Significant improvements in patient-reported outcomes were seen in patients with depression who underwent total joint arthroplasty; however, overall improvements were based on patients’ mental health at the time of surgery, according to recently published results.
Preoperative medical optimization of patients is an approach orthopedic surgeons can use to reduce postoperative complications and improve the overall safety of procedures they perform.
Most patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty may benefit from same-day discharge, according to results published in The Journal of Arthroplasty, as researchers found change in patient preference postoperatively was the main cause of same-day discharge failure.
I do not include metal sensitivity testing in the preoperative evaluation of patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty. Given the increased use of ceramic heads, most total hips implanted in the U.S. today are nickel-free. The issue is more about total and unicompartmental knees, most of which have a cobalt-chromium-nickel alloy femoral component.
In a position statement, The American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons said opioids should be avoided for the treatment of hip and knee osteoarthritis and should be reserved for certain circumstances.
