Patients are wary of outpatient total knee arthroplasty — 3 study findings

Patients may not feel safe undergoing total knee arthroplasty in the outpatient setting, according to research published in the Journal of Arthroplasty.

Researchers surveyed 346 patients who underwent unilateral primary total knee arthroplasty between March 1, 2017, and September 30, 2017. The patients were asked about their perceived suitability for outpatient knee replacement surgery, and their knowledge about the procedure and potential risks.

The key details to know:

1. Over 70 percent of patients didn't think they could undergo total knee arthroplasty in an outpatient setting.

2. Patients were concerned about pain, falling and going to the bathroom.

3. Researchers concluded, "Patients in this study largely would not feel safe undergoing total knee arthroplasty on an outpatient basis. Payers should not only take into account existing literature, but also the concerns and perceived needs of patients, before encouraging widespread implementation of outpatient total knee arthroplasty."

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