How to Assess Risk in Preoperative Total Joint Arthroplasty Patients

Patient-specific risk factors play a significant role in determining the outcome of total joint arthroplasty. Optimizing risk factors that are modifiable can improve surgical results. The proper assessment of these factors preoperatively is critical in determining a plan of intervention. Clear, evidence-based guidelines are evolving regarding the best assessment tools for deciding the necessity of and the proper degree of intervention. It is important to review current research on the assessment of modifiable risk factors. A thorough understanding of the definition, assessment, and current investigation surrounding the assessment of these modifiable risk factors is critical to optimizing total joint arthroplasty.