for the mean pain scores during the first 24 hours, the injection group was found to be noninferior to the block group. One patient in the block group developed transient phrenic nerve palsy. One patient in the injection group developed dislocation after reverse arthroplasty related to noncompliance. The mean procedure hospital charge was $1,718 for an interscalene block and $157 for LIA. LIA and an interscalene block provided similar analgesia during the first 24 hours after primary shoulder arthroplasty. LIA was associated with worse pain at 8 hours postoperatively and more intraoperative opioid consumption but was also substantially less costly. Therapeutic Level I . See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Reduced Revision Rates in Total Shoulder Arthroplasty With Crosslinked Polyethylene: Results From the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry.

Loss of glenoid fixation is a key factor affecting the survivorship of primary total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA). It is not known whether the lower revision rates associated with crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) compared with those of non-XLPE identified in hip and knee arthroplasty apply to shoulder arthroplasty. We used data from the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry (AOANJRR) to compare the revision rates of primary stemmed anatomic TSA using XLPE to procedures using non-XLPE. In patients receiving a primary stemmed anatomic TSA for osteoarthritis, we asked: (1) Does the rate of revision or reason for revision vary between XLPE and non-XLPE all-polyethylene glenoid components? (2) Is there any difference in the revision rate when XLPE is compared with non-XLPE across varying head sizes? (3) Is there any difference in survival among prosthesis combinations with all-polyethylene glenoid components when they are used with XLPE compared with non-XLPE? Data were extracted from the AOANJRR from April 16, 2004, to December 31, 2020. The AOANJRR collects data on more than 97% of joint replacements performed in Australia. The study population included all primary, stemmed, anatomic TSA procedures performed for osteoarthritis using all-polyethylene glenoid components. Procedures were grouped into XLPE and non-XLPE bearing surfaces for comparison. Of the 10,102 primary stemmed anatomic TSAs in the analysis, 39% (3942 of 10,102) used XLPE and 61% (6160 of 10,102) used non-XLPE. There were no differences in age, gender, or follow-up between groups. Revision rates were determined using Kaplan-Meier estimates of survivorship to describe the time to the first revision, with censoring at the time of death or closure of the database at the time of analysis. Revision was defined as removal, replacement, or addition of any component of a joint replacement. The unadjusted cumulative percent revision after the primary arthroplasty (with 95% confidence intervals [CIs]) was calculated and compared using Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for age, gender, fixation, and surgeon volume. Further analyses were performed stratifying according to humeral head size, and a prosthesis-specific analysis adjusted for age and gender was also performed. This analysis was restricted to prosthesis combinations that were used at least 150 times, accounted for at least four revisions, had XLPE and non-XLPE options available, and had a minimum of 3 years of follow-up. Non - XLPE had a higher risk of revision than XLPE after 1.5 years (HR 2.3 [95% CI 1.6 to 3.1]; p < 0.001). The cumulative percent revision at 12 years was 5% (95% CI 4% to 6%) for XLPE and 9% (95% CI 8% to 10%) for non-XLPE. There was no difference in the rate of revision for head sizes smaller than 44 mm. Non-XLPE had a higher rate of revision than XLPE for head sizes 44 to 50 mm after 2 years (HR 2.3 [95% CI 1.5 to 3.6]; p < 0.001) and for heads larger than 50 mm for the entire period (HR 2.2 [95% CI 1.4 to 3.6]; p < 0.001). Two prosthesis combinations fulfilled the inclusion criteria for the prosthesis-specific analysis. One had a higher risk of revision when used with non-XLPE compared with XLPE after 1.5 years (HR 3.7 [95% CI 2.2 to 6.3]; p < 0.001). For the second prosthesis combination, no difference was found in the rate of revision between the two groups. These AOANJRR data demonstrate that noncrosslinked, all-polyethylene glenoid components have a higher revision rate compared with crosslinked, all-polyethylene glenoid components when used in stemmed anatomic TSA for osteoarthritis. As polyethylene type is likely an important determinant of revision risk, crosslinked polyethylene should be used when available, particularly for head sizes larger than 44 mm. Further studies will need to be undertaken after larger numbers of shoulder arthroplasties have been performed to determine whether this reduction in revision risk associated with XLPE bears true for all TSA designs. Level III, therapeutic study.

Outcomes of reverse shoulder arthroplasty in patients under 55 years old: Results from the New Zealand joint registry.

The appropriate age at which to perform reverse shoulder arthroplasty is controversial. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of reverse shoulder arthroplasty between younger and older patients. Patients who underwent primary reverse shoulder arthroplasty between January 2000 and December 2019 were identified from New Zealand Joint Registry records. Patients were stratified into two cohorts according to age at the time of surgery: < 55 years and ≥ 55 years. These two groups were then compared with regard to baseline characteristics, indications for surgery, revision rates, and patient-reported outcomes using the Oxford Shoulder Score and American Shoulder and Elbow Score (ASES). A total of 5518 primary reverse shoulder arthroplasty cases were identified, with 75 patients < 55 years at the time of surgery (range: 34-54 years). The mean duration of follow-up was 2.36 years (range: 0.11-13.37 years) in the younger cohort and 3.10 years (range: 0.01-16.22 years) in the older patient cohort. Indications for surgery differed significantly between the two groups, with younger patients having higher rates of inflammatory arthritis (p < 0.001), posttraumatic arthritis (p < 0.001), and avascular necrosis (p = 0.049). The younger cohort had an inferior 6-month postoperative Oxford Shoulder Score compared to the older cohort (mean: 28.5 [younger cohort] vs. 35.7 [older cohort]; p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in revision rate between the younger and older patient cohorts during the study period (1.56 [<55 years] vs. 0.74 [≥55 years] revisions per 100 component-years; p = 0.332). Our early results suggest that younger patients undergoing reverse shoulder arthroplasty demonstrate high implant retention rates, comparable to older patients. Longer-term patient-reported outcomes in younger patients are required to guide appropriate patient selection for reverse shoulder arthroplasty. Level III, retrospective case-control study.

Clinical and radiographic outcomes after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty in patients 80 years of age and older.

Previous studies have found less favorable outcomes for patients aged 80 years and older after primary reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA). However, they are based on small sample sizes with no control group for comparison. The purpose of this study is to compare the clinical, functional, and radiographic outcomes after primary rTSA in patients aged 80 years and older with a younger cohort of patients aged 60-79 years. Patients undergoing primary rTSA between 2004 and 2018 were identified within a multi-institutional database with a minimum of 2 years of follow-up. All patients received the same platform prosthesis. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on age: 80 years and older (n = 369) and 60-79 years (n = 1764). Statistical analyses were performed to compare the 2 age cohorts based on pre- and postoperative function and range of motion (ROM) scores, adverse event rates, pain scores, and patient satisfaction. Patients aged 80 years and older had lower preoperative functional and ROM scores relative to patients aged 60-79 years. The differences observed in active abduction, active forward elevation, and Constant scores exceed the minimal clinically important difference (MCID). The evaluation of function and ROM at latest follow-up showed that patients in both age cohorts had significant improvements that exceeded both the MCID and substantial clinical benefit, but older patients still scored lower relative to younger patients, with the differences in active abduction and Constant scores exceeding the MCID. Despite the lower scores observed in older patients, both groups report similar satisfaction (93% in older patients vs. 92% in younger patients, P = .379). There were no differences between the 2 age cohorts with regard to humeral radiolucent lines (9.2% vs. 8.7%, P = .765), scapular notching (11.0% vs. 10.3%, P = .727), adverse events (3.5% vs. 3.3%, P = .863), and revisions (0.8% vs. 1.8%, P = .188). Patients aged 80 years and older can expect significant improvements in function and ROM after primary rTSA, with satisfaction similar to that of patients aged 60-79 years. Patients in both age cohorts have similar rates of adverse events and revisions, and the rates observed in patients 80 years and older are much lower than what has previously been reported in the literature. rTSA in patients age 80 years and older is a beneficial surgery with outcomes similar to those found in younger patients, and age should not be a limiting factor when considering rTSA.

Management of glenoid bone loss with impaction and structural bone grafting in reverse shoulder arthroplasty.

Glenoid bone loss is a commonly encountered problem in complex primary and revision shoulder arthroplasty. Addressing glenoid bone loss is critical to avoid complications like early loosening, impingement, notching and instability. A large number of techniques like bone grafting using autograft or allograft, eccentric reaming, augmented base plates, patient-specific instrumentations and custom-made implants are available to tackle bone loss. We prospectively collected the data of all patients with glenoid defects undergoing primary or revision reverse shoulder replacement between 2004 and 2017. This included demographic data, ranges of motion, Constant-Murley score and Subjective Shoulder Value(SSV). A pre-operative CT scan was done as well to plan the surgery and calculate the glenoid version. At each follow-up, the clinical function and shoulder scores were assessed. Additionally, the radiographs were assessed for graft incorporation, evidence of lysis and calculation of glenoid version. Between 2004 and 2017, 37 patients underwent glenoid bone grafting during reverse shoulder arthroplasty. Average age was 72years (range 46-88). Indications for surgery were cuff tear arthropathy (6 patients); revision of failed other prosthesis (23); primary osteoarthritis (4); rheumatoid arthritis (3); and second-stage revision for infection (1). The glenoid defect was contained in 24 patients, and therefore, impaction graft with a combination of bone graft substitute and/or humeral head autograft was performed. In 13 patients the glenoid defect was severe and uncontainable and therefore a graft-implant composite glenoid was implanted using humeral head autograft or allograft. Average follow-up was 3.6years (range 1-10). Mean Constant score improved from 34 before surgery to 63 after surgery. Mean SSV score improved from 0.9/10 to 8.3/10. Active movements improved significantly with forward elevation increasing from 54° to 123°; abduction from 48° to 123°; external rotation from 24° to 38°; internal rotation from 57° to 70°. Radiographs at final follow-up showed no radiolucencies around the glenoid component and no evidence of loosening of the implant. In 2 cases there was a grade I notching. There was 100% survivorship at the last follow-up. Impaction bone grafting along with structural grafting when required is an effective and reproducible way of managing severe glenoid bone loss. This technique gives consistent and good clinical and radiological results.

The incidence of humeral bone resorption in uncemented reverse shoulder arthroplasty and the impact on functional outcomes

BackgroundFull-thickness bone resorption around the humeral stem in shoulder arthroplasty is an increasingly recognized phenomenon, but the impact on outcomes remains unclear. This study aims to investigate prevalence of bone resorption in patients with the Zimmer-Biomet Comprehensive reverse shoulder arthroplasty and the impact on the functional outcomes. MethodsA retrospective analysis was carried out on 65 consecutive patients with primary reverse total shoulder arthroplasty using the Comprehensive Shoulder System from 2014 to 2020, with a minimum of 12-month follow-up. The prevalence of humeral bone resorption was graded from 0 to 4, and risk factors for these changes and their impact on functional outcomes were further investigated. ResultsThe majority of patients (75%) were female with an average age of 75 years (53-93), with an overall average follow-up of 26 months (12-60). Bone resorption occurred in 53 patients (82%), and full-thickness bone resorption occurred in only 8 patients (12%). Metaphyseal bone (zones 1 and 7) is mostly at the risk of high-grade resorption. There was no difference in the final Oxford Shoulder Score between patients who had differential resorption grades from 0 to 4 (P = .5742). None of the risk factors from the previous literature including age, sex, indication for surgery, rotator cuff tear and repair, and intramedullary occupation ratio of the implant showed any impact on the rate of resorption. ConclusionFull-thickness humeral bone resorption occurred in approximately 12% of patients when using the Comprehensive reverse shoulder arthroplasty, but it has no impact on the functional outcomes or revision rate in the short-to-medium term.