Thirty-day Complications and Readmission Rates in Elderly Patients After Shoulder Arthroplasty

Shoulder arthroplasty procedures are increasingly being performed in older patients despite an increased perioperative risk. The purpose of this study is to determine the complications and 30-day readmission rates in the elderly population after shoulder arthroplasty and hemiarthroplasty.

Total shoulder arthroplasty, reverse total shoulder arthroplasty, and hemiarthroplasty cases were collected from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database from 2006 to 2015. The 30-day complication and readmission rates, surgical time, discharge destination, and total hospital length of stay were calculated, comparing patients by age (elderly: ≥80 years; older: 65 to 79 years; younger: <65 years). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify variables associated with any complication within 30 days of surgery.

Of 11,450 patients, 1,956 (17.1%) underwent shoulder hemiarthroplasty and 9,494 (82.9%) underwent total shoulder arthroplasty. By age group, 1,708 (14.9%) were ≥80, 6,073 (53.0%) were 65 to 79, and 3,669 (32.0%) were <65. The overall 30-day postoperative complication rate was significantly higher in elderly patients (15.3% versus 8.2% versus 6.8%; P < 0.001), length of stay (2.6 versus 2.1 versus 1.8 days; P < 0.001), and unplanned readmissions (5.5% versus 2.6% versus 2.3%; P < 0.001). The strongest independent variables significantly associated with any complication included revision arthroplasty indication (odds ratio [OR], 4.34; P < 0.001), fracture indication (OR, 4.14; P < 0.001), and history of cardiac disease (OR, 2.33; P < 0.001), followed by elderly age (OR, 2.01; P < 0.001).

The 15.3% complication rate (major, 4.8%; minor, 10.7%), 2.6 days of average length of stay, and 5.5% unplanned readmission among elderly patients (>80) are significantly higher than younger patients. Although surgical indications and comorbidities are higher-quality predictors of complications, elderly patients should be appropriately counseled and medically optimized according to the perioperative risk profile before surgery.