Comparing Reported Complication Rates in Shoulder Arthroplasty Between 2 Large Databases.

Large databases are commonly used to analyze surgical outcomes. Recent studies have suggested that there are differences in complication rates between databases across certain procedures, but the reasons for these differences are not fully understood. The goal of this study was to compare complications of shoulder arthroplasty across databases as well as to interpret the causes of any differences. The authors compared complication rates for shoulder arthroplasty as reported by the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) and the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) from 2006 to 2010. The authors then restricted NIS data solely to hospitals that also contributed to NSQIP to provide a more direct comparison of the patient populations. The authors identified 48,287 discharges reported in NIS and 1679 discharges reported in NSQIP for patients who underwent shoulder arthroplasty. The complication rate for shoulder arthroplasty was significantly higher in the NIS population (12.6%; 95% confidence interval, 12.0%-13.2%) than in the NSQIP population (5.60%; 95% confidence interval, 4.59%-6.81%). When NIS data were restricted solely to hospitals that also participated in NSQIP, the rate of complications remained higher, at 13.4% (95% confidence interval, 11.2%-15.8%), and the rate increased relative to the nonrestricted data. The databases compared in this study had statistically significant differences in reported complication rates for shoulder arthroplasty. This difference persisted when NIS data were restricted to hospitals that also participated in NSQIP, suggesting that differences in database design contribute to important differences in data. Orthopedic surgeons and administrators must use caution when using complication rates derived from large database studies. [Orthopedics. 2020;43(2):113-118.].

High Early Major Complication Rate After Revision for Mechanically Assisted Crevice Corrosion in Metal-on-Polyethylene Total Hip Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Failed total hip arthroplasty caused by mechanically assisted crevice corrosion (MACC) has serious consequences such as adverse local tissue reaction. Revision is currently indicated for significant hip pain, stiffness, and dysfunction; hip instability; progressive bone loss; and soft tissue destruction. Outcomes of this revision surgery are not yet completely understood. METHODS: We examined the surgical outcomes at a minimum of 6 months (average, 25; range, 7-68 months) in a cohort of 27 consecutive patients who underwent revision total hip arthroplasty for MACC associated with a single implant vendor and taper type. RESULTS: Major orthopedic complications occurred in 7 of 27 patients (25.9%), each after the original revision surgery. Five additional major complications occurred in subsequent surgeries. Postoperative hip dislocation occurred in 6 of 27 (22.2%), deep infection occurred in 3 of 27 (11.1%), and aseptic acetabular loosening, seroma requiring irrigation and debridement, pulmonary embolism, periprosthetic fracture, and reintubation each occurred in 1 of 27 (3.7%). Harris hip scores improved significantly with surgery (P = .0002), but overall, scores were lower for those who had major complications (70.9 vs 89.2), and only 20 of 27 patients (74.1%) had good or excellent outcomes. CONCLUSION: Symptomatic MACC is a potentially devastating diagnosis, because of decreased soft tissue and bone viability associated with adverse local tissue reaction. This leads to a high early major complication rate.