Faculty Bibliography

BACKGROUND:The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between admission source and postoperative length of stay (LOS), index admission hospital charges, and discharge disposition, in patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty. METHODS:The New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS) was used to identify all patients that underwent elective shoulder arthroplasty from 1994 through 2015. Patients were grouped into institutionalized (INS) versus non-institutionalized (n-INS) groups based on admission source. The two groups were compared regarding demographics, Charleston comorbidity index (CCI), postoperative blood transfusion requirement, LOS, and total charges. RESULTS:A total of 33,248 patients were identified (32,875 n-INS, 373 INS). Patientsin the INS cohort were significantly older (71.9 versus 68.1 years) and had a higher CCI (1.3 vs. 0.7). The mean LOS in the INS group was nearly 1 week longer(9.5 days vs. 2.8 days) and had a significantly higher postoperative blood transfusion rate (37.5% vs. 9.2%, odds ratio: 5.9). The mean total hospital charges in the INS group were also significantly higher ($63,988 vs. $36,826). DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS:Institutionalized patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty have a protracted postoperative hospital course and this ultimately resulted in poorer outcomes and increased resource utilization.

We report the 5-year outcome of an isolated, atraumatic full-thickness infraspinatus myotendinous junction tear treated with open surgical repair. The index patient developed severe pain and weakness in external rotation strength following a subacromial corticosteroid injection. Magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound of the shoulder demonstrated a full-thickness myotendinous junction tear with extensive muscle edema, mild atrophy and a spinoglenoid notch varix. Due to persistent, worsening pain and presence of ER weakness, the patient underwent primary infraspinatus muscle-tendon repair with allograft augmentation via an arthroscopic-assisted open posterior approach. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course with a resolution of pain and improvement in ER strength, which is maintained at the latest 5-year follow-up. This case report highlights a favorable long-term outcome of an isolated infraspinatus myotendinous junction tear treated with primary muscle-tendon repair and dermal allograft augmentation.

We present a case of a surgically treated latissimus dorsi (LD) and teres major (TM) tear with a one-year outcome. The postoperative course was complicated by wound dehiscence requiring operative intervention and neuropraxia of the posterior cutaneous nerve of the arm. The report highlights previously unreported surgical risks associated with repair of LD/TM tendons.

OBJECTIVE:To compare MRI with 3D reconstructions and 3D-CT with respect to assessment of glenoid wear in osteoarthritic shoulders. METHODS:3D reconstructions were generated for CT and MR (utilizing the Dixon technique) imaging performed on 29 osteoarthritic shoulders. Two reviewers independently performed glenoid morphometric measurements and evaluated glenoid erosion. Mean differences between the two modalities were calculated. Inter-observer agreement was calculated using kappa coefficient. RESULTS:The combined mean absolute difference (bias) in glenoid version between 3D-CT and 3D-MRI was 2.7° ± 1.6° (range 0.15-7.85, P value = 0.7). The combined mean absolute difference in glenoid inclination between 3D-CT and 3D-MRI was 6.8° ± 4.1° (range 0.8°-15.75°, P value = 0.17). No significant inter-reader variation in glenoid version and inclination measurements on 3D-CT and 3D-MRI was found (P > 0.05). The inter-reader reliability for both CT and MRI was high for Walch grading of glenoid bone loss (κ = 1, κ = 0.81, respectively). CONCLUSIONS:3D-MRI is comparable to 3D-CT with respect to axial glenoid bone loss, as measured by glenoid version. However, for coronal bone loss estimation, measured by glenoid inclination, 3D-CT remains the gold standard. Thus, 3D-MR can be used as an alternative for preoperative assessment of glenoid version in arthritic shoulders.

Background/UNASSIGNED:Aspiration of the olecranon bursa is a treatment option for acute olecranon bursitis (OB). Typically, the aspirate is sent for microbiologic analysis, cell count, and crystal analysis. This study investigates the utility of fluid aspirate analysis from patients with clinically diagnosed aseptic OB. Methods/UNASSIGNED:In this prospective study (IRB #i20-00986), patients presenting with acute aseptic OB were treated with aspiration as standard of care. Patients consented to participate in this study via phone. Patients with suspected infectious bursitis, open draining wound, and chronic OB were excluded. The aspirate was sent out for routine microbiologic analysis (aerobic and anaerobic cultures and Gram staining) and fluid analyses, including cell count with differential and crystal analysis. Nucleated and differential cell count was reported as absolute numbers per cubic millimeter and percentage, respectively. Compression wrap was applied after OB aspiration, and patients were asked to ice and take anti-inflammatory medications. Clinical follow-up was done after 6 weeks and at 3 months for resolution vs. recurrence of symptoms, and the mean time to resolution was reported. Results/UNASSIGNED:A total of 26 patients (28 cases) with aseptic OB were enrolled in this study. Two patients had bilateral OB. The mean time to aspiration after the onset of symptoms was 26.4 days. One patient had recurrence of swelling after the first aspiration and underwent repeat bursa aspiration. No organisms were isolated or reported on Gram staining on any of the aspirate samples. Two aspirates were reported positive for calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystals. No patient had monosodium urate crystals. All patients had resolution of swelling and symptoms without the development of postaspiration infection. Conclusions/UNASSIGNED:This study demonstrates limited clinical utility of routine microbiologic analysis (cell count, microbiologic, and crystal evaluation) of fluid aspirate from clinically diagnosed aseptic OB. Although 7% of fluid aspirates were positive for calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystals, it did not change the overall treatment.

Background/UNASSIGNED:The purpose of our study was to examine the impact that an increased body mass index (BMI) has on arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (aRCR) outcomes. Methods/UNASSIGNED:We identified a sample of 313 patients who underwent aRCR at our institution from 2017 to 2020. Patients were classified into cohorts by BMI: normal BMI (<25), overweight (25-30), and obese (≥30). Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) scores (Pain Interference, Pain Intensity, and Upper Extremity) and Clinical Global Impressions scale rating of pain and functional improvement after surgery were obtained at 1 year postoperatively. The significance of the BMI category as a predictor for outcomes was evaluated using multiple linear and multivariable logistic regressions. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis with Youden's J-statistic was used to determine optimal BMI cutoff for predicting likelihood of achieving minimum clinically important difference (MCID) and substantial clinical benefit (SCB) on the Clinical Global Impressions scales. Results/UNASSIGNED: > .05). Optimal BMI cutoffs were determined for pain MCID (40.8), pain SCB (26.8), function MCID (27.4), and function SCB (26.8), but all cutoffs had low correct classification rates (≤13%). Discussion and Conclusion/UNASSIGNED:Obesity was not found to be an independent risk factor for increased rotator cuff tear size or tendon involvement but was nonetheless associated with worse upper extremity function and pain after aRCR.

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND:Since the introduction of the Grammont style reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA), the humeral stem design has been modified with improved clinical outcomes. Two distinct humeral designs have been utilized extensively: the inlay where the humeral tray is seated within the metaphysis and the onlay design where the humerus tray sits on the metaphysis at the level of the humeral neck cut. The purpose of this systematic review is to determine if there are differences in clinical outcomes and complication rates between these designs. METHODS:The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used to perform this systematic review. A search was performed on Medline, PubMed, and Embase to identify all studies comparing clinical results of both humeral designs. Primary outcomes included patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMs), shoulder range of motion, and incidence of complications. RESULTS:From the 156 identified publications, 12 studies were included in the final review. A total of 1447 patients were included with a minimum follow-up of 12 months. At final follow-up, both implants demonstrated significant improvements in comparison to preoperative baseline. When comparing inlay versus onlay groups, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score was higher in the inlay group (mean difference of 2.53 [95% CI: 0.27-4.78] p=0.03). Postoperative motion, even if statically greater in the onlay group (difference in forward flexion 5°(p<0.001), abduction 3° (p=0.003) and external rotation 4°(p<0.001)) are not clinically different. When comparing complications, the inlay group reported more instances of scapular notching (93/322 versus 70/415, OR 0.35 p<0.001) but fewer scapular spine fractures (26/727 versus 21/559, p=0.09). DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS:Inlay and onlay humeral tray designs in reverse total shoulder arthroplasty demonstrate similar clinical improvements postoperatively. The onlay implants have low rate of scapular notching but higher rate of scapular spine fracture. Understanding the strength and weaknesses of the two humeral tray designs is important to provide surgeons with options to tailor surgical plan for high risk patients.

Background/UNASSIGNED:Patient's willingness and barriers for discharge after shoulder arthroplasty (SA) has not been studied. The aim of this study was to prospectively analyze patient's willingness for discharge and barriers to discharge beyond postoperative day #1 (POD#1) after SA. Methods/UNASSIGNED:In this prospective study, patients undergoing primary or revision SA (anatomic, reverse, or hemiarthroplasty) at our institution were enrolled to determine their willingness and concerns for discharge after SA. Patient's willingness for discharge was inquired daily until discharge. Demographic information, patient's medical history, intraoperative details (duration of surgery, estimated blood loss, intraoperative complication), discharge disposition, length of stay (LOS), and reasons for extension of LOS beyond POD#1 were analyzed. Results/UNASSIGNED:A total of 184 patients who underwent SA were included. Eight patients were discharged on POD#0, 114 patients on POD#1, 37 patients on POD#2, and 25 patients after POD#2. One hundred nineteen (119) patients were discharged to home, 40 were discharged to home with services, 15 were discharged to nursing facilities, and 10 were discharged to rehabilitation centers. Reasons for extension of LOS past POD#1 included patients failing to clear home safety evaluation (n = 4), inadequate pain control (n = 6), worsening of preexisting medical conditions (n = 8), delay in patient disposition (awaiting placement in a rehabilitation facility [n = 6] and awaiting culture results [n = 9]). Social reasons (n = 29) were the most common reasons for extension of LOS. These included patients requesting an extra day of stay (n = 20), patients requesting rehabilitation facility placement (n = 5), lack of a timely ride home (n = 2), and family-related reasons (death in the family [n = 1], lack of home help [n = 1]). Conclusions/UNASSIGNED:This prospective study demonstrates modifiable factors associated with LOS beyond POD#1 (inadequate pain control, logistic delays in disposition, and patient-related social concerns) after SA. With increasing interest in same-day discharge and rising concerns to control cost and use bundled payment initiatives with SA, improving patient's willingness to discharge by addressing their concerns can improve early discharge after SA.