Rotator Cuff Repair: Racial Disparities in Operative Time and Utilization of Arthroscopic Techniques

Background Racial disparities are prevalent within the field of orthopedics and include the utilization of varying resources as well as outcomes following surgery. This study investigates racial differences between Black and White patients in the surgical treatment of rotator cuff repair (RCR) and 30-day postoperative complications following RCR. Materials and methods Data were drawn from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database to create a study population consisting of Black and White patients who underwent RCR between 2015 and 2019. A bivariate analysis was conducted to compare patient demographics and comorbidities. Multivariate logistic regression, controlling for all significantly linked patient demographics and comorbidities, was performed to examine the relationships between Black race and complications. Results Our analysis included 32,073 patients, of whom 3,318 (10.3%) were Black and 28,755 (89.7%) were White. The female gender, younger age groups, greater BMI groups, ASA classification ≥3, cigarette use, and comorbid congestive heart failure (CHF), diabetes, and hypertension were all significantly associated with patients who identified as Black. We found no significant differences in 30-day postoperative complications between Black and White patients. Furthermore, Black patients were found to be independently associated with a greater likelihood of undergoing arthroscopic RCR versus open RCR, as well as experiencing a longer total operation time of ≥80 minutes. Conclusions We report no differences in 30-day postoperative complications between Black and White patients undergoing RCR between 2015 and 2019. However, Black race was independently associated with higher rates of arthroscopic RCR and longer operative times.