Language

English

Publication Date

3-28-2026

Journal

Shoulder & Elbow

DOI

10.1177/17585732261435999

PMID

41913770

PMCID

PMC13033035

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

3-28-2026

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Post-print

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has captured the attention of healthcare systems worldwide, and testing remains a mainstay of preoperative testing before all surgical procedures, including shoulder arthroplasty. Other viral illnesses, specifically influenza, while still having severe complications, are either overshadowed by testing for COVID-19 or not tested at all.

METHODS: A multi-institutional cohort study using the TriNetX network examined patients undergoing total or hemi shoulder arthroplasty from January 2020 to March 2024. Matched cohorts were created: one with influenza and one with COVID-19 infection, 14 days before surgery.

RESULTS: A total of 3233 and 18,209 patients were included in the influenza and COVID-19 cohorts, respectively. The matched cohorts both consisted of 3232 patients. Patients in the influenza cohort had a significantly higher risk of sepsis (95% CI [1.264, 2.528],

DISCUSSION: Patients with recent influenza infections prior to shoulder arthroplasty have a greater risk of medical complications, with no difference in implant-related complications compared to COVID-19, emphasizing the need for perioperative patient counseling and surgical planning.

Keywords

Shoulder arthroplasty, influenza, periprosthetic infection, periprosthetic joint infection, complications

Published Open-Access

yes

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