
Many doctors recommend and some patients prefer, recovery at an in-patient rehabilitation facility following total hip (THR) or total knee replacement (TKR) surgery, despite higher costs.
And yet a new study to be presented Thursday, March 16, at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), found that even patients who live alone can recover effectively and safely at home.
"In the past, most surgeons have been reticent to discharge patients directly home after joint replacement surgery if they live by themselves; instead, opting for such patients to enter a rehab facility," said lead author William J. Hozack, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon at The Rothman Institute and professor of orthopaedic surgery at the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University. "However, we found that patients living alone were able to safely recover without any increase in the rate of complications. Even more strikingly, patients were generally happy and content being in the comfort of their own home during recovery."
Among the results of the study:
There was no increase in complications or unplanned clinical events for patients living alone compared to those living with other people (10.9 percent of patients living alone had complications, compared with 9.5 percent of those recovering at home with support).
There were no significant differences in functional outcomes following surgery, or in reported pain. Patient satisfaction scores were equivalent in both sets of patients after 90 days.
The cost savings for patients who recovered at home was estimated at $10,776 per patient, or nearly $1.5 million total.
Given the cost savings of in-home recovery, the emotional benefits of patients recovering in familiar surroundings, and no measurable difference in pain, complications or functional outcomes, "we believe home discharge is appropriate for the vast majority of patients undergoing joint replacement, including the nearly 20 percent of patients living on their own," said Dr. Hozack.
In addition, the July 2016 U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General report, "Adverse Events in Rehabilitation Hospitals: National Incidence Among Medicare Beneficiaries," highlighted "a surprisingly high rate of adverse events at rehab hospitals across the U.S.," said Dr. Hozack.
Source: Eurekalert
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