Preoperative Opioid Use Disorder Is Associated with Longer Length of Stay, Infection Rate, and Healthcare Expenditure Following Primary Shoulder Arthroplasty

Recent research efforts have focused on the complications and outcomes associated with opioid use disorder (OUD). However, there is a lack of evidence on the associated risks respective to each primary shoulder arthroplasty procedure. After separating patients by total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) and reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) and matching to controls, our study demonstrated significant association with longer LOS in both groups, higher risk of SSI and PJI in the TSA group, PJI in the RSA group, and higher costs regardless of procedure. Eff orts to appropriately recognize OUD, optimize patients pre-operatively, and apply targeted surveillance postoperatively should be made. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 33(2):117-121, 2024)

Key words: total shoulder arthroplasty, reverse shoulder arthroplasty, opioid use disorder, peri-prosthetic joint infection