2014 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) has revealed many interesting facts on Total Joint Replacement as a same day procedure and Implications of Outpatient vs. Inpatient Total Joint Arthroplasty on Hospital Readmission Rates. The study revealed amazing results on comparable outcomes for outpatient, inpatient orthopaedic surgeries.

It is observed, most of the surgeons are now performing Total Joint Replacement as a same day procedure, where patients are discharged within 24 hours of surgery.  All this is possible with more of focus on improvements in procedures that are raising the effectiveness of anaesthesia, pain management and rehabilitation. In a related study, there was a very low complication rate observed for the surgeries that were taken at outpatient specialty clinic. It was also observed there was higher rate of readmission of patients who underwent outpatient procedures though statistically non-significant.

Out Patient Total Replacement Surgeries have the major benefits with cost, time and satisfactions level factors with some issues relating to patient recovery, medical scrutiny, financial penalties for unplanned hospital readmissions within 30 days of surgery is holding many of the doctors and hospitals to opt for outpatient surgeries.

According to AAOS Study findings, patients receiving outpatient surgery had a body mass of less than or equal to 40 kg/m² without any cardiopulmonary issues, sleep apnea, and blood clots. Outpatient surgery patients had to spend less time at hospital and got good family support, whereas inpatient has to stay as per surgeon in the hospital for two to three days.

“Our study supports the view that outpatient surgery can offer patients and physicians options for safe, cost-effective surgical care, offering improved patient comfort, increased efficiency and low complication rates,” said by an expert in orthopaedic surgeries.

Data Source: sciencecodex