Same-day outpatient knee replacement is changing the way we treat patients with joint pain. Here’s what you should know.
In the last decade, a growing number of orthopaedic surgeries have started moving from the hospital setting to outpatient surgery centers. Surgeries that previously required a multi-day stay in the hospital can now be done as same-day outpatient surgeries.
The opportunity to perform knee replacement surgery in an outpatient setting is revolutionizing the field of joint replacement. From 2012 to 2015, there was a 47% increase in outpatient hip and knee replacement procedures.
Same-day outpatient surgery comes with a lower risk of complications, and the vast majority of patients prefer to recover in the comfort of their own homes. Reduced cost is another reason why patients prefer to have knee replacement done in an outpatient setting.
At my practice, the goal is for all of my patients under age 70 to go home on the same day as their surgery. Approximately 40% of the patients I see who need knee replacement surgery are under the age of 65, and these are the patients I would most like to see having their same-day knee replacement done in an outpatient surgery center.
Factors I consider when determining which patients are good candidates for same-day outpatient knee replacement surgery include:
Age: In order to be considered good candidates for same-day knee replacement surgery, patients should be under the age of 70. To have same-day knee replacement surgery performed in an outpatient surgery center, patients need to be 65 or under. The literature shows that patients over the age of 70 have a higher risk of readmission after surgery, which is why I prefer to have most of my patients in that age group stay in the hospital for one night after knee replacement surgery.
Health: Regardless of age, patients need to be in good overall health to be considered candidates for same-day outpatient knee replacement surgery. Patients who have sleep apnea, uncontrolled diabetes, and those with a history of heart attack should not have knee replacement done in an outpatient setting.
Help at Home: Home support is key after knee replacement surgery, particularly when the surgery is done in an outpatient setting. A spouse, relative, or close friend needs to be present during the night after surgery. I ask my patients to have a loved one around for the first seven days after surgery, as home support is a critical component to achieving successful outcomes.
Same-day outpatient knee replacement gets patients back into their own homes more quickly, and it also comes along with reduced costs.
In Redding, I perform same-day outpatient surgery at Apogee Surgery Center on West Street. I can also perform same-day knee replacement in a hospital setting, at either Shasta Regional Medical Center or Mercy Medical Center.
Contact my office at (530) 246-2467 to learn more about same-day outpatient knee replacement and to see if you may be a candidate.