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Modifiable patient risk factors may decrease complication rates after total elbow arthroplasty
Prior to total elbow arthroplasty, surgeons should address modifiable patient and provider risk factors to decrease rates of 30-day complications, unplanned readmissions and extended length of stay, according to results.
Using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database from 2007 to 2013, researchers assessed bivariate and multivariate analyses of risk factors for 30-day adverse events among 189 patients who underwent primary total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) and 53 patients who underwent revision TEA. Investigators noted most common indications for TEA were fracture (34%), osteoarthritis (OA; 24%) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA; 23%).
Andrew Lovy
Researchers found similar adverse event rates among patients who underwent primary and revision TEA, while 3.2% of primary TEAs and 7.5% of revisions experienced complications related to infection. Dependent functional status in primary TEA and age in revision TEA were identified as risk factors for 30-day adverse events, according to results from bivariate analysis.
Multivariate analysis showed patients with RA who underwent primary TEA were significantly less likely to experience adverse events vs. patients with OA. Patients who underwent primary TEA and smoked also experienced an increased chance of infection, results showed. In comparison with patients who underwent primary procedures, researchers found patients who underwent revision TEA did not have an increased 30-day adverse event or infection rate. Independent predictors for adverse events included dependent functional status and hypertension, according to results. – by Casey Tingle
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.