The Risk Assessment and Prediction Tool (RAPT) Score Predicts Discharge Destination, Length of Stay, and Postoperative Mobility after Total Joint Arthroplasty

Predictors of Discharge Home Versus Inpatient Rehabilitation Following Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty-Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

This study aims to identify the prevalence of inpatient rehabilitation (IPR) use in an Australian private total joint arthroplasty (TJA) cohort and to identify factors predictive of IPR discharge, including components of the Risk Assessment and Prediction Tool (RAPT).

METHODS

Primary TJA patients at a Sydney private hospital, between 2021 and 2022 were identified from an institutional arthroplasty database. Variables previously deemed as predictive factors for IPR facility discharge in the literature and components of RAPT were assessed utilising multivariable generalised linear model analysis.

RESULTS

Of the 733 total hip arthroplasty (THA) and 776 total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients included, 46% of THA and 64% of TKA subjects transferred to IPR post-acutely. Bilateral procedure (OR 7.91, p < 0.001), living alone (OR 5.23, p < 0.001), older age groups (66-75 (OR 2.14, p = 0.001)); (> 75 (OR 5.02, p < 0.001)), poorer walking distance (1-2 blocks (OR 1.64, p = 0.023)); (housebound (OR 2.68, p = 0.009)), were significant predictors of IPR following THA. In the TKA cohort, the significant predictors of IPR discharge were female (OR 2.47, p < 0.001), older age (66-75 (OR 1.73, p = 0.021)); (> 75 (OR 4.23, p < 0.001)), bilateral procedure (OR 6.86, p < 0.001), obesity (OR 1.76, p = 0.006), living alone (OR 2.86, p = 0.001) and surgeon (surgeon 3 (OR 2.30, p = 0.024)); (surgeon 4 (OR 3.04, p = 0.003)); (surgeon 5 (OR 2.18, p = 0.046)).

CONCLUSION

The use of IPR following TJA was associated with some clinically justifiable factors, such as bilateral procedure, older age, and living alone. However, other variables may be driven by inappropriate and potentially modifiable societal expectations, such as being female, obesity, treating surgeon, and limited walking distance.

Bayesian Analysis of Length of Stay Determinants in ERAS-Guided Hip Arthroplasty

Background and Objectives: Total hip arthroplasty in China expanded rapidly post-2019. The length of hospital stay in these procedures reflects healthcare quality standards. This study analyzed the correlation between preoperative clinical factors and the length of hospital stay in total hip arthroplasty patients managed via an enhanced recovery after surgery protocol. Methods: Preoperative clinical variables were collected from total hip arthroplasty patients in an accelerated rehabilitation program. One-way ANOVA and other statistical methods analyzed correlations between these data and hospitalization time. Results: A total of 408 patients were included, with a mean length of stay of 12.01 ± 4.281 days. Right lower extremity strength (t = 2.794, p = 0.005), activities of daily living score (t = -3.481, p = 0.001), C-reactive protein (t = -2.514, p = 0.016), thrombin time (t = -2.393, p = 0.019), and prothrombin activity (t = 2.582, p = 0.013) can directly affect the length of stay in patients with total hip arthroplasty. Also, age (F = 1.958, p = 0.006) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (t = -2.519, p = 0.015) were found to affect the length of hospital stay indirectly. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that right lower extremity strength, activities of daily living score, C-reactive protein, thrombin time, and prothrombin activity significantly influence the length of hospital stay in enhanced recovery after surgery-managed total hip arthroplasty patients. Therefore, early interventions should be made to address the above factors.

Outpatient Total Joint Arthroplasty in the "Unhealthy": Staying Safe Using Institutional Protocols

BACKGROUND

Recent expansion in the indications for outpatient total joint arthroplasty has led to debates over patient selection. The purpose of this study was to compare early clinical outcomes and complications of same-day discharge (SDD) hip and knee arthroplasties from a high-volume institution based on the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification.

METHODS

Prospectively collected data were reviewed for all SDD primary joint arthroplasties between January 2013 and August 2023. There were 8 surgeons who performed 7,258 cases at hospital outpatient (n = 4,288) or ambulatory surgery centers (n = 2,970). This included 3,239 total hip arthroplasties, 1,503 total knee arthroplasties, and 2,516 unicompartmental knee arthroplasties. The ASA 1 group comprised 506 subjects, compared to 5,005 for ASA 2 and 1,736 for ASA 3. The primary outcomes included emergency department (ED) visits, readmissions, complications, and revisions within 24 hours and 90 days of surgery. The ASA 3 group was older (ASA 1 = 55 versus ASA 2 = 63 versus ASA 3 = 66 years; P < .01) and had a higher body mass index (ASA 1 = 25.4 versus ASA 2 = 28.5 versus ASA 3 = 32.7; P < .01).

RESULTS

There were no differences between ASA groups in joint-related ED visits, readmissions, and complications within 24 h and 90 days of surgery (P > .05). Subjects in the ASA 3 group experienced greater 90-day revisions compared to the other groups (ASA 1 = 1 of 506, 0.2% versus ASA 2 = 15 of 5,005, 0.3% versus ASA 3 = 15 of 1,736, 0.9%; P = .01). Regarding systemic events, ASA 1 subjects experienced significantly greater 24-hour complications (8 of 506, 1.6%) and ED visits (5 of 506, 1.0%), and the ASA 3 subjects had a higher incidence of 90-day readmissions (19 of 1,736, 1.1%) compared to the other groups (P < .05). Within 24 hours of discharge, urinary retention and syncope were the most frequent complications that required additional health care utilization.

CONCLUSIONS

Medically optimized patients categorized as ASA 3 can safely undergo SDD hip and knee arthroplasty without increased risk of 24-hour or 90-day complications. Patient preference for outpatient care, reliable social support, and independent functional status are imperative for a successful outpatient program.

Transcultural validation of the risk assessment and predictor tool (RAPT) to Spanish

OBJECTIVE

Translation and validation of the risk assessment and prediction tool (RAPT) into Spanish to assess the discharge needs of patients after total hip arthroplasty.

METHODOLOGY

The original RAPT instrument was translated into Spanish following the guidelines of Sousa and Rojjanasrirat, 2011. To carry out the cross-cultural adaptation of the instrument to Spanish, the translation method of Guillermin et al., 1993 was used.

RESULTS

One hundred and thirty-four patients were included. The mean age was 71.6 years. Of the patients analyzed in the study, the tool detected that 57.8% required home rehabilitation, 28.9% would be discharged home and 13.3% would require an assessment from the social worker to go to a social health center. The content validity index (CVI) for the entire scale was 0.91. Cronbach's alpha was 0.84.

CONCLUSIONS

The RAPT tool has been shown to be highly effective in assessing patients' needs upon discharge. According to the results of the study, 94.2% of the needs identified by the tool coincided with the real needs of the patients. This suggests that the tool may be an efective tool for planning post-discharge care.

A systematic literature review of predicting patient discharges using statistical methods and machine learning

Discharge planning is integral to patient flow as delays can lead to hospital-wide congestion. Because a structured discharge plan can reduce hospital length of stay while enhancing patient satisfaction, this topic has caught the interest of many healthcare professionals and researchers. Predicting discharge outcomes, such as destination and time, is crucial in discharge planning by helping healthcare providers anticipate patient needs and resource requirements. This article examines the literature on the prediction of various discharge outcomes. Our review discovered papers that explore the use of prediction models to forecast the time, volume, and destination of discharged patients. Of the 101 reviewed papers, 49.5% looked at the prediction with machine learning tools, and 50.5% focused on prediction with statistical methods. The fact that knowing discharge outcomes in advance affects operational, tactical, medical, and administrative aspects is a frequent theme in the papers studied. Furthermore, conducting system-wide optimization, predicting the time and destination of patients after discharge, and addressing the primary causes of discharge delay in the process are among the recommendations for further research in this field.

Risk Categories for Discharge Planning Using AM-PAC "6-Clicks" Basic Mobility Scores in Non-Surgical Hospitalized Adults

BACKGROUND

 Early discharge planning is important for safe, cost-effective, and timely hospital discharges. Patients with deconditioning are at risk for prolonged lengths of stay related to discharge needs. Functional mobility outcome measures are associated with discharge disposition. The purpose of this study is to examine the clinical usefulness of risk categories based on the Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care (AM-PAC) "6-clicks" Basic Mobility (6cBM) scores on predicting discharge destination.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study of 3739 adults admitted to general medical units at an urban, academic hospital between January 1, 2018 and February 29, 2020 who received at least two physical therapy visits and had an AM-PAC 6cBM recorded within 48 hours of admission and before discharge. The outcome variable was discharge destination dichotomized to post-acute care facilities (PACF); inpatient rehabilitation, skilled nursing facility, or subacute rehabilitation) or home (with or without home care services). The predictor variables were 6cBM near admission and discharge. Logistic regression was used to estimate the odds of being discharged to PACF compared to home, based on the Three-level risk categorization system: (a) low (6cBM score > 20), (b) moderate (6cBM score 15-19), or (c) high (6cBM score < 14) risk.

RESULTS

Analysis indicated important differences between the three risk categories in both time periods. Based on 6cBM at admission, patients in the high-risk category were nine times more likely to be discharged to PACF than those in the low-risk category. At discharge, those in the high-risk category were 29 times more likely to go to PACF than those in the low-risk category. Other characteristics differentiating patients who went to PACF were sex (males), age (older) and longer hospitalization.

CONCLUSIONS

Predicting risk for discharge to a PACF using risk categories based on AM-PAC 6cBM can be useful for early discharge planning.

The Investigation of Preoperative Factors Associated With Postoperative Outcomes Following Total Knee Arthroplasty for Osteoarthritis: A Scoping Review

This study aimed to investigate preoperative factors associated with non-home discharges from acute care hospitals in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) due to osteoarthritis. It was a scoping review focused on patients who received their first unilateral TKA for osteoarthritis. The research targeted observational studies that examined the destinations of patients post-surgery based on preoperative factors, with a literature search conducted in April 2023. Out of 3,255 identified papers, 28 met the eligibility criteria. A total of 26 preoperative factors were identified as potentially related to discharge destinations, including age, gender, comorbidities, and obesity. By selecting an appropriate discharge destination based on preoperative factors, there may be potential for more efficient use of medical resources. Future studies should consider preoperative factors in the context of national healthcare systems and lengths of hospital stay.

Ambulatory total hip and knee arthroplasty: a literature review and perioperative considerations

PURPOSE

Total joint arthroplasty (TJA), particularly for the hip and knee, is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures. The advancement/evolution of surgical and anesthesia techniques have allowed TJA to be performed on an ambulatory/same-day discharge basis. In this Continuing Professional Development module, we synthesize the perioperative evidence that may aid the development of successful ambulatory TJA pathways.

SOURCE

We searched MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews for ambulatory or fast-track TJA articles. In the absence of direct evidence for the ambulatory setting, we extrapolated the evidence from the in-patient TJA literature.

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

Patient selection encompassing patient, medical, and social factors is fundamental for successful same-day discharge of patients following TJA. Evidence for the type of intraoperative anesthesia favours neuraxial technique for achieving same day discharge criteria and reduced perioperative complications. Availability of short-acting local anesthetic for neuraxial anesthesia would affect the anesthetic choice. Nonetheless, modern general anesthesia with multimodal analgesia and antithrombotics in a well selected population can be considered. Regional analgesia forms an integral part of the multimodal analgesia regime to reduce opioid consumption and facilitate same-day hospital discharge, reducing hospital readmission. For ambulatory total knee arthroplasty, a combination of adductor canal block with local anesthetic periarticular infiltration provided is a suitable regional analgesic regimen.

CONCLUSION

Anesthesia for TJA has evolved as such that same-day discharge will become the norm for selected patients. It is essential to establish pathways for early discharge to prevent adverse effects and readmission in this population. As more data are generated from an increased volume of ambulatory TJA, more robust evidence will emerge for the ideal anesthetic components to optimize outcomes.

Preoperative Education Prior to Hip or Knee Arthroplasty Is Associated With Home Discharge but Not Reduced Length of Stay

Background

Increasing numbers of patients are undergoing total joint arthroplasty as a treatment for osteoarthritis, which can be an anxiety-provoking experience. Setting expectations through a preoperative physical therapy (pre-op PT) session can alleviate some of these stressors, potentially decrease hospital length of stay (LOS), and promote home discharge.

Purpose

We sought to determine whether attending a pre-op PT session is associated with decreased hospital LOS and home discharge in total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was performed of 20,822 patients who underwent THA or TKA between January 2020 and December 2023. Pre-op PT attendance and covariates, including patient demographics and clinical data, were collected and analyzed for association with LOS and discharge disposition.

Results

Unadjusted univariate analysis revealed that THA and TKA patients who received pre-op PT had a significantly lower average LOS and were more likely to be discharged home. Our multivariate regression model showed that pre-op PT was not significantly associated with LOS in both groups but was significantly associated with home discharge among THA patients.

Conclusions

Our retrospective study of the effect of pre-op PT education on LOS and discharge disposition for elective THA and TKA patients found different results in univariate and multivariate analysis. Further study is needed to confirm the association found on multivariate analysis between pre-op PT and home discharge in THA patients.

RAPT and AM-PAC "6-Clicks": Do They Correlate on Predicting Discharge Destination After Total Joint Arthroplasty?

Background: The Risk Assessment and Prediction Tool (RAPT) and the Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care "6-Clicks" Mobility Score (AM-PAC) are validated discharge planning tools for patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Planning for discharge with these tools considers very different factors and it is important to determine if they relate. Purpose: We sought to determine whether the preoperative RAPT score would correlate with postoperative AM-PAC score for predicting discharge destination for THA and TKA populations. Secondarily, we sought to examine whether the AM-PAC and RAPT scores would remain statistically significant predictors of discharge destination despite covariates. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed for patients who underwent THA or TKA from January 2020 to December 2022 at a specialty orthopedic hospital. Primary variables included the RAPT score, the AM-PAC score, and discharge disposition. Correlation between AM-PAC and RAPT scores was tested using Pearson's correlation coefficient, and association between both scores and discharge destination was tested using chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression. Results: Our comparison of AM-PAC scores and RAPT scores found a statistically significant, positive correlation in both THA and TKA patients. Regression analysis found that increased RAPT and AM-PAC scores resulted in higher odds of being discharged home for both populations, after adjusting for all other variables. In both cohorts, patients discharged to a facility were more likely to be female, be over the age of 70 years, have Medicare/Medicaid insurance, and have a higher number of preoperative social work visits or any incidence of an intraoperative or hospital complication. Conclusions: This retrospective study found that RAPT score correlated with AM-PAC score for predicting discharge destination for elective THA and TKA populations, suggesting that these scores may be predictors of home discharge destination even when accounting for covariates. Further study is recommended.