A new study published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery compares readmissions for same-day discharge for knee and hip replacements with inpatient hospitalization.
The study authors identified 177,818 patients in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program registry who underwent inpatient and outpatient primary, elective total joint replacements or unicompartmental knee replacements from 2005 to 2014.There were 1,236 same-day procedures recorded.
Study authors found:
1. Both inpatient and same-day joint replacements were associated with similar rates of adverse events and readmissions. However, inpatient procedures were associated with a higher rate of thromboembolic events.
2. Same-day total knee replacements had a higher rate of return to the operating room than the inpatient procedures when the groups were assessed individually.
3. Factors associated with 30-day readmission among the same-day procedures include:
• BMI of 35 or more
• Insulin-dependent diabetes
• Non-insulin-dependent diabetes
• Age 85 years or older
4. Among same-day procedures, the most common reason for reoperation was infection.