Public Knowledge and Perception of Outpatient Shoulder Arthroplasty

There is a growing trend in performing outpatient total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA). The purpose of this study was to analyze the public perception of outpatient TSA by querying a validated online market research platform regarding the public's knowledge, expectations, and beliefs on outpatient TSA. One thousand eighty respondents completed the survey in 2021. Simple and multivariable logistic regressions were performed to determine factors that were associated with an expected prolonged (2+ days) length of stay (LOS) after TSA. The mean expected LOS was 1.7 ± 1.5 days, with 48% of respondents expecting a prolonged LOS. Increasing age (p = 0.005) and unfamiliarity with outpatient TSA (p = 0.004) were significant predictors for expecting a prolonged LOS following TSA. The highest perceived risk of outpatient TSA was experiencing an avoidable complication (23%), whereas perceived benefits included reduced cost (38%) and quicker recovery (27%). Although outpatient TSA is becoming increasingly popular, a gap in public knowledge and expectations is evident. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 33(4):228-232, 2024).