Utility of Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, and Artificial Intelligence in Predicting Hospital Readmissions After Orthopaedic Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Numerous applications and strategies have been utilized to help assess the trends and patterns of readmissions after orthopaedic surgery in an attempt to extrapolate possible risk factors and causative agents. The aim of this work is to systematically summarize the available literature on the extent to which natural language processing, machine learning, and artificial intelligence (AI) can help improve the predictability of hospital readmissions after orthopaedic and spine surgeries.

Methods: This is a systematic review and meta-analysis.

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.

Trends in the Adoption of Outpatient Joint Arthroplasties and Patient Risk: A Retrospective Analysis of 2019 to 2021 Medicare Claims Data.

Introduction: Total joint arthroplasties (TJAs) have recently been shifting toward outpatient arthroplasty. This study aims to explore recent trends in outpatient total joint arthroplasty (TJA) procedures and examine whether patients with a higher comorbidity burden are undergoing outpatient arthroplasty.

Methods: Medicare fee-for-service claims were screened for patients who underwent total hip, knee, or shoulder arthroplasty procedures between January 2019 and December 2022.

Trends and outcomes of outpatient total shoulder arthroplasty after its removal from CMS's inpatient-only list.

Background: In January 2021, the US Medicare program approved reimbursement of outpatient total shoulder arthroplasties (TSA), including anatomic and reverse TSAs. It remains unclear whether shifting TSAs from the inpatient to outpatient setting has affected clinical outcomes. Herein, we describe the rate of outpatient TSA growth and compare inpatient and outpatient TSA complications, readmissions, and mortality.

Biomechanical Strength of Screw Versus Suture Button Fixation in the Latarjet Procedure: A Cadaver Study.

We compared the strength of screw vs suture button fixation in the Latarjet procedure for shoulder dislocation through biomechanical testing in a cadaver model. Cadavers were assigned randomly to receive screw or suture button fixation (both groups, n=5). The anteroposterior radius of the glenoid was measured, and a bony defect was created on the anteroinferior rim of the glenoid, equal to 25% of the width of the anteroposterior radius of the glenoid surface.

Anatomic Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: Component Size Prediction with 3-Dimensional Pre-Operative Digital Planning.

Background: The rate, complexity, and cost of total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) continues to grow. Technology has advanced pre-operative templating. Reducing cost of TSA has positive impact for the patient, manufacturer, and hospital.

Stemless Shoulder Arthroplasty.

Stemless humeral components for shoulder arthroplasty represent the fourth generation of modern prosthetic shoulder implants. Because of their metaphyseal fixation, the implantation technique is rather straightforward and preserves the humeral canal from violation. Substantial benefits have been highlighted with such a design, including less perioperative morbidity, independence from the proximal humeral anatomy, preservation of bone stock, ease of potential revision surgeries, and limited risk of complex periprosthetic fractures.

Continuous interscalene versus phrenic nerve-sparing high-thoracic erector spinae plane block for total shoulder arthroplasty: a randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: The high-thoracic erector spinae plane block (HT-ESPB) has been reported as an effective analgesic modality for the shoulder region without phrenic nerve palsy. The goal of this study was to compare the HT-ESPB as a phrenic nerve-sparing alternative to an interscalene block for total shoulder arthroplasty.

Methods: Thirty patients undergoing total shoulder arthroplasty at Stanford Health Care (Palo Alto, CA, USA) were enrolled in a double-blind randomized controlled trial.

Preoperative Factors Associated with Remote Postoperative Pain Resolution and Opioid Cessation in a Mixed Surgical Cohort: Post Hoc Analysis of a Perioperative Gabapentin Trial.

Background: Preoperative patient-specific risk factors may elucidate the mechanisms leading to the persistence of pain and opioid use after surgery. This study aimed to determine whether similar or discordant preoperative factors were associated with the duration of postoperative pain and opioid use.

Methods: In this post hoc analysis of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of perioperative gabapentin vs active placebo, 410 patients aged 18-75 years, undergoing diverse operations underwent preoperative assessments of pain, opioid use, substance use, and psychosocial variables.

Clinical effect of normal saline injectate into interscalene nerve block catheters given within one hour of local anesthetic bolus on analgesia and hemidiaphragmatic paralysis.

Background: Previous case reports describe the reversal of phrenic nerve blockade from the interscalene nerve block using normal saline injectate washout. This randomized clinical trial aimed to evaluate whether using normal saline injectate to wash out local anesthetic from an interscalene nerve block catheter would restore phrenic nerve and diaphragm function, while preserving analgesia.

Methods: Institutional review board approval, clinical trial registration and consent were obtained for patients undergoing shoulder surgery with an interscalene nerve block catheter.

Eclipse stemless shoulder prosthesis vs. Univers II shoulder prosthesis: a multicenter, prospective randomized controlled trial.

Background: Total shoulder arthroplasty is an accepted treatment for glenohumeral osteoarthritis. The Arthrex Eclipse shoulder prosthesis is a stemless, canal-sparing humeral prosthesis with bone ingrowth capacity on the trunnion, as well as through the fenestrated hollow screw, that provides both diaphyseal and metaphyseal load sharing and fixation.

Methods: Between 2013 and 2018, 16 sites in the United States enrolled 327 patients (Eclipse in 237 and Arthrex Univers II in 90).

Results of acromioclavicular joint reconstruction using a novel minimally invasive technique.

Background: AC joint injury is a common disorder with a reported incidence of three to four cases per 100.000. A multitude of surgical techniques has been described for the treatment of the AC joint injuries with no clear consensus regarding the optimal treatment.

Factors Associated With Acute Pain Estimation, Postoperative Pain Resolution, Opioid Cessation, and Recovery: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Acute postoperative pain is associated with the development of persistent postsurgical pain, but it is unclear which aspect is most estimable.

Objective: To identify patient clusters based on acute pain trajectories, preoperative psychosocial characteristics associated with the high-risk cluster, and the best acute pain predictor of remote outcomes.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A secondary analysis of the Stanford Accelerated Recovery Trial randomized, double-blind clinical trial was conducted at a single-center, tertiary, referral teaching hospital.

A Treatment-Based Algorithm for the Management of Type-II SLAP Tears.

Background: The management of Type-II superior labral tears (SLAP) of the shoulder remains a controversial topic. Treatment ranges from non-operative management to surgical management including SLAP repair, biceps tenotomy, and biceps tenodesis. An optimal treatment algorithm has yet to reach universal acceptance.

Instability after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty.

Background: This study evaluated patients with and without a prosthetic dislocation after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) to identify risk factors for instability.

Methods: Dislocation and nondislocation cohorts were established for analysis in 119 patients who had undergone RTSA at our institution between 2011 and 2014. Preoperative history and parameters pertaining to RTSA design were evaluated for correlation with instability.

Effect of Perioperative Gabapentin on Postoperative Pain Resolution and Opioid Cessation in a Mixed Surgical Cohort: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Guidelines recommend using gabapentin to decrease postoperative pain and opioid use, but significant variation exists in clinical practice.

Objective: To determine the effect of perioperative gabapentin on remote postoperative time to pain resolution and opioid cessation.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of perioperative gabapentin was conducted at a single-center, tertiary referral teaching hospital.

Inhibition of chondrocyte and synovial cell death after exposure to commonly used anesthetics: chondrocyte apoptosis after anesthetics.

Background: An intra-articular injection of local anesthetics is a common procedure for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. It has been shown that these agents are toxic to articular cartilage and synovial tissue in a dose- and time-dependent fashion, and in some cases, they may lead to postarthroscopic glenohumeral chondrolysis (PAGCL). However, the role of apoptosis in cell death is still unclear, and the potential role of apoptosis inhibition in minimizing chondrocyte and synovial cell death has not been reported.

Risk of thromboembolism in shoulder arthroplasty: effect of implant type and traumatic indication.

Background: Prior research about symptomatic venous thromboembolism (VTE) after shoulder arthroplasty has not determined whether procedure type (hemiarthroplasty, total shoulder arthroplasty, or reverse shoulder arthroplasty) or surgical indication (traumatic or elective) represent risk factors for VTE after shoulder replacement.

Questions/purposes: We therefore asked whether the risk of symptomatic VTE events and mortality within 90 days of shoulder arthroplasty was influenced by (1) procedure type, and (2) surgical indication (traumatic or elective).

Methods: We performed a retrospective database review of symptomatic VTE events and mortality within 90 days of shoulder arthroplasty in a large (30-hospital) integrated healthcare system over a 5-year period, from January 2005 to December 2009.