Outpatient Hip and Knee Replacement: The Experience From the First 15 Years

Rapid recovery and early discharge after total joint arthroplasty are becoming more common. To develop a successful, safe, outpatient arthroplasty practice, surgeons must have the support of a multidisciplinary team, which includes an orthopaedic surgeon, an anesthesiologist, nurses, physical therapists, and a discharge planner. The authors of this chapter recommend surgeons start with healthier, motivated patients and focus on total hip replacements and unicompartmental knee replacements in the learning curve phase of the transition to outpatient total joint arthroplasty. It is important for orthopaedic surgeons to establish an outpatient joint arthroplasty protocol as well as ways to avoid complications and delays in discharge.