Data from a study published in the February issue of the journal Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research suggest that outpatient total hip arthroplasty (THA) may be safe and effective for certain patients. The researchers conducted a prospective, randomized study of 220 THA patients at two centers, 112 of whom were treated as outpatients and 108 of whom were treated as inpatients. 

They found that, of 112 patients randomized to outpatient surgery, 85 (76 percent) were discharged as planned, while 26 were discharged after one night in the hospital, and one was discharged after two nights. Of the 108 patients randomized to inpatient surgery with an overnight hospital stay, 81 (75 percent) were discharged as planned, 18 met discharge criteria on the day of their surgery and elected to leave the same day, and nine stayed two or more nights. On the day of surgery, the researchers noted no difference in visual analog scale (VAS) pain among patients randomized to same-day discharge or overnight stay. However, on the first day after surgery, outpatients had higher VAS pain than inpatients. Overall, the researchers found no difference between cohorts in number of reoperations, hospital readmissions without reoperation, emergency department visits without hospital readmission, or acute office visits. In addition, at 4-week follow-up, they found no difference in number of phone calls and emails with the surgeon’s office. Learn more...