Shoulder Arthroplasty Outcomes Correlate with Surgical Volume
An option for reducing immediate postoperative complication rates is for patients to avoid shoulder arthroplasty by surgeons who perform less than two shoulder arthroplasties per year.
LIMITED RECOMMENDATION Rationale
Two studies26, 27 reported increased early postoperative complication rates and increased length of stay when shoulder arthroplasty is performed by low volume surgeons. Low volume was defined as surgeons who perform less than two shoulder arthroplasties per year. Complications were only defined in one study and included mortality, wound dehiscence, early postoperative infection, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, and “operative mishaps”. Complications following discharge were not assessed in either study when comparing the low volume and high volume surgeons. No patient outcome measurements or clinical assessments were reported in either study.
- (26) Jain N, Pietrobon R, Hocker S, Guller U, Shankar A, Higgins LD. The relationship between surgeon and hospital volume and outcomes for shoulder arthroplasty. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2004;86-A(3):496-505.
- (27) Hammond JW, Queale WS, Kim TK, McFarland EG. Surgeon experience and clinical and economic outcomes for shoulder arthroplasty. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2003;85-A(12):2318-2324.