Setting Up an Outpatient or Same-Day Discharge Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) Program

Advances in operative techniques, anesthesia, and perioperative analgesia have allowed same-day total knee arthroplasty (TKA) to become a reality. Outpatient total joint arthroplasty has become more popular, with the goal to decrease costs while still providing high-value care. To ensure an efficient, effective, and safe outpatient TKA program, it is imperative to establish appropriate protocols. A multidisciplinary team, including the surgeon, anesthesiologist, nurses, operating room staff, and therapists, is required to set-up a successful and safe outpatient total joint program.