Assessment of therapeutic clinical trials for proximal humeral fractures.

Background: Proximal humeral fractures (PHFs) are a common injury among the older population. An ideal therapeutic protocol has yet to be developed, and numerous clinical trials are being conducted to find the best therapeutic approach. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the current body of knowledge available via interventional clinical trials. Methods: In December 2022, interventional clinical trials relating to PHFs on Clinicaltrials.gov were screened. Trial characteristics included duration, status, intervention, phase, outcomes, location, and study design. Publications associated with each trial were searched on PubMed/Medline using the ClinicalTrials.gov registry number. Results: The final dataset comprised 64 trials. The majority was completed (36%), did not have an Food and Drug Administration-defined phase (67%), was randomized (81%), involved a single facility (72%), used a parallel assignment intervention model (80%), and used an open-label approach (45%). Eleven trials were associated with a publication, and the publication rate was 17%. Average enrollment was 86 participants, and mean trial duration was 51.4 months. Europe/UK/Russia/Turkey participated in the most trials (70%). Most of the trials were initiated after 2010 (87.5%). Procedure-related interventions (55%) were most common. Disability/function was the most common primary outcome assessed (61%). Conclusions: The low publication rate and the multitude of trials conducted after 2010 highlight the urgency and need for trial results to be published to establish an ideal therapeutic protocol. Since the majority of the trials involved a single institution and an open-label approach, reinforcing blinding and establishing multi-centered trials can improve the validity of the clinical trial results.

Is Arthroscopic Latarjet a Cost-Effective Procedure? A Decision Analysis.

Objectives: Arthroscopic Latarjet for glenohumeral stabilization has emerged as an alternative to the open approach; however, the evidence to date has questioned if this technique delivers improved outcomes. This analysis provides an assessment of the cost and utility associated with arthroscopic versus open Latarjet. Methods: The cost-effectiveness of Latarjet stabilization was modeled over a ten-year period. Institutional cases were reviewed for equipment utilization. Cost data from ambulatory surgical centers was obtained for each piece of equipment used intraoperatively. Based upon prior analyses, the operating room cost was assigned a value of $36.14 per minute. To determine effectiveness, a utility score was derived based upon prior analysis of shoulder stabilization using the EuroQol (EQ) 5D. For reoperations, a utility score of 0.01 was assigned for a single year for revision surgeries for instability and 0.5 for minor procedures. Probability of surgical outcomes and operative time for arthroscopic and open Latarjet were taken from prior studies comparing outcomes of these procedures. Decision-tree analysis utilizing these values was performed. Results: Based upon equipment and operating room costs, arthroscopic Latarjet was found to cost $2,796.87 more than the equivalent open procedure. Analysis of the utility of these procedures were 1.330 and 1.338 quality adjusted life years obtained over the modeled period for arthroscopic versus open Latarjet, respectively. For arthroscopic Latarjet to be cost-equivalent to open Latarjet, surgical time would need to be reduced to 41.5 minutes or the surgical equipment would need to be provided at no expense, while maintaining the same success rates. Conclusion: With nearly identical utility scores favoring open surgery, the added cost associated with arthroscopic Latarjet cannot be supported with available cost and utility data. To provide value, additional benefits such as decreased post-operative narcotic utilization, decreased blood loss, or lower complications of the arthroscopic approach must be demonstrated.

Subacromial Balloon Spacer Versus Partial Rotator Cuff Repair in the Treatment of Massive Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tears: Facility Personnel Allocation and Procedural Cost Analysis.

Background The subacromial balloon is a novel technology that has shown promise in managing a select patient population with massive irreparable rotator cuff tears. The purpose of this study was to quantify the true facility cost difference between subacromial balloon placement (SBP) and partial rotator cuff repair (PCR). Methodology A prospective cohort of patients with massive irreparable rotator cuff tears randomized to SBP versus PCR between 2015 and 2018 was retrospectively reviewed. Demographic variables, medical comorbidities, and range-of-motion (ROM) outcomes for all patients were recorded. True facility costs with respect to personnel were calculated using a time-driven activity based-costing (TDABC) algorithm and were classified into personnel costs and supply costs. Results Seven patients were treated with PCR compared to nine treated with SBP. No significant differences were observed with respect to demographic characteristics. Postoperative mean external rotation was 37° in SBP patients significantly higher than that of PCR patients at 8° (P = 0.023). Personnel time and cost differences while in the operating room (OR) were significantly less for the SBP ($605.58) compared to PCR ($1362.76) (P < 0.001). Implant costs were higher for SBP when compared to PCR, whereas disposable equipment costs were higher for PCR when compared to SBP. The total mean true facility cost was $7658.00 for SBP, significantly higher than that of PCR at $3429.00 (P < 0.001). Conclusions Despite the substantial reduction in personnel costs seen with SBP, the true facility cost of SBP was significantly higher than that of PCR. As this novel technology is used more ubiquitously and its price is negotiated down, the cost savings seen in personnel and OR time will become more significant. Future prospective cost analyses should follow up on the changes in implant costs and account for potential anesthesia cost savings.

Online resources for information on shoulder arthroplasty: an assessment of quality and readability.

BACKGROUND: Many patients use online resources to educate themselves on surgical procedures and make well-informed healthcare decisions. The aim of our study was to evaluate the quality and readability of online resources exploring shoulder arthroplasty. METHODS: An internet search pertaining to shoulder arthroplasty (partial, anatomic, and reverse) was conducted using the three most popular online search engines. The top 25 results generated from each term in each search engine were included. Webpages were excluded if they were duplicates, advertised by search engines, subpages of other pages, required payments or subscription, or were irrelevant to our scope. Webpages were classified into different source categories. Quality of information was assessed by HONcode certification, Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) criteria, and DISCERN benchmark criteria. Webpage readability was assessed using the Flesch reading ease score (FRES). RESULTS: Our final dataset included 125 web pages. Academic sources were the most common with 45 web pages (36.0%) followed by physician/private practice with 39 web pages (31.2%). The mean JAMA and DISCERN scores for all web pages were 1.96±1.31 and 51.4±10.7, respectively. The total mean FRES score was 44.0±11.0. Only nine web pages (7.2%) were HONcode certified. Websites specified for healthcare professionals had the highest JAMA and DISCERN scores with means of 2.92±0.90 and 57.96±8.91, respectively (P<0.001). HONcode-certified webpages had higher quality and readability scores than other web pages. CONCLUSIONS: Web-based patient resources for shoulder arthroplasty information did not show high-quality scores and easy readability. When presenting medical information, sources should maintain a balance between readability and quality and should seek HONcode certification as it helps establish the reliability and accessibility of the presented information. Level of evidence: IV.

Assessment of therapeutic clinical trials for adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder.

Background: Adhesive capsulitis is a debilitating shoulder condition with unknown etiology and complex diagnosis. Treatment options include conservative and operative measures. Exploring the therapeutic trials targeting adhesive capsulitis can help shed light on effective treatment modalities, and pinpoint inadequacies and areas of improvement. Methods: On June 15, 2022, interventional therapeutic clinical trials related to adhesive capsulitis on Clinicaltrials.gov were screened. Trial characteristics including phase, duration, enrollment, study design, type of intervention, outcomes, and location were collected. Publications linked to trials in our study were reviewed for outcome reporting. Results: A total of 70 trials were included in our study. The majority of the trials had no FDA-defined phase (70%). Only 9 publications were associated with the trials, constituting a low publication rate of 13%. Majority of trials had an enrollment size between 11 and 50 participants (54%), and more than 90% were initiated after the start of 2010. Asia/Australia witnessed the highest number of trials with 31 trials. Physical therapy was the most commonly involved intervention type (50%) and disability/function was the most commonly explored primary outcome (71%). Majority of trials included a single institution (83%), were randomized (91%), and adopted an interventional model with parallel assignment (87%). Fourteen trials (20%) adopted an open labeled approach. Conclusion: The majority of trials that were undertaken remain with unpublished results. Trial results need to be published to help physicians navigate treatments and establish therapeutic protocols. Involving multiple institutions and reinforcing blinding can help decrease bias and increase the validity and reliability of trial results.

Hematoma Following Shoulder Arthroplasty: Incidence, Management, and Outcomes.

Background: A paucity of data regarding the implications of postoperative hematoma formation on outcomes after shoulder arthroplasty exists. Previous studies on major joint arthroplasty have associated postoperative hematoma formation with high rates of prosthetic joint infection (PJI) and reoperation. Methods: A total of 6,421 shoulder arthroplasty cases were retrospectively reviewed from an institutional database (5,941 primary cases, 480 revision) between December 2008 and July 2017. Patients who developed a postoperative hematoma were identified through direct chart review. Cases with a history of shoulder infection treated with explant and antibiotic spacer placement were excluded. Demographics, surgical characteristics, treatment course, and outcomes were collected. Results: Hematoma occurred in 105 (1.6%; 105/6421) cases within the first three postoperative weeks and was more common following revision (3.3%; 16/480) compared to primary cases (1.5 %; 89/5941; P=0.002). Overall, postoperative shoulder hematoma was successfully managed with nonoperative treatment in 87% of cases via observation (62%, 62/105) and aspiration (25%, 26/105). A total of 14 patients (0.22%, 14/6421) underwent reoperation for hematoma. Eight patients (7.6%, 8/105) that required reoperation for hematoma were diagnosed with PJI. Conclusion: Postoperative hematoma is a complication of shoulder arthroplasty. While many postoperative hematomas can be managed without operative intervention, this analysis reiterates the association between hematoma formation and the development of PJI.

Higher Surgeon Volume is Associated With a Lower Rate of Subsequent Revision Procedures After Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: A National Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Studies assessing the relationship between surgeon volume and outcomes have shown mixed results, depending on the specific procedure analyzed. This volume relationship has not been well studied in patients undergoing total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA), but it should be, because this procedure is common, expensive, and potentially morbid. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: We performed this study to assess the association between increasing surgeon volume and decreasing rate of revision at 2 years for (1) anatomic TSA (aTSA) and (2) reverse TSA (rTSA) in the United States. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we used Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) fee-for-service inpatient and outpatient data from 2015 to 2021 to study the association between annual surgeon aTSA and rTSA volume and 2-year revision shoulder procedures after the initial surgery. The CMS database was chosen for this study because it is a national sample and can be used to follow patients over time. We included patients with Diagnosis-related Group code 483 and Current Procedural Terminology code 23472 for TSA (these codes include both aTSA and rTSA). We used International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, procedural codes. Patients who underwent shoulder arthroplasty for fracture (10% [17,524 of 173,242]) were excluded. We studied the variables associated with the subsequent procedure rate through a generalized linear model, controlling for confounders such as patient age, comorbidity risk score, surgeon and hospital volume, surgeon graduation year, hospital size and teaching status, assuming a binomial distribution with the dependent variable being whether an episode had at least one subsequent procedure within 2 years. The regression was fitted with standard errors clustered at the hospital level, combining all TSAs and within the aTSA and rTSA groups, respectively. Hospital and surgeon yearly volumes were calculated by including all TSAs, primary procedure and subsequent, during the study period. Other hospital-level and surgeon-level characteristics were obtained through public files from the CMS. The CMS Hierarchical Condition Category risk score was controlled because it is a measure reflecting the expected future health costs for each patient based on the patient's demographics and chronic illnesses. We then converted regression coefficients to the percentage change in the odds of having a subsequent procedure. RESULTS: After controlling for confounding variables including patient age, comorbidity risk score, surgeon and hospital volume, surgeon graduation year, and hospital size and teaching status, we found that an annual surgeon volume of ≥ 10 aTSAs was associated with a 27% decreased odds of revision within 2 years (95% confidence interval 13% to 39%; p < 0.001), while surgeon volume of ≥ 29 aTSAs was associated with a 33% decreased odds of revision within 2 years (95% CI 18% to 45%; p < 0.001) compared with a volume of fewer than four aTSAs per year. Annual surgeon volume of ≥ 29 rTSAs was associated with a 26% decreased odds of revision within 2 years (95% CI 9% to 39%; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Surgeons should consider modalities such as virtual planning software, templating, or enhanced surgeon training to aid lower-volume surgeons who perform aTSA and rTSA. More research is needed to assess the value of these modalities and their relationship with the rates of subsequent revision. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, therapeutic study.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on racial disparities in patients undergoing total shoulder arthroplasty in the United States.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to assess racial disparities in total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) in the United States and to determine whether these disparities were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) 100% sample was used to examine primary TSA volume from April to December from 2019 to 2020. Utilization was assessed for White, Black, Hispanic, and Asian populations to determine if COVID-19 affected these groups differently. A regression model adjusted for age, sex, CMS-hierarchical condition categories (HCC) score, dual enrollment (proxy for socioeconomic status), time-fixed effects, and core-based statistical area fixed effects was used to study difference across groups. Results: In 2019, the TSA volume per 1000 beneficiaries was 1.51 for White and 0.57 for non-White, with a 2.6-fold difference. In 2020, the rate of TSA in White patients (1.30/1000) was 2.9 times higher than non-White (0.45/1000) during the COVID-19 pandemic (P < .01). There was an overall 14% decrease in TSA volume per 1000 Medicare beneficiaries in 2020; non-White patients had a larger percentage decrease in TSA volume than White (21% vs. 14%, estimated difference; 8.7%, P = .02). Black patients experienced the most pronounced disparity with estimated difference of 10.1%, P = .05, compared with White patients. Similar disparities were observed when categorizing procedures into anatomic and reverse TSA, but not proximal humerus fracture. Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, overall TSA utilization decreased by 14% with White patients experiencing a decrease of 14%, and non-White patients experiencing a decrease of 21%. This trend was observed for elective TSA, while disparities were less apparent for proximal humerus fracture.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on shoulder arthroplasty: surgical trends and postoperative care pathway analysis.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 triggered disruption in the conventional care pathways for many orthopedic procedures. The current study aims to quantify the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on shoulder arthroplasty hospital surgical volume, trends in surgical case distribution, length of hospitalization, posthospital disposition, and 30-day readmission rates. METHODS: This study queried all Medicare (100% sample) fee-for-service beneficiaries who underwent a shoulder arthroplasty procedure (Diagnosis-Related Group code 483, Current Procedural Terminology code 23472) from January 1, 2019, to December 18, 2020. Fracture cases were separated from nonfracture cases, which were further subdivided into anatomic or reverse arthroplasty. Volume per 1000 Medicare beneficiaries was calculated from April to December 2020 and compared to the same months in 2019. Length of stay (LOS), discharged-home rate, and 30-day readmission for the same period were obtained. The yearly difference adjusted for age, sex, race (white vs. nonwhite), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Hierarchical Condition Category risk score, month fixed effects, and Core-Based Statistical Area fixed effects, with standard errors clustered at the provider level, was calculated using a multivariate analysis (P < .05). RESULTS: A total of 49,412 and 41,554 total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) cases were observed April through December for 2019 and 2020, respectively. There was an overall decrease in shoulder arthroplasty volume per 1000 Medicare beneficiaries by 14% (19% reduction in anatomic TSA, 13% reduction in reverse shoulder arthroplasty, and 3% reduction in fracture cases). LOS for all shoulder arthroplasty cases decreased by 16% (-0.27 days, P < .001) when adjusted for confounders. There was a 5% increase in the discharged-home rate (88.0% to 92.7%, P < .001), which was most prominent in fracture cases, with a 20% increase in discharged-home cases (65.0% to 73.4%, P < .001). There was no significant change in 30-day hospital readmission rates overall (P = .20) or when broken down by individual procedures. CONCLUSIONS: There was an overall decrease in shoulder arthroplasty volume per 1000 Medicare beneficiaries by 14% during the COVID-19 pandemic. A decrease in LOS and increase in the discharged-home rates was also observed with no significant change in 30-day hospital readmission, indicating that a shift toward an outpatient surgical model can be performed safely and efficiently and has the potential to provide value.

Incidence, Risk Factors, Prevention, and Management of Peripheral Nerve Injuries Following Shoulder Arthroplasty.

In this article, the authors review the incidence and causes of iatrogenic peripheral nerve injuries following shoulder arthroplasty and provide preventative measures to decrease nerve injury rate and management options. They describe common direct and indirect causes of injury such as laceration and retractor use versus arm positioning and lengthening, respectively. Preventative measures include an understanding of anatomy and high-risk locations in the shoulder, minimizing extreme ranges of arm motion and utilization of intraoperative nerve monitoring. Lastly, the authors review diagnosis and management of neurologic symptoms including how and when to use electrodiagnostic studies, nerve grafts, transfers, or muscle/tendon transfers.

Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation Correlates with American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Score for Common Elbow Pathology: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: There are currently a variety of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) for elbow pathology, without any established gold standard. The Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) is a single question assessment of the patient's perceived overall function compared with normal. The SANE score has been correlated with PROs from the shoulder and knee literature. PURPOSE: To correlate the SANE score for a variety of elbow pathologies with a traditionally reported elbow outcome measure, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons-Elbow score (ASES-E). STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of all patients identified at a single center between April 2016 and January 2019 who presented as a new patient with elbow pathology. All patients prospectively completed the ASES-E along with the SANE score for elbow (SANE-E) at the time of initial consultation. Spearman correlations (r) were performed to evaluate the correlation between the ASES-E and the SANE-E score for specific elbow pathology, along with descriptive data such as age, sex, and chronicity of the problem. RESULTS: A total of 555 patients (166 women, 29.9%) with a mean ± SD age of 51.0 ± 11.7 years with the diagnoses of medial epicondylitis (n = 72; 13.0%), lateral epicondylitis (n = 224; 40.4%), biceps tendon rupture (n = 139; 25.0%), triceps tendon rupture (n = 21; 3.8%), and elbow arthritis (n = 99; 17.8%) were included in this analysis. There was moderate correlation between the SANE-E and the ASES-E (r = 0.623; P < .001), with strongest correlation with the visual analog scale (VAS) (r = -0.518; P < .001) compared with any individual question and moderate to strong correlations based on specific diagnoses. SANE-E and ASES-E scores for the entire cohort were 42.9 ± 26.7 and 56.9 ± 21.4, respectively (P < .001). Age (r = 0.027; P = .526), sex (r = 0.026; P = .555), VAS (r = -0.106; P = .013), and chronicity of the problem (r = -0.037; P = .384) were not found to be correlated with differences in ASES-E and SANE-E. CONCLUSION: The SANE-E score is a simple way to assess patient-perceived function relative to normal. The findings of this study demonstrated moderate to strong correlation between the ASES-E and the SANE-E score for a variety of commonly encountered elbow conditions.

The role of telehealth as a platform for postoperative visits following rotator cuff repair: a prospective, randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The application of telehealth for surgical follow-up has gained recent exposure in orthopedic care. Although the results following joint arthroplasty are encouraging, the role of telemedicine for postoperative care following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair still needs to be defined. The goal of this study was to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and socioeconomic benefits of telehealth as a platform for postoperative follow-up. METHODS: This was a prospective, randomized controlled trial that enrolled 66 patients who underwent follow-up in the office vs. via telemedicine for postoperative visits at 2, 6, and 12 weeks after surgery. Post-visit surveys were administered to patients and physicians via e-mail, and the Student t test and Fisher exact test were used to compare responses. RESULTS: In total, 58 patients (88%) completed the study (28 telehealth vs. 30 control). Patients in each group demonstrated similar pain scores at each follow-up visit (P = .638, P = .124, and P = .951) and similar overall satisfaction scores (P = .304). Patients in the telehealth group expressed a stronger preference for telehealth than their control counterparts (P < .001). Telehealth visits were less time-consuming from both a patient (P < .001) and physician (P = .002) perspective. Telehealth visits also required less time off work for both patients (P = .001) and caregivers (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff surgery were able to receive safe and effective early postoperative follow-up care using telemedicine. The preference for telehealth increased for both surgeons and patients following first-hand experience. The use of a telehealth platform is a reasonable follow-up model to consider for patients seeking convenient and efficient care following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

Accuracy and Validity of Computer Adaptive Testing for Outcome Assessment in Patients Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Computerized adaptive test (CAT) questionnaires may allow standardization of patient-reported outcome measures and reductions in questionnaire burden. We evaluated the validity, accuracy, and efficacy of a CAT system in patients with end-stage osteoarthritis undergoing total knee arthroplasty. METHODS: CAT Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Scores (KOOS) and CAT KOOS-JR questionnaires were applied to 1871 standard form KOOS and 1493 KOOS-JR patient responses, respectively. Mean, standard deviations, Pearson's correlation coefficients, interclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), frequency distribution plots, and Bland-Altman plots were used to compare the precision, validity, and accuracy between CAT scores and full-form scores. RESULTS: There was a mean reduction of 14 questions (33%) in the CAT KOOS and 1.4 questions (20%) with the CAT KOOS-JR version, compared with the standard KOOS and KOOS-JR surveys, respectively. There were no significant differences between KOOS and CAT KOOS scores with respect to pain (P = .66), symptoms (P = .43), quality of life (P = .99), activities of daily living (P = .68), and sports (P = .84). Similarly, there were no significant differences between the standard form KOOS-JR and CAT KOOS-JR scores (P = .94). There were strong correlations with minimal variability between the CAT KOOS and standard KOOS questionnaires for pain (r = 0.98, ICC: 0.98), symptoms (r = 0.97, ICC: 0.97), quality of life scores (r = 0.99, ICC: 0.99), activities of daily living scores (r = 0.99, ICC: 0.99), and sports scores (r = 0.99, ICC: 0.99). Similarly, there were strong correlations between the KOOS-JR and the CAT KOOS-JR scores (r = 0.99, ICC: 0.99). CONCLUSION: CAT KOOS and the CAT KOOS-JR versions are accurate and reduce questionnaire burden up to one-third compared with standard surveys. CAT versions may improve patient compliance and decrease fatigue.

Cost Effectiveness of Laminar Flow Systems for Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: Filtering Money from the OR?

BACKGROUND: Laminar flow ventilation systems were developed to reduce surgical contamination in joint arthroplasty to avoid periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). The goals of this study are to evaluate the cost-effectiveness and economic viability of installing and maintaining a laminar flow system in an operating room. METHODS: A Monte Carlo simulation was used to evaluate the cost effectiveness of laminar flow. The variables included were cost to treat PJI, incidence of PJI, cost of laminar flow, years of operating room use, and arthroplasty volume as the dependent variable. RESULTS: Laminar flow would be financially-justified when 1,217 (SD: 319) TSA cases are performed annually with assumed 10% reduction in PJI from laminar flow and 487 (SD: 127) with assumed 25% reduction. In a high volume OR, laminar flow costs $25.24 per case (assuming 10% reduction) and $8.24 per case (assuming 25% reduction). Laminar flow would need to reduce the incidence of PJI by 35.1% (SD: 9.1) to be a cost-effective strategy. CONCLUSION: This analysis demonstrates the substantial arthroplasty volume and large reduction in PJI rates required to justify the installation and maintenance costs of this technology. This high cost of implementation should be considered prior to installing laminar flow systems.

Accuracy and Validity of Computer Adaptive Testing for Outcome Assessment in Patients Undergoing Total Hip Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Probability-based computer algorithms that reduce patient burden are currently in high demand. These computer adaptive testing (CAT) methods improve workflow and reduce patient frustration, while achieving high measurement precision. In this study, we evaluated the accuracy and validity of the CAT Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS) and the Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score Joint Replacement (HOOS-JR) by comparing them to the full version of these scoring systems in a subset of patients who had undergone total hip arthroplasties. METHODS: A previously developed CAT HOOS and HOOS-JR was applied to 354 and 1547 HOOS and HOOS-JR patient responses, respectively. Mean, standard deviations, Pearson's correlation coefficients, interclass correlation coefficients, frequency distribution plots, and Bland-Altman plots were used to compare the precision, validity, and accuracy between CAT scores and full-form scores. RESULTS: By modifying the questions to past responses, the CAT HOOS demonstrated a mean reduction of 30% of questions (28 vs 40 questions). There were no significant differences between the full HOOS and CAT HOOS with respect to pain (P = .73), symptoms (P = .94), quality of life (P = .99), activities of daily living (P = .82), and sports (P = .99). There were strong linear relationships between the CAT versions and the standard questionnaires (r > 0.99). The Bland-Altman plot showed that differences between CAT HOOS and full HOOS were independent of the overall scores. CONCLUSION: The CAT HOOS and HOOS-JR have high correlation and require fewer questions to finish compared to the standard full-form questionnaires. This may represent a reliable and practical alternative that may be less burdensome to patients and may help improve compliance for reporting outcome metrics.

The Distress and Risk Assessment Method predicts postoperative narcotic use in patients undergoing rotator cuff repair.

BACKGROUND: The Distress and Risk Assessment Method (DRAM) predicts poor outcomes in spine, hip, and knee surgery. Unlike other areas of orthopedic surgery, DRAM scores are not predictive of lower postoperative patient-reported outcomes after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (RCR). PURPOSE: As concerns for opioid dependence and abuse grow, the purpose of this study was to analyze the correlation between preoperative DRAM scores, modified Zung scores, and postoperative narcotic use in patients who underwent arthroscopic RCR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective cohort study identified and enrolled patients >18 years of age with full-thickness rotator cuff tears at a single institution. Patients with prior shoulder surgery, greater than 1-tendon RCR, and preoperative narcotic use were excluded. One-hundred and fifty patients were enrolled, with 114 (76%) completing all preoperative and postoperative questionnaires. Preoperative DRAM scores were collected from every patient. Postoperative narcotic use was evaluated via survey and converted to total morphine equivalents. RESULTS: Increased preoperative DRAM scores predicted higher postoperative morphine equivalent units (P = .002, r = 0.29). When dividing patients into those <17 or ≥17 on the modified Zung score, 44 of 114 (39%) met criteria for "at risk or depressed." This group showed a statistically significant trend toward higher postoperative morphine equivalent unit intake (P = .004). CONCLUSION: Baseline psychological distress (DRAM) can predict narcotic requirements after RCR and serve as a powerful tool to identify patients at risk for increased narcotics requirements postoperatively. In our cohort, 39% of patients showed evidence of baseline depression, which highlights a potential role of the modified Zung score to identify patients in need of preoperative psychological counseling.

A concise shoulder outcome measure: application of computerized adaptive testing to the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Shoulder Assessment.

BACKGROUND: Patient-reported outcome measures enable quantitative and patient-centric assessment of orthopedic interventions; however, increased use of these forms has an associated burden for patients and practices. We examined the utility of a computerized adaptive testing (CAT) method to reduce the number of questions on the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) instrument. METHODS: A previously developed ASES CAT system was applied to the responses of 2763 patients who underwent shoulder evaluation and treatment and had answered all questions on the full ASES instrument. Analyses to assess the accuracy of the CAT score in replicating the full-form score included the mean and standard deviation of both groups of scores, frequency distributions of the 2 sets of scores and score differences, Pearson and intraclass correlation coefficients, and Bland-Altman assessment of patterns in score differences. RESULTS: By tailoring questions according to prior responses, CAT reduced the question burden by 40%. The mean difference between CAT and full ASES scores was -0.14, and the scores were within 5 points in 95% of cases (a 12-point difference is considered the threshold for clinical significance) and were clustered around zero. The correlation coefficients were 0.99, and the frequency distributions of the CAT and full ASES scores were nearly identical. The differences between scores were independent of the overall score, and no significant bias for CAT scores was found in either a positive or negative direction. CONCLUSION: The ASES CAT system lessens respondent burden with a negligible effect on score integrity.

A prospective study assessing the political advocacy of American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons members.

BACKGROUND: This study assessed the current political standings and active political engagement of American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) members along with the political process as it relates to health care policy. METHODS: This survey study involved 552 ASES members. The survey was open for 2 weeks. Responses were received from 254 of the 552 members (46%), and their answers were analyzed. RESULTS: Six (2%) of the responding members were solo practitioners, 100 (39%) belonged to a private practice, 106 (42%) were providers at academic institutions or residency training programs, 25 (10%) were employed by a hospital, and 17 (7%) categorized themselves as other. Email was the preferred method of communication. Of all responding members, 110 (43%) stated they had contributed to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery Political Advocacy Committee in the last 12 months. Four (10%) of the responding members have a relationship with an elected official, and 220 (87%) would be willing to become a key contact and reach out to a legislator. CONCLUSION: Moving forward, this survey can be used to better shape the political advocacy efforts of the ASES and potentially other subspecialty societies. The response that "a high percentage of members would like to be more involved" suggests the need for a program to help further educate and facilitate the membership on political advocacy.

Surgeons' experience and perceived barriers with outpatient shoulder arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Recently, outpatient total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) has been proposed as a safe and cost-effective alternative to the inpatient setting. This study evaluated the expert shoulder surgeon's experience with and perceived barriers to outpatient TSA. METHODS: A secure web application was used to perform an online survey of 484 active American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons members. The survey assessed surgeon practice demographics, experience with TSA/outpatient TSA, and perceived barriers to successful outpatient TSA. Simple descriptive statistics were performed to analyze the cohort. To identify differences between surgeons performing and not performing outpatient TSA, the Student t test and χ2 test were used in bivariate analysis. P < .05 was used for statistical significance. RESULTS: Of the 179 (37.0%) complete responses received, 20.7% perform outpatient TSA; of those, 78.4% reported an "excellent" experience. Outpatient surgeons were more likely to reside in the southern United States (P = .05) and performed a higher volume of TSAs annually (P = .03). Surgeons not performing outpatient TSA were more concerned with the potential of medical complications (P = .04). Perceived lack of experience (P = .002), low volume (P = .008), insurance contracts (P = .003), and reimbursement (P = .04) were less important barriers compared with outpatient TSA surgeons. CONCLUSIONS: Less than 25% of shoulder surgeons who completed survey are performing outpatient TSA, and those that do report an overall excellent experience. Volume of TSAs performed and practice location appear to play roles in the decision to perform outpatient TSA. As surgeons become more comfortable with outpatient TSA, there is a shift from concerns about medical complications to concerns about reimbursement.

Use of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty in the Medicare population.

BACKGROUND: Reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) has been Food and Drug Administration approved in the United States since 2004 but did not obtain a unique code until 2010. Therefore, the use of this popular procedure has yet to be reported. The purpose of this study was to examine the use and reimbursement of RSA compared with total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) and shoulder hemiarthroplasty (SHA). METHODS: We analyzed the 100% sample of the 2011 Medicare Part A claims data for patients aged 65 years or older. Patient demographic characteristics, diagnoses, provider information, reimbursements, and lengths of stay were extracted from the claims data. RESULTS: In 2011, a total of 31,002 shoulder arthroplasty procedures were performed; 37% were RSAs, 42% were TSAs, and 21% were SHAs. Osteoarthritis was the primary diagnosis code in 91% of TSAs, 37% of SHAs, and 45% of RSAs. A primary diagnosis of osteoarthritis with no secondary code for rotator cuff tear was found in 22% of patients undergoing RSA. The mean length of stay for RSA (2.6 days; SD, 2.1 days) was longer than that for TSA (2.1 days; SD, 1.5 days) and shorter than that for SHA (3.5 days; SD, 3.6 days) (P < .001). Lower-volume surgeons (<10 arthroplasties per year) performed most shoulder arthroplasties: 57% of RSAs, 65% of TSAs, and 97% of SHAs. Seventy percent of RSAs were implanted by surgeons who performed more RSAs than TSAs and SHAs combined. CONCLUSIONS: RSA is performed with similar frequency to TSA and almost twice as much as SHA in the Medicare population. Lower-volume surgeons perform most RSAs, and a majority of surgeons perform more RSAs than all anatomic shoulder arthroplasties combined.