Same-Day Discharge Total Joint Arthroplasty: A Bibliometric Analysis

Same-day discharge (SDD) total joint arthroplasty (TJA) continues to increase in prevalence globally, especially following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The purpose of this analysis is to utilize bibliometric methodology to assess publication trends, key figures, and institutions, as well as geographic variations in SDD TJA research.

The Web of Science Core Collection was searched from inception to January 23, 2025, for studies on SDD TJA. Publication rates were assessed using the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) and segmented regression analysis. Top publishing authors, institutions, and countries were tabulated as frequencies. International collaboration was assessed by the prevalence of publications with authors from different nationalities.

A total of 121 studies published between 2014 and 2024 were eligible for final analysis, with a CAGR of 44%. Segmented regression demonstrated a significant increase in slope pre-2023 to post-2023 (2.1 vs. 19 publications per year, R2=0.94, P<0.001). Original research comprised 83% of studies, with most being retrospective in nature (66%) and only three being of randomized controlled design (3%). Only four of 15 original studies with a designated primary outcome performed appropriate a priori sample size power analysis. Over half of the studies (53%) were published in the USA, with only seven studies (5.8%) demonstrating international collaboration.

SDD TJA research continues to grow at a rapid rate, with a nine-fold increase in publication rate since 2023. Future directions for SDD TJA research include research from varying healthcare delivery models, international collaborative efforts, and methodologically robust randomized controlled trials.