Chronic preoperative steroid use and total shoulder arthroplasty: a propensity score matched analysis of early-onset infectious outcomes.

Background: While the role of chronic preoperative steroid use in orthopedic outcomes has been studied, particularly in hip, knee, and lumbar surgeries, its impact on total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) outcomes is not well understood. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of chronic preoperative steroid use on early-onset postoperative infectious outcomes and readmission within 30 days following TSA compared to patients without chronic steroid use.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed using data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) spanning from 2010-2018. Clinical data including preoperative demographics, operative variables, and 30-day post-TSA outcomes were collected. Groups were balanced using propensity score matching based on gender, age, race, ethnicity, BMI, functional status, ASA, smoking status, alcohol use, year of operation, and comorbidities. A conditional logistic regression model was used to calculate odds ratios for each outcome measure.

Results: A total of 3,445 identified cases were included in this analysis after propensity score matching, with 1,157 exhibiting chronic steroid use. The steroid group demonstrated significantly greater rates of readmission (OR: 1.86; 95% CI: 1.22-2.81; P = 0.004). No significant differences were observed between groups in all other adverse outcomes, including reoperation, specific infectious outcomes, and combined infectious outcomes.

Conclusions: Preoperative chronic steroid use is an independent predictor of readmission but not infection following TSA. While the surgeon should be aware of the increased risk of readmission associated with chronic steroid use, the role of steroid use as a risk factor for postoperative infections following TSA may be less pronounced, particularly compared to surgeries of other joints. Further investigation of infectious outcomes and readmissions with longer follow-up is needed to clarify the specific role of chronic preoperative steroid use in adverse outcomes following TSA.