Outpatient total ankle arthroplasty may be a better option than inpatient surgery for certain patients, according to research published in The Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery.
Researchers used the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database to examine data from 66 outpatients and 535 inpatients who had undergone total ankle arthroplasty. Postoperative complication rates for surgical site infections, hematologic complications and operating room readmissions were compared between the two patient groups.
The key details to know:
1. There was not a significant difference in complication rates for the two groups.
2. Seventy-one percent of outpatients and 93 percent of inpatients said they were satisfied with their choice to undergo surgery in their respective settings.
3. Researchers concluded, "Our results suggest that inpatient and outpatient total ankle arthroplasty show similar complication rates. This suggests that outpatient total ankle arthroplasty is safe and may be a superior option for certain populations. Further investigation is warranted to verify these conclusions."