Patient safety after day-case and non-day-case fast-track hip and knee arthroplasty

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate patient safety, defined using in-hospital complications, early readmissions, mortality, and days alive and at home (DAH), after day-case and non-day-case hip and knee arthroplasty in a public healthcare setting. Methods: This multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients who underwent primary total hip arthroplasty (THA), total knee arthroplasty (TKA), or unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) between September 2022 and May 2024. All eight public hospitals which were involved followed the same standardized protocol with consistent eligibility for day-case surgery and discharge criteria. Postoperative hospital contacts within 30 days were recorded using the patients' medical records and electronic questionnaires. Day-case surgery was defined as discharge on the day of surgery to the patient's own home. Results: was 30 (IQR 30 to 30) for day-case patients and 29 (IQR 29 to 29) for non-day-case patients. Conclusion: .