The 387-Minute Truth: What Actually Goes Into an Outpatient Joint Replacement
A comprehensive look at the planned and unplanned hours required for a successful recovery.
Total joint arthroplasty (TJA) is among the most successful of orthopedic procedures performed. However, the exponentially increased demand for TJA has imposed an enormous economic burden on the healthcare system, accounting for more Medicare expenses than any other inpatient procedure. Not surprisingly, cost containment has become a focus of policy and research in TJA.
In 2016, a pilot study triggered by Anthem insurance found the average intraservice times for primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) to be less than the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) benchmark of 100 minutes.
