Shoulder arthroplasty versus hip and knee arthroplasties: a comparison of outcomes.

Although outcomes of shoulder, hip, and knee arthroplasties have been well-described, there have been no studies directly comparing the outcomes of these procedures as treatments for osteoarthritis. We compared the inpatient mortality, complications, length of stay, and total charges of patients who had shoulder arthroplasty for osteoarthritis with those of patients who had hip and knee arthroplasties for osteoarthritis. A review of the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission discharge database identified 994 shoulder arthroplasties, 15,414 hip arthroplasties, and 34,471 knee arthroplasties performed for osteoarthritis from 1994 to 2001. There were no in-hospital deaths after shoulder arthroplasty, whereas 27 (0.18%) and 54 (0.16%) deaths occurred after hip and knee arthroplasties, respectively. Compared with patients who had hip or knee arthroplasties, patients who had shoulder arthroplasties had, on average, a lower complication rate, a shorter length of stay, and fewer total charges. The latter had 1/2 as many in-hospital complications, were 1/6 as likely to have a length of stay 6 days or greater, and were 1/10 as likely to be charged more than $15,000. We believe shoulder arthroplasty is as safe as the more commonly performed major joint arthroplasties.

Surgeon experience and clinical and economic outcomes for shoulder arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated that a high surgical volume for certain surgical procedures reduces morbidity and improves economic outcome; however, to our knowledge, no study has demonstrated a similar relationship between volume and outcome for total shoulder arthroplasty and hemiarthroplasty. The objective of this study was to determine whether increased surgeon experience was associated with improved clinical and economic outcomes for patients undergoing total shoulder arthroplasty or hemiarthroplasty. METHODS: We analyzed discharge data on patients treated between 1994 and 2000 from the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission, which has a statewide hospital discharge database of all patients in the state of Maryland. The database included all patients undergoing total shoulder arthroplasty and hemiarthroplasty. We assessed the relationship between surgeon volume (low, medium, and high) and the risk of complications, length of stay, and total charges. The statistics were adjusted for procedure, age, gender, race, marital status, comorbidity, diagnosis, insurance type, income, and hospital volume. RESULTS: For the 1868 discrete total shoulder arthroplasties and hemiarthroplasties done in the state of Maryland, the risk of at least one complication associated with the procedures done by the high-volume surgeon group was nearly half that associated with the procedures done by the low-volume surgeon group (adjusted odds ratio, 0.6; 95% confidence interval, 0.4 to 0.9). High-volume surgeons were three times more likely than were low-volume surgeons to have patients with a hospital stay of less than six days (odds ratio, 0.3; 95% confidence interval, 0.2 to 0.6). Although the average cost of hospitalization was $1000 less in the high-volume surgeon group compared with the low-volume surgeon group, this reduction did not reach significance after adjustment for multiple variables (odds ratio, 0.8; 95% confidence interval, 0.5 to 1.4). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that the patients of surgeons with higher average annual caseloads of total shoulder arthroplasties and hemiarthroplasties have decreased complication rates and hospital lengths of stay compared with the patients of surgeons who perform fewer of these procedures. These analyses of hospital discharge data are limited because of a lack of prospective data, operative details, and patient outcomes data. However, this study emphasizes the importance of continued education for orthopaedic surgeons who perform shoulder arthroplasty.

Soleus and gastrocnemius muscle loading decreases anterior tibial translation in anterior cruciate ligament intact and deficient knees.

This study evaluated the effect of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles on dynamic knee stability by studying the effect of passive calf muscle loading on anterior tibial translation in normal and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficient knees. Anterior tibial translation was measured bilaterally in 12 anesthetized patients with unilateral ACL-deficient knees using a KT-1000 arthrometer. An ankle-foot orthosis was used to passively dorsiflex the ankle and generate tension in the calf muscles. As the ankle flexion angle was progressively changed from 30 degrees plantar flexion to 10 degrees dorsiflexion, anterior tibial translation decreased 43% and 37% with manual maximum force in normal and ACL-deficient knees, respectively (P < .0001). These findings suggest that the calf muscles may function as dynamic knee stabilizers. Anterior tibial translation also was measured in four cadaver knees. Significant decreases were seen in anterior tibial translation with progressive ankle dorsiflexion in ACL-intact specimens and after the ACL had been cut (P < .05). This effect persisted when the gastrocnemius muscle was cut, but was lost when the soleus muscle was released. The data suggest that the soleus muscle may play a role in dynamically stabilizing the knee.

Clinical features of the different types of SLAP lesions: an analysis of one hundred and thirty-nine cases.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have suggested that SLAP (superior labrum anterior posterior) lesions are a distinct clinical entity. The goals of this study were to define the prevalence, associated pathological findings, and clinical features of the different types of SLAP lesions with use of a common classification system. METHODS: Five hundred and forty-four patients undergoing shoulder arthroscopy for a variety of diagnoses were prospectively included in this consecutive case series. SLAP lesions were grouped with use of the Snyder classification. Demographic data, clinical data, and arthroscopic findings in the groups with SLAP lesions were compared with those in a control group with no SLAP lesion. RESULTS: Of 544 shoulder arthroscopy procedures, 139 (26%) demonstrated a SLAP lesion. One hundred and three (74%) of the SLAP lesions were Type I, twenty-nine (21%) were Type II, one (0.7%) was Type III, and six (4%) were Type IV. Most (123) of the SLAP lesions were found to be associated with other intra-articular lesions. Multivariate analysis revealed that a positive Speed test and a supraspinatus tear were significantly associated with Type-I lesions (p = 0.012 and p = 0.001, respectively). The findings associated with Type-II lesions differed according to the patient's age: Type-II lesions in patients who were forty years of age or younger were associated only with a Bankart lesion, whereas those in patients older than forty years of age were associated with a supraspinatus tear and osteoarthritis of the humeral head. Type-III and Type-IV lesions were associated with a high-demand occupation and a Bankart lesion. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that the prevalence, associated pathological findings, and clinical features of the different types of SLAP lesions vary with the patient population that is studied. Also, the clinical features and pathological findings associated with the different types of SLAP lesions often overlap. Isolated SLAP lesions with no associated pathological findings are uncommon, and care must be taken when ascribing symptoms to a SLAP lesion when other lesions are present. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic study, Level IV-1 (case-control study). See p. 2 for complete description of levels of evidence.

Arthroscopic proficiency: a survey of orthopaedic sports medicine fellowship directors and orthopaedic surgery department chairs.

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to evaluate the opinion of sports medicine fellowship directors and orthopaedic surgery department chairpersons on how many repetitions the average resident needs to become proficient in several common arthroscopic procedures. TYPE OF STUDY: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: A questionnaire was mailed to all fellowship directors on a list maintained by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and to all department chairpersons on a list maintained by the American Medical Association. Respondents were asked to estimate the number of operations needed for a trainee to reach minimal proficiency (able to perform procedure skin-to-skin with supervision) and proficiency (capable of performing procedure without supervision) for 5 common arthroscopic procedures: diagnostic knee scope, partial medial meniscectomy, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, diagnostic shoulder scope, and subacromial decompression. RESULTS: A total of 164 of 230 (71%) people responded to the questionnaire. Department chairpersons who did not perform arthroscopy consistently estimated two thirds the number of operations that department chairpersons who did perform arthroscopy and nearly half the number of operations estimated by fellowship directors. Chairpersons who did perform arthroscopy had responses more similar to fellowship directors than to department heads who did not perform arthroscopy. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that, in the opinion of physicians involved in the education of residents and fellows, it may take a substantial number of repetitions to become proficient in arthroscopy. Physicians who perform little or no arthroscopy themselves may underestimate its difficulty. Interestingly, there was substantial variability in the number of repetitions estimated to achieve proficiency in all procedures. The results of this study may be helpful in designing arthroscopic training programs for orthopaedic residents or sports medicine fellows; however, the wide variability in opinions may indicate difficulty in reaching a consensus.