Preoperative predictors of length of hospital stay and discharge disposition following primary total knee arthroplasty at a military medical center

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study is to retrospectively review the preoperative data compared to the patient's length of hospital stay (LOHS) and discharge disposition to home or a skilled nursing facility (SNF) following primary total knee arthroplasty. Methods: Preoperative data on 383 patients included year and day of the week of the surgery, patient age, body mass index (BMI), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class, and gender. Results: Mean LOHS for all patients was 4.35 days. Three hundred and twenty-eight patients were discharged to home and 55 patients were discharged to a SNF. Factors found to be statistically signifi cant with increased LOHS were increased age, increased ASA class, decreased BMI, and year of admission before instituting a "pathway" program. Factors signifi cant for discharge to a SNF were increased age and ASA class. Conclusion: Older patients with higher ASA class have longer LOHS and increased discharges to a SNF. Patients whose surgery was performed after instituting a "pathway" program and those with higher BMI had a decreased LOHS. © Association of Military Surgeons of the US.