Is Discharge Within a Day Following Total Hip Arthroplasty Safe in the Septuagenarian and Octogenarian Population? A Propensity-Matched Cohort Study

Outpatient Versus Inpatient Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty in Morbidly Obese Patients

BACKGROUND

Morbidly obese patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty (TJA) face increased postoperative complications, yet studies assessing the safety of this surgery in the outpatient setting for this population are lacking. This study aimed to fill this gap by assessing the safety and benefits of outpatient TJA in morbidly obese patients.

METHODS

This study is a retrospective review of a commercial claims database. Based on the setting of the procedure, the patients were divided into four groups as follows: inpatient-TKA (total knee arthroplasty), outpatient-TKA, inpatient-THA (total hip arthroplasty), and outpatient-THA. The two TKA groups were matched based on age, sex, and the Charlson Comorbidity Index. The THA groups were matched similarly. The 30- and 90-day medical and surgical complications were compared between these groups. There were 5,500 patients included in each of the outpatient and inpatient TKA groups and 1,550 in each of the outpatient and inpatient THA groups.

RESULTS

Patients undergoing inpatient TKA had higher rates of pulmonary embolism, urinary tract infection, transfusions, intensive care unit admissions, emergency department visits, readmissions at 30 days, surgical site infections, periprosthetic joint infection, prosthetic dislocations, and costs. As for the inpatient THA group, they had higher rates of pulmonary embolism, urinary tract infection, transfusions, intensive care unit admissions, emergency department visits, and costs.

CONCLUSIONS

It is well-established that morbidly obese patients undergoing TJA have higher complication rates than normal-weight patients, and patients should be counseled before arthroplasty. This study highlights the safety and benefits of outpatient TJA in morbidly obese patients. However, one should note that this was done using an insurance database, in which results may differ if it was done in a public and lower socioeconomic setting. Therefore, future prospective studies are needed to confirm the findings before implementing outpatient TJA in morbidly obese patients.

Comparing outcomes in revision total hip arthroplasty in inpatient versus outpatient setting: a matched cohort analysis

BACKGROUND

As the population ages, revision total hip arthroplasty (rTHA) is becoming more common. However, there is a paucity of literature regarding perioperative outcomes following inpatient versus outpatient rTHA. Our study aims to compare perioperative complications and readmission rates associated with rTHA in a large national cohort.

METHODS

A retrospective, propensity-matched cohort study was conducted using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database from 2006 to 2020. Patients undergoing rTHA in the inpatient setting were propensity matched to patients receiving rTHA in the outpatient setting. Following 1:1 matching, multivariate analyses were performed to compare perioperative complications and readmission.

RESULTS

A total of 207,102 patients were identified, including 181,164 outpatient primary THA, 25,466 inpatient rTHA, and 492 outpatient rTHA patients. Following propensity matching, outpatient primary THA versus outpatient rTHA had 210 patients and inpatient rTHA versus outpatient rTHA had 214 patients. Patients in the outpatient rTHA had a significantly higher operative time (132.4 ± 73.2 versus 90.9 ± 32.7, p < 0.001) and length of stay (1.6 ± 1.6 vs. 0.9 ± 1.0, p < 0.001) compared to outpatient primary THA. When comparing inpatient versus outpatient rTHA, the outpatient cohort had lower operative time (131.1 ± 70.9 vs. 145.4 ± 71.5, p = 0.038), total length of stay (1.7 ± 1.8 vs. 3.6 ± 4.1, p < 0.001), and bleeding complications (6% vs. 18%, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

There were no difference in the odds of complications between outpatient primary and revision THA. Additionally, rTHA performed in an outpatient setting did not show any increase in immediate compared to inpatient settings. These findings suggest that rTHA can be safely performed on certain patients.