[Fast-track arthroplasty and patient apps]

Fast-track arthroplasty is on the rise in Germany. In comparison to established fast-track countries, such as Denmark and the USA, Germany is only at the beginning of its implementation. The biggest challenges include increasing staff shortages and cost pressure as, well as the slow progress of digitalization.

The use of app-based patient management systems offers the opportunity to prepare the patient extensively for the surgical procedure, to rehabilitate them according to a standardized schedule, to avoid unnecessary doctor's visits, to save staff and, thus, reduce healthcare costs. Patient apps will also play an important role in collecting patient data and abnormalities in rehabilitation. By correlating intraoperative data from robotics, predictive statements about the surgical strategy, such as implant positioning or axis alignment may be possible. In this review, the essential contents of an app-based patient management system for fast-track arthroplasty are listed and discussed, and the possibilities for using patient data are presented.