Shoulder replacement is becoming a more common procedure across the US, and many patients are seeking out the operation at a younger age because of how effective the surgery can be for restoring strength and function in the region. When choosing a surgeon to perform their shoulder replacement procedure, patients oftentimes look for surgeons who are nearby, who are in-network and who have good reviews.
Another factor to consider when meeting with a surgeon in a pre-op consultation is the volume of shoulder replacements they perform each year. According to a new study, if their answer is below a certain threshold, you should consider looking elsewhere for care. We explain why surgical volume is crucial for the success of your shoulder replacement procedure.
Surgical Volume and Shoulder Replacement Outcomes
They say that practice makes perfect, and that sentiment certainly appears to hold some weight when it comes to the success of a shoulder replacement procedure. To get a better understanding of how surgical volume impacts shoulder replacement outcomes, researchers conducted a study that is set to be included in the June 2026 issue of the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Arthroplasty. During their analysis of more than 330,000 patients, researchers found that surgeons performing fewer than five shoulder replacements a year had substantially higher complication rates compared to surgeons performing more than 28 procedures a year.
“Shoulder arthroplasty is no longer a generalist procedure,” said Dr. Hafiz Kassam, senior author of the study and director of shoulder reconstruction at the Hoag Orthopedic Institute in California. “It’s become a highly specialized operation, and volume and experience clearly matter when it comes to outcomes.”
Surgical volume has always been a point of focus when looking at patient outcomes, but previous studies have had some inconsistent benchmarks. Dr. Kassim and team believe that by reviewing eight different studies involving more than 330,000 patients, their threshold numbers carry a little more weight. Their study identified three broad tiers of surgical volume and found that surgeons performing fewer than five shoulder replacements a year had significantly higher complication and revision rates compared to surgeons who performed more than 28 procedures a year.
“There is a floor,” said Dr. Kassim. “There is a difference with volume, and this kind of sets that floor.
According to the data sources by Dr. Kassim, roughly half of all shoulder replacements nationally are being conducted by surgeons performing fewer than 20 cases a year. More than five procedures a year is a good start, but the best outcomes tend to be produced by surgeons performing at least 28 shoulder replacement operations a year, so be sure to ask your provider about their annual replacement volume.
“Patients ask all the time, ‘How many of these have you done?’” said Dr. Kassim. “Now at least there’s a benchmark for what a minimum should look like.”
Dr. Holloway specializes in shoulder replacement, and he performs a significant volume every year because the shoulder is his point of focus. Whether it’s a capsular release, addressing a rotator cuff tear or conducting a standard or reverse shoulder replacement, his only focus is on getting your shoulder back to the strongest version of itself. He’s confident he can deliver great results for whatever shoulder issue you’re dealing with.
For more information about shoulder replacement or procedural outcomes, connect with Dr. Holloway and his team today at (865) 410-7887.
