PURPOSE: To analyze (1) the incidence and type of complications after elbow arthroscopy, (2) the incidence of returning to the operating room (OR) after elbow arthroscopy, and (3) patient and risk factors for complications across a national surgical outcome database. METHODS: Patients who underwent elbow arthroscopy from January 2005 through December 2014 were identified in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database by use of Current Procedural Terminology codes. Basic patient demographic data and medical comorbidities were recorded. Postoperative adverse events and a return to the OR occurring within 30 days after the index procedure were identified, and patient and procedural risk factors were investigated. RESULTS: Five hundred thirty elbow arthroscopy cases were available for analysis. The aggregate rate of 30-day adverse events was 2.83%, whereas the rate of any patient having an adverse event was 1.89%. The most common adverse event was deep infection (0.57%). Univariate analyses showed that renal disease, preoperative steroid use, higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class, and preoperative diagnosis were associated with the occurrence of an adverse event. Multivariate analyses showed that increasing ASA class, specifically ASA class 3 and class 4, was an independent predictor of a postoperative adverse event. Furthermore, 0.94% of cases required a return to the OR. Univariate analyses showed that preoperative steroid use and diagnosis of trauma were associated with a return to the OR. These findings were confirmed by multivariate analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the incidence of 30-day postoperative adverse events (1.89%) and need to return to the OR (0.94%) is low. Increased ASA class is an independent risk factor for the occurrence of a postoperative adverse event; preoperative steroid use and diagnoses relating to a traumatic or inflammatory cause are predictive of the need to return to the OR. These results can assist surgeons in patient selection, preoperative optimization, and preoperative risk stratification. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, case series.
