Outpatient unicompartmental knee arthroplasty: who is afraid of outpatient surgery?

摘要

In recent years, duration of hospitalisation after knee arthroplasty has decreased and fast track and outpatient surgery protocols have been developed. Studies have shown that outpatient surgery is feasible, safe, and cost effective. However, the psychological well-being of patients undergoing outpatient surgery has never been described before. The purpose of this study was to investigate how patients experience outpatient surgery for unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA), examining levels of anxiety and depression, satisfaction, and pain. It was hypothesized that the same-day discharge following UKA would not result in higher levels of anxiety and depression, compared to the standard fast-track surgery.