Determinants of patient satisfaction with outcome after shoulder arthroplasty

The purpose of this investigation was to identify the determinants of patient satisfaction with outcome after hemiarthroplasty and total shoulder arthroplasty. Seventy patients who underwent shoulder arthroplasty were studied to determine predictors of patient satisfaction. Patient satisfaction was graded on an ordinal scale from 1 to 10. There was a significant association between patient satisfaction and age (P = .010) and between patient satisfaction and worker’s compensation status (P = .018). There was no significant decrease in patient satisfaction for patients with rotator cuff tears. Patient satisfaction was significantly associated with all pain and function variables at follow-up (P < .05). The American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score was significantly correlated with patient satisfaction (P = 0.680, P < .05). Independent predictors of satisfaction included pain with activities of daily living, painless use of the arm above the shoulder, and difficulty with toileting (R² = 0.555). Subjective variables associated with pain were independent predictors of patient satisfaction. Thus, in assessing patient satisfaction after shoulder arthroplasty, we emphasize the importance of patient-derived subjective assessment of symptoms and function.