News & Trends - MedTech & Diagnostics
Surgeons’ caseload linked to patient outcomes in joint replacement surgery

MedTech & Diagnostics News: Patients treated by surgeons who perform over 10 shoulder replacements annually experience significantly lower risks of reoperation and serious complications. Furthermore, these patients enjoy shorter hospital stays compared to those treated by surgeons who conduct fewer operations.
This latest research builds upon previous findings related to hip and knee replacements, further solidifying the crucial role of surgeon expertise in ensuring successful outcomes for patients. The study’s authors emphasise that these findings should guide future resource planning in the field of joint replacement surgery.
The global prevalence of shoulder replacements has been steadily increasing, particularly in high-income countries where aging populations are becoming more common. While prior investigations focused on hip and knee replacements highlighted the advantages of having surgery conducted by “high-volume” surgeons, evidence for other types of joint replacement procedures has remained limited. This knowledge gap prompted a team of researchers to delve into the association between surgeon volume and outcomes specifically in non-urgent (elective) shoulder replacement surgeries.
To gather comprehensive data, the researchers analysed information from 39,281 elective shoulder replacements carried out by 638 consultant surgeons across 416 public and private hospitals from 2012 to 2020.
The researchers identified a significant mean annual volume threshold of 10.4 procedures. Surgeons who performed at least this number of procedures annually demonstrated a remarkable 45% lower risk of revision surgery compared to their counterparts who conducted fewer procedures.
Patients treated by higher volume surgeons also exhibited a 53% lower risk of reoperation, along with reductions in serious adverse events (40% at 30 days and 37% at 90 days) and a 62% decreased risk of prolonged hospital stays. However, no minimum case volume threshold was identified for these particular outcomes.
Interestingly, the study found that annual variations in case volume did not impact patient outcomes significantly. This suggests that a surgeon’s average annual volume of procedures throughout their career plays a more substantial role in enhancing patient outcomes than yearly fluctuations in procedure volumes.
The authors emphasise the importance of improving outcomes and reducing complications in joint replacement surgeries for the benefit of patients and their families. Additionally, they argue that these results are particularly valuable for healthcare systems currently burdened and in need of recovery planning in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In conclusion, the researchers state that their study offers crucial evidence for local hospitals and national healthcare services, facilitating informed workforce and resource planning to ensure the best possible outcomes for patients undergoing shoulder replacement surgery.
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