Same-Day Discharge for Hip and Knee Replacement Surgery
There is a growing trend toward shorter stays in the hospital after hip and knee replacement surgery. Most people return home the day after surgery, but for healthy patients who meet certain criteria, surgery is an outpatient procedure. A study published in The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery (September 2021) examined whether outpatient joint replacement surgery is also feasible for patients at higher risk for adverse outcomes, such as those with high blood pressure, obesity or diabetes. The researchers analyzed data on 5,250 high-risk hip replacement and 9,752 high-risk knee replacement patients, of whom about one-third were discharged the same day. Same-day discharge did not increase the risk of emergency department visits, unplanned hospital readmissions, or complications 90 days after surgery compared with longer hospital stays. All patients released the same day were in a formal program that included preoperative education and postsurgical home health services.
