Research published in The Journal of Arthroplasty found unicompartmental knee arthroplasties performed at an ASC have a similar early postoperative complication rate to those performed in hospital outpatient departments.
Researchers reviewed 569 patients (228 in the ASC group and 281 in the HOPD) who had undergone outpatient unicompartmental knee arthroplasties by a single surgeon between 2012 and 2016. Complications were recorded within the first 90 days after surgery
Here are the key insights to know:
1. Thirty major and minor complications occurred within 90 days of surgery — 12 in the ASC, and 18 in the HOPD group.
2. Day of surgery admission to the hospital occurred once in the HOPD group and did not occur in the ASC group.
3. Emergency department visits happened once for each group.
4. Readmissions within the first 90 days occurred in five ASC cases and four HOPD cases.
5. "UKA at an ASC has a low early postoperative complication rate without increased risk of readmission or ED evaluation when compared to UKAs performed at a HOPD," the researchers concluded.
Click here to read the full study.