Same-day unicondylar knee arthroplasty

Abstract

As with other surgeries that were traditionally performed in the inpatient setting, unicompartmental arthroplasty is shifting toward a same-day outpatient surgery. Indications for unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) are expanding, and as surgeons become more familiar with the technical aspects of the surgery, UKA may become a larger part of their practice. Surgery can be safely performed with same-day discharge utilizing a multidisciplinary care team with a standardized clinical pathway. These rapid recovery pathways focus on patient selection, education, and outpatient care. They incorporate multimodal pain-control minimizing narcotics, which reduce postoperative nausea and somnolence. Blood loss is lessened utilizing minimally invasive surgical techniques and perioperative adjunctive interventions. Patients discharge the day of surgery with low anxiety about pain and recover safely in the comfort of their own home.