Risk factors for and timing of adverse events after revision total shoulder arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Despite increasing rates of revision total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA), there is a paucity of literature on optimizing perioperative outcomes. The purposes of this study were to identify risk factors for unplanned readmission and perioperative complications following RTSA, risk-stratify patients based on these risk factors, and assess timing of complications. METHODS: Bivariate and multivariate analyses of risk factors were assessed on RTSA patients from the ACS-NSQIP database from 2011 to 2015. Patients were risk-stratified and timing of severe adverse events and cause of readmission were evaluated. RESULTS: Of 809 RTSA patients, 61 suffered a perioperative complication or readmission within 30 days of discharge. Multivariate analysis identified operative time, BMI > 40, infection etiology, high white blood cell count, and low hematocrit as significant independent risk factors for 30-day complications or readmission after RTSA (p ≤ 0.05). Having at least one significant risk factor was associated with 2.71 times risk of complication or readmission within 15 days compared to having no risk factors (p < 0.001). The majority of unplanned readmission, return to the operating room, open/deep wound infection, and sepsis/septic shock occurred within two weeks of RTSA. DISCUSSION: Patients at high risk of complications and readmission after RTSA should be identified and optimized preoperatively to improve outcomes and lower costs.

Regional Anesthesia and Readmission Rates After Total Knee Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Total knee arthroplasty is a commonly performed procedure and an important contributor to national health care spending. Reducing the incidence of readmission could have important consequences for patient well-being and relevant financial implications. Whether regional anesthesia techniques are associated with decreased readmission rates and costs among privately insured patients remains unknown. METHODS: Using administrative claims data, we identified 138,362 privately insured patients 18-64 years of age who underwent total knee arthroplasty between 2002 and 2013. We then examined whether the use of a nerve block was associated with decreases in readmission rates and related costs during the 90 days after discharge. Our analyses were adjusted for potential confounding variables including medical comorbidities and previous use of opioids and other medications. RESULTS: After adjusting for patient demographics, comorbidities, and preoperative medication use, the adjusted 90-day readmission rate was 1.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-2.4) among patients who did not receive a block compared to 1.7% (95% CI, 1.1-2.4) among patients who did (odds ratio, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.91-1.09; P = .85). The adjusted readmission-related postoperative cost for patients who did not receive a block was $561 (95% CI, 502-619) and $574 (95% CI, 508-639) for patients who did (difference, $13; 95% CI, -75 to 102; P = .74). This lack of statistically significant differences held for subgroup and sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Nerve blocks were not associated with improved measures of long-term postoperative resource use in this younger, privately insured study population.

Development and validation of risk-adjustment models for elective, single-level posterior lumbar spinal fusions.

BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of literature examining the development and subsequent validation of risk-adjustment models that inform the trade-off between adequate risk-adjustment and data collection burden. We aimed to evaluate patient risk stratification by surgeons with the development and validation of risk-adjustment models for elective, single-level, posterior lumbar spinal fusions (PLSFs). METHODS: Patients undergoing PLSF from 2011-2014 were identified in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP). The derivation cohort included patients from 2011-2013, while the validation cohort included patients from 2014. Outcomes of interest were severe adverse events (SAEs) and unplanned readmission. Bivariate analysis of risk factors followed by a stepwise logistic regression model was used. Limited risk-adjustment models were created and analyzed by sequentially adding variables until the full model was reached. RESULTS: A total of 7,192 and 4,182 patients were included in our derivation and validation cohorts, respectively. Full model performance was similar for the derivation and validation cohorts in both 30-day SAEs (C-statistic =0.66 vs. 0.69) and 30-day unplanned readmission (C-statistic =0.62 vs. 0.65). All models demonstrated good calibration and fit (P≥0.58). Intraoperative variables, laboratory values, and comorbid conditions explained >75% of the variation in 30-day SAEs; ASA class, laboratory values, and comorbid conditions accounted for >80% of model risk prediction for 30-day unplanned readmission. Four variables for the 30-day SAE models (age, gender, ASA ≥3, operative time) and 3 variables for the 30-day unplanned readmission models (age, ASA ≥3, operative time) were sufficient to achieve a C-statistic within four percentage points of the full model. CONCLUSIONS: Risk-adjustment models for PLSF demonstrated acceptable calibration and discrimination using variables commonly found in health records and demonstrated only a limited set of variables were required to achieve an appropriate level of risk prediction.

Acromial spine fracture after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) accounts for nearly one-third of shoulder arthroplasty utilization nationally. The complication rate has increased concurrently. Consensus is lacking regarding the incidence, etiology, and treatment of acromial or scapular spine fractures after RSA. The purpose of our study was to perform a systematic review of the literature to analyze the occurrence and outcomes of this complication. METHODS: The MEDLINE, Embase, Google Scholar, and Cochrane databases were queried in late 2017 for combinations of the words "acromial," "fracture," "reverse," "shoulder," and "arthroplasty." We included all studies that contained a clearly defined performance of RSA, acromial fracture(s) noted, and treatment (if any) and outcomes of treatment. The initial search yielded 50 studies; 32 met the inclusion criteria. RESULTS: Among 3838 RSAs, 159 acromial fractures were reported, for an overall incidence of 4.14%; the mean time to diagnosis from surgery was 9 months (range, 1.3-24 months). Treatments included nonoperative treatment in a sling or abduction brace in 139 cases and open reduction-internal fixation in 20. Regardless of treatment, patients reported inferior function after fracture compared with initially after RSA. Forward flexion was 95° (range, 30°-110°), abduction was 76° (range, 30°-180°), the Constant score was 63 (range, 59-67.5), and the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score was 57 (range, 7-83); all values were reduced compared with patients without fractures. CONCLUSION: This study suggests the occurrence of acromial fractures after RSA is a common event, with a rate of over 4%. These fractures correlate with worse postoperative outcomes regardless of treatment method; open reduction-internal fixation was not shown to be clinically superior despite a limited complication rate. Additional high-quality studies addressing acromial spine fracture after RSA are needed.

Nonelective Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty: The Effect of Discharge Destination on Postdischarge Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Medicare has enacted a mandatory bundled payment program for primary total joint arthroplasty that includes nonelective primary total hip arthroplasty (THA). Efficient postacute care management has been identified as an opportunity to improve value for patients. We aimed to identify risk factors for and compare rates of complications by discharge destination and then use those factors to risk-stratify non-elective THA patients. METHODS: Patients who underwent nonelective primary THA from 2011 to 2014 were identified in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database and categorized into those discharged to skilled nursing facility or inpatient rehabilitation facility vs home self-managed/home health (HHH). Bivariate and multivariate analyses of risk factors for postdischarge adverse events were performed using patient characteristics and intraoperative variables. RESULTS: In bivariate analysis, skilled nursing facility or inpatient rehabilitation facility patients compared with HHH patients, had lower rates of postdischarge severe adverse events (SAEs; 49% vs 58%; P < .001) and unplanned 30-day readmissions (71% vs 83%; P < .001). HHH discharged patients with 1 or more of risk factors had a 1.85-6.18 times odds of complications within the first 14 days. CONCLUSION: The most important risk factors for predicting postdischarge SAE and readmission are predischarge SAE, dependent functional status, body mass index >40 kg/m2, smoking, diabetes, chronic steroid use, and American Society of Anesthesiologists class 3/4. Nonelective THA patients without these risk factors may be safely discharged to home after THA. Orthopedic surgeons and their nonelective THA patients must agree on the most appropriate discharge destination through a shared decision-making process that takes into account these significant risk factors and other psychosocial factors.

Internally Randomized Control Trial of Radiation Exposure Using Ultra-low Radiation Imaging Versus Traditional C-arm Fluoroscopy for Patients Undergoing Single-level Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion.

STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. OBJECTIVE: To compare radiation exposure between ultra-low radiation imaging (ULRI) with image enhancement and standard-dose fluoroscopy for patients undergoing minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS TLIF). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Although the benefits of MIS are lauded by many, there is a significant amount of radiation exposure to surgeon and operating room personnel. Our goal with this work was to see if by using ultra-low dose radiation settings coupled with image enhancement, this exposure could be minimized. METHODS: An institutional review board approved, prospective, internally randomized controlled trial was performed comparing ultra-low dose settings coupled with image enhancement software to conventional fluoroscopic imaging. In this study, each patient served as their own control, randomly assigning one side of MIS-TLIF for cannulation and K-wire placement using each imaging modality. Further, the case was also randomly divided into screw placement and cage placement/final images to allow further comparisons amongst patients. Radiation production from the C-arm fluoroscope and radiation exposure to all operating room personnel were recorded. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients were randomly assigned to undergo a single level MIS-TLIF. In no case was low radiation imaging abandoned, and no patient had a neurologic decline or required hardware repositioning. Everyone in the operating room-the physician, scrub nurse, circulator, and anesthesiologist-all benefited with 61.6% to 83.5% reduction in radiation exposure during cannulation and K-wire placement to screw insertion aided by ULRI. In every case but the anesthesiologist dose, this was statistically significant (P < 0.05). This benefit required no additional time (P = 0.78 for K-wire placement). CONCLUSION: ULRI, when aided by image enhancement software, affords the ability for all parties in the operating room to substantially decrease their radiation exposure compared with standard-dose C-arm fluoroscopy without adding additional time or an increased complication rate. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2.