Use of Preoperative CT Scans and Patient-Specific Instrumentation May Not Improve Short-Term Adverse Events After Shoulder Arthroplasty: Results from a Large Integrated Health-Care System.

Ongoing innovation leads to a continuous influx of new technologies related to shoulder arthroplasty. These are made available to surgeons and marketed to both health-care providers and patients with the hope of improving outcomes. We sought to evaluate how preoperative planning technologies for shoulder arthroplasty affect outcomes. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study conducted using data from an integrated health-care system's shoulder arthroplasty registry. Adult patients who underwent primary elective anatomic or reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (2015 to 2020) were identified. Preoperative planning technologies were identified as (1) a computed tomography (CT) scan and (2) patient-specific instrumentation (PSI). Multivariable Cox regression and logistic regression were used to compare the risk of aseptic revision and 90-day adverse events, respectively, between procedures for which technologies were and were not used. Results: The study sample included 8,117 procedures (in 7,372 patients) with an average follow-up of 2.9 years (maximum, 6 years). No reduction in the risk of aseptic revision was observed for patients having either preoperative CT scans (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.22; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.87 to 1.72) or PSI (HR = 1.44; 95% CI = 0.71 to 2.92). Patients having CT scans had a lower likelihood of 90-day emergency department visits (odds ratio [OR] = 0.84; 95% CI = 0.73 to 0.97) but a higher likelihood of 90-day venous thromboembolic events (OR = 1.79; 95% CI = 1.18 to 2.74). Patients with PSI use had a higher likelihood of 90-day deep infection (OR = 7.74; 95% CI = 1.11 to 53.94). Conclusions: We found no reduction in the risk of aseptic revision with the use of these technologies. Patients having CT scans and PSI use had a higher likelihood of venous thromboembolism and deep infection, respectively. Ongoing research with extended follow-up is being conducted to further examine the effects of these technologies on patient outcomes. Level of Evidence: Diagnostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Preoperative Patient Optimization: Outcomes from Elective Total Joint Arthroplasty in a Large US Healthcare System.

INTRODUCTION: Patient factors are known to affect outcomes in arthroplasty surgery. A preoperative program to address modifiable factors may aid in more appropriate patient selection. We sought to assess patient selection and 90-day postoperative outcomes for total joint arthroplasty (TJA) candidates before and after implementation of a preoperative optimization protocol. METHODS: A retrospective time-trend study using data from an integrated healthcare system's total joint replacement registry was done. The study sample consisted of patients aged 18 years or older who underwent primary elective total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for osteoarthritis between 2009 and 2019. Patients were divided into two cohorts: procedures performed from 2009 to 2013 ("preoptimization protocol") and those from 2015 to 2019 ("postoptimization protocol"); 2014 was excluded because an evidence-based preoperative patient optimization protocol was progressively implemented throughout the year. Patient characteristics, optimization factors, and 90-day outcomes (including emergency department [ED] visits, readmission, all-cause revision, deep infection, venous thromboembolism, and mortality) were compared between the two cohorts using the Pearson chi-square test or Wilcoxon test. RESULTS: The study sample included 25,925 THA and 60,484 TKA. In the THA cohort, 10,364 (40.0%) and 15,561 (60.0%) were from the preoptimization and postoptimization cohorts, respectively. The postoptimization THA cohort saw lower rates of ED visits (12.1% vs. 9.4%, P < 0.001) and readmissions (5.6% vs. 3.8%, P < 0.001). In the TKA cohort, 24,054 (39.8%) and 36,430 (60.2%) were from the preoptimization and postoptimization cohorts, respectively. The postoptimization TKA cohort saw lower rates of ED visits (13.1% vs. 11.9%, P < 0.001), readmissions (5.6% vs. 3.0%, P < 0.001), all-cause revisions (0.5% vs. 0.3%, P = 0.003), venous thromboembolism (1.3% vs. 0.9%, P < 0.001), and mortality (0.3% vs. 0.2%, P = 0.011). DISCUSSION: An evidence-based protocol to improve patient selection based on modifiable patient factors was adopted by orthopaedic surgeons in the system and utilization of the protocol before TJA was associated with fewer postoperative complications over time. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

Similar rates of revision surgery following primary anatomic compared with reverse shoulder arthroplasty in patients aged 70 years or older with glenohumeral osteoarthritis: a cohort study of 3791 patients.

BACKGROUND: Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA), initially indicated for cuff tear arthropathy, is increasingly used to treat elderly patients with primary glenohumeral osteoarthritis (GHOA) and an intact rotator cuff. This is often done to avoid revision surgery in elderly patients for rotator cuff failure with anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) despite traditionally good outcomes of TSA. We sought to determine whether there was a difference in outcomes in patients aged ≥70 years who received RTSA vs. TSA for GHOA. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from a US integrated health care system's shoulder arthroplasty registry. Patients aged ≥70 years who underwent primary shoulder arthroplasty for GHOA with an intact rotator cuff were included (2012-2021). RTSA was compared with TSA. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression was used to evaluate all-cause revision risk during follow-up, whereas multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate 90-day emergency department (ED) visits and 90-day readmissions. RESULTS: The final study sample comprised 685 RTSA patients and 3106 TSA patients. The mean age was 75.8 years (standard deviation, 4.6 years), and 43.4% of patients were men. After accounting for confounders, we observed no significant difference in all-cause revision risk for RTSA vs. TSA (hazard ratio, 0.79; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.39-1.58). The most common reason for revision following RTSA was glenoid component loosening (40.0%). Over half of revisions following TSA were for rotator cuff tear (54.0%). No difference based on procedure type was observed in the likelihood of 90-day ED visits (odds ratio, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.71-1.26) and 90-day readmissions (odds ratio, 1.32; 95% CI, 0.83-2.09). CONCLUSION: RTSA and TSA for GHOA with an intact rotator cuff in patients aged ≥70 years had a similar revision risk, as well as a similar likelihood of 90-day ED visits and readmissions. Although revision risk was similar, the most common causes of revision were different, with rotator cuff tears in TSA patients and glenoid component loosening in RTSA patients.

Tranexamic acid is not associated with decreased infection risk after primary shoulder arthroplasty: a cohort study of 9276 patients.

BACKGROUND: The use of tranexamic acid (TXA) is associated with less blood loss and reduced transfusion risk after shoulder arthroplasty surgery. Recent studies have shown lower odds of postoperative infection after hip or knee arthroplasty with its use. The purpose of this study was to determine whether TXA use reduces the risk of infection after primary elective shoulder arthroplasty. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from a US integrated health care system's shoulder arthroplasty registry. Patients aged 18 years who underwent primary elective anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty for osteoarthritis or primary reverse shoulder arthroplasty for rotator cuff arthropathy were included (2013-2020). We compared patients who received preoperative intravenous TXA to those who did not receive TXA by assessing the risk for revision due to deep infection within 5 years' follow-up using multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression. Interaction between TXA and diabetes status was analyzed separately. RESULTS: The study sample included 9276 shoulder arthroplasties performed by 153 surgeons at 43 hospitals. The mean age was 70.0 years and 48% were male. The 5-year probability of revision for deep infection was 0.8% and 0.7% for patients with and without TXA, respectively. We failed to observe a difference in infection risk after adjustment for confounders and surgeon differences (hazard ratio [HR] 1.00, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.56-1.80, P = .998). Further, no differences were observed in patients with (HR 1.64, 95% CI 0.42-6.44, P = .481) or without diabetes (HR 0.79, 95% CI 0.40-1.55, P = .488). CONCLUSION: In a multicenter cohort of more than 9000 primary shoulder arthroplasty procedures, the use of preoperative TXA was not associated with a decrease in the 5-year probability of revision for deep infection.

Temporal Trends in Deep Surgical Site Infections After Six Orthopaedic Procedures Over a 12-year Period Within a US-based Healthcare System.

INTRODUCTION: Centers of excellence and bundled payment models have driven perioperative optimization and surgical site infection (SSI) prevention with decolonization protocols and antibiotic prophylaxis strategies. We sought to evaluate time trends in the incidence of deep SSI and its causative organisms after six orthopaedic procedures in a US-based integrated healthcare system. METHODS: We conducted a population-level time-trend study using data from Kaiser Permanente's orthopaedic registries. All patients who underwent primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), total knee arthroplasty (TKA), elective total hip arthroplasty (THA), hip fracture repair, shoulder arthroplasty, and spine surgery were identified (2009 to 2020). The annual incidence of 90-day deep SSI was identified according to the National Healthcare Safety Network/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines with manual chart validation for identified infections. Poisson regression was used to evaluate annual trends in SSI incidence with surgical year as the exposure of interest. Annual trends in overall incidence and organism-specific incidence were considered. RESULTS: The final study sample was composed of 465,797 primary orthopaedic procedures. Over the 12-year study period, a decreasing trend in deep SSI was observed for ACLR and hip fracture repair. Although there was variation in incidence rates for specific operative years for TKA, elective THA, shoulder arthroplasty, and spine surgery, no consistent decreasing trends over time were found. Decreasing rates of Staphylococcus aureus infections over time after hip fracture repair, shoulder arthroplasty, and spine surgery and decreasing trends in antibiotic resistance after elective THA and spine surgery were also observed. Increasing trends of polymicrobial infections were observed after TKA and Cutibacterium acnes after elective THA. CONCLUSIONS: The overall incidence of deep SSI after six orthopaedic procedures was rare. Decreasing SSI rates were observed for ACLR and hip fracture repair within our US-based healthcare system. Polymicrobial infections after TKA and Cutibacterium acnes after elective THA warrant closer surveillance. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Postoperative opioid utilization associated with revision risk following primary shoulder arthroplasty.

INTRODUCTION: With a substantial increase in utilization of primary shoulder arthroplasty, it is important to understand risk factors that may signal early failure and need for revision. Recent studies have reported that sustained postoperative opioid use is associated with a higher revision risk after total hip or knee arthroplasty. In this study, we evaluated postoperative opioid utilization as a risk factor for revision after primary shoulder arthroplasty. METHODS: We conducted a cohort study using data from a United States integrated health care system's Shoulder Arthroplasty Registry. Patients who had a primary elective shoulder arthroplasty were identified (2009-2017); those with cancer or who underwent other arthroplasty procedures (either shoulder, hip, or knee) within the preceding year were excluded. Cumulative daily opioid utilization during the first year postoperative, calculated as oral morphine equivalents (OME), was categorized into 3 exposure groups: high user (≥15 mg OME daily), moderate user (<15 mg OME daily), and no opioid use (reference group). The exposure window was stratified into 2 time periods: postoperative days 1-90 and postoperative days 91-360. Multivariable Cox proportional-hazards regression was used to evaluate the association between postoperative opioid use and aseptic revision risk. RESULTS: The final study sample included 8325 shoulder arthroplasty procedures. Of these individuals, 3707 (45%) received some opioid within the 1 year before the index procedure. We failed to observe a difference in aseptic revision risk between opioid utilization in the first 90 days postoperatively, regardless of dose. After the first 90 days, a higher revision risk was observed for high opioid users compared with nonusers (hazard ratio = 1.62, 95% confidence interval = 1.10-2.41), and no association was observed for moderate users (hazard ratio = 1.25, 95% confidence interval = 0.82-1.91). CONCLUSIONS: We found a positive association between opioid consumption and aseptic revision risk after primary shoulder arthroplasty. This study cannot determine if opioids have a direct physiological cause that increases the risk of revision; rather it is likely that opioid consumption is a marker of chronic pain, poor function, and/or poor coping mechanisms. Further study is needed to determine if programs designed to decrease opioid use may impact revision risk after shoulder arthroplasty.

Association Between Uncemented vs Cemented Hemiarthroplasty and Revision Surgery Among Patients With Hip Fracture.

IMPORTANCE: Consensus guidelines and systematic reviews have suggested that cemented fixation is more effective than uncemented fixation in hemiarthroplasty for displaced femoral neck fractures. Given that these recommendations are based on research performed outside the United States, it is uncertain whether these findings also reflect the US experience. OBJECTIVE: To compare the outcomes associated with cemented vs uncemented hemiarthroplasty in a large US integrated health care system. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Retrospective cohort study of 12 491 patients aged 60 years and older who underwent hemiarthroplasty treatment of a hip fracture between 2009 and 2017 at 1 of the 36 hospitals owned by Kaiser Permanente, a large US health maintenance organization. Patients were followed up until membership termination, death, or the study end date of December 31, 2017. EXPOSURES: Hemiarthroplasty (prosthetic replacement of the femoral head) fixation via bony growth into a porous-coated implant (uncemented) or with cement. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was aseptic revision, defined as any reoperation performed after the index procedure involving exchange of the existing implant for reasons other than infection. Secondary outcomes were mortality (in-hospital, postdischarge, and overall), 90-day medical complications, 90-day emergency department visits, and 90-day unplanned readmissions. RESULTS: Among 12 491 patients in the study cohort who underwent hemiarthroplasty for hip fracture (median age, 83 years; 8660 women [69.3%]), 6042 (48.4%) had undergone uncemented fixation and 6449 (51.6%) had undergone cemented fixation, and the median length of follow-up was 3.8 years. In the multivariable regression analysis controlling for confounders, uncemented fixation was associated with a significantly higher risk of aseptic revision (cumulative incidence at 1 year after operation, 3.0% vs 1.3%; absolute difference, 1.7% [95% CI, 1.1%-2.2%]; hazard ratio [HR], 1.77 [95% CI, 1.43-2.19]; P < .001). Of the 6 prespecified secondary end points, none showed a statistically significant difference between groups, including in-hospital mortality (1.7% for uncemented fixation vs 2.0% for cemented fixation; HR, 0.94 [95% CI, 0.73-1.21]; P = .61) and overall mortality (cumulative incidence at 1 year after operation: 20.0% for uncemented fixation vs 22.8% for cemented fixation; HR, 0.95 [95% CI, 0.90-1.01]; P = .08). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Among patients with hip fracture treated with hemiarthroplasty in a large US integrated health care system, uncemented fixation, compared with cemented fixation, was associated with a statistically significantly higher risk of aseptic revision. These findings suggest that US surgeons should consider cemented fixation in the hemiarthroplasty treatment of displaced femoral neck fractures in the absence of contraindications.

The Association of Race/Ethnicity and Total Knee Arthroplasty Outcomes in a Universally Insured Population.

BACKGROUND: Prior studies have documented racial/ethnic disparities in the United States for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) outcomes. One factor cited as a potential mediator is unequal access to care. We sought to assess whether racial/ethnic disparities persist in a universally insured TKA population. METHODS: A US integrated health system's total joint replacement registry was used to identify elective primary TKA (2000-2016). Racial/ethnic differences in revision and 90-day postoperative events (readmission, emergency department [ED] visit, infection, venous thromboembolism, and mortality) were analyzed using Cox proportional hazard and logistic regression with adjustment for confounders. RESULTS: Of 129,402 TKA, 68.8% were white, 16.2% were Hispanic, 8.4% were black, and 6.6% were Asian. Compared to white patients, Hispanic patients had lower risks of septic revision (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.69, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.57-0.83) and infection (odds ratio [OR] = 0.42, 95% CI = 0.30-0.59), but a higher likelihood of ED visit (OR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.22-1.34). Black patients had higher risks of aseptic revision (HR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.42-1.83), readmission (OR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.02-1.24), and ED visit (OR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.23-1.39). Asian patients had lower risks of aseptic revision (HR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.54-0.83), septic revision (HR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.60-0.99), readmission (OR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.79-1.00), and venous thromboembolism (OR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.45-0.78). CONCLUSION: We observed differences in TKA outcome, even within a universally insured population. While lower risks in some outcomes were observed for Asian and Hispanic patients, the higher risks of aseptic revision and readmission for black patients and ED visit for black and Hispanic patients warrant further research to determine reasons for these findings to mitigate disparities. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Same-day discharge is not inferior to longer length of in-hospital stay for 90-day readmissions following shoulder arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Shoulder arthroplasty is a common orthopedic procedure, performed historically in the inpatient setting. However, interest in same-day discharge has increased. We sought to evaluate 90-day readmission, 90-day emergency department (ED) visit, 90-day deep infection, 90-day venous thromboembolism (VTE), and 1-year mortality after same-day shoulder arthroplasty compared with an inpatient stay. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from an integrated health care system's Shoulder Arthroplasty Registry. A total of 6503 elective primary unilateral total shoulder and reverse total shoulder arthroplasties performed between 2005 and 2016 were included; 405 (6%) had same-day discharge. The likelihood of 90-day events, including readmission, ED visit, deep infection, and VTE, and 1-year mortality after same-day discharge was compared with 1- to 4-night inpatient stay using generalized estimating equations with noninferiority testing, adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, race, American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, select comorbidities, osteoarthritis, anesthesia type, procedure type, and surgeon effect. RESULTS: We failed to observe a difference between same-day discharge and 1- to 4-night stay in terms of 90-day readmission, 90-day ED visit, and 1-year mortality. Same-day discharge was not inferior to 1- to 4-night stay regarding 90-day readmission, but we did not have evidence to support noninferiority for 90-day ED visits or 1-year mortality. Ninety-day deep infections and VTE were too infrequent for adjusted analysis. CONCLUSIONS: We found same-day shoulder arthroplasty not to be inferior to an inpatient stay for 90-day readmission. Future investigation into the reasons for readmission and ED visit after same-day shoulder arthroplasty and interventions to mitigate these adverse events is needed.

The association between race/ethnicity and outcomes following primary shoulder arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Although prior studies have reported health disparities in total knee and hip arthroplasty, few have evaluated the effect of race/ethnicity on total shoulder arthroplasty, particularly in a setting in which patients have uniform access to care. Because the procedural volume of shoulder arthroplasty has increased dramatically over the past decade, evaluating the association between race/ethnicity and postoperative outcomes is warranted. We sought to evaluate racial/ethnic disparities in adverse postoperative events within a universally insured shoulder arthroplasty cohort in an integrated health care system. METHODS: An integrated health care system's registry was used to identify patients who underwent elective primary (total or reverse) shoulder arthroplasty from 2005 to 2016. Four mutually exclusive race/ethnicity groups were investigated: white, Asian, black, and Hispanic. Racial differences were evaluated using Cox proportional hazards regression for all-cause revision and conditional logistic regression for 90-day unplanned readmissions and 90-day emergency department (ED) visits while adjusting for confounders. RESULTS: Of the 8360 shoulder procedures, 2% were performed in Asian patients; 5%, black patients; 9%, Hispanic patients; and 84%, white patients. Compared with white patients, Hispanic patients had a 44% lower revision risk (hazard ratio, 0.56; 95% confidence interval, 0.33-0.97). Black patients had a 45% higher likelihood of a 90-day ED visit (odds ratio, 1.45; 95% confidence interval, 1.12-1.89). CONCLUSION: We found minority groups to have revision and unplanned readmission risks that were similar to or lower than those of white patients. However, black patients had a higher likelihood of ED visits. Further investigation is needed to determine the reasons for this disparity and identify interventions to mitigate unnecessary ED visits.

Association of Race and Ethnicity with Total Hip Arthroplasty Outcomes in a Universally Insured Population.

BACKGROUND: Prior studies have documented racial and ethnic disparities in total hip arthroplasty (THA) outcomes in the U.S. The purpose of this study was to assess whether racial/ethnic disparities in THA outcomes persist in a universally insured population of patients enrolled in an integrated health-care system. METHODS: A U.S. health-care system total joint replacement registry was used to identify patients who underwent elective primary THA between 2001 and 2016. Data on patient demographics, surgical procedures, implant characteristics, and outcomes were obtained from the registry. The outcomes analyzed were lifetime revision (all-cause, aseptic, and septic) and 90-day postoperative events (infection, venous thromboembolism, emergency department [ED] visits, readmission, and mortality). Racial/ethnic differences in outcomes were analyzed with use of multiple regression with adjustment for socioeconomic status and other potential confounders. RESULTS: Of 72,755 patients in the study, 79.1% were white, 8.2% were black, 8.5% were Hispanic, and 4.2% were Asian. Compared with white patients, lifetime all-cause revision was lower for black (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.79; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.66 to 0.94; p = 0.007), Hispanic (adjusted HR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.61 to 0.87; p = 0.002), and Asian (adjusted HR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.37 to 0.66; p < 0.001) patients. Ninety-day ED visits were more common among black (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.15; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.25; p = 0.002) and Hispanic patients (adjusted OR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.08 to 1.28; p < 0.001). For all other postoperative events, minority patients had similar or lower rates compared with white patients. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to prior research, we found that minority patients enrolled in a managed health-care system had rates of lifetime reoperation and 90-day postoperative events that were generally similar to or lower than those of white patients, findings that may be related to the equal access and/or standardized protocols associated with treatment in the managed care system. However, black and Hispanic patients still had higher rates of 90-day ED visits. Further research is required to determine the reasons for this finding and to identify interventions that could reduce unnecessary ED visits. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

The increasing role of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty in the treatment of proximal humerus fractures.

INTRODUCTION: Hemiarthroplasty of the shoulder is a well established treatment for proximal humerus fractures not amenable to open reduction internal fixation. However, orthopedic surgeons have recently increased utilization of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) in the treatment of these injuries. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of hemiarthroplasty and RTSA between 2009 and 2016 for the treatment of proximal humerus fractures within a large United States integrated healthcare system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive study was conducted using our integrated healthcare system's Shoulder Arthroplasty Registry. Shoulder arthroplasty cases performed for an acute proximal humerus fracture between the years of 2009 and 2016 were identified. Revision rates were determined, as well as changes in age and gender distribution of the cohort during the study period. RESULTS: In 2015, RTSA utilization surpassed that of hemiarthroplasty for the first time in the healthcare system. The utilization of RTSA in the treatment of proximal humerus fractures increased from 4.5% of all arthroplasties in 2009 to 67.4% of arthroplasties in 2016. During the study period, patients undergoing hemiarthroplasty were younger and less likely to be female. Crude revision rate was 4.0% for hemiarthroplasty and 3.2% for RTSA. CONCLUSIONS: RTSA is increasingly being utilized for the treatment of proximal humerus fractures and now appears to be the treatment of choice. While hemiarthroplasty appears to be falling out of favor in the treatment of fractures of the shoulder, surgeons may still be preferentially using the procedure in younger patients.

Survival and Reintervention Risk by Patient Age and Preoperative Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Diameter after Endovascular Aneurysm Repair.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) has become the standard of care for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), but questions remain regarding the benefit in high-risk and elderly patients. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of age, preoperative AAA diameter, and their interaction on survival and reintervention rates after EVAR. METHODS: Our integrated health system's AAA endograft registry was used to identify patients who underwent elective EVAR between 2010 and 2014. Of interest was the effect of patient age at the time of surgery (≤80 vs. >80 years old), preoperative AAA diameter (≤5.5 cm vs. >5.5 cm), and their interaction. Primary endpoints were all-cause mortality and reintervention. Between-within mixed-effects Cox models with propensity score weights were fit. RESULTS: Of 1,967 patients undergoing EVAR, unadjusted rates for survival at 4 years after EVAR was 76.1%, and reintervention-free rate was 86.0%. For mortality, there was insufficient evidence for an interaction between age and AAA size (P = 0.309). Patient age >80 years was associated with 2.53-fold higher mortality risk (hazard ratios [HR] = 2.53; 95% confidence intervals [CI], 1.73-3.70; P < 0.001), whereas AAA > 5.5 cm was associated with 1.75-fold higher mortality risk (HR = 1.75; 95% CI, 1.26-2.45; P = 0.001). For reintervention risk, there were no significant interactions or main effects for age or AAA diameter. CONCLUSIONS: Age and AAA diameter are independent predictors of reduced survival after EVAR, but the effect is not amplified when both are present. Age >80 years or AAA size >5.5 cm did not increase the risk of reintervention. No specific AAA size, patient age, or combination thereof was identified that would contraindicate AAA repair.

Association of Type and Frequency of Postsurgery Care with Revision Surgery after Total Joint Replacement.

CONTEXT: Postmarket surveillance is limited in the ability to detect medical device problems. Electronic health records can provide real-time information that might help with device surveillance. Specifically, the frequency of postsurgery care might indicate early problems and determine high-risk patients requiring more active surveillance. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether intensity of postsurgery care is associated with revision risk after total joint arthroplasty (TJA). DESIGN: Using an integrated health care system's TJA registry, we identified primary TJA performed between April 2001 and July 2013 (22,953 knees and 9904 hips). Survival analyses evaluated the frequency of specific types of outpatient and inpatient utilization 0 to 90 and 91 to 180 days postoperatively and revision risk. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Revision surgery occurring at least 6 months after primary TJA. RESULTS: Knee arthroplasty recipients with 3 or more outpatient orthopedic allied health/nurse visits within 90 days had a 2.2 times (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.6-2.9) higher risk of revision within the first 2 years postoperatively and 10.1 times higher risk (95% CI = 7.6-13.3) after 2 years. Compared with hip arthroplasty recipients who had 0 to 3 visits, patients with 6 or more outpatient orthopedic office visits within 90 days had a 15.7 times (95% CI = 5.7-42.9) higher risk of revision. Similar results were observed for 91-day to 180-day visits. CONCLUSION: Future studies are needed to determine if more specific data on reasons for the higher frequency of outpatient visits can refine these findings and elicit more specific recommendations for TJA devices.

Association Between Race and Ethnicity and Hip Fracture Outcomes in a Universally Insured Population.

BACKGROUND: Prior studies have documented racial and ethnic disparities in hip fracture treatment and outcome, and unequal access is commonly cited as a potential mediator. We sought to assess whether disparities in hip fracture outcome persist within a universally insured population of patients enrolled in a managed health-care system. METHODS: A U.S. integrated health systems registry was used to identify patients who underwent treatment for a hip fracture when they were ≥60 years of age from 2009 to 2014. Patient demographics, procedure details, and outcomes were obtained from the registry. Differences in outcome according to race/ethnicity were analyzed using multivariable regression analysis with adjustment for socioeconomic status and other potential confounders. RESULTS: Of 17,790 patients, 79.4% were white, 3.9% were black, 9.4% were Hispanic, and 7.4% were Asian. Compared with white patients, black patients had a similar 1-year mortality rate (odds ratio [OR] = 0.93, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.79 to 1.09, p = 0.37), Hispanic patients had a lower rate (OR = 0.85, 95% = CI = 0.75 to 0.96, p = 0.01), and Asian patients also had a lower rate (OR = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.56 to 0.76, p < 0.001). There were no differences in terms of surgical delay, 90-day emergency department visits, or reoperations during the patient's lifetime (p > 0.05) between the groups. Compared with white patients, black and Hispanic patients had fewer 90-day postoperative complications (p = 0.04 and p = 0.01, respectively); 90-day unplanned readmissions were less common among Asian patients (p = 0.03) but more common among black patients (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In this study of hip fractures treated in an integrated managed care system, minority patients were found to have postoperative mortality rates that were similar to, or lower than, those of white patients. These findings may be related to the equal access and/or standardized protocols associated with treatment in this managed care system. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Effect of Surgeon and Hospital Volume on Morbidity and Mortality After Hip Fracture.

BACKGROUND: Prior studies have examined the relationship between surgeon and hospital volumes and outcome following hip fracture surgical procedures, but the results have been inconclusive. The purpose of this study was to assess the hip fracture volume-outcome relationship by analyzing data from a large, managed care registry. METHODS: The Kaiser Permanente Hip Fracture Registry prospectively records information on surgically treated hip fractures within the managed health-care system. Using this registry, all surgically treated hip fractures in patients 60 years of age or older were identified. Surgeon and hospital volume were defined as the number of hip fracture surgical procedures performed in the preceding 12 months and were divided into tertiles (low, medium, and high). The primary outcome was mortality at 1 year postoperatively. Secondary outcomes were mortality at 30 and 90 days postoperatively as well as reoperation (lifetime), medical complications (90-day), and unplanned readmission (30-day). To determine the relationship between volume and these outcome measures, multivariate logistic and Cox proportional hazards regression were performed, controlling for potentially confounding variables. RESULTS: Of 14,294 patients in the study sample, the majority were female (71%) and white (79%), and the mean age was 81 years. The overall mortality rate was 6% at 30 days, 11% at 90 days, and 21% at 1 year. We did not find an association between surgeon or hospital volume and mortality at 30 days, 90 days, or 1 year (p > 0.05). There was also no association between surgeon or hospital volume and reoperation, medical complications, or unplanned readmission (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In this analysis of hip fractures treated in a large integrated health-care system, the observed rates of mortality, reoperation, medical complications, and unplanned readmission did not differ by surgeon or hospital volume. In contrast to other orthopaedic procedures, such as total joint arthroplasty, our data do not suggest that hip fractures need to be preferentially directed toward high-volume surgeons or hospitals for treatment. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Yearly Trends in Elective Shoulder Arthroplasty, 2005-2013.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the change in incidence rate of shoulder arthroplasty, the utilization of shoulder arthroplasty for specific indications, and the surgeon volume trends associated with these procedures between 2005 and 2013. METHODS: A population-based cohort study was conducted using the more than 7 million members of an integrated health care system in California. Cases of shoulder arthroplasties performed between 2005 and 2013 were identified using a shoulder arthroplasty registry. Annual shoulder arthroplasty incidence rates per 100,000 patients were determined, and adjusted yearly changes in rates were estimated using incidence rate ratios (IRRs). Changes in surgeon volumes by year and number of surgeons performing different procedures were also compared. RESULTS: The incidence of shoulder arthroplasty per 100,000 members increased from 6.1 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 5.5-6.7) in 2005 to 13.4 (95% CI 12.5-14.2) in 2013. In patients with osteoarthritis, there was increasing utilization of total shoulder arthroplasty (IRR 1.12 [95% CI 1.11-1.14]) and decreasing utilization of hemiarthroplasty (IRR 0.91 [95% CI 0.89-0.94]). For patients with rotator cuff tear arthropathy, there was an increase in utilization of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (IRR 1.33 [95% CI 1.29-1.37]) but no change in hemiarthroplasty (IRR 0.99 [95% CI 0.92-1.05]). The average surgeon yearly volume increased for total shoulder arthroplasty (P < 0.001) and for reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (P = 0.020). CONCLUSION: Shoulder arthroplasty is being used with greater frequency in this population. Surgeons are performing a greater yearly volume of total shoulder arthroplasty and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty.