Research published in the Journal of Arthroplasty examined patient perceptions of the safety of outpatient total knee arthroplasty.
Researchers fielded a questionnaire to patients who had undergone unilateral primary total knee arthroplasty between March 1 and Sept. 30, 2017. They were asked about their previous knowledge of outpatient procedures, as well as their perceived ability to have the procedure in the outpatient setting. The average length of stay for the patients surveyed was 1.2 days. A total of 346 patients completed the survey.
Here are the key insights to know:
1. Forty-three percent of respondents said they had heard of outpatient total joint replacement.
2. Seventy-two percent of patients thought the costs associated with outpatient total joint replacement should be lower than inpatient surgery.
3. Out of the patients surveyed, 41.7 percent thought they would have "definitely" been able to go home on the same day as surgery.
4. Avoidance of infection (57.3 percent), getting better sleep (46.9 percent) and having a quieter recovery at home (42.7 percent) were the benefits patients associated with outpatient surgery.
5. The top reasons patients were concerned about same-day knee surgery included: being in too much pain (54.8 percent), being unable to go to the bathroom (39.6 percent) and having a fall (39.8 percent).