No former research is available to quantify and compare the costs and results between total knee replacement (TKR) patients who have varied periods of hospital stay after a surgery.
![Brief Hospitalisation for Knee Replacement Related to Greater Revision, Mortality Risks Brief Hospitalisation for Knee Replacement Related to Greater Revision, Mortality Risks](https://images.medindia.net/health-images/1200_1000/osteoarthritis.jpg)
After adjusting for various factors, the results were compared at 90 days, one year, and two years after surgery. Compared to patients who had the standard of care 3-4 day hospital stay, the incremental payments for osteoarthritis costs at 2 years were - $6,964 (lower) for the outpatient group, - $3,327 for patients hospitalized for one day, -$1,681 for two days, and +$1,159 for five plus days. At 90 days, the outpatient group had less pain and stiffness compared to the standard care (3-4 day) group, but had a higher risk for mortality, readmission and dislocation.
Investigators recommend that hospitals that choose to implement shorter stay protocols for TKR patients, do so gradually and only with appropriate and sufficient capabilities.
Source-Eurekalert