Are outpatient total knee replacements safe for Medicare patients? 4 key points

A new study published in the Journal of Arthroplasty examines total knee replacements in the outpatient setting for the Medicare population.

 

Study authors examined the ACS-NSQIP database for patients age 65 and older who underwent total knee replacements from 2014 to 2015, including 49,136 Medicare-aged patients. Around 0.7 percent of the patients were outpatient while another 6 percent were short stay; the remaining 93 percent of patients had inpatient procedures.

Study authors found:

1. The patients who underwent short-stay procedures reported fewer complications than the outpatient and inpatient groups; 2 percent of the short-stay group had complications, compared with 8 percent of the inpatient and outpatient procedures.

2. The independent risk factors for complications included:

  • Inpatient stays for female patients
  • General anesthesia
  • Diabetes mellitus
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  • Hypertension
  • Kidney disease
  • BMI over 35
  • Age older than 75 years old

3. Study authors concluded total knee replacements for the Medicare population can be performed safely in the outpatient setting.

4. The 23-hour stay setting could be the "sweet spot" for the Medicare population, according to the study authors.

More articles on outpatient orthopedics:

Ohio orthopedic practice launches same-day appointments, walk-ins: 4 key notes

10 states with the highest average orthopedic case volume per ASC

Seaside Surgery Center posts package pricing for orthopedic surgeries: 5 key points

 

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