Trends in outpatient shoulder arthroplasty during the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) era: increased proportion of outpatient cases with decrease in 90-day readmissions

Can ChatGPT reliably answer the most common patient questions regarding total shoulder arthroplasty?

BACKGROUND

Increasingly, patients are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) programs such as ChatGPT to answer medical questions either before or after consulting a physician. Although ChatGPT's popularity implies its potential in improving patient education, concerns exist regarding the validity of the chatbot's responses. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the quality and accuracy of ChatGPT's answers to commonly asked patient questions surrounding total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA).

METHODS

Eleven trusted healthcare websites were searched to compose a list of the 15 most frequently asked patient questions about TSA. Each question was posed to the ChatGPT user interface, with no follow-up questions or opportunity for clarification permitted. Individual response accuracy was graded by 3 board-certified orthopedic surgeons using an alphabetical grading system (ie, A-F). Overall grades, descriptive analyses, and commentary were provided for each of the ChatGPT responses.

RESULTS

Overall, ChatGPT received a cumulative grade of B-. The question responses surrounding general/preoperative and postoperative questions received a grade of B- and B-, respectively. ChatGPT's responses adequately responded to patient questions with sound recommendations. However, the chatbot neglected recent research in its responses, resulting in recommendations that warrant professional clarification. The interface deferred specific questions to orthopedic surgeons in 8 of 15 questions, suggesting its awareness of its own limitations. Moreover, ChatGPT often went beyond the scope of the question after the first 2 sentences, and generally made errors when attempting to supplement its own response.

CONCLUSION

Overall, this is the first study to our knowledge to utilize AI to answer the most common patient questions surrounding TSA. ChatGPT achieved an overall grade of B-. Ultimately, while AI is an attractive tool for initial patient inquiries, at this time it cannot provide responses to TSA-specific questions that can substitute for the knowledge of an orthopedic surgeon.

Safety and Racial Implications of Same-Day Discharge in Alloplastic Breast Reconstruction Following the COVID-19 Pandemic

PURPOSE

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was an unprecedented period that fundamentally reshaped healthcare delivery worldwide. Among the significant changes was a shift toward same-day discharge (SDD) across all surgical specialties. This study focuses on immediate alloplastic reconstruction, with the objectives to quantify the increase in SDDs, evaluate the associated safety outcomes, and investigate racial disparities resulting from these changes.

METHODS

Using data from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database, we conducted a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent mastectomies with immediate alloplastic reconstructions from 2018 to 2022. Patients were categorized by length of stay as SDD (0 day) or inpatient (≥1 day) and divided into pre-COVID (2018-2019) and post-COVID (2020-2022) phases. To assess patient safety, we compared complication rates between SDD and inpatient cases as well as across pre- and post-COVID periods. To evaluate racial disparities, we performed unmatched and matched comparisons of outcomes between Caucasian and Black patients. Limited statistical power precluded analysis of other racial groups.

RESULTS

A total of 31,458 patients were identified. The proportion of SDD cases increased from 9.3% pre-COVID to 31.9% post-COVID, representing a 3.43-fold rise. In this study, SDD was found to be as safe as, if not safer than, inpatient procedures, with significantly lower rates of reoperation (5.5% vs 8.6%), readmission (3.9% vs 4.9%), and postoperative transfusions (0.1% vs 1.0%) (P < 0.001). Post-COVID SDD outcomes were also comparable to pre-COVID benchmarks. Following the pandemic, racial disparities persisted in the inpatient setting, with Black patients experiencing significantly higher rates of wound dehiscence and postoperative transfusions than Caucasian patients. In contrast, among SDD cases, complication rates were similar across racial groups in the unmatched analysis, while the matched analysis revealed lower rates of surgical site complications and reoperations in Black patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Since the onset of COVID-19, SDD in immediate alloplastic reconstruction has increased by 22.6%. Despite this rapid transition, SDD has demonstrated promising outcomes, upholding both safety and equity considerations.

Definitional differences in "outpatient" surgery can influence study outcomes related to total shoulder arthroplasty

Background

Numerous studies have investigated the outcomes of outpatient total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA). However, some patients originally planned for outpatient surgery may unexpectedly require inpatient hospital stay, which can obscure the distinction of "outpatient" and "inpatient" cases. Ultimately, this inconsistent classification of "outpatient" surgery may influence study results. The objectives of this study were (1) to characterize the differences in definition of "outpatient" surgery (hospital-defined outpatient [HDO] vs. same-day discharge [SDD]), and (2) to study the effect of different definitions on 30-day outcomes following TSA.

Methods

The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried for patients who underwent TSA between 2011 and 2021. HDO cases were identified based on the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program inpatient or outpatient variable, and SDD cases were identified based on length of stay = 0. Demographic and clinical characteristics were compared between HDO and SDD cohorts. Propensity score was utilized to match each HDO and SDD case with one inpatient case without replacement. Two distinct sets of multivariate analyses, using Poisson regressions with robust error variance, were performed to calculate the risks of readmission, reoperation, morbidity, and complications for HDO and SDD.

Results

A total of 30,458 patients met the inclusion criteria, including 6711 HDO and 4490 SDD cases. 3501 out of the 6711 (52.2%) HDO patients required at least one night of inpatient hospital stay (length of stay >0). Between 2011 and 2021, the annual incidence of HDO TSA rose from 4.1% to 61.6% of all TSA cases, and the incidence of SDD TSA increased from 2.0% to 34.1% of all TSA cases. Compared to SDD, HDO was associated with female sex, higher body mass index, functional dependence, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, hypertension, American Society of Anesthesiologists ≥3, longer operation time, and nonhome discharge. After controlling for potential confounders, inpatient TSA was associated with increased risk of 30-day readmission and reoperation compared with HDO cases, while morbidity and individual complication rates were similar. However, compared with SDD patients, inpatient TSA was associated with higher rates of readmission, reoperation, morbidity, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, and deep venous thrombosis.

Conclusion

Definitional differences in "outpatient" surgery can lead to significantly different study outcomes related to TSA. Future investigations on this topic should maintain consistency in the definition of "outpatient" surgery. Accurate data on the risk factors for adverse events after TSA are critical for appropriate patient selection and improving surgical outcomes.

Outpatient versus inpatient total shoulder arthroplasty: A meta-analysis of clinical outcomes and adverse events

BACKGROUND

In recent years, orthopaedic procedures have increasingly shifted from inpatient to outpatient settings. This trend includes total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA), which is being performed more frequently in outpatient facilities and ambulatory surgical centres. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes and rates of adverse events between outpatient and inpatient TSA.

METHODS

PubMed, Cochrane, and Google Scholar (pages 1-20) databases were screened for articles comparing outpatient to inpatient TSA through June 2024, using relevant and holistic search terms. Non-comparative articles and those utilizing national databases were excluded from our study. Data on complications, myocardial infarction (MI), thromboembolic events, anaemia/transfusions, infections, readmissions, emergency department (ED) visits, revision surgery, and patient reported outcome measures at one year (Visual Analog Scale [VAS] and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons [ASES] score) were extracted.

RESULTS

A total of 14 articles were included in our study, involving 1070 outpatient and 1330 inpatient TSA patients. Patients in the inpatient group were older and had a higher ASA compared to the patients in the outpatient group. The outpatient TSA group was found to have significantly lower rates of overall complications (odds ratio [OR] = 0.59, p = 0.001), medical complications (OR = 0.43, p < 0.001), and readmissions (OR = 0.47, p = 0.008), as well as higher mean ASES scores (81.4 vs. 78.5, p = 0.01) when compared to the inpatient TSA group. There were no significant differences in rates of ED visits (p = 0.27), revisions (p = 0.06), and VAS scores (p = 0.15) between inpatient and outpatient TSA groups.

CONCLUSION

TSAs performed in the outpatient setting had a lower rate of overall adverse events, medical complications, readmissions, and a higher ASES score compared to inpatient TSAs. However, since patients in the inpatient group had higher ASA and were older, our results support the safety of the outpatient TSA based on the current selection criteria.

Racial and gender disparities in utilization of outpatient total shoulder arthroplasties

BACKGROUND

Utilization in outpatient total shoulder arthroplasties (TSAs) has increased significantly in recent years. It remains largely unknown whether utilization of outpatient TSA differs across gender and racial groups. This study aimed to quantify racial and gender disparities both nationally and by geographic regions.

METHODS

168,504 TSAs were identified using Medicare fee-for-service inpatient and outpatient claims data and beneficiary enrollment data from 2020 to 2022Q4. The percentage of outpatient cases, defined as cases discharged on the same day of surgery, was evaluated by racial and gender groups and by different census divisions. A multivariate logistics regression model controlling for patient sociodemographic information (White vs. non-White race, age, gender, and dual eligibility for both Medicare and Medicaid), hierarchical condition category (HCC) score, hospital characteristics, year fixed effects, and patient residency state fixed effects was performed.

RESULTS

The TSA volume per 1000 beneficiaries was 2.3 for the White population compared with 0.8, 0.6, and 0.3 for the Black, Hispanic, and Asian population, respectively. A higher percentage of outpatient TSAs were in White patients (25.6%) compared with Black patients (20.4%) (P < .001). The Black TSA patients were also younger, more likely to be female, more likely to be dually eligible for Medicaid, and had higher HCC risk scores. After controlling for patient sociodemographic characteristics and hospital characteristics, the odds of receiving outpatient TSAs were 30% less for Black than the White group (odds ratio 0.70). Variations were observed across different census divisions, with South Atlantic (0.67, P < .01), East North Central (0.56, P < .001), and Middle Atlantic (0.36, P < .01) being the 4 regions observed with significant racial disparities. Statistically significant gender disparities were also found nationally and across regions, with an overall odds ratio of 0.75 (P < .001).

DISCUSSION

Statistically significant racial and gender disparities were found nationally in outpatient TSAs, with Black patients having 30% (P < .001) fewer odds of receiving outpatient TSAs than White patients, and female patients with 25% (P < .001) fewer odds than male patients. Racial and gender disparities continue to be an issue for shoulder arthroplasties after the adoption of outpatient TSAs.

A Systematic Review of Patient Selection Criteria for Outpatient Total Shoulder Arthroplasty

The utilization of total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) is increasing, driving associated annual health care costs higher. Opting for outpatient over inpatient TSA may provide a solution by reducing costs. However, there is no single set of accepted patient selection criteria for outpatient TSA. Here, the authors identify and systematically review 14 articles to propose evidence-based criteria that merit postoperative admission. Together, the studies suggest that patients with limited ability to abmluate independently or a history of congestive heart failure may benefit from postoperative at least one night of hospital based monitoring and treatment.

Anatomic Total Shoulder Arthroplasty Outcomes Were Not Negatively Affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic

Objective  To investigate whether patients undergoing anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (ATSA) between January and March 2020 experienced different postoperative outcomes than patients in 2019. We hypothesized that patients in 2020 would have less access to physical therapy (PT) and experience different postoperative outcomes. Methods  Records from patients who received ATSA between January 1st, 2019, and March 17th, 2019, and January 1st, 2020, to March 17th, 2020, were analyzed. Patient data, including demographic information, range of motion (ROM), strength, and PT was collected and compared between the two groups. The 2020 patients were contacted by phone during October 2022 and patient-reported metrics were gathered. Results  The present study identified 24 patients in 2019 and 27 patients in 2020 who underwent ATSA during the specified time frame and had a minimum 1-year follow-up. Patients in 2019 experienced improvements in forward elevation (FE) ROM (125.4° to 146.7°; p  = 0.008), external rotation (ER; 33.0° to 47.7°; p  < 0.001), and internal rotation (IR; S1 to L4; p  = 0.019). Patients in 2020 also experienced significant improvements in FE (120.2° to 141.1°; p  = 0.009), ER (32.9° to 42.0°; p  = 0.037), and IR (S1 to L3; p  = 0.002). Patients in 2020 terminated PT earlier (2019: 125.8 days; 2020: 91.1 days; p  = 0.046) and completed fewer sessions (2019: 21.4 sessions; 2020: 13.1 sessions; p  = 0.003). At the final follow-up, patients in 2020 reported an average Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain score of 1.67 ± 1.1. Conclusion  Despite decreased PT, patients who underwent ATSA in 2020 had significant improvements in ROM and strength and were comparable to patients in 2019.

Identifying risk factors for 30-day readmission after outpatient total shoulder arthroplasty to aid in patient selection

Background

A recent meta-analysis comparing inpatient and outpatient total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) showed no statistically significant differences in complications, readmissions, revisions, and infections. However, there remains no research on the appropriate patient selection for outpatient TSA surgeries. This retrospective review seeks to aid surgeons in refining a safe patient selection algorithm by evaluating risk factors through a large database analysis of TSA surgeries.

Methods

Patients who underwent TSA between 2015 and 2020 were identified in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Patients with a hospital stay of 0 days were designated as outpatient procedures. Multivariate analyses were used to determine risk factors for 30-day readmission following outpatient TSA and whether risk factors remained significant following overnight hospital stay.

Results

A total of 2431 outpatient TSA patients were identified. The incidence of 30-day readmission was 1.8%. The majority of readmissions were due to pulmonary complications. The clinically significant risk factors for 30-day readmission were chronic steroid use (odds ratio [OR] 3.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.34-9.43; P = .011), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (OR 3.11, 95% CI 1.16-8.34; P = .024), and current smoking status (OR 2.27, 95% CI 1.02-5.03; P = .045). After overnight hospital stay, chronic steroid use and current smoking status were not significant, but COPD remained significant.

Conclusion

Patients with chronic steroid use, COPD, or current smoking status are at increased risk for 30-day readmission. Inpatient hospital stay appears to benefit patients with chronic steroid use and current smoking status. Patients with COPD should be admitted for inpatient stay postoperatively but may still have high 30-day readmission rates following discharge.

Orthopedic surgery residents reported increased shoulder procedure volumes during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on shoulder procedure volumes reported to the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education by orthopedic surgery residents.

Methods

We performed a retrospective review of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education case logs reporting data from graduating orthopedic surgery residents during the academic years of 2006-2022. Data were queried for all patients for the following shoulder Current Procedural Terminology codes: incision, excision, intro or removal, repair/revision/reconstruction, fracture and/or dislocation, manipulation, arthroscopy, trauma, and total procedures performed. Individual t-tests were used to compare case log trends of graduating academic years before (classes of 2018 and 2019) and during (classes of 2020, 2021, and 2022) the COVID-19 pandemic. Statistical significance was established to be P <.05 for total procedure types, but at P <.005 during category comparisons to protect against alpha errors.

Results

Reported mean total shoulder procedures per resident steadily increased each year from 2017 to 2022, but the only significant increase was seen when comparing the graduating classes of 2020 to 2021 (157.9 vs. 165.7, P =.02). Stratification of these procedures by subgroup revealed a significant increase in manipulation procedures from 2021 to 2022 (7.3 vs. 8.8, P =.001).

Discussion/Conclusion

COVID-19 did not have a negative impact on logged shoulder procedure volume. Orthopedic surgery residents graduating during the COVID-19 pandemic reported more shoulder procedures than those graduating prepandemic. However, shoulder procedure log trends should be longitudinally investigated, as preceding years of procedural opportunities may underestimate the pandemic's impact.

Impact of COVID-19 on Clinical Outcomes Following Total Shoulder Arthroplasty

Background

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has introduced patient stressors and changes to perioperative protocols in total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the short-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on various patient outcomes and satisfaction following elective TSA.

Methods

A retrospective review was performed on 147 patients who underwent primary TSA at a single institution between the June 2019 and December 2020. Patients were divided into two cohorts: pre-COVID (June 2019-March 2020; n=74) and post-COVID (April 2020-December 2020; n=73). No elective TSA were performed between 10 March 2020 and 23 April 2020 at our institution. Data were collected prospectively both pre- and postoperatively. Range of motion (ROM) testing included active abduction, internal (IR), and external rotation (ER). Patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) included global shoulder function, Simple Shoulder Test (SST), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES), Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain scoring systems, and patient satisfaction. ROM and PROMs were compared at preoperative, 3-month follow-up, and 12-month follow-up intervals. Operative time, length of stay (LOS), 90-day readmission, and 90-day reoperation were also compared.

Results

There were no differences in baseline patient characteristics. Operative time, LOS, home discharge rate, readmission, and reoperation did not differ between groups. For both cohorts, PROMs and ROM improved at each follow-up visit postoperatively. While preoperative abduction, IR, and ER were significantly greater in the post-COVID group, all ROM measures were similar at 3-month and 12-month follow-up visits. There was no difference in pain, global function, SST, ASES, or patient satisfaction between groups at all time intervals.

Conclusions

Patients undergoing elective TSA amidst the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrate excellent PROMs, ROM, and high satisfaction up to 12-months postoperatively that are comparable to pre-pandemic standards. Operative time, length of stay, discharge destination, as well as 90-day readmission and reoperation rates were not impacted by the pandemic. Patients can expect similar outcomes for TSA when comparing pre-COVID to post-COVID as the pandemic continues.

Identifying Risk Factors for Complication and Readmission with Same-Day Discharge Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a surge of same-day discharge (SDD) for total joint arthroplasty. However, SDD may not be beneficial for all patients. Therefore, continued investigation into the safety of SDD is necessary as well as risk stratification for improved patient outcomes.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study examined 31,851 elective SDD hip and knee arthroplasties from 2016 to 2020 in a large national database. Logistic regression models were used to identify patient variables and preoperative comorbidities that contribute to postoperative complication or readmission with SDD. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated.

RESULTS

SDD increased from 1.4% in 2016 to 14.6% in 2020. SDD is associated with lower odds of readmission (AOR: 0.994, CI: 0.992-0.996) and postoperative complications (AOR: 0.998, CI: 0.997-1.000). Patients who have preoperative dyspnea (AOR: 1.03, CI: 1.02-1.04, P < .001), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AOR: 1.02, CI: 1.01-1.03, P = .002), and hypoalbuminemia (AOR: 1.02, CI: 1.00-1.03, P < .001), had higher odds of postoperative complications. Patients who had preoperative dyspnea (AOR: 1.02, CI: 1.01-1.03), hypertension (AOR: 1.01, CI: 1.01-1.03, P = .003), chronic corticosteroid use (AOR: 1.02, CI: 1.01-1.03, P < .001), bleeding disorder (AOR: 1.02; CI: 1.01-1.03, P < .001), and hypoalbuminemia (AOR: 1.01, CI: 1.00-1.02, P = .038), had higher odds of readmission.

CONCLUSION

SDD is safe with certain comorbidities. Preoperative screening for cardiopulmonary comorbidities (eg, dyspnea, hypertension, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), chronic corticosteroid use, bleeding disorder, and hypoalbuminemia may improve SDD outcomes.

Outpatient shoulder arthroplasty in the COVID-19 era: 90-day complications and risk factors

BACKGROUND

With the COVID-19 pandemic placing an increased burden on health care systems, shoulder arthroplasties are more commonly being performed as outpatient procedures. The purpose of this study was to characterize the 90-day episode-of-care complications of consecutive shoulder arthroplasties defaulted for outpatient surgery without using a prior algorithm for patient selection and to assess for their risk factors. We hypothesized that outpatient shoulder arthroplasty would be a safe procedure for all patients, regardless of patient demographics and comorbidities.

METHODS

A retrospective review of consecutive patients who underwent planned outpatient anatomic or reverse total shoulder arthroplasty between March 2020 and January 2022 with 3-month follow-up was performed. All patients were scheduled for outpatient surgery regardless of medical comorbidities. Patient demographics; pre/postoperative patient-reported outcomes including visual analog scale, subjective shoulder value, and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score; pre/postoperative range of motion; and complications were collected from medical chart review. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify predictors of the following outcomes: 1. Unplanned overnight hospital stay, 2. 90-day unplanned emergency department (ED)/clinic visit, 3. 90-day hospital readmission, 4. 90-day complications requiring revision.

RESULTS

One hundred twenty-seven patients (47% male, 17% tobacco users, 18% diabetics) with a mean age 69 ± 9 years were identified, of whom 92 underwent reverse total shoulder arthroplasty and 35 underwent anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty. All patient-reported outcomes and range of motion were significantly improved at 3 months. There were 15 unplanned overnight hospital stays (11.8%) after the procedure. Within 90 days postoperatively, there were 17 unplanned ED/clinic visits (13.4%), 7 hospital readmissions (5.5%), and 4 complications requiring revision (3.1%). Factors predictive of unplanned overnight stay included age above 70 years (odds ratio [OR], 36.80 [95% confidence interval [CI], 2.20-615.49]; P = .012), tobacco use (OR, 12.90 [95% CI, 1.23-135.31]; P = .033), and American Society of Anesthesiologists status of 3 (OR, 13.84 [95% CI, 1.22-156.57]; P = .034). The only factor predictive of unplanned ED/clinic visit was age over 70 years old (OR, 7.52 [95% CI, 1.26-45.45]; P = .027). No factors were predictive of 90-day hospital readmission or revision.

CONCLUSION

Outpatient shoulder arthroplasty is a safe procedure with excellent outcomes and low rates of readmissions and can be considered as the default plan for all patient undergoing shoulder arthroplasty. Patients who are above 70 years of age, use tobacco, and have ASA score of 3, however, may be less suitable for outpatient arthroplasty and should be counseled regarding the higher risk of unplanned overnight hospitalization.