Outpatient total shoulder arthroplasty is equally as safe as inpatient total shoulder arthroplasty, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. Since outpatient TSA is known to be more cost effective than inpatient TSA, this finding may prove helpful for surgery centers and hospitals looking to mitigate cost.
Here are five insights:
1. When comparing the rates of adverse event and readmission in the month following a patient's procedure, the researchers found no significant differences between those who received outpatient or inpatient care.
2. The researchers used a nationwide population database to identify 7,197 patients who underwent primary TSA between 2005 and 2014. These patients were divided into two cohorts, based on whether their procedure was outpatient or inpatient. Of the 7,197 TSA patients, 2.4 percent had received an outpatient TSA procedure.
3. The researchers calculated 30-day adverse event and readmission rates for each of the two cohorts. The 30-day adverse event rates for the outpatient and inpatient TSA cohorts were 2.31 percent and 7.89 percent, respectively. The 30-day readmission rates for the outpatient and inpatient TSA cohorts were 1.74 percent and 2.93 percent, respectively.
4. The two cohorts' differences in adverse event and readmission rates were not statistically significant, according to the researcher's multivariate logistic regression analysis.
5. This finding suggests that outpatient TSA is a safe and cost effective alternative to inpatient TSA.