Ninety-day readmissions following reverse total shoulder arthroplasty

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Health services research
• Patient safety

Background:

• National characterization of 90-day readmissions after primary reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) is needed.
• Understanding readmission data is crucial for predicting resource utilization and costs in bundled payment models.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize 90-day readmissions following primary RTSA.
• To identify predictors and reasons for readmission.
• To assess associated hospital resource utilization.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of adult patients undergoing elective primary RTSA in the 2014 National Readmission Database.
• Creation of two cohorts based on 90-day readmission status.
• Multivariate analysis to identify predictors and reasons for readmission, and calculation of total hospital resource utilization.

Main Results:

• An estimated 25,196 patients were included, with 90-day readmission rates at 1.7%.
• Independent predictors of readmission included diabetes, hypertension, paralysis, and solid tumors.
• Hardware-related complications were the most common reason for 90-day readmission, associated with increased costs.

Conclusions:

• Ninety-day readmissions after primary RTSA, though uncommon, lead to significant patient morbidity.
• These readmissions result in substantial hospital costs, highlighting the need for effective prevention strategies.