Editorial Commentary: Slow and Steady or Quick and Slick: What Really Wins the Race Between Operative Time and Shoulder Surgery Complications?

Abstract

Studies have shown in many disciplines that longer operative times are correlated with increased complications. Recent research has shown that increased shoulder arthroscopy procedure time is associated with adverse short-term outcomes, especially infections and overnight hospital stay. This may be because longer operating time is a proxy for surgical difficulty or complexity, but it may be that operative time is itself a causative factor. Further study is warranted to see if reducing operative times may not only reduce costs but also improve quality, improving value in both the numerator and denominator.