In a statistical analysis of 422,321 patients a study revealed significantly increased poor outcomes for patients identified with some form of alcohol disorder. Patients were identified by diagnosis codes.
Such patients had a greater risk of death, pneumonia, deep vein thrombosis, acute renal failure, transfusion, longer hospitalization, and other complications. The complication rate for this subset of patients was 25% while those without an alcohol history had a complication rate of 10%.
The conclusion the authors of the study came to was that since TSA (Total shoulder arthroplasty) is almost always an elective procedure patients who are known to have an alcohol problem should receive counseling prior to undergoing surgery. They need to be advised of the particular risks they face and should enter a program to stop drinking to show their commitment to a good result. This is a difficult situation to deal with and orthopedic surgeons are not necessarily prepared to counsel patients with alcoholism. Furthermore, it is a difficult time for the patient who may find the combined stress of shoulder pain and sobriety impossible to deal with.
The unfortunate facts are that patients with alcohol problems are generally less healthy, have poorer immune function, are at greater risk for falls and are less likely to follow a course of rehabilitation. It is a very difficult situation for patient and doctor alike.
At least patients should be fully aware of the increased risks they face.
http://youtu.be/QARzdOL3-0whttp://youtu.be/QARzdOL3-0w
Archive timeline: 2014: May and June - preparing for surgery, July - surgery and post op problems,
August - recovery and physical therapy, September - thinking medically, October - getting back to
normal. November. - still recovering.http://youtu.be/QARzdOL3-0w
Such patients had a greater risk of death, pneumonia, deep vein thrombosis, acute renal failure, transfusion, longer hospitalization, and other complications. The complication rate for this subset of patients was 25% while those without an alcohol history had a complication rate of 10%.
The conclusion the authors of the study came to was that since TSA (Total shoulder arthroplasty) is almost always an elective procedure patients who are known to have an alcohol problem should receive counseling prior to undergoing surgery. They need to be advised of the particular risks they face and should enter a program to stop drinking to show their commitment to a good result. This is a difficult situation to deal with and orthopedic surgeons are not necessarily prepared to counsel patients with alcoholism. Furthermore, it is a difficult time for the patient who may find the combined stress of shoulder pain and sobriety impossible to deal with.
The unfortunate facts are that patients with alcohol problems are generally less healthy, have poorer immune function, are at greater risk for falls and are less likely to follow a course of rehabilitation. It is a very difficult situation for patient and doctor alike.
At least patients should be fully aware of the increased risks they face.
http://youtu.be/QARzdOL3-0whttp://youtu.be/QARzdOL3-0w
Archive timeline: 2014: May and June - preparing for surgery, July - surgery and post op problems,
August - recovery and physical therapy, September - thinking medically, October - getting back to
normal. November. - still recovering.http://youtu.be/QARzdOL3-0w
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