Understanding Medical Optimization for Patients Undergoing Shoulder Arthroplasty

Many surgeons seek to optimize their patients' comorbid conditions preoperatively to reduce postoperative complications. To effectively optimize patients before total shoulder arthroplasty, the surgeon should be familiar with recognizing and treating common medical comorbidities found in an orthopedic patient including anemia, diabetes, malnutrition, cardiovascular conditions, and history of deep venous thrombosis. Screening for depression or other mental illness should also be conducted preoperatively and managed accordingly before surgery. Preoperative opioid use and smoking have significant effects on postoperative outcomes and should be addressed before surgery.