Comparison of satisfied and dissatisfied patients 2 to 5 years after anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND With an increasingly large number of patients undergoing total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) combined with increased requirements for public reporting of patient outcomes, there is a greater need to better understand the underlying factors related to patient satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to compare patient demographics, nonorthopedic comorbidities, patient-reported outcome scores, and range of motion of patients who reported being either satisfied or dissatisfied with their procedure at midterm follow-up. METHODS We identified 234 primary TSAs performed by a single surgeon for glenohumeral osteoarthritis with a minimum 2-year follow-up in a prospective shoulder arthroplasty registry. American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, patient satisfaction, and active forward flexion, abduction, and external rotation at 0° of flexion-abduction were assessed before and after TSA. RESULTS Of the 234 patients, 207 (88.5%) were satisfied with their procedure. Dissatisfied patients had significantly lower ASES scores both before and after surgery (P < .001) as well as a significantly lower preoperative to postoperative change in ASES score (P < .001). Similarly, dissatisfied patients demonstrated significantly lower changes in active forward flexion (P = .004), abduction (P = .02), and external rotation (P = .03). Patients with ASES score changes <12 points were 19 times more likely to be dissatisfied after TSA (95% confidence interval, 4.4-81.4; P = .0001). CONCLUSION Dissatisfied patients had significantly lower improvements in pain, function, and range of motion. Furthermore, a change in ASES score <12 points was associated with a 19-fold increase in the risk of being dissatisfied after TSA.