Challenges with sling use following shoulder surgery: the patients' perspective
Background: The purpose of this study was to survey patients who had recently undergone shoulder surgery to assess the challenges they faced while immobilized in a sling and how they overcame those challenges, in order to improve future patient outcomes and satisfaction. Methods: A retrospective sur...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | JSES International |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666638325001409 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850114313008709632 |
|---|---|
| author | Tom C. Galetti, BA Mihir M. Sheth, MD George C. Branche, III, MD Cyrus M. Press, MD Michael V. Narvaez, MD David J. Novak, MD Brent B. Wiesel, MD Sameer H. Nagda, MD |
| author_facet | Tom C. Galetti, BA Mihir M. Sheth, MD George C. Branche, III, MD Cyrus M. Press, MD Michael V. Narvaez, MD David J. Novak, MD Brent B. Wiesel, MD Sameer H. Nagda, MD |
| author_sort | Tom C. Galetti, BA |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The purpose of this study was to survey patients who had recently undergone shoulder surgery to assess the challenges they faced while immobilized in a sling and how they overcame those challenges, in order to improve future patient outcomes and satisfaction. Methods: A retrospective survey, completed 3 months after surgery, asked patients to detail the activities of daily living (ADLs) they found to be challenging while immobilized. Patients across multiple sites quantitatively and qualitatively described their problems and discussed both the amount of help required and the individual methods to complete ADLs. Statistical analysis was performed using an unpaired, two tailed T-test. Results: Three hundred patients noted the most difficult activities while living with the sling were sleeping, bathing, and dressing. 84.5% of patients had difficulty sleeping for an average of 6.5 weeks. 51.8% of patients needed help bathing, 47.5% of patients required help drying off, and 71.1% of patients required help dressing while immobilized. Before completing ADLs on their own, patients required 10.5, 11.5, and 14.8 days of help to bathe, dry, and dress, respectively. Though not statistically significant, patients required less help completing ADLs if they had surgery on their nondominant arm or prior shoulder surgery. Conclusion: Sleeping is difficult for most patients while immobilized. Bathing, drying, and dressing require an adaptation period of 2 weeks until patients can complete these activities more independently. Informing patients of challenges they will face while immobilized will help set expectations and may lead to improved clinical outcomes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e9f7df30ad2447adb31991cd8784b278 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2666-6383 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JSES International |
| spelling | doaj-art-e9f7df30ad2447adb31991cd8784b2782025-08-20T02:36:54ZengElsevierJSES International2666-63832025-07-01941385138910.1016/j.jseint.2025.04.016Challenges with sling use following shoulder surgery: the patients' perspectiveTom C. Galetti, BA0Mihir M. Sheth, MD1George C. Branche, III, MD2Cyrus M. Press, MD3Michael V. Narvaez, MD4David J. Novak, MD5Brent B. Wiesel, MD6Sameer H. Nagda, MD7University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA; Corresponding author: Tom C. Galetti, BA, University of California, Berkeley, 1100 Veterans Boulevard 2N30, Redwood City, CA 94063, USA.The Anderson Orthopaedic Clinic, Alexandria, VA, USAThe Anderson Orthopaedic Clinic, Alexandria, VA, USACenters for Advanced Orthopaedics, Woodbridge, VA, USAThe Anderson Orthopaedic Clinic, Alexandria, VA, USAOrthoVirginia, Fairfax, VA, USADepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USAThe Anderson Orthopaedic Clinic, Alexandria, VA, USABackground: The purpose of this study was to survey patients who had recently undergone shoulder surgery to assess the challenges they faced while immobilized in a sling and how they overcame those challenges, in order to improve future patient outcomes and satisfaction. Methods: A retrospective survey, completed 3 months after surgery, asked patients to detail the activities of daily living (ADLs) they found to be challenging while immobilized. Patients across multiple sites quantitatively and qualitatively described their problems and discussed both the amount of help required and the individual methods to complete ADLs. Statistical analysis was performed using an unpaired, two tailed T-test. Results: Three hundred patients noted the most difficult activities while living with the sling were sleeping, bathing, and dressing. 84.5% of patients had difficulty sleeping for an average of 6.5 weeks. 51.8% of patients needed help bathing, 47.5% of patients required help drying off, and 71.1% of patients required help dressing while immobilized. Before completing ADLs on their own, patients required 10.5, 11.5, and 14.8 days of help to bathe, dry, and dress, respectively. Though not statistically significant, patients required less help completing ADLs if they had surgery on their nondominant arm or prior shoulder surgery. Conclusion: Sleeping is difficult for most patients while immobilized. Bathing, drying, and dressing require an adaptation period of 2 weeks until patients can complete these activities more independently. Informing patients of challenges they will face while immobilized will help set expectations and may lead to improved clinical outcomes.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666638325001409Shoulder arthroscopyShoulder arthroplastyShoulder slingRecoverySleepADLs |
| spellingShingle | Tom C. Galetti, BA Mihir M. Sheth, MD George C. Branche, III, MD Cyrus M. Press, MD Michael V. Narvaez, MD David J. Novak, MD Brent B. Wiesel, MD Sameer H. Nagda, MD Challenges with sling use following shoulder surgery: the patients' perspective JSES International Shoulder arthroscopy Shoulder arthroplasty Shoulder sling Recovery Sleep ADLs |
| title | Challenges with sling use following shoulder surgery: the patients' perspective |
| title_full | Challenges with sling use following shoulder surgery: the patients' perspective |
| title_fullStr | Challenges with sling use following shoulder surgery: the patients' perspective |
| title_full_unstemmed | Challenges with sling use following shoulder surgery: the patients' perspective |
| title_short | Challenges with sling use following shoulder surgery: the patients' perspective |
| title_sort | challenges with sling use following shoulder surgery the patients perspective |
| topic | Shoulder arthroscopy Shoulder arthroplasty Shoulder sling Recovery Sleep ADLs |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666638325001409 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tomcgalettiba challengeswithslingusefollowingshouldersurgerythepatientsperspective AT mihirmshethmd challengeswithslingusefollowingshouldersurgerythepatientsperspective AT georgecbrancheiiimd challengeswithslingusefollowingshouldersurgerythepatientsperspective AT cyrusmpressmd challengeswithslingusefollowingshouldersurgerythepatientsperspective AT michaelvnarvaezmd challengeswithslingusefollowingshouldersurgerythepatientsperspective AT davidjnovakmd challengeswithslingusefollowingshouldersurgerythepatientsperspective AT brentbwieselmd challengeswithslingusefollowingshouldersurgerythepatientsperspective AT sameerhnagdamd challengeswithslingusefollowingshouldersurgerythepatientsperspective |