Aims. The proportion of arthroplasties performed in the ambulatory setting has increased considerably. However, there are concerns whether same-day discharge may increase the risk of complications. The aim of this study was to compare 90-day outcomes between inpatient arthroplasties and outpatient arthroplasties performed at an ambulatory surgery centre (ASC), and determine whether there is a learning curve associated with performing athroplasties in an ASC. Methods. Among a single-surgeon cohort of 970 patients who underwent arthroplasty at an ASC, 854 (88.0%) were matched one-to-one with inpatients based on age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade, BMI, and procedure (105 could not be adequately matched and 11 lacked 90-day follow-up). The cohort included 281 total hip arthroplasties (THAs) (32.9%), 267 unicompartmental knee arthroplasties (31.3%), 242 primary total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) (28.3%), 60 hip resurfacings (7.0%), two revision THAs (0.3%), and two revision TKAs (0.3%). Outcomes included readmissions, reoperations, visits to the emergency department, unplanned clinic visits, and complications. Results. The inpatient and outpatient groups were similar in all demographic variables, reflecting successful matching. The reoperation rate was 0.9% in both cohorts (p = 1.000). Rates of readmission (2.0% inpatient vs 1.6% outpatient), any complications (5.9% vs 5.6%), minor complications (4.2% vs 3.9%), visits to the emergency department (2.7% vs 1.4%), and unplanned clinic visits (5.7% vs 5.5%) were lower in the outpatient group but did not reach significance with the sample size studied. A learning curve may exist, as seen by significant reductions in the reoperation and overall complication rates among outpatient arthroplasties over time (p = 0.032 and p = 0.007, respectively), despite those in this group becoming significantly older and heavier (both p < 0.001) during the study period. Conclusion. Arthroplasties performed at ASCs appear to be safe in appropriately selected patients, but may be associated with a learning curve as shown by the significant decrease in complication and reoperation rates during the study period. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2021;103-B(7 Supple B):84–90

Aims. Recent improvements in surgical technique and perioperative blood management after total joint replacement (TJR) have decreased rates of transfusion. However, as many surgeons transition to outpatient TJR, obtaining routine postoperative blood tests becomes more challenging. Therefore, we sought to determine if a preoperative outpatient assessment tool that stratifies patients based on numerous medical comorbidities could predict who required postoperative haemoglobin (Hb) measurement. Methods. We performed a prospective study of consecutive unilateral primary total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) and total hip arthroplasties (THAs) performed at a single institution. Prospectively collected data included preoperative and postoperative Hb levels, need for blood transfusion, length of hospital stay, and Outpatient Arthroplasty Risk Assessment (OARA) score. Results. A total of 504 patients met inclusion criteria. Mean age at time of arthroplasty was 65.3 years (SD 10.2). Of the patients, 216 (42.9%) were THAs and 288 (57.1%) were TKAs. Six patients required a blood transfusion postoperatively (1.19%). Transfusion after surgery was associated with lower postoperative day 1 Hb (median of 8.5 (interquartile range (IQR) 7.9 to 8.6) vs 11.3 (IQR 10.4 to 12.2); p < 0.001), longer length of stay (1 day (IQR 1 to 1) vs 2 days (IQR 2 to 3); p < 0.001), higher OARA score (median of 60.0 (IQR 40 to 75) vs 5.0 (IQR 0-35); p = 0.001), and total hip arthroplasty (p < 0.001). All patients who received a transfusion had an OARA score > 34; however, this did not reach statistical significance as a screening threshold. Conclusion. Risk of blood transfusion after primary TJR was uncommon in our series, with an incidence of 1.19%. Transfusion was associated with OARA scores > 60. The OARA score, not American Society of Anesthesiologists grade, reliably identified patients at risk for postoperative blood transfusion. Selective Hb monitoring may result in substantial cost savings in the era of cost containment. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2021;103-B(1):65–70

Length of hospital stay has been decreased to the point where the next logical progression in arthroplasty surgery is outpatient arthroplasty procedures. This trend has already happened for procedures formerly regarded as “inpatient” procedures such as upper extremity surgery, arthroscopy, anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, foot and ankle procedures, and rotator cuff repair. Refinement of surgical techniques, anesthesia protocols, and patient selection has facilitated this transformation. Today, hip, knee and shoulder arthroplasty can be performed safely as outpatient procedures by implementing surgical and protocol refinements. Understanding and addressing, safely, the reasons that surgeons and patients believe they “need” a hospital admission is the cornerstone to outpatient arthroplasty. This program can be highly beneficial to patients, surgeons, anesthesia, ambulatory surgery centers, and payors as arthroplasty procedures shift to the outpatient space. It will always cost more to perform these procedures in hospitals therefore opening up significant opportunities. The less efficiently run hospital in-patient setting demands over-treatment of each patient to fit him or her into the mold of inpatient surgery. Patient satisfaction is very high in the outpatient setting. Patients can recover in their own home with reduced inpatient services and by utilizing outpatient physical therapy. The surgeon efficiently controls the local environment, and thus the overall patient experience and satisfaction are improved in the outpatient setting. The surgeon's role changes from commoditised technician in the hospital setting to coordinator of the entire care experience including pre-operative care, imaging, anesthesia, peri-operative care mapping, post-operative care, and enhanced coordination with therapy providers. An outpatient arthroplasty program involves multiple individuals and specialised protocols for pre-operative, peri-operative, and post-operative care. These include patient selection and education, anesthesia and analgesia, and minimally invasive surgical techniques. By implementing these protocols and a minimally invasive Watson-Jones approach, one study has reported 77% utilization of outpatient THA, 99% success with day of surgery discharge, and a 1% readmission or complication rate. Outpatient arthroplasty is safe, it's better for us and our patients, and it is here now. In an outpatient environment the surgeon actually spends more time with the patients and family in a friendly environment. Patients feel safe and well cared for, and are highly satisfied with their arthroplasty experience. In a typical day a surgeon can perform 6–8 outpatient arthroplasty procedures with multiple interactions with each patient and their family throughout the day. Avoidance of narcotics with peripheral and local blocks will increase the eligibility for outpatient surgery and decrease the need for overnight hospitalization. The singular focus on the patient and the avoidance of over-treatment will become the standard of care for total hip and total knee arthroplasty in much the same way as for other procedures once deemed “inpatient” surgeries

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic meant that proceeding with elective surgery was restricted to minimise exposure on the wards. In order to maintain throughput of elective cases, our hospital was forced to convert as many cases as possible to same day procedures rather than overnight admission. In this retrospective analysis we review the cases performed as same day arthroplasty surgeries compared to the same period 12 months previous. We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients undergoing total hip and knee arthroplasties in a three month period between October and December in 2019 and again in 2020, in the middle of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Patient demographics, number of out-patient primary arthroplasty cases, length of stay for admissions, 30-day readmission and complications were collated. In total, 428 patient charts were reviewed for the months of October-December of 2019 (n=195) and 2020 (n=233). Of those, total hip arthroplasties comprised 60% and 58.8% for 2019 and 2020, respectively. Demographic data was comparable with no statistical difference for age, gender contralateral joint replacement or BMI. ASA grade I was more highly prevalent in the 2020 cohort (5.1x increase, n=13 vs n=1). Degenerative disc disease and fibromyalgia were less significantly prevalent in the 2020 cohort. There was a significant increase in same day discharges for non-DAA THAs (2x increase) and TKA (10x increase), with a reciprocal decrease in next day discharges. There were significantly fewer reported superficial wound infections in 2020 (5.6% vs 1.7%) and no significant differences in readmissions or emergency department visits (3.1% vs 3.0%). The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic meant that hospitals and patients were hopeful to minimise the exposure to the wards and to not put strain on the already taxed in-patient beds. With few positives during the Coronavirus crisis, the pandemic was the catalyst to speed up the outpatient arthroplasty program that has resulted in our institution being more efficient and with no increase in readmissions or early complications

The coronavirus pandemic has reduced the capability of Canadian hospitals to offer elective orthopaedic surgery requiring admission, despite ongoing and increasing demands for elective total hip and total knee arthroplasty surgery (THA and TKA). We sought to determine if the coronavirus pandemic resulted in more outpatient THA and TKA in Nova Scotia, and if so, what effect increased outpatient surgery had on 90 day post-operative readmission or Emergency Department/Family Doctor (FD) visits. The study cohort was constructed from hospital Discharge Abstract Data (DAD), inpatient admissions, and National Ambulatory Care Reporting System (NACRS) data, day surgery observations, using Canadian Classification of Health Intervention codes to select all primary hip and knee procedures from 2005-2020 in Nova Scotia. Emergency Department and General Practitioner visits were identified from the Physician Billings data and re-admissions from the DAD and NACRS. Rates were calculated by dividing the number of cases with any visit within 90 days after discharge. Chi-squared statistics at 95% confidence level used to test for statistical significance. Knee and hip procedures were modelled separately. There was a reduction in THA and TKA surgery in Nova Scotia during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. Outpatient arthroplasty surgery in Nova Scotia in the years prior to 2020 were relatively stable. However, in 2020 there was a significant increase in the proportion and absolute number of outpatient THA and TKA. The proportion of THA increased from 1% in 2019 to 14% in 2020, while the proportion of TKA increased from 1% in 2019 to 11% in 2020. The absolute number of outpatient THA increased from 16 cases in 2019, to 163 cases in 2020. Outpatient TKA cases increased from 21 in 2019, to 173 in 2020. The increase in outpatient surgery resulted in an increase in 90 day presentations to ED following TKA but not THA which was not statistically significant. For outpatient THA and TKA, there was a decrease in 90 day readmissions, and a statistically significant decrease in FD presentations. Outpatient THA and TKA increased significantly in 2020, likely due to the restrictions imposed during the coronavirus pandemic on elective Orthopaedic surgery requiring admission to hospital. The increase in outpatient surgery resulted in an increase in 90 day presentations to ED for TKA, and a decrease in 90 day readmissions and FD presentations for THA and TKA. Reducing the inpatient surgical burden may result in a post-operative burden on ED, but does not appear to have caused an increase in hospital readmission rates

Aims. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic meant that proceeding with elective surgery was restricted to minimize exposure on wards. In order to maintain throughput of elective cases, our hospital (St Michaels Hospital, Toronto, Canada) was forced to convert as many cases as possible to same-day procedures rather than overnight admission. In this retrospective analysis, we review the cases performed as same-day arthroplasty surgeries compared to the same period in the previous 12 months. Methods. We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients undergoing total hip and knee arthroplasties over a three-month period between October and December in 2019, and again in 2020, in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Patient demographics, number of outpatient primary arthroplasty cases, length of stay for admissions, 30-day readmission, and complications were collated. Results. In total, 428 patient charts were reviewed for October to December of 2019 (n = 195) and 2020 (n = 233). Of those, total hip arthroplasties (THAs) comprised 60% and 58.8% for 2019 and 2020, respectively. Demographic data was comparable with no statistical difference for age, sex, contralateral joint arthroplasty, or BMI. American Society of Anesthesiologists grade I was more highly prevalent in the 2020 cohort (5.1-times increase; n = 13 vs n = 1). Degenerative disc disease and fibromyalgia were less significantly prevalent in the 2020 cohort. There was a significant increase in same day discharges for non-direct anterior approach THAs (two-times increase) and total knee arthroplasty (ten-times increase), with a reciprocal decrease in next day discharges. There were significantly fewer reported superficial wound infections in 2020 (5.6% vs 1.7%) and no significant differences in readmissions or emergency department visits (3.1% vs 3.0%). Conclusion. The COVID-19 pandemic meant that hospitals and patients were hopeful to minimize the exposure to the wards, and minimize strain on the already taxed inpatient beds. With few positives during the COVID-19 crisis, the pandemic was the catalyst to speed up the outpatient arthroplasty programme that has resulted in our institution being more efficient, and with no increase in readmissions or early complications. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2021;2(7):545–551

Over the past fifteen years, the average length of stay for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has gradually decreased from several days to overnight. The most logical and safest next step is outpatient arthroplasty. Through the era of so-called minimally invasive surgery, perhaps the most intriguing advancements are not related to the surgery itself, but instead the areas of rapid recovery techniques and perioperative protocols. Rapid recovery techniques and perioperative protocols have been refined to allow for same-day discharge with improved outcomes. As mentioned, the single most important outcome from the minimally invasive movement has been the multi-modal approach to pain management of patients undergoing arthroplasty. Along with blood loss management, using tranexamic acid and hypotensive anesthetic techniques, this multi-modal program is the most important variable in reducing or avoiding side-effects. In any arthroplasty procedure, side-effects that need to be addressed include the negative effects of narcotics and blood loss. Anesthetic techniques, utilizing local nerve blocks, such as the adductor canal block and sciatic blocks for knee arthroplasty augment intraoperative anesthesia and provide postoperative pain relief and quicker mobilization. Additionally, pericapsular injection with a cocktail of local anesthetic helps significantly with pain relief and recovery reducing the amount of oral narcotic utilised in the early postoperative period. Many have utilised liposomal bupivacaine in these cocktails to successfully increase the period of pain relief. The use of multi-modal perioperative protocols can help avoid narcotics and helps avoid the side-effects of nausea. We also utilise an aggressive prophylactic antiemetic program with dexamethasone, ondansetron and a scopolamine patch. Patients without any significant cardiovascular history are given celecoxib preoperatively, which is continued for approximately two weeks postoperatively. Immediately postoperative, acetaminophen and additional dexamethasone are administered intravenously. The multi-modal protocols to address fear, risk, and side-effects will increase the eligibility for outpatient surgery and decrease the need for overnight hospitalization. By focusing on the patient and avoiding over-treatment, outpatient arthroplasty is quickly becoming the standard of care for total hip replacement in the same way other procedures transitioned from hospital in-patient surgeries to ambulatory procedures

To progress to a same day surgery program for arthroplasty, it is important that we examine and resolve the issues of why patients stay in the hospital. The number one reason is fear and anxiety of the unknown and of surgical pain. The need for hospital stay is also related to risk arising from comorbidities and medical complications. Patients also need an extended stay to manage the side effects of our treatment, including after effects of narcotics and anaesthesia, blood loss, and surgical trauma. The process begins pre-operatively with an appropriate orthopaedic assessment of the patient and determination of the need for surgery. The orthopaedic team must motivate the patient, and ensure that the expectations of the patient, family and surgeon are aligned. In conjunction with our affiliated hospitalist group that performs almost all pre-admission testing, we have established guidelines for patient selection for outpatient arthroplasty. The outpatient surgical candidate must have failed conservative measures, must have appropriate insurance coverage, and must be functionally independent. Previous or ongoing comorbidities that cannot be optimised for safe outpatient care may include: congestive heart failure, or valve disease; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or home use of supplemental oxygen; untreated obstructive sleep apnea with a BMI >40 kg/m2; hemodialysis or severely elevated serum creatinine; anemia with hemoglobin <13.0 g/dl; cerebrovascular accident or history of delirium or dementia; and solid organ transplant. Pre-arthroplasty rehabilitation prepares the patient for peri-operative protocols. Patients meet with a physical therapist and are provided with extensive educational materials before surgery to learn the exercises they will need for functional recovery. Enhancement of our peri-operative pain management protocols has resulted in accelerated rehabilitation. The operative intervention must be smooth and efficient, but not hurried. Less invasive approaches and techniques have been shown to decrease pain, reduce length of stay, and improve outcomes, especially in the short term. Between June 2013 and December 2015, 1957 primary knee arthroplasty procedures (1010 total, 947 partial) were performed by the author and his 3 associates at an outpatient surgery center. Seven percent of patients required an overnight stay, with a majority for reasons of convenience related to travel distance or later operative time. Importantly, no one has required overnight stay for pain management. Outpatient arthroplasty is safe, it's better for us and our patients, and it is here now. In an outpatient environment the surgeon actually spends more time with the patients and family in a friendly environment. Patients feel safe and well cared for, and are highly satisfied with their arthroplasty experience

To progress to a same day surgery program for arthroplasty, it is important that we examine and resolve the issues of why patients stay in the hospital. The number one reason is fear and anxiety for the unknown and for surgical pain. The need for hospital stay is also related to risk arising from comorbidities and medical complications. Patients also need an extended stay to manage the side effects of our treatment, including after-effects of narcotics and anesthesia, blood loss, and surgical trauma. The process begins pre-operatively with an appropriate orthopaedic assessment of the patient and determination of the need for surgery. The orthopaedic team must motivate the patient, and ensure that the expectations of the patient, family and surgeon are aligned. In conjunction with our affiliated hospitalist group that performs almost all pre-admission testing, we have established guidelines for patient selection for outpatient arthroplasty. The outpatient surgical candidate must have failed conservative measures, must have appropriate insurance coverage, and must be functionally independent. Previous or ongoing comorbidities that contraindicate the outpatient setting include: cardiac – prior revascularization, congestive heart failure, or valve disease; pulmonary – chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or home use of supplemental oxygen; untreated obstructive sleep apnea – BMI >40 kg/m2; renal disease – hemodialysis or severely elevated serum creatinine; gastrointestinal – history or post-operative ileus or chronic hepatic disease; genitourinary – history of urinary retention or severe benign prostatic hyperplasia; hematologic – chronic Coumadin use, coagulopathy, anemia with hemoglobin <13.0 g/dl, or thrombophilia; neurological – history of cerebrovascular accident or history of delirium or dementia; solid organ transplant. Pre-arthroplasty rehabilitation prepares the patient for peri-operative protocols. Patients meet with a physical therapist and are provided with extensive educational materials before surgery to learn the exercises they will need for functional recovery. Enhancement of our peri-operative pain management protocols has resulted in accelerated rehabilitation. The operative intervention must be smooth and efficient, but not hurried. Less invasive approaches and techniques have been shown to decrease pain, reduce length of stay, and improve outcomes, especially in the short term. In 2014, 385 primary partial knee arthroplasty procedures (7 patellofemoral replacement, 13 lateral, and 365 medial) were performed by the author and his 3 associates at an outpatient surgery center. Of those, 348 (95%) went home the same day while 17 (5%) required an overnight stay, with 11 for convenience related to travel distance or later operative time and 6 for medical issues. Outpatient arthroplasty is safe, it's better for us and our patients, and it is here now. In an outpatient environment the surgeon actually spends more time with the patients and family in a friendly environment. Patients feel safe and well cared for, and are highly satisfied with their arthroplasty experience

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) continues moving to the outpatient arena, and may be feasible for some conversion and revision scenarios. Controversy surrounds appropriate patient selection. The purpose of this study is to report complications associated with outpatient revision and conversion THA, and to determine if comorbidities are associated with complications or overnight stay. From June 2013 through March 2018, 43 patients (44 hips) underwent conversion (n=9) or revision (n=35) THA at a free-standing ambulatory surgery center. Mean patient age was 58.4 years, and 52% of patients were male. Conversion procedures were failed fracture fixation with retained hardware and all involved both femoral and acetabular replacement. Revision procedures involved head only in one, head and liner in 20, cup and head in 8, stem only in one, stem and liner in 4, and full revision in one. Forty-one (93%) were discharged same day without incident, none required transfer to acute facility, and 3 required overnight stay with 2 of these for convenience and only one for a medical reason, urinary retention. Three patients with early superficial infection, including 2 diagnosed by positive intraoperative cultures, were successfully treated with oral antibiotics. There were no major complications, readmissions, or subsequent surgeries within 90 days. One or more major comorbidities were present in 15 patients (34%) including 1 valvular disease, 7 arrhythmia, 2 thromboembolism history, 3 obstructive sleep apnea, 3 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 2 asthma, 4 frequent urination, and 1 renal disease. The single patient who stayed overnight for a medical reason had no major medical comorbidities. Outpatient arthroplasty, including revision THA in some scenarios, is safe for many patients. Presence of medical comorbidities was not associated with risk of complications. The paradigm change of patient education, medical optimization, and a multimodal program to mitigate risk of blood loss and reduce need for narcotics facilitates performing arthroplasty safely in an outpatient setting

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) continues moving to the outpatient arena, and may be feasible for some conversion and revision scenarios. Controversy surrounds appropriate patient selection. The purpose of this study is to report complications associated with outpatient revision and conversion THA, and to determine if comorbidities are associated with complications or overnight stay. From June 2013 through March 2018, 43 patients (44 hips) underwent conversion (n=12) or revision (n=32) THA at a free-standing ambulatory surgery center. Mean patient age was 58.4 years, and 52% of patients were male. Conversion procedures were for failed resurfacing in two, failed hemiarthroplasty in one, and failed fracture fixation with retained hardware in 9. Revision procedures involved head only in one, head and liner in 20, cup and head in 7, stem only in 2, and stem and liner in 2. Forty-four (93%) were discharged same day without incident, none required transfer to acute facility, and 3 required overnight stay with 2 of these for convenience and only one for a medical reason, urinary retention. Three patients with early superficial infection were successfully treated with oral antibiotics. There were no major complications, readmissions, or subsequent surgeries within 90 days. One or more major comorbidities were present in 17 patients (39%) including 1 valvular disease, 8 arrhythmia, 2 thromboembolism history, 3 obstructive sleep apnea, 6 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 2 asthma, 4 frequent urination, and 1 renal disease. The single patient who stayed overnight for a medical reason had no major medical comorbidities. Outpatient arthroplasty, including revision THA in some scenarios, is safe for many patients. Presence of medical comorbidities was not associated with risk of complications. The paradigm change of patient education, medical optimization, and a multimodal program to mitigate risk of blood loss and reduce need for narcotics facilitates performing arthroplasty safely in an outpatient setting

Over the past fifteen years, the average length of stay for total hip (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has gradually decreased from several days to overnight. The most logical and safest next step is outpatient arthroplasty. Through the era of so-called minimally invasive surgery, perhaps the most intriguing advancements are not related to the surgery itself, but instead the areas of rapid recovery techniques and peri-operative protocols. Rapid recovery techniques and peri-operative protocols have been refined to allow for same-day discharge with improved outcomes. In addition to Rapid Recovery techniques for the clinical care of the outpatient, one critical component to same-day total knee arthroplasty is the efficient performance and simplicity of the procedure itself. Simplified instrumentation and elimination of modularity can provide that efficiency and simplicity. All polyethylene tibial components have been mostly supplanted by modular metal-backed designs in recent years. However, mounting evidence suggests that survivorship of TKA with an all-poly tibia is superior to TKA with metal-backed, modular designs in all age groups except younger than 55, in which survival is equal to a modular design. Furthermore, this survival advantage was unaffected by obesity. Combining these excellent clinical results with the efficiency of a non-modular component can add to the efficiency and simplicity of the surgical technique. Therefore, in outpatient total knee arthroplasty, the all-poly tibia truly represents the less is more mentality

Aims

In the last decade, perioperative advancements have expanded the use of outpatient primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Despite this, there remains limited data on expedited discharge after revision TKA. This study compared 30-day readmissions and reoperations in patients undergoing revision TKA with a hospital stay greater or less than 24 hours. The authors hypothesized that expedited discharge in select patients would not be associated with increased 30-day readmissions and reoperations.

Introduction. Technology in Orthopaedic surgery has become more widespread in the past 20 years, with emerging evidence of its benefits in arthroplasty. Although patients are aware of benefits of conventional joint replacement, little is known on patients' knowledge of the prevalence, benefits or drawbacks of surgery involving navigation or robotic systems. Materials & Methods. In an outpatient arthroplasty clinic, 100 consecutive patients were approached and given questionnaires to assess their knowledge of Navigation and Robotics in Orthopaedic surgery. Participation in the survey was voluntary. Results. 98 patients volunteered to participate in the survey, mean age 56.2 years (range 19–88; 52 female, 46 male). 40% of patients thought more than 30% of NHS Orthopaedic operations involved navigation or robotics; 80% believed this was the same level or less than the private sector. A third believed most of an operation could be performed independently by a robotic/navigation system. Amongst perceived benefits of navigation/robotic surgery was more accurate surgery(47%), quicker surgery (50%) and making the surgeon's job easier (52%). 69% believed navigation/robotics was more expensive and 20% believed it held no benefit against conventional surgery, with only 9% believing it led to longer surgery. Almost 50% would not mind at least some of their operation being performed with use of robotics/navigation, with a significantly greater proportion of these coming from patients aged under 50 years. Conclusions. Although few patients were familiar with this new technology, there appeared to be a strong consensus it was quicker and more accurate than conventional surgery. Many patients appear to believe navigation and robotics in Orthopaedic surgery is largely the preserve of the private sector. This study demonstrates public knowledge of such new technologies is limited and a need to inform patients of the relative merits and drawbacks of such surgery prior to their more widespread implementation

Introduction. Technology in Orthopaedic surgery has become more widespread in the past 20 years, with emerging evidence of its benefits in arthroplasty. Although patients are aware of benefits of conventional joint replacement, little is known on patients' knowledge of the prevalence, benefits or drawbacks of surgery involving navigation or robotic systems. Materials and methods. In an outpatient arthroplasty clinic, 100 consecutive patients were approached and given questionnaires to assess their knowledge of Navigation and Robotics in Orthopaedic surgery. Participation in the survey was voluntary. Results. 98 patients volunteered to participate in the survey, mean age 56.2 years (range 19–88; 52 female, 46 male). 40% of patients believed more than 30% of NHS Orthopaedic operations involved navigation or robotics; 80% believed this was the same level or less than the private sector. A third believed most of an operation could be performed independently by a robotic/navigation system. Amongst perceived benefits of navigation/robotic surgery was more accurate surgery(47%), quicker surgery (50%) and making the surgeon's job easier (52%). 69% believed navigation/robotics was more expensive and 20% believed it held no benefit against conventional surgery, with only 9% believing it led to longer surgery. Almost 50% would not mind at least some of their operation being performed with use of robotics/navigation, with a significantly greater proportion of these coming from patients aged under 50 years. Conclusions. Although few patients were familiar with this new technology, there appeared to be a strong consensus it was quicker and more accurate than conventional surgery. Many patients appear to believe navigation and robotics in Orthopaedic surgery is largely the preserve of the private sector. This study demonstrates public knowledge of such new technologies is limited and a need to inform patients of the relative merits and drawbacks of such surgery prior to their more widespread implementation

Aims

This study used an artificial neural network (ANN) model to determine the most important pre- and perioperative variables to predict same-day discharge in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

The unparalleled events of the year 2020 continue to evolve and challenge the worldwide community on a daily basis. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on all aspects of our lives, and has caused major morbidity and mortality around the globe. The impact of COVID-19 on the practice of orthopedic surgery has been substantial with practice shutdowns, elective surgery restrictions, heightened utilization of telemedicine platforms and implementation of precautionary measures for in-person clinic visits. During this transition period the scholarly and educational pursuits of academic surgeons have been de-emphasized as the more immediate demands of clinical practice survivorship have been the priority. This unavoidable focus on clinical practice has heightened the importance of orthopedic subspecialty societies in maintaining an appropriate level of attention on research and educational activities. Under the outstanding presidential leadership of Robert Barrack, MD, The Hip Society adapted to the profound challenges of 2020, and maintained strong leadership in the realms of education and research. The recent 2020 summer meeting of the Hip Society was a testimonial to the resilience and dedication of the Society members to ongoing innovation in research and education. Due to travel and social distancing restrictions the 2020 summer meeting was transitioned from an in-person to a virtual meeting format. Dr Barrack and Program Chair Dr John Clohisy assisted with oversight of the meeting, while Olga Foley and Cynthia Garcia ensured the success of the meeting with remarkable planning and organization. These collaborative efforts resulted in an organized, well-attended, high level scientific meeting with engaging discussion and a remarkable virtual conference environment. The Bone & Joint Journal is very pleased to partner with The Hip Society to publish the proceedings of this very unique virtual meeting. The Hip Society is based in the United States and membership is granted to select individuals for leadership accomplishments in education and research related to hip disease. The Society is focused on the mission of advancing the knowledge and treatment of hip disorders to improve the lives of patients. The vision of the Hip Society is to lead in the discovery and dissemination of knowledge related to disorders of the hip. The annual closed meeting is one of the most important events of the society as this gathering highlights timely, controversial and novel research contributions from the membership. The top research papers from The Hip Society meeting will be published and made available to the wider orthopedic community in The Bone & Joint Journal. This partnership with The Bone & Joint Journal enhances the mission and vision of The Hip Society by international dissemination of the meeting proceedings. Given the far-reaching circulation of The Bone & Joint Journal the highest quality work is available to an expanding body of surgeons, associated healthcare providers and patients. Ultimately, this facilitates the overarching Hip Society goal of improving the lives of our patients. The 2020 virtual Hip Society meeting was characterized by outstanding member attendance, high quality paper presentations and robust discussion sessions. The meeting was held over two days and encompassed 58 open paper presentations divided into ten sessions with moderated discussions after each session. All papers will be presented in this issue in abstract form, while selected full papers passing our rigorous peer review process will be available online and in The Bone & Joint Journal in a dedicated supplement in 2021. The first session of the meeting focused on issues related to complex primary THA and osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Dr Gross presented on the conversion of hip fusion to THA in 28 patents at a mean 7 years. He reported a high clinical success rate, yet complications of heterotopic ossification and neurologic injury were relatively common. Consideration of heterotopic ossification prophylaxis and the selective use of a constrained liner were recommended. Dr Pagnano summarized the use of various contemporary porous acetabular components in 38 hips in the setting of prior pelvic radiation. The mean follow-up was 5 years and 10 year survivorship was 100% with all implants radiographically fixed. Dr Bolognesi's study demonstrated that THA in solid organ transplant patients is associated with higher risk for facility placement, transfusions and readmissions. This patient population also has increased mortality risk (4.3% risk at 1 year) especially lung transplant patients. The second group of papers focused on femoral head osteonecrosis. Dr Iorio presented single center data demonstrating that CT scan was a useful adjunct for diagnosis in the staging work-up for cancer, yet was not useful for ARCO staging and treatment decision-making. On the basic science side, Dr Goodman utilized a rabbit model of steroid-induced femoral head osteonecrosis to determine that immunomodulation with IL-4 has the potential to improve bone healing after core decompression. The session was concluded by Dr Nelson's study of ceramic-on-ceramic THA in 108 osteonecrosis patients. The median 12 year results were outstanding with marked increases in PROs, maintenance of high activity levels, and a 3.7% revision rate. In the second session attention was directed to THA instability and spinopelvic mobility. Dr Sierra presented a machine learning algorithm for THA dislocation risk. Two modifiable variables (anterior/lateral approach, elevated liner) were most influential in minimizing dislocation risk. Dr Taunton's study demonstrated a deep learning artificial intelligence model derived from postoperative radiographs to predict THA dislocation risk. High sensitivity and negative predictive value suggest that this model may be helpful in assessing postoperative dislocation risk. In reviewing a large single-center, multiple surgeon cohort of 2,831 DAA procedures, Dr Moskal noted a very low dislocation rate (0.45%) at minimum 2 years. Importantly, spinopelvic pathology or prior spinal instrumentation was not associated with an increased dislocation risk (0.30%). Dr Huo and colleagues analyzed pelvic tilt during functional gait in patients with acetabular dysplasia. They detected variable pelvic tilt on different surfaces with the data suggesting that patients with more anterior pelvic tilt while standing tend to have greater compensatory posterior pelvic tilt during gait. Dr Lamontagne reported on the sagittal and axial spinomobility in patients with hip OA, and highlighted reductions in pelvic tilt, pelvic-femoral-angle, lumbar lordosis and seated maximal trunk rotation when compared to controls. Dr Dennis showed that differences in spinopelvic mobility may explain the variable accuracy of acetabular version measurements on the cross-table lateral radiographs. Dr Gwo-Chin presented on a comprehensive functional analysis of 1,592 patients undergoing THA and observed that spinopelvic abnormalities are not infrequent (14%) in THA patients. Consistent with these findings Dr Murphy and collaborators identified a low prevalence of previous spinal instrumentation (1.5%), yet a high prevalence of spine stiffness (27.6%) in 149 patients undergoing THA. Session three highlighted various aspects of treating hip disease in young patients. Dr Peters investigated the need for subsequent hip arthroscopy in 272 patients treated with an isolated PAO. Only 4.8% of these patients required subsequent arthroscopy calling into question the routine use of combined arthroscopy and PAO. Three papers addressed questions related to THA in young patients. Dr Berend's study of 2532 hips demonstrated that high activity level was not associated with an increased risk of midterm aseptic or all cause failure. Dr Nunley presented on 43 young patients with an average age of 52 years treated with a cementless stem and modular dual mobility articulation. Stress shielding was minimal and no concerning metal ion release detected. Dr Garvin summarized minimum 15 year data of THA with highly cross-linked polyethylene in patient less than 50 years. These hips performed exceptionally well with no mechanical loosening or radiographic osteolysis. Dr Engh examined 10 year results of the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing implant and reported a 92.9 % overall survivorship, with males less than 55 years achieving a 98.3% survivorship. The session was concluded by long-term data on the Conserve Plus hip resurfacing arthroplasty. Dr Amstutz presented an impressive dataset depicting an 83.1% 20 year survivorship for this early resurfacing cohort. Direct anterior approach total hip arthroplasty was the focus of session four. Dr Meneghini reported on the anesthesia and surgical times of direct anterior and posterior approaches from a large healthcare system database. These data suggested longer OR and surgical times for the DAA both in the inpatient and ASC environments. Dr Clohisy introduced the technique and early outcomes of lateral decubitus position DAA. In a learning curve experience of 257 hips. 96% of acetabular components were in the Lewinneck safe zone, the aseptic revision rate was 0.9% and there were no dislocations. Dr Beaule analyzed femoral stem cement mantle with the DAA and posterior approaches by comparing two matched cohorts. Stem alignment and cement mantle quality were equivalent with both approaches. Similarly, Dr Emerson demonstrated technical feasibility and fewer cemented femoral stem failures when compared to cementless stems in a series of 360 DAAs THAs. The final paper of the session presented by Dr Hamilton examined the impact of surgical approach on dislocation after isolated head and liner exchange. Neither the posterior nor the anterior approach was superior in reducing the dislocation rate for these high dislocation risk procedures. The fifth session explored contemporary topics related to anesthesia and pain management. Dr Byrd opened the session with a comparative study evaluating general versus spinal anesthesia for hip arthroscopy. This preliminary study was provoked by the desire to minimize aerosolized exposure early in the COVID-19 pandemic by transitioning to spinal anesthesia. Both anesthetic methods were effective. Dr Austin presented a randomized, double-blind controlled trial comparing spinal anesthetic with mepivacaine, hyperbaric bupivacaine and isobaric bupivacaine. Mepivacaine patients ambulated earlier and were more likely to be discharged the same day. Dr Mont provided a very timely study on the effects of “cannabis use disorder” and THA outcomes. This administrative database study of 44,154 patients revealed this disorder to be associated with longer hospital stays, increased complications rates and higher costs. Dr Bedair investigated whether a highly porous acetabular component submerged in an analgesic solution could enhance perioperative pain management. Interestingly, this novel strategy was associated with a reduction of postoperative pain scores and opioid consumption in 100 experimental patients compared to 100 controls. The concluding paper of the session by Dr Della Valle examined whether decreased discharge opioids led to increased postoperative opioid refills. A large single-center study of 19,428 patients detected a slight increase (5%) in opioid refills but a reduction in total refill morphine milligram equivalents. The final, sixth session of day one considered various challenging aspects of revision hip arthroplasty. Dr Nam started the session with review of preliminary results from a randomized control trial comparing closed incision negative-pressure therapy with a silver-impregnated dressing for wound management in 113 hips undergoing revision arthroplasty. Unlike previous reports, the negative pressure therapy was associated with a higher reoperation rate for wound-related complications. Dr Bostrom highlighted the potential clinical impact of basic biological interventions by establishing the presence of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETS) in fibrotic tissue from human aseptic loosening specimens and in a murine model of unstable tibial implantation. NET inhibition in the murine model prevented the expected tibial implant osseointegration failure. Dr Lombardi presented early 3.3 year clinical results of a highly porous Ti6al4v acetabular component in complex primary and revision arthroplasty. Survivorship for aseptic loosening was 96.6 % and 95.3% for the primary and revision cases, respectively. Dr Schwarzkopf and colleagues explored the impact of time to revision arthroplasty on clinical outcomes. Analysis of 188 revision cases revealed early revisions (less than 2 years from primary) were associated with worse outcomes, longer hospitalizations and higher reoperation rates. Mid-term results for modular dual mobility implants in revision arthroplasty were reviewed by Dr Lachiewicz who reported on 126 hips at a mean 5.5 years. 11% of hips dislocated and the 6 year survival was 91%. An outer head diameter of 48mm or greater was associated with a lower risk of dislocation. Dr Berry concluded the session by discussing the outcomes of treating the challenging problem of interprosthetic femur fractures. A single-center study of 77 cases treated over 32 years demonstrated a 79% success rate free of reoperation at 2 years with 95% of patients being ambulatory. The second day commenced with the seventh session evaluating recent strategies to improve short-term THA outcomes. Dr Bozic and colleagues investigated the association of quality measure public reporting with hip/knee replacement outcomes. Annual trend data from 2010–2011 and 2016–2017 indicate that hospital-level complication and readmission rates decease after the start of public reporting, yet it is difficult to prove a direct effect. Dr Slover reviewed his institutions experience with the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) model and emphasized that lower CJR target prices make it increasingly difficult for programs to meet target price thresholds. Cost saving strategies including same day discharge and reduction of home health services may result in smaller losses of positive margins. Dr Barsoum reported on the influence of patient and procedure-related risk factors of length of stay after THA. Patient-related risk factors provided substantial predictive value yet procedure-related risk factors (hospital site and surgical approach) remain the main drivers of predicting length of stay. Dr Hozack reviewed an impressive, single surgeon cohort of 3,977 DAA THAs and analyzed adverse events and 90 day perioperative outcomes. Simultaneous bilateral DAA THA was comparable with unilateral or staged bilateral procedures in regards to complications, readmission rate and home discharge rate but with an increased risk of transfusion. To examine the risk of complications with outpatient joint arthroplasty, Dr Della Valle performed a single-surgeon matched cohort analysis comparing outpatient and inpatient hip and knee arthroplasties. Outpatient procedures were not associated with an increased risk of any postoperative complications and actually experienced fewer emergency department visits. The eighth session covered various contemporary challenges in hip arthroplasty care. Dr Griffin began the session with an analysis of the timing of complications associated with two-stage exchange procedures for periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). Of the 189 hips included, 41.6% had a complication and the mortality was 14.1% at 2.5 years, highlighting the morbidity of this treatment method. Dr Fehring provided data assessing the fate of two-stage reimplantation after failed debridement, antibiotics and implant retention (DAIR) for a prosthetic hip infection. This analysis of 114 hips yielded concerning results demonstrating a 42.9% treatment failure of patients treated with a previous DAIR compared to a 12.3% failure rate in patients treated with an initial 2-stage procedure. Dr Jacobs reviewed the analysis of 106 femoral heads with severe corrosion and identified a chemically dominated etching process termed “column damage” to be a detrimental damage mode within CoCr femoral heads that is directly linked to banding within its microstructure. These data indicate that implant alloy microstructure must be optimized to minimize the release of fretting-corrosion products. Simon Mears presented retrospective data from 184 THAs with a dual modular femoral stem. A subgroup of hips with a modular, cobalt chromium femoral neck had a pseudotumor visualized in 15% with only 55% of these having elevated CoCr levels. These findings may support the use of routine follow-up MARS MRI for modular CoCr femoral neck prostheses. The final two studies explored timely issues related to viral illness and hip surgery. Dr Browne analyzed three large administrative databases to elucidate whether patients are at increased risk for viral illnesses following total joint replacement. The incidence of postoperative influenza after total joint replacement was not increased compared to patients not undergoing total joint replacement surgery suggesting that arthroplasty procedures may not heighten the risk of viral illness. In the final paper of the session Dr Haddad presented important data regarding perioperative complications in coronavirus positive patients undergoing surgical treatment of femoral neck fractures. In this multicenter cohort study from the United Kingdom 82 coronavirus positive patients were shown to have longer hospital stays, more critical care unit admissions, higher risk of perioperative complications and an increased mortality compared to 340 coronavirus negative patients. The eighth session had two papers on alternative femoral stem designs and three presentations more focused on femoral fracture treatments. Dr Mihalko focused on the European and US experiences with the Metha femoral neck retaining stem. The US experience mirrored the encouraging results from Europe with a 94% all cause femoral survivorship and a 99.1% femoral aseptic loosening survivorship at 5 years. Dr Kraay summarized dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) evaluation of 16 low modulus composite femoral components at long-term follow-up of a mean 22 years. The bone mineral density associated with the implant increased in Gruen zones 2–6 and showed limited decreases in zones 1 and 7. These data support the concept that a low modulus femoral stem may more effectively load the proximal femur. Dr Springer provided data from the American Joint Replacement Registry (AJRR) and by evaluating outcomes of exact matched cohorts of 17,138 patients treated with cementless or cemented femoral implants for femoral neck fractures. Cemented implants were associated with marked reduction in early revision and periprosthetic fractures. However, cemented fixation was associated with an increased mortality at 90 days and 1 year. Additional data from the AJRR was presented by Dr Huddleston who investigated the risk factors for revision surgery after arthroplasty in a cohort of 75,333 femoral neck fractures. THA when compared to hemiarthroplasty was associated with higher early and overall revision rates. Cementless femoral fixation and increased age were also associated with higher rates of any revision. Both of these studies from the AJRR suggest that further consideration should be given to femoral fixation preferences in the femoral neck fracture population. Dr Vail summarized his institution's experience with an interdisciplinary hip fracture protocol for patients undergoing arthroplasty for acute femoral neck fractures. His study compared 157 cases prior to protocol implementation with 114 patients treated after the protocol was established. The impact of the interdisciplinary protocol was impressive as evidenced by a reduced time to operative treatment, length of stay, complication rate and one-year mortality. All being achieved without an increase in readmissions or facility discharges. The final session of the meeting addressed innovations in perioperative care of THA patients. Dr Barrack started the session with an interesting study examining the feasibility and patient preferences regarding telemedicine. A cross-sectional telephone survey of 163 arthroplasty patients indicated that 88% of patients use the internet and 94% own a device capable of videoconferencing. Nevertheless, only 18% of patients preferred a video visit over an in-person clinic visit due to concerns of inferior care. Dr Barnes quantified preoperative optimization work in 100 arthroplasty patients by using EMR activity logs and determined the surgical team spends an average 75 minutes per case on preoperative work activities. Dr Duwelius reported the early outcomes of primary THA with a smartphone-based exercise and educational platform compared to standard of care controls. A randomized control trial design with 365 patients demonstrated similar outcomes and non-inferiority of the smartphone platform relative to complications, readmissions, emergency room/urgent care visits. The association of controlled substance use with THA outcomes was assessed by Dr Higuera Rueda. A quantitative assessment using the NarxCare score identified 300 and above as a score associated with adverse outcomes after THA. Dr Macaulay reviewed data from a large retrospective study of 1,825 THAs indicating that discontinuation of intermittent pneumatic compression devices does not increase the risk of venous thromboembolism in standard risk patients being treated with 81mg ASA BID as prophylaxis. Dr Antoniou presented the final paper of the meeting investigating potential changes in patient health status as an indication for surgery over time. Data from this large systematic review of the literature found patients undergoing THA at similar health status to the past with no influence form patient age, gender, year of enrollment or geographic region. As summarized above, the 2020 virtual Hip Society Summer Meeting was rich in scientific content, productive discussion and a collaborative spirit. This collective body of work will result in impactful scientific contributions and will serve as a foundation for future innovation and advancements in the treatment of hip disease

Aims

Day-case arthroplasty is gaining popularity in Europe. We report outcomes from the first 12 months following implementation of a day-case pathway for unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA) in an NHS hospital.

Aims

This study aimed to evaluate whether an enhanced recovery protocol (ERP) for arthroplasty established during the COVID-19 pandemic at a safety net hospital can be associated with a decrease in hospital length of stay (LOS) and an increase in same-day discharges (SDDs) without increasing acute adverse events.