Outpatient vs. inpatient reverse total shoulder arthroplasty: outcomes and complications

Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) is an effective treatment option for many shoulder conditions. Historically, this surgical procedure was performed on an inpatient basis. There has been a recent trend to perform RTSA on an outpatient basis in proper candidates.

All patients who underwent outpatient RTSA performed by a single surgeon between 2015 and 2017 were included. Demographic information and clinical outcome scores (American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, visual analog scale, and Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation scores), as well as data on complications, readmission, and revision surgery, were recorded. This group of patients was then compared with a cohort of patients who underwent RTSA in the inpatient setting during the same period.

Overall, 241 patients (average age, 68.9 years; 52.3% female patients) underwent outpatient RTSA and were included. Patients who underwent outpatient RTSA showed significant improvements in all clinical outcome scores at both 1 and 2 year postoperatively (all P < .0001). The control group of patients who underwent RTSA as inpatients consisted of 373 patients (average age, 72 years; 66% female patients). Significantly more controls had diabetes (P = .007), and controls had a higher body mass index (P = .022). No significant differences existed in improvements in clinical outcome scores between the inpatient and outpatient groups. Complication rates were significantly lower for outpatient cases than for inpatient controls (7.0% vs. 12.7%, P = .023).

RTSA performed in an outpatient setting is a safe and reliable procedure that provides significant improvements in clinical outcome scores with fewer complications compared with inpatient RTSA.