Characterizing preoperative expectations for patients undergoing reverse total shoulder arthroplasty

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Reconstructive Surgery
• Patient Outcomes

Background:

• Limited data exists on factors influencing preoperative expectations for reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA).
• Understanding these expectations is crucial for managing patient outcomes and satisfaction after RTSA.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the preoperative expectations of patients undergoing RTSA.
• To determine how demographic factors, shoulder function, and pain impact these expectations.

Main Methods:

• Prospective recruitment of 107 patients scheduled for primary RTSA due to glenohumeral arthritis.
• Evaluation of expectations using the Shoulder Surgery Expectation Survey and various PROMIS (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System) measures.
• Collection of demographic data, shoulder range of motion (ROM), and satisfaction scores.

Main Results:

• Most common expectations: pain relief (85%), improved self-care (80%), and improved shoulder ROM (79%).
• Lower shoulder function/ROM correlated with higher expectations for improved ROM and daily activities.
• Greater overall expectations were associated with African American race, higher pain interference, and lower preoperative satisfaction.

Conclusions:

• Key patient expectations for RTSA include pain relief, enhanced self-care, and improved shoulder ROM.
• Limited preoperative ROM predicts higher expectations for functional improvements.
• Overall surgical expectations are more strongly linked to preoperative satisfaction and pain levels than physical function.