Angiotensin Receptor Blockers and Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors Have No Significant Relationship With Postoperative Arthrofibrosis After Shoulder Arthroscopy

PURPOSE: To determine the effect of perioperative angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) on postoperative arthrofibrosis, as defined by requiring manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) or new diagnosis of adhesive capsulitis (AC) following arthroscopic shoulder procedures. METHODS: Patients were retrospectively identified using Current Procedural Terminology surgical billing codes to identify patients who underwent any shoulder arthroscopic procedure at a single urban academic institution from 2012 to 2020 with a minimum 2-year follow-up. Patients were excluded if <30 years old at time of surgery, as these patients rarely use ARB and ACEi medications, or if they had pre-existing AC. Demographics, active medication prescriptions at the time of surgery, and medical comorbidities were recorded. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine the effect of ARB/ACEi on subsequent MUA or AC by 90 days, 1 year, and 2 years. RESULTS: In total, 5,559 patients were included in the final analysis. A majority of the cohort (53.4%) underwent arthroscopic surgery between the ages of 50 to 69 years. Most patients were male (61.8%) and without obesity (67.3%). In total, 18.9% and 15.0% were taking an ARB or ACEi medication perioperatively, respectively. Within 2 years’ postoperatively, 51 patients (0.9%) underwent subsequent ipsilateral MUA, and 174 patients (3.1%) developed AC. Patients taking ARBs had a 17.5% rate of postoperative arthrofibrosis within 2-years compared with 19.1% in those not on ARBs, although this difference was not significant (P = .58). Likewise, no significant difference was found between those taking ACEi versus not (15.0% vs 15.0%, P = .99). Individual generic ARB/ACEi subgroup analysis did not demonstrate any significant associations with rate of postoperative arthrofibrosis (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: ARBs or ACEi did not significantly affect the rate of postoperative arthrofibrosis following shoulder arthroscopy, however female sex, diabetes mellitus, and Black/African American race were associated with an increased rate of necessitating MUA or developing AC within 2 years postoperatively. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective cohort study.