Aims. Due to widespread cancellations in elective orthopaedic procedures, the number of patients on waiting list for surgery is rising. We aim to determine and quantify if disparities exist between inpatient and day-case orthopaedic waiting list numbers; we also aim to determine if there is a ‘hidden burden’ that already exists due to reductions in elective secondary care referrals. Methods. Retrospective data were collected between 1 April 2020 and 31 December 2020 and compared with the same nine-month period the previous year. Data collected included surgeries performed (day-case vs inpatient), number of patients currently on the orthopaedic waiting list (day-case vs inpatient), and number of new patient referrals from primary care and therapy services. Results. There was a 52.8% reduction in our elective surgical workload in 2020. The majority of surgeries performed in 2020 were day case surgeries (739; 86.6%) with 47.2% of these performed in the independent sector on a ‘lift and shift’ service. The total number of patients on our waiting lists has risen by 30.1% in just 12 months. As we have been restricted in performing inpatient surgery, the inpatient waiting lists have risen by 73.2%, compared to a 1.6% rise in our day-case waiting list. New patient referral from primary care and therapy services have reduced from 3,357 in 2019 to 1,722 in 2020 (49.7% reduction). Conclusion. This study further exposes the increasing number of patients on orthopaedic waiting lists. We observed disparities between inpatient and day-case waiting lists, with dramatic increases in the number of inpatients on the waiting lists. The number of new patient referrals has decreased, and we predict an influx of referrals as the pandemic eases, further adding to the pressure on inpatient waiting lists. Robust planning and allocation of adequate resources is essential to deal with this backlog. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2021;2(7):530–534

Abstract. Objectives. The purpose of this study was to determine the cost of inpatient admissions for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) at a UK tertiary referral centre, and identify any association between newborn screening (NIPE) status and the cost of treatment. Methods. This was a retrospective study, using hospital episodes data from a single NHS trust. All inpatient episodes between 01/01/2014 to 30/06/2019 with an ICD-10 code stem of Q65 ‘congenital deformities of hip’ were screened to identify admissions for management of DDH. Data was subsequently obtained from electronic and paper records. Newborn screening status was recorded, and patients were divided into ‘NIPE-positive’ (diagnosed through selective screening) and ‘NIPE-negative’ (not diagnosed through screening). Children with neuromuscular conditions or concomitant musculoskeletal disease were excluded. The tariff paid for each inpatient episode was identified, and the number of individual clinic attendances, surgical procedures and radiological examinations performed (USS, XR, CT, MRI) were recorded. Results. 41 patients with DDH were admitted for inpatient management. 44% (n = 18) were NIPE-positive, diagnosed mean age 6.7 weeks. 56% (n = 23) were NIPE-negative, diagnosed mean age 26 months. The total cost of inpatient care in the NIPE-positive group was £171,471 (£9,526.18 per-patient) compared to £306,615 (£13,331.10 per-patient) for NIPE-negative. In the NIPE-positive group, there were 99 clinic attendances, 47 inpatient admissions and 160 radiological examinations performed (36 USS, 107 XR, 17 CT). This compared to 148 clinic attendances, 59 inpatient admissions and 215 radiological examinations (187 XR, 26 CT, 2 MRI) in the NIPE-negative group. Conclusion. A greater proportion of inpatient admissions for DDH are among NIPE-negative children. They incur a higher cost of treatment per patient and necessitate more inpatient resources. This study adds to the ongoing conversation around the cost-effectiveness of selective screening for DDH in the UK. Declaration of Interest. (b) declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research reported:I declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research project

Aims. Currently, there is no single, comprehensive national guideline for analgesic strategies for total joint replacement. We compared inpatient and outpatient opioid requirements following total hip arthroplasty (THA) versus total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in order to determine risk factors for increased inpatient and outpatient opioid requirements following total hip or knee arthroplasty. Methods. Outcomes after 92 primary total knee (n = 49) and hip (n = 43) arthroplasties were analyzed. Patients with repeat surgery within 90 days were excluded. Opioid use was recorded while inpatient and 90 days postoperatively. Outcomes included total opioid use, refills, use beyond 90 days, and unplanned clinical encounters for uncontrolled pain. Multivariate modelling determined the effect of surgery, regional nerve block (RNB) or neuraxial anesthesia (NA), and non-opioid medications after adjusting for demographics, ength of stay, and baseline opioid use. Results. TKAs had higher daily inpatient opioid use than THAs (in 5 mg oxycodone pill equivalents: median 12.0 vs 7.0; p < 0.001), and greater 90 day use (median 224.0 vs 100.5; p < 0.001). Opioid refills were more likely in TKA (84% vs 33%; p < 0.001). Patient who underwent TKA had higher independent risk of opioid use beyond 90 days than THA (adjusted OR 7.64; 95% SE 1.23 to 47.5; p = 0.01). Inpatient opioid use 24 hours before discharge was the strongest independent predictor of 90-day opioid use (p < 0.001). Surgical procedure, demographics, and baseline opioid use have greater influence on in/outpatient opioid demand than RNB, NA, or non-opioid analgesics. Conclusion. Opioid use following TKA and THA is most strongly predicted by surgical and patient factors. TKA was associated with higher postoperative opioid requirements than THA. RNB and NA did not diminish total inpatient or 90-day postoperative opioid consumption. The use of acetaminophen, gabapentin, or NSAIDs did not significantly alter inpatient opioid requirements. Cite this article: Bone Joint Open 2020;1-7:398–404

Most hip replacements are performed in an in-patient setting; however, there has been a shift in recent years in Canada towards doing more on an outpatient basis. In 2021–2022, 15.6% of hip replacements were performed as day surgeries compared to 0.7% in 2018–2019. This analysis will assess patient reported outcome measures of patients who had inpatient versus outpatient hip replacement surgery between 2018 and 2021. We analysed a retrospective sample of 4917 adult patients who had an elective primary unilateral hip replacement. Preoperative and three-month postoperative PROMs were completed - the Oxford Hip Score, EQD5L and patient satisfaction with the outcome were recorded. Patients who had an outpatient procedure were matched 1:1 with patients who are admitted to hospital for surgery based on age, sex and pre-COVID versus the COVID (March 15, 2020 as the start). Preoperative PROMs and Charlson Comorbidity Index were collected. T-tests and chi-square tests were used to assess the differences. The inpatient group on average was older, female and had a lower preoperative PROMs score and more comorbidities than the outpatient group. With cohort matching the sample consisted of 1244 patients. The inpatient and outpatient groups have similar Oxford scores, postoperative EQ-5D-5L scores and the proportion satisfied with their surgical results. The Oxford postoperative score was slightly higher in the outpatient group compared to the inpatient group; however, this is not clinically significant. We observed that outpatient protocols have no difference in patient satisfaction, self-reported functional outcomes and self-reported health-related quality of life three months after a hip replacement. Day surgery protocols represented potential solution to the challenges caused by the expected increase in demand for hip replacements. Our results demonstrated that patients do well clinically with day surgery procedures and there does not appear to be any detrimental effect on PROMs

Introduction. The proportion of arthroplasties performed in the ambulatory setting has increased substantially. However, concerns remain regarding whether same-day discharge may increase the risk of complications. The purpose of this study was to compare 90-day outcomes between inpatients and patients having surgery at an ambulatory surgery center (ASC). Methods. Among a single-surgeon cohort of 721 patients who underwent arthroplasty at a free-standing ASC, 611 (84.7%) were matched one-to-one to inpatients based on age, gender, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, and Body Mass Index (110 patients could not be adequately matched). The cohort included 208 total hip arthroplasties (34.0%), 196 total knee arthroplasties (32.1%), 178 unicompartmental knee arthroplasties (29.1%), 25 hip resurfacings (4.1%), two revision hip arthroplasties (0.3%) and two revision knee arthroplasties (0.3%). Post-operative outcomes including readmissions, reoperations, unplanned clinic visits, emergency department visits, and complications were compared. Complications were classified as either major (i.e. death, periprosthetic joint infection, pulmonary embolism) or as minor (i.e. delayed wound healing, rashes, urinary retention). Results. The inpatient and outpatient groups were similar in all demographic variables, reflecting successful matching. The rates of any complications (4.1% outpatient vs. 5.1% inpatient, p=0.41), minor complications (2.6% vs. 3.4%; p=0.40), readmissions (1.6% vs. 2.0%; p= 0.67), reoperations (0.7% vs. 1.1%; p=0.36), and unplanned clinic visits (5.4% vs 6.7%; p=0.34) were all lower amongst the outpatient group but did not reach significance with the sample size studied. The rate of major complications was the same in both groups (1.6% for both; p=1.0) while patients who underwent surgery at an ASC had significantly fewer emergency department visits (1.0% vs. 3.1%; p=0.009). Conclusions. Arthroplasty performed in the ambulatory setting appears to be safe in properly selected patients. However, this finding may be partly due to selection bias and intangible characteristics that were not adequately controlled for through matching

Introduction. The proportion of arthroplasties performed in the ambulatory setting has increased substantially. However, concerns remain regarding whether same-day discharge may increase the risk of complications. The purpose of this study was to compare 90-day outcomes between inpatients and patients having surgery at an ambulatory surgery center (ASC). Methods. Among a single-surgeon cohort of 721 patients who underwent arthroplasty at a free-standing ASC, 611 (84.7%) were matched one-to-one to inpatients based on age, gender, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, and Body Mass Index (110 patients could not be adequately matched). The cohort included 208 total hip arthroplasties (34.0%), 196 total knee arthroplasties (32.1%), 178 unicompartmental knee arthroplasties (29.1%), 25 hip resurfacings (4.1%), two revision hip arthroplasties (0.3%) and two revision knee arthroplasties (0.3%). Post-operative outcomes including readmissions, reoperations, unplanned clinic visits, emergency department visits, and complications were compared. Complications were classified as either major (i.e. death, periprosthetic joint infection, pulmonary embolism) or as minor (i.e. delayed wound healing, rashes, urinary retention). Results. The inpatient and outpatient groups were similar in all demographic variables, reflecting successful matching. The rates of any complications (4.1% outpatient vs. 5.1% inpatient, p=0.41), minor complications (2.6% vs. 3.4%; p=0.40), readmissions (1.6% vs. 2.0%; p= 0.67), reoperations (0.7% vs. 1.1%; p=0.36), and unplanned clinic visits (5.4% vs 6.7%; p=0.34) were all lower amongst the outpatient group but did not reach significance with the sample size studied. The rate of major complications was the same in both groups (1.6% for both; p=1.0) while patients who underwent surgery at an ASC had significantly fewer emergency department visits (1.0% vs. 3.1%; p=0.009). Conclusions. Arthroplasty performed in the ambulatory setting appears to be safe in properly selected patients. However, this finding may be partly due to selection bias and intangible characteristics that were not adequately controlled for through matching

Introduction. Outpatient total joint arthroplasty (TJA) is emerging as a viable alternative to the historically accepted hospital based inpatient TJA in the United States. Several studies have focused on the financial advantages of outpatient TJA, however little research has discussed patient reported outcome measures (PROM) and the overall patient experience. This is a retrospective comparison of PROM data in patients undergoing outpatient vs. inpatient total hip arthroplasty (THA). Methods. An internal quality metric database analysis was performed on patients undergoing THA between 2/14/14 to 5/1/2015. Outpatients underwent THA at a newly opened ambulatory surgery center. Inpatients underwent THA in a hospital setting. Ninety-six outpatients and 152 inpatients between the ages of 29–65 years old were included. The Oxford Hip, VAS Pain, and Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaires were completed pre-operatively, and at 3- and 6-months post-op. The Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire asked 8 questions including “how well did the surgery on your joint increase your ability to perform regular activities?” Patients chose from poor, fair, good, very good, and excellent. Chi-squared analyses determined differences in percentages between outpatient and inpatient PROM. Independent samples t-tests determined significant improvements between pre-op and 3 month post-op PROM scores. Results. Outpatients reported significantly greater improvements in functionality at 3 months post-operatively compared to inpatients (20.9 vs. 17.0 raw score improvement) as assessed using the Oxford Hip Score Questionnaire. Thus, outpatients showed a 23% greater improvement compared to inpatients. This was statistically significant (p<0.01). Outpatients showed a significantly higher improvement in VAS pain score compared to inpatients (84.5% vs. 66.2%, p<0.01) at 3 months post-op. Outpatients reported a significantly higher score (on a 100 point scale) when rating how normal their joint felt (85.0 vs. 76.8, p=.022) at 3 months post-op. A significantly higher percentage of outpatients reported their pain relief as “excellent” compared to inpatients (71.7% vs. 56.3%, p<0.01) at 3 months post-op. A significantly higher percentage of outpatients reported their ability to perform regular activities as “excellent” compared to inpatients (57.7% vs. 30.6%, p=.002) at 3 months post-op. A significantly higher percentage of outpatients reported their ability to perform regular activities as “very good-to-excellent” compared to inpatients (82.7% vs. 65.9%, p=.033) at 3 months post-op. A significantly higher percentage of outpatients reported that they “definitely would” have surgery again compared to inpatients (84.6% vs. 69.4%, p=.046) at 3 months post-op. Conclusion. Significantly greater PROM and VAS pain score improvements were reported by outpatient THA patients vs. inpatient THA patients of similar age between the pre-operative time point and 3-months post-op. Outpatient THA patients report a greater improvement on the Oxford Hip Score scale, VAS pain score, THA normal joint, and THA satisfaction questionnaire. The implementation of outpatient THA procedures shows greater overall patient satisfaction and improvement 3 months post-operation. This study demonstrates our initial experience with outpatient THA. The results have met and/or exceeded the inpatient experience with regards to patient reported outcomes measures

Aims. Delirium is associated with adverse outcomes following hip fracture, but the prevalence and significance of delirium for the prognosis and ongoing rehabilitation needs of patients admitted from home is less well studied. Here, we analyzed relationships between delirium in patients admitted from home with 1) mortality; 2) total length of hospital stay; 3) need for post-acute inpatient rehabilitation; and 4) hospital readmission within 180 days. Methods. This observational study used routine clinical data in a consecutive sample of hip fracture patients aged ≥ 50 years admitted to a single large trauma centre during the COVID-19 pandemic between 1 March 2020 and 30 November 2021. Delirium was prospectively assessed as part of routine care by the 4 A’s Test (4AT), with most assessments performed in the emergency department. Associations were determined using logistic regression adjusted for age, sex, Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation quintile, COVID-19 infection within 30 days, and American Society of Anesthesiologists grade. Results. A total of 1,821 patients were admitted, with 1,383 (mean age 79.5 years; 72.1% female) directly from home. Overall, 87 patients (4.8%) were excluded due to missing 4AT scores. Delirium prevalence in the whole cohort was 26.5% (460/1,734): 14.1% (189/1,340) in the subgroup of patients admitted from home, and 68.8% (271/394) in the remaining patients (comprising care home residents and inpatients when fracture occurred). In patients admitted from home, delirium was associated with a 20-day longer total length of stay (p < 0.001). In multivariable analyses, delirium was associated with higher mortality at 180 days (odds ratio (OR) 1.69 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.13 to 2.54); p = 0.013), requirement for post-acute inpatient rehabilitation (OR 2.80 (95% CI 1.97 to 3.96); p < 0.001), and readmission to hospital within 180 days (OR 1.79 (95% CI 1.02 to 3.15); p = 0.041). Conclusion. Delirium affects one in seven patients with a hip fracture admitted directly from home, and is associated with adverse outcomes in these patients. Delirium assessment and effective management should be a mandatory part of standard hip fracture care. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2023;4(6):447–456

Introduction. Outpatient total joint arthroplasty (TJA) is emerging as a viable alternative to the historically accepted hospital-based inpatient TJA in the United States. Several studies have focused on the financial advantages of outpatient TJA, however little research has discussed patient reported outcome measures (PROM) and the overall patient experience. The purpose of this study is to compare PROM data in patients undergoing outpatient vs. inpatient total knee arthroplasty (TKA) performed in the first year of a newly opened outpatient facility. Methods. An internal quality metric database analysis was performed on patients undergoing TKA between 2/14/14 and 5/1/2015. Outpatient TKA was performed at an ambulatory surgery center. Three-hundred and forty-three TKA patients (both inpatient and outpatient) between the ages of 37–65 years old were included. The Oxford Hip, VAS Pain, and Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaires were completed pre-operatively, and at 3- and 6-months post-op. The Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire asks 8 questions including “how well did the surgery on your joint increase your ability to perform regular activities?” Patients chose from poor, fair, good, very good, and excellent. Chi-squared analyses determined differences in percentages between outpatient and inpatient PROM. Independent samples t-tests determined significant improvements between pre-op and 6 month post-op PROM scores. Results. Outpatients showed a significantly higher improvement in VAS pain score at 6 months compared to inpatients (74.5% vs. 61.6%, p<0.01). Outpatients rated their pain relief as “very good-to-excellent” significantly higher than inpatients (90.0% vs. 74.0%, p=.020) at 6 months post-op. Outpatients rated their ability to perform regular activities as “very good-to-excellent” more frequently as inpatients (82.0% vs. 59.3%, p=.004) at 6 months post-op. This difference was significant. A significantly higher percentage of outpatients reported “very good-to-excellent” meeting of expectations compared to inpatients (82.0% vs. 63.4%, p=.017) at 6 months post-op. No statistical difference was found between outpatients and inpatients in terms of Oxford Knee (function) scores at 6 months post-op. No statistical differences between the inpatient and outpatient groups were noted at the 3 month post-op time point. Conclusion. Significantly greater improvement was reported by outpatient TKA patients vs. inpatient TKA patients at six months post-op. Outpatients report a greater improvement on the VAS Pain score, and report a higher frequency of top-box ratings on the TKA normal joint and TKA satisfaction questionnaires. The implementation of outpatient TKA procedures shows greater overall patient satisfaction and improvement 6 months post-operation. This study illustrates that a de novo outpatient TJA pathway and facility can be successfully implemented with very high levels of patient satisfaction and patient reported success

Closed ankle fractures have been reported to account for 10% off all fractures presenting to the Emergency Department. Many of these injuries require acute surgical management either via direct admission or through defined outpatient surgical pathways. While both methods have been shown to be safe, few studies have examined the cost effectiveness of each clinical scenario. The purpose of this study is to compare cost and resource utilization associated with inpatient and outpatient ankle fracture surgery at a Canadian academic institution. This is a retrospective chart review of patients who underwent acute ankle fracture surgery at London Health Sciences Centre between 2016 and 2018. Thirty patients who underwent inpatient ankle surgery for closed, isolated ankle fractures at University Hospital were compared to 30 consecutive patients who underwent outpatient ankle surgery for similar fractures at Victoria hospital. Data pertaining to age at time of surgery, sex, BMI, fracture type, operating/recovery room time, and length of hospital stay were collected. All emergency room visits, readmissions and complications within 30 days of surgery were also recorded. Inpatient and outpatient cohorts were similar with respect to average age (48 vs. 44, P=0.326) and body mass index (29.8 vs. 29.1, P=0.741). There was a greater proportion of patients with an American Society of Anesthesia (ASA) Classification of 3 or greater in the inpatient surgery group (48% vs. 23%). The inpatient group spent an average of 1.2 days in hospital while waiting for surgery and a average of 72 hours in hospital for their entire surgical encounter. The outpatient group spent an average of eight days (at home) waiting for surgery while spending an average of 7.4 hours in hospital during their entire surgical encounter. Outpatient ankle fracture surgery was associated with a cost savings of 35.9% in comparison to inpatient ankle fracture surgery (P < 0 .001). There were no significant differences in the rates of emergency room visits, readmissions, or complications between cohorts. Preliminary findings suggest that outpatient ankle fracture surgery is appropriate for most patients, requires less hospital resources and is associated with similar rates of readmission and complications as inpatient surgery. An established outpatient surgical pathway may offer significant cost savings in the treatment of the common closed ankle fracture that requires surgical intervention

Background. Inpatient dislocation after total hip arthroplasty (THA) is considered a non-reimbursable “never event” by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. There is extensive evidence that technical procedural factors affect dislocation risk, but less is known about the influence of non-technical factors. We evaluated inpatient dislocation trends following elective primary THA, and identified patient and hospital characteristics associated with the occurrence of dislocation. Methods. We used discharge records from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2002–2011). Temporal trends were assessed and multivariable logistic regression modeling was used to identify factors associated with dislocation. Results. The in-hospital dislocation rate increased from 0.025% in 2002 to 0.15% in 2011, despite a downward trend in length of stay (P<0.001). Patient characteristics associated with the occurrence of dislocation were black or Hispanic race/ethnicity, lower household income, and Medicaid insurance. Comorbidities associated with dislocation included hemiparesis/hemiplegia, drug use disorder, chronic renal failure, psychosis, and obesity. Dislocations were less likely to occur at teaching hospitals and in the South. Conclusion. The in-hospital dislocation rate following elective primary THA is increasing, in spite of shorter stays and surgical advances over time. Given the sociodemographic disparities in dislocation risk documented herein, interventions to address social determinants of health might do as much or more to reduce the occurrence of dislocation than technical improvements

Whilst total hip replacement (THR) is generally safe and effective, pre-existing medical conditions, particularly those requiring inpatient admission, may increase the risk of post-operative mortality. Delaying elective surgery may reduce the risk, but it is unclear how long a delay is sufficient. We analysed 958,145 primary THRs performed for solely osteoarthritis April 2003-December 2018, in the NJR linked to Hospital Episodes Statistics to identify inpatient admissions prior to elective THR for 17 conditions making up the Charlson index including myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, cerebrovascular disease and diabetes. Crude analyses used Kaplan-Meier and adjusted analyses used Cox modelling. Patients were categorised for each co-morbidity into one of four groups: not recorded in previous five-years, recorded between five-years and six-months before THR, recorded six-months to three-months before THR, and recorded between three-months and day before surgery. 90-day mortality was 0.34% (95%CI: 0.33–0.35). In the 432 patients who had an acute MI in the three months before THR, this figure increased to 18.1% (95%CI 14.8, 22.0). Cox models observed 63 times increased hazard of death within 90-days if patients had an acute MI in the 3-months before their THR, compared to patients who had not had an MI in the five years before their THR (HR 63.6 (95%CI 50.8, 79.7)) This association reduced as the time between acute MI and THR increased. For congestive cardiac failure, the hazard in the same scenario was 18-times higher with a similar protective effect of delaying surgery. Linked NJR and HES data demonstrate an association between inpatient admission for acute medical co-morbidities and death within 90-days of THR. This association is greatest in MI, congestive cardiac failure and cerebrovascular disease with smaller associations observed in several other conditions including diabetes. The hazard reduces when longer delays are seen between the admission for acute medical conditions and THR in all diagnoses. This information will help patients with previous medical admissions and surgeons to determine optimal timing for surgery

Introduction. In November 2017, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized the 2018 Medicare Outpatient Prospective Payment System rule that removed total knee arthroplasty (TKA) procedures from the Medicare inpatient-only (IPO) list of procedures. This action had significant and unexpected consequences. For several years, CMS has utilized a rule called the “Two-Midnight Rule” to define outpatient status for all procedures not on the IPO list. CMS made TKA subject to the “Two-Midnight Rule” in conjunction with the decision to move TKA off the IPO list. According to the “Two-Midnight Rule,” a hospital admission should be expected to span at least two midnights in order to be covered as an inpatient procedure. If it can be reliably expected that the patient will not require at least two midnights in the hospital, the “Two-Midnight Rule” suggests that the patient is considered an outpatient and is therefore subject to outpatient payment policies. Under prior guidance related to the “Two-Midnight Rule;” however, CMS also states that Medicare may treat some admissions spanning less than two midnights as inpatient procedures if the patient record contains documentation of medical need. The final rule was clear in stating CMS's expectation was that the great majority of TKAs would continue to be provided in an inpatient setting. Methods. We looked at 3 different levels of the IPO rule impact on TKA for Medicare beneficiaries: a national comparison of fee for service (FFS) inpatient and outpatient classification for 2017 vs 2018; a survey of AAHKS surgeons completed in April of 2019; and an in-depth analysis of a large academic medical center experience. An analysis of change in inpatient classification of TKA patients over time, number of Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) audits, compliance solutions of organizations for the new rule and cost implications of those compliance solutions were evaluated. Results. Hospital reimbursement averages $10,122 in an outpatient facility (includes implant, other supplies, ancillary staff, etc.) but does NOT include the physician payment. Average hospital reimbursement in the inpatient setting is $11,760. The difference in reimbursement to hospitals varies widely however due to nuances in the CMS reimbursement formula (90. th. percentile decrease, $6,725 vs 10th percentile $2,048). Physician payments are the same in both settings (avg $1,403). TKA patients not designated for in-patient admissions are not eligible for bundle payment programs thus removing the healthiest, most predictable patients from the program. Patients designated as outpatients are subject to higher out of pocket expenses. Patients may have an annual Medicare Part B Deductible ($185) and a 20% copay as well as prescription and durable medical equipment costs. A survey of AAHKS surgeons demonstrated that 44.74% were doing inpatient designation only, 17.89% were doing outpatient designation only, 25.53 % designated patients as necessary, and 10% were designated by the hospital. This survey showed that 66/374 (17.65%) of AAHKS responders had undergone a QIO audit as a result of issues with the IPO rule. An evaluation of a large academic medical center demonstrated that since January 1, 2018, 470/690 (68.1%) of CMS TKA patients left the institution in less than 2 midnights. During this time period the institution was subjected to 2 QIO audits. All CMS patients had been designated as inpatients prior to May 2019. Conclusions. There are many unintended consequences to the IPO rule application to TKA. Clearly, more study is needed to provide better guidelines to knee replacement surgeons. A well-defined outpatient TKA bundle would allow CMS and TKA surgeons to better serve their patients. For figures, tables, or references, please contact authors directly

Summary. Narcotic administration within the inpatient setting is highly variable any may benefit from the implementation of standardized multi-modal pain management protocols. Introduction. Total joint arthroplasty (TJA) candidates have historically received high doses of opioids within the perioperative period for the management of surgical pain. Healthcare systems have responded by improving opioid prescribing documentation and implementing narcotic-sparing pain protocols into TJA integrate care pathways (ICP). Despite these efforts, there are few technological platforms designed to curtail excessive inpatient narcotic administration. Here we present an early iteration of an inpatient narcotic administration reporting tool which normalizes patient narcotic consumption as an average daily morphine milligram equivalence (MME) per surgical encounter (MME/day/encounter) among total hip arthroplasty (THA) recipients. This information may help orthopaedic surgeons visualize their individual granular inpatient narcotic prescribing habits individually and compared to other surgeons, while taking into consideration patient and procedure specific variables. Material and Methods. A query of our electronic data warehouse, was performed for patients undergoing elective primary THA between January 1, 2016 to April 30, 2017. Patient demographics; inpatient and surgical factors; and inpatient narcotic administration were retrieved. Narcotic type, route and dose were converted into total Morphine Milligram Equivalences (MMEs;) on a patient encounter basis (MME/day/encounter). MME/day/encounter were subsequently used determine mean and variance of narcotics prescribed by healthcare providers. A secondary analysis of regional distribution of inpatient narcotic consumption was determined by patient's zip codes. Results. In total, 4020 primary THAs were included. The institutional average narcotic dose administered for a single surgical encounter was 24.44±52.09 MME/day/encounter. Average surgeon narcotic prescribing ranged from 13.02 to 40.70 MME/day/encounter. Similarly, intra-surgeon variability of narcotic prescribing habits varied from ±21.24 to ±91.94 MME/day/encounter. Further evaluation of patient breakdown did not demonstrate a trend towards increased narcotic administration or variability for surgeons when compared to patient race or insurance type. Moreover, regional distribution of narcotic administration appeared to visually correlate with median household income, whereby less affluent areas demonstrated increased MME/day/encounter. Discussion. Narcotic administration in the inpatient setting among orthopaedic surgeons at the same academic institution is highly variable as evidenced by the differences in mean MME/day/encounter. Although patient and operative characteristics may vary among THA recipients a more comprehensive understanding of narcotic prescribing patterns may enable healthcare organizations to develop multimodal pain management pathways tailored to the patient's needs

PURPOSE OF STUDY. We investigated the effect of weekend knee arthroplasty surgery on length of inpatient stay. METHODS. 341 consecutive patients undergoing primary total knee replacement were retrospectively identified. Of these 62 underwent surgery during the weekend. Length of inpatient stay, age, sex, pre-operative haemoglobin, ASA rating, and day of surgery were recorded. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine the effect of these preoperative factors on length of post-operative inpatient stay. RESULTS. The mean length of stay following primary knee replacement was 5.9 days, with a median 4 days (2-31). Multivariate analysis confirmed that age at operation, sex, pre-operative haemoglobin and ASA were predictive of length of stay following knee arthroplasty. The day of the operation was not predictive of length of post operative stay. DISCUSSION. The results from this study suggest age, sex, ASA and preoperative haemoglobin are predictive of inpatient hospital stay. This is consistent with previous published data. Day of surgery was not predictive of length of stay. Our results suggest that weekend knee arthroplasty surgery does not result in an increased length of inpatient stay

Purpose of the study and background. This audit report outlines a physiotherapy lead spinal triage program for inpatients in a private hospital. The reason to trial this model was proposed as a way to expedite the assessment of inpatients presenting with back pain and implement an appropriate and prompt management plan. Summary of the methods used and the results. An audit tool was developed to record the patient details and outcomes of referrals to the spinal triage program. Length of time between referral and triage was recorded as was the number of patients that went on to require a spinal surgeon consult and spinal intervention. A total of 75 patients were referred into Spinal Triage over a 7 month period. The majority of in patients referred for spinal consult within this private hospital setting were triaged solely by physiotherapy (56%) and a management plan decided on in conjunction with the spinal surgeon on call who could access any imaging remotely. Six patients (8%) involved in the triage program went on to have spinal surgical intervention. Conclusion. Results indicate that the majority of spinal consults at inpatient level do not proceed to require surgical intervention. These results support the model of using Physiotherapists to triage this patient group. I can confirm that this abstract has not previously been published in whole or substantial part nor has it been presented previously at a national meeting. Conflicts of interest: No conflicts of interest. Source of funding: No funding obtained

Significance: Since DRG-based Medicare payments to hospitals, length of stay (LOS) after Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) has declined dramatically. This reduction was accomplished in part by transferring patients to DRG-exempt rehabilitation units. Despite the regular use and expense of inpatient rehabilitation after TKA, there have been no prospective studies defining its efficacy. Purpose: Determine the impact of inpatient rehabilitation on TKA outcome. Methods: Prospective, observational, single surgeon, single facility design.Inclusion criteria:primary,cemented TKA for OA between 1998–1999. All postoperative and rehabilitative care dictated by clinical protocol. Subjects were evaluated pre-op, at 1,3 and 6 months post-op. Patient (demographics, comorbidities), psychological (depression, anxiety), surgical (implant type, fixation, alignment), resource utilization (LOS, outpatient/home PT visits, rehabilitation LOS), complications, functional (knee flexion, gait, assistive device, Knee Society Score (KSS)) and pain (visual analogue scale, medication use) data obtained. Principle outcomes were pain, knee flexion, function, KSS, number of PT visits. Results: 125 knees, 56 bilateral. No patient lost to follow-up. Mean age 66 years (36–85). At six months follow-up, postoperative KSS score was 164.4(94–200), flexion 114.3(80–130), VAS 18(SD 21). Patients discharged to rehabilitation had significantly lower preoperative KSS scores (89, SD30) than those discharged to home (104.6, SD24.4)p=035. There were no other differences between groups. Patients discharged directly to home had a greater knee flexion (p=005), walk farther (p=024), climb stairs easier (p=036), and utilized less home physical therapy (p=030) than patients discharged to rehabilitation. Conclusion: This study was unable to demonstrate a benefit of inpatient rehabilitation after TKA. However, patients transferred to inpatient rehabilitation were less functional before surgery than those discharged home. Further studies are needed to determine if these patients benefit from inpatient rehabilitation versus home care

Objectives. Aged trauma patients are at high risk for various comorbidities and loss of function following hip fracture. Consequently a multidisciplinary approach for the treatment of these patients has become more famous in order to maintain the patients” activity level and health status prior to trauma. This study evaluates the effect of a multidisciplinary inpatient rehabilitation on the short- and long-term functional status of geriatric patients following hip fracture surgery. Methods. A collective of 158 hip fracture patients (> 80 years) who underwent surgery were included in this study. An initial Barthel Index lower than 30 points was a criteria to exclude patients from this study. Two subgroups, depending on the availability of treatment spots at the rehabilitation center were made. No other item was used to discriminated between the groups. Group A (n=95) stayed an average of 21 days at an inpatient rehabilitation center specialized in geriatric patients. Group B (n=63) underwent the standard postoperative treatment. As main outcome parameter we used the Barthel Index, which was evaluated for every patient on the day of discharge and checkups after three, six and twelve months. Results. After three months, the average Barthel Index was 82,27 points for group A and 74,68 points for group B (p=0,015). In the six-months-checkup group A”s average Barthel Index was 84,05 points and group B”s was 74,76 points (p=0,004). After twelve months, patients from group A had an average Barthel Index of 81,05 while patients from group B had an average Barthel Index of 71,51 (p=0,010). Conclusion. This study reveals a significant better outcome in both, the short-term and the long-term functional status for geriatric hip-fracture patients, who underwent an inpatient treatment in a rehabilitation center following the initial surgical therapy. This is shown at the timepoints three, six and twelve month after discharge. To maintain quality of life and mobility as well as the patient”s independence in daily life, a treatment in a rehabilitation center specialized in geriatric patients is highly recommendable

INTRODUCTION. The benefits of combining enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) interventions with an outpatient THA/TKA program are uncertain. The primary objective was to compare adverse event rate and secondly to compare pain management, functional recovery, PROMs and patients' satisfaction. METHODS. We conducted an ambidirectional single subject cohort study on 48 consecutive patients who experienced both a standard-inpatient and an ERAS-outpatient THA/TKA (contralaterally). We compared complications according to Clavien-Dindo scale and Comprehensive Complications Index (CCI), and unplanned episodes of care. Postoperative pain assessed with a numeric rating scale, opioid consumption in morphine milligram equivalents, functional recovery, patient-reported outcome measures (WOMAC, KOOS, HOOS, Forgotten Joint Score and Patient Joint Perception) and patients' satisfaction were also evaluated. RESULTS. Following the ERAS-outpatient surgery, complication rates were reduced by more than 50% (2.1 vs 4.4, p<0.001), CCI was significantly lower (12.3 vs 19.1, p<0.001), and similar unplanned episodes of care were observed (p>0.999). In the first 8 postoperative hours, perceived pain was similar (p>0.805) while opioid consumption was significantly reduced with ERAS-outpatient care (9.3 vs 26.5 MME, p<0.001). Patients walked, climbed stairs, showered, performed activities of daily living, practised sports, went back to work sooner after ERAS-outpatient surgery (p<0.001), but PROMs were similar between groups at the last follow-up (p> 0.188). Patients were more satisfied with hospital stay, pain management, functional recovery, wound management, and overall experience of the ERAS-outpatient pathway and recommended it significantly more (p <0.002). DISCUSSION. Most studies comparing outpatient to inpatient programs conclude that outpatient surgeries did not increase complication or readmission rates, and, overall, were not inferior. We found that compared to std-inpatient practice, ERAS-outpatient program reduced complications by half while not resulting in more unplanned episodes of care. Moreover, it resulted in similar pain relief with fewer opioids, faster early functional recovery and higher satisfaction. Patients were significantly more inclined to recommend the ERAS-outpatient pathway after having personally experienced both outpatient and inpatient protocols. These finding are likely multifactorial and linked to the specific ERAS interventions. CONCLUSION. Results of this study highlight the importance of following ERAS principles when implementing an outpatient THA/TKA program

The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy of home based vs. inpatient rehabilitation following total joint arthroplasty (TJA). Primary outcome was the self-reported WOMAC pain and function score that was used to evaluate a stratified random sample of two hundred and thirty-two patients. Despite concerns about early hospital discharge there was no difference in functional outcomes at the primary endpoint (twelve weeks post TJA) between the group receiving home based vs. inpatient rehab. Given that home- based rehab is less expensive; we would recommend the use of home based rehab protocols following elective primary TJA. Home- based rehab is increasingly utilized to save costs but concerns have been raised about early hospital discharge and adverse clinical outcomes. The aim of this RCT was to compare the efficacy of home based vs. inpatient rehab following Total Joint Arthroplasty (TJA). Despite concerns about early hospital discharge there was no difference in functional outcomes twelve weeks post TJA between the group receiving home based vs. inpatient rehab. With no significant difference in functional outcomes, less expensive home based rehabilitation protocols are recommended following elective total joint arthroplasty. We randomized two hundred and thirty-two patients to either home based or inpatient rehab following TJA using block randomization techniques. All patients at a tertiary referral centre and large volume community hospital undergoing primary elective total hip or knee arthroplasty for osteoarthritis or inflammatory arthritis were eligible. Standardized care pathways were followed for both procedures. All patients were evaluated at baseline (two weeks prior to surgery) and twelve weeks post surgery using standardized questionnaires including history, physical exam, demographics and WOMAC pain and function (the primary endpoint). In total one hundred and fifteen received a total hip and one hundred and seventeen a total knee arthroplasty; there were eighty-five men and one hundred and forty-seven women with a mean age of sixty-seven (range thirty-eight to eighty-nine) years. The groups were similar at baseline for patient demographics and WOMAC scores. At follow-up (twelve weeks post TJA) there was no statistically significant difference in WOMAC scores