Outpatient vs. Inpatient Hip Arthroplasty: A Matched Case-Control Study on a 90-Day Complication Rate and 2-Year Patient-Reported Outcomes
Authors
Rosinsky PJ, Chen SL, Yelton MJ, Lall AC, Maldonado DR, Shapira J, Meghpara MB, Domb BG
DOI: 10.1186/s13018-020-01871-8
Background
With the rise of outpatient surgeries, it's important to evaluate whether outpatient total hip arthroplasty (oTHA) offers similar or better outcomes compared to traditional inpatient surgery (iTHA). This study compares the two approaches on factors like complications, pain, and long-term outcomes.
Methods
The study matched 100 patients who had outpatient THA with 100 patients who had inpatient THA based on key variables such as age, sex, and BMI. The outcomes were assessed at 2 years, including pain levels, hip function, and overall satisfaction.
Key Findings
Patients who had outpatient THA reported better functional outcomes at 2 years (higher mHHS and HHS scores, less pain).
The outpatient group had a significantly shorter hospital stay (6.8 hours vs. 43.2 hours for inpatient).
There were no significant differences in complications, emergency visits, or readmissions between the groups.
Conclusions
Outpatient THA can provide better functional outcomes and shorter recovery time compared to inpatient THA, with similar complication rates and no increase in readmissions or emergency visits.
What Does This Mean for Patients
If you're undergoing hip replacement surgery and are otherwise healthy, outpatient THA may offer faster recovery and improved functional outcomes, with no increase in the risk of complications compared to traditional inpatient surgery.