Transitioning to Outpatient Shoulder Arthroplasty: Safety, Efficiency, and Cost in a Diverse Payer Mix.

Outpatient shoulder arthroplasty presents potential clinical benefits but also risk without perioperative optimization. Length of stay depends largely on surgeon preferences, and a large single-surgeon cohort may provide insight into optimal strategies and costs for outpatient shoulder arthroplasty. A single-surgeon cohort of 472 anatomic and reverse shoulder arthroplasties performed between 2017 and 2020 was retrospectively reviewed. Cases were stratified by those who did or did not undergo same-day discharge. The 90-day readmission, discharge to post-acute care, cost, and 45 patient/case factors were examined. Two hundred fifty (53%) underwent same-day discharge, with the proportion of outpatient cases increasing over time to nearly 80%, with no significant difference in 90-day readmissions. Revision cases often underwent same-day discharge, whereas fractures were typically admitted. The cost was significantly higher for inpatients, with implants accounting for 52%. Surgeons may safely transition a substantial proportion of shoulder arthroplasties to same-day discharge with some reassurance regarding cost savings and 90-day readmissions. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 32(4):263-269, 2023).

Isometric Knee Strength is Greater in Individuals Who Score Higher on Psychological Readiness to Return to Sport After Primary Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is extremely common among athletes. Rate of second ACL injury due to surgical graft rupture or contralateral limb ACL injury is approximately 15-32%. Psychological readiness to return to sport (RTS) may be an important predictor of successful RTS outcomes. Psychological readiness can be quantified using the ACL Return to Sport after Injury (ACL-RSI) questionnaire, with higher scores demonstrating greater psychological readiness. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in functional performance and psychological readiness to return to sport among athletes who have undergone primary ACL reconstruction (ACLR). Study Design: Descriptive cohort study. Methods: Eighteen athletes who had undergone primary ACLR were tested at time of RTS clearance. The cohort was divided into two groups, high score (HS) and low score (LS), based on median ACL-RSI score, and performance on static and dynamic postural stability testing, lower extremity isokinetic and isometric strength testing, and single leg hop testing was compared between the groups using an independent samples t-test. Results: The median ACL-RSI score was 74.17. The average ACL-RSI score was 83.1±6.2 for the HS group and 61.8±8.0 for the LS group. High scorers on the ACL-RSI performed significantly better on isometric knee flexion as measured via handheld dynamometry (22.61% ±6.01 vs. 12.12% ±4.88, p=0.001) than the low score group. Conclusion: The findings suggest that increased knee flexion strength may be important for psychological readiness to RTS after primary ACLR. Further research is indicated to explore this relationship, however, a continued emphasis on improving hamstring strength may be appropriate during rehabilitation following ACLR to positively impact psychological readiness for RTS. Level of Evidence: III.

Fracture Severity Based on Neer Classification Does Not Predict Short-term Complications Following Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty.

Proximal humerus fractures (PHF) are common in elderly and osteoporotic patients, and these fractures are often described using the Neer classification. As reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) for PHF becomes more common, it is helpful to identify the utility of Neer classification in predicting postoperative outcomes for patients undergoing RSA. The medical records of patients undergoing primary RSA for PHF at a single academic institution from 2013-2019 were identified using medical billing codes. A multivariable logistic regression analysis identified independent factors associated with all cause 90-day readmissions, reoperation, and length of stay (LOS) greater than three days. Fifty-five patients (average age of 72.3 ± 8.6 years) were included. No statistically significant differences among two-, three-, and four-part fractures with regard to LOS, discharge location, 90-day readmission, revision surgery, postoperative dislocation, or deep infection were detected. These findings suggest that Neer classification for PHF is not predictive of short-term complications after RSA. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 31(2):104-108, 2022).

Females have Lower Knee Strength and Vertical Ground Reaction Forces During Landing than Males Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction at the Time of Return to Sport.

Purpose: There is a high rate of second anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury (ipsilateral graft or contralateral ACL) upon return-to-sport (RTS) following ACL reconstruction (ACLR). While a significant amount of epidemiological data exists demonstrating sex differences as risk factors for primary ACL injury, less is known about sex differences as potential risk factors for second ACL injury. The purpose of this study is to determine if there are sex-specific differences in potential risk factors for second ACL injury at the time of clearance for RTS. Methods: Ten male and eight female athletes (age: 20.8 years ±6.3, height: 173.2 cm ±10.1, mass: 76.6 kg ±18.3) participated in the study following ACLR at time of RTS (mean 10.2 months). Performance in lower extremity isokinetic and isometric strength testing, static and dynamic postural stability testing, and a single leg stop-jump task was compared between the sexes. Results: Normalized for body weight, males had significantly greater isokinetic knee flexion (141±14.1 Nm/kg vs. 78±27.4 Nm/kg, p=0.001) and extension strength (216±45.5 Nm/kg vs. 159±53.9 Nm/kg, p=0.013) as well as isometric flexion (21.1±6.87% body weight vs. 12.5±5.57% body weight, p=0.013) and extension (41.1±7.34% body weight vs. 27.3±11.0% body weight, p=0.016) strength compared to females. In the single-leg stop jump task, males had a greater maximum vertical ground reaction force during landing (332±85.5% vs. 259±27.4% body weight, p=0.027) compared to females. Conclusions: Based on these results, there are significant differences between sexes following ACLR at the time of RTS. Lower knee flexion and extension strength may be a potential risk factor for second ACL injury among females. Alternatively, the increased maximum vertical force observed in males may be a potential risk factor of second ACL injury in males. Although these results should be interpreted with some caution, they support that rehabilitation programs in the post-ACLR population should be individualized based on the sex of the individual. Level of Evidence: Level 3.

Trends in reimbursement for primary and revision total elbow arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Relative value units (RVUs) are an essential component of reimbursement calculations from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. RVUs are calculated based on physician work, practice expense, and professional liability insurance. Procedures that are more complex, such as revision arthroplasty, require greater levels of physician work and should therefore be assigned a greater RVU. The purpose of this study is to compare RVUs assigned for primary and revision total elbow arthroplasty (TEA). METHODS: The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was used to collect all primary and revision total elbow arthroplasties performed between January 2015 and December 2017. Variables collected included age at time of surgery, RVUs assigned for the procedure, and operative time. RESULTS: A total of 359 cases (282 primary TEA, 77 revision TEA) were included in this study. Mean RVUs for primary TEA was 21.4 (2.0 standard deviation [SD]) vs. 24.4 (1.7 SD) for revision arthroplasty (P < .001). Mean operative time for primary TEA was 137.9 minutes (24.4 SD) vs. 185.5 minutes (99.7 SD) for revision TEA (P < .001). The RVU per minute for primary TEA was 0.16 and revision TEA was 0.13 (P < .001). This amounts to a yearly reimbursement difference of $71,024 in favor of primary TEA over revision TEA. CONCLUSION: The current reimbursement model does not adequately account for increased operative time, technical demand, and pre- and postoperative care associated with revision elbow arthroplasty compared with primary TEA. This leads to a financial advantage on performing primary TEA.