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Higher risk for infection associated with previous non-arthroplasty related shoulder surgery
Patients who underwent primary shoulder arthroplasty experienced a significantly higher risk for infection if they had previously undergone non–arthroplasty-related surgery, according to results.
Researchers reviewed 4,577 patients treated with 2,890 total shoulder arthroplasties, 1,233 hemiarthroplasties and 454 reverse shoulder arthroplasties between 1970 and 2012, of whom 18% had undergone prior non-arthroplasty shoulder surgery on the operative side. They compared patients with and without previous surgery for postoperative prosthetic infection.
Results showed 1.49% of patients had a diagnosis of deep postoperative infection of the shoulder. Researchers noted 2.46% of patients who had undergone previous shoulder surgery developed a deep postoperative infection vs. 1.28% of patients who did not have previous shoulder surgery, a difference that was significant in both univariate and multivariate analyses. Results showed a significant association between older age and female sex with a lower risk for deep postoperative infection, while an increased risk for deep postoperative infection had a significant association with a higher number of previous surgeries. – by Casey Tingle
Disclosures: Werthel reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the full study for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.