Research published in the Journal of Arthroplasty examined the quality of recovery and outcomes two years after outpatient total knee arthroplasty.
Researchers studied 43 inpatients and outpatients who underwent total knee arthroplasty by a single surgeon between Sept. 28, 2010, and May 5, 2015, and collected data on complications, readmissions and emergency department visits after 90 days.
Here are the key insights to know:
1. Quality of recovery was similar in both cohorts.
2. One person in both the inpatient and outpatient group had a readmission.
3. Eight outpatients and six inpatients went to the emergency department for any reason within 90 days.
4. "Outpatient total knee arthroplasty in selected patients produced similar short-term and 2-year patient-reported outcome measures and a comparable 90-day postdischarge hospital resource utilization when compared to an inpatient cohort, supporting further investigation into outpatient total knee arthroplasty," the researchers concluded.