It is great to have the theoretical knowledge to perform a specific task, but nothing prepares you to handle a challenge like real world practice. While it’s important to have some classroom learning when getting your driver’s license, in order to improve your skills and become a licensed driver, you need to spend some time behind the wheel. The more you practice, the more comfortable you become with certain situations that will make you a better driver down the road.
The same sentiment holds true in most walks of life, but it’s especially true when it comes to shoulder surgery. Recently, a study published in The British Medical Journal found that patients tended to have a better experience if they had their shoulder replacement operation performed by a surgeon who averaged over 10 replacements a year. So if you are considering having your shoulder replaced, choosing a surgeon like Dr. Holloway who performs a number of total replacement operations each month is a wise move. Practice really does make perfect!
Choosing The Right Shoulder Surgeon
To get a better understanding of how experience factored into shoulder replacement success, researchers in the United Kingdom took a closer look at the data from the National Joint Registry and Hospital Episode Statistics in England. This data included more than 39,281 elective shoulder replacements performed by more than 600 surgeons at 416 public and private hospitals between 2012 and 2020.
Statistical models were used to better understand the effect of annual surgeon volume on a number of important factors, including:
- Whether a revisional procedure was needed
- Whether reoperation was needed within 12 months
- The amount of serious adverse events at the 30 and 90-day post op marks
- Patient hospital stay length
After taking a closer look at the data, researchers found there was a significant risk of revision surgery if the care provider averaged fewer than 10 shoulder replacements a year (10.4 procedures was the mean annual volume). According to the data, patients treated by a surgeon who performed at least 10.4 shoulder replacements a year had a 45 percent lower risk of needing a revisional procedure compared to those patients treated by surgeons who performed fewer annual surgeries than this. Additional findings show that patients treated by a higher volume specialist had:
- A 53 percent lower risk of reoperation.
- A 40 percent lower risk of complications at 30 days post op.
- A 37 percent lower risk of complications at 90 days post op.
- A 62 percent reduction in the risk of a prolonged hospital stay (3+ days).
So while experience should not be the only factor that guides your decision making when choosing a shoulder specialist to perform your operation, it certainly should be a factor you consider. You want to choose a surgeon who is regularly performing the procedure and improving or at least maintaining the unique skills required for the procedure. It can make a huge difference in your outcome by reducing your risk of issues that can lead to the need for revision or additional care.
So when you are evaluating shoulder specialists, ask them about how often they perform your specific type of shoulder replacement on a monthly or yearly basis. Experience matters, so make sure that your surgeon has enough regular experience under their belt to provide you with the best level of care.
For more information about shoulder replacement surgery, or for help with a different shoulder issue, reach out to Dr. Holloway and his team today at (865) 410-7887.
