Operative duration-based learning period analysis for reverse and total shoulder arthroplasty: A multicenter study

A surgical learning period may be quantified after which operative duration is significantly reduced. We sought to retrospectively quantify and compare surgeon's learning experience for total shoulder arthroplasty and reverse shoulder arthroplasty.

We reviewed 2055 shoulder arthroplasty cases from 2011 to 2015 for four early-career and four later-career fellowship-trained shoulder surgeons from four institutions. We plotted consecutive case number versus operative time for each surgeon separately for total shoulder arthroplasty or reverse shoulder arthroplasty. Two-step regression approach was used to determine a plateau point or end of the learning period. Additionally, the mean annual volume of reverse shoulder arthroplasty and total shoulder arthroplasty for each surgeon was plotted against mean surgery duration. Early- and later-career surgeons were compared with regression analysis.

Early-career surgeons demonstrated a significant decrease in operative time with increasing annual case volume for reverse shoulder arthroplasty (p = 0.01; m = -1.1) and total shoulder arthroplasty (p = 0.02; m = -0.8). Three of four early-career surgeons reached a plateau point for either reverse shoulder arthroplasty or total shoulder arthroplasty between 12 and 86 cases.

For only early-career surgeons, higher case volume yields decreased operative duration, with improvement more pronounced for reverse shoulder arthroplasty compared to total shoulder arthroplasty. Though the learning period varies, it may be fewer than 90 cases.