Impact of Inpatient Versus Outpatient Total Joint Arthroplasty on 30-Day Hospital Readmission Rates and Unplanned Episodes of Care

• Published in: The Orthopedic clinics of North America Vol. 48; no. 1; p. 15
• Main Authors: Springer, Bryan D, Odum, Susan M, Vegari, David N, Mokris, Jeffrey G, Beaver, Jr, Walter B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.01.2017
• Subjects: Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip - adverse effects; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee - adverse effects; Episode of Care; Follow-Up Studies; Global Health; Humans; Incidence; Inpatients; Outpatients; Patient Readmission - trends; Postoperative Complications - epidemiology; Time Factors; Total knee arthroplasty; Total joint arthroplasty; Hospital readmission; Total hip arthroplasty
• ISSN: 1558-1373
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ocl.2016.08.002

This article describes a study comparing 30-day readmission rates between patients undergoing outpatient versus inpatient total hip (THA) and knee (TKA) arthroplasty. A retrospective review of 137 patients undergoing outpatient total joint arthroplasty (TJA) and 106 patients undergoing inpatient (minimum 2-day hospital stay) TJA was conducted. Unplanned hospital readmissions and unplanned episodes of care were recorded. All patients completed a telephone survey. Seven inpatients and 16 outpatients required hospital readmission or an unplanned episode of care following hospital discharge. Readmission rates were higher for TKA than THA. The authors found no statistical differences in 30-day readmission or unplanned care episodes.