Presurgical optimization and opioid-minimizing enhanced recovery pathway for ambulatory knee and hip arthroplasty: postsurgical opioid use and clinical outcomes

BACKGROUND: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathways offer approaches to achieve successful ambulatory primary total knee and total hip arthroplasty (TKA/THA) while meeting the “Triple Aim” of healthcare: patient satisfaction, population health, and value. We evaluated outcomes from an ERAS pathway designed to maximize patients’ eligibility for ambulatory TKA/THA while reducing costs, complications, and postsurgical opioid use. METHODS: This retrospective study included 220 consecutive unique commercially insured patients who underwent TKA (n = 113) or THA (n = 138) in an ambulatory surgery center between June 1, 2015 and November 16, 2017. The ERAS pathway encompassed early presurgical through home recovery periods. Key elements included presurgical patient engagement; creation of realistic expectations; optimization of modifiable medical, physical, and social factors; and creation of individualized multimodal opioid-sparing pain management. No home services were used. Adverse events and unplanned admissions within 30 and 60 days, satisfaction, and opioid use were analyzed descriptively. RESULTS: All patients (mean [range] age, 58 [22-84] years; 49% women) had same-day discharge. Within 30 days, 7 (2.8%) patients experienced an adverse event, 3 (1.2%) had an emergency department or urgent care visit without admission, and 8 (3.2%) had an unplanned admission. Within 60 days, 3 additional patients had an emergency department/urgent care visit. Most patients (206 [82.1%]) did not require a second opioid prescription. Patient satisfaction was high. CONCLUSIONS: This ERAS pathway may help meet the Triple Aim for outpatient joint replacement, expand the eligible patient population, and reduce postsurgical opioid use. Further research is warranted.