Reverse shoulder arthroplasty for proximal humerus fracture: a more complex episode of care than for cuff tear arthropathy

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this investigation is to identify the in-hospital and 30-day postoperative complications for reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) performed because of proximal humerus fracture (PHFx) vs. cuff tear arthropathy (CTA), and determine whether acute fracture is associated with differences in complications after RTSA.

Methods: The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried for RTSA performed for PHFx and CTA. This database contains surgical outcomes within 30 days after the index procedure. Patients underwent a 1:1 propensity matched based on preoperative demographics and comorbidities. Outcomes included operative time, length of stay (LOS), complications, transfusion, readmission, and discharge destination.

Results: A total of 1006 patients (503 per group) were included. With a PHFx, operative time was longer (129.5 ± 54.2 vs. 96.0 ± 40.0 minutes, P < .001), and the patients were more likely to have an adverse event (19.0% vs. 8.2%, P < .001), require transfusion (15.71% vs. 3.98%, P < .001), have longer LOS (3.8 ± 3.6 vs. 2.2 ± 1.7 days, P < .001), and were more likely to be discharged to an extended care facility (27.2% vs. 10.3%, P < .001). PHFx was an independent risk factor for an adverse event after an RTSA.

Conclusions: RTSA to treat PHFx is associated with longer LOS, increased complications, and discharge to an extended care facility compared with RTSA for CTA. Patients with PHFx require more health care resources than patients with CTA. It is imperative for surgeons, patients, families, governments, hospital systems, and insurance payers to recognize the differences in resource utilization for RTSA in treating PHFx compared with CTA.

Keywords: 30-day adverse events; NSQIP; Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty; complication; cuff tear arthropathy; proximal humerus fracture.