Day of Surgery and Surgical Start Time Affect Hospital Length of Stay After Total Hip Arthroplasty

Retrospective Analysis of Associated Costs and Sources of Variability in OR Utilization Across Weekdays

Few studies have examined variability in OR utilization across weekdays. We conducted a retrospective analysis to determine OR utilization differences by day of the week and the source and financial effects of any variability. We extracted 55 months of data from a surgical data repository to calculate OR utilization, late starts, idle times, and delays for each weekday. Declines in OR utilization occurred as the week progressed and were attributed to compounding changes in late start, delay, and idle time. The average weekly cost for each OR associated with unused staffed minutes below a target OR utilization of 85% was $19,383, and the comparable lost weekly revenue was $60,256. Perioperative leaders should identify sources of OR utilization variability when developing strategies that enhance outcomes for patients, minimize costs, and maximize revenue.

Late-week Multilevel Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion Associated with Increased Length of Stay

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective analysis of clinical data from a single institution.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the day of surgery during the week as a possible predictor of length of stay (LOS) following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF).

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Surgeries later in the week may result in longer LOS and higher costs for joint arthroplasty, yet this is unclear following spine surgery. Procedures performed later in the week may lead to weekend admissions when there are limited services that may contribute to an extended LOS. We attempt to identify associations between day of surgery and LOS, readmission, and complications following single- and multilevel ACDF.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients at a single institution undergoing ACDF by 7 primary surgeons in both orthopedic and neurosurgery spine departments between 2015 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were stratified by surgery day at either the beginning (Monday/Tuesday) or end (Thursday/Friday) of the week and by single- or multilevel ACDF. Surgery for trauma, infections, adjacent level disease, or revision were excluded. Patient demographics, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), LOS, postoperative complications, and readmission rates were assessed.

RESULTS

Six hundred fifty-two patients underwent ACDF. For single-level ACDF, 222 were reviewed, with 112 having surgery at the beginning and 110 at the end of the week. For multilevel ACDF, 431 were reviewed, with 192 having surgery at the beginning and 239 at the end of the week. No differences in pre- or postoperative variables were determined for single-level ACDF. Despite no differences in pre-operative variables, CCI, operative duration, or number of levels, late-week multilevel ACDF had longer average LOS (2.8±3.0 days) compared to early-week surgery (2.0±2.0 days) (P=0.018).

CONCLUSIONS

Late-week multilevel ACDF was associated with an increased LOS, as it may prove beneficial to surgical planning. This conflicts with previous reports that day of week was not associated with LOS following ACDF.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.

Does Surgical Day of the Week Affect Hospital Course and Outcomes for Patients Undergoing Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery?

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective Cohort Analysis.

OBJECTIVES

Extended hospital length of stay (LOS) poses a significant cost burden to patients undergoing adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between late-week surgery and LOS in patients undergoing ASD surgery.

METHODS

256 patients who underwent ASD surgery between January 2018 and December 2021 by a single fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon comprised the patient sample. Demographics, intraoperative, and perioperative data were collected for the 256 patients who underwent ASD surgery. Patients were divided into two groups based on surgical day of the week: (1) Early-week (Monday/Tuesday) n = 126 and (2) Late-week (Thursday/Friday) n = 130. Descriptive statistics, T-tests, and linear and logistic regression models were used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

Surgical details and sociodemographic characteristics did not differ between the groups. When controlling for TLIF/DLIF status and PSO status there was no difference in mean length of stay between the groups. The late-week group was associated with a greater risk of 30-day readmission, but there was no difference in complications, infections, or intraoperative complications.

CONCLUSIONS

We found no difference in mean length of stay between surgeries performed early in the week vs late in the week. Although late-week surgeries had higher 30-day readmission risk, all other outcomes, including complication rates, showed no significant differences. When adequate weekend post-operative care is available, we do not advise restricting ASD surgeries to specific weekdays.

Improved short-term outcomes for a novel, fluoroscopy-based robotic-assisted total hip arthroplasty system compared to manual technique with fluoroscopic assistance

BACKGROUND

While robotic-assisted total hip arthroplasty (RA-THA) has been associated with improved accuracy of component placement, the perioperative and early postoperative outcomes of fluoroscopy-based RA-THA systems have yet to be elucidated.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort analysis included a consecutive series of patients who received manual, fluoroscopy-assisted THA (mTHA) and fluoroscopy-based RA-THA at a single institution. We compared rates of complications within 90 days of surgery, length of hospital stay (LOS), and visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores.

RESULTS

No differences existed between groups with respect to demographic data or perioperative recovery protocols. The RA-THA cohort had a significantly greater proportion of outpatient surgeries compared to the mTHA cohort (37.4% vs. 3.8%; p < 0.001) and significantly lower LOS (26.0 vs. 39.5 h; p < 0.001). The RA-THA cohort had a smaller 90-day postoperative complication rate compared to the mTHA cohort (0.9% vs. 6.7%; p = 0.029). The RA-THA cohort had significantly lower patient-reported VAS pain scores at 2-week follow-up visits (2.5 vs. 3.3; p = 0.048), but no difference was seen after 6-week follow visits (2.5 vs. 2.8; p = 0.468).

CONCLUSION

Fluoroscopy-based RA-THA demonstrates low rates of postoperative complications, improved postoperative pain profiles, and shortened LOS when compared to manual, fluoroscopy-assisted THA.

Effect of Instrumented Spine Surgery on Length of Stay

INTRODUCTION

Total joint arthroplasty studies have identified that surgeries that take place later in the week have a longer length of stay compared with those earlier in the week. This has not been demonstrated in studies focused on anterior cervical diskectomy and fusions or minimally invasive lumbar laminectomies. All-inclusive instrumented spine surgeries, however, have not been analyzed. The purpose of this study was to determine whether day of surgery affects length of stay and whether there are predictive patient characteristics that affect length of stay in instrumented spine surgery.

METHODS

All instrumented spine surgeries in 2019 at a single academic tertiary center were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were categorized for surgical day and discharge disposition to home or a rehabilitation facility. Differences by patient characteristics in length of stay and discharge disposition were compared using Kruskal-Wallis and chi square tests along with multiple comparisons.

RESULTS

Seven hundred six patients were included in the analysis. Excluding Saturday, there were no differences in length of stay based on the day of surgery. Age older than 75 years, female, American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) classification of 3 or 4, and an increased Charlson Comorbidity Index were all associated with a notable increase in length of stay. While most of the patients were discharged home, discharge to a rehabilitation facility stayed, on average, 4.7 days longer (6.8 days compared with 2.1 days, on average) and were associated with an age older than 66 years old, an ASA classification of 3 or 4, and a Charlson Comorbidity Index of 1 to 3.

CONCLUSIONS

Day of surgery does not affect length of stay in instrumented spine surgeries. Discharge to a rehabilitation facility, however, did increase the length of stay as did age older than 75 years, higher ASA classification, and increased Charlson Comorbidity Index classification.

The Impact of Peripheral Nerve Block on the Quality of Care After Ankle Fracture Surgery: A Quality Improvement Study

OBJECTIVES

To increase peripheral nerve block (PNB) administration for ankle fracture surgeries (AFSs) at our institution to above 50% by January 1st, 2021.

DESIGN

Longitudinal, single-center quality improvement study conducted at a high-volume tertiary care center.

PATIENTS

All patients undergoing isolated AFS for unimalleolar, bimalleolar, or trimalleolar ankle fracture from July 2017 to April 2021 were included in this study.

INTERVENTION

Interventions implemented to minimize barriers for PNB administration included recruitment and training of expert anesthesiologists in regional anesthesia, procurement of ultrasound machines, implementation of a dedicated block room, and creation of a pamphlet for patients describing multimodal analgesia.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENT

The primary outcome was the percentage of patients receiving PNB for AFS. Secondary outcomes included hospital length-of-stay, postanesthesia care unit (PACU) and 24-hour postoperative opioid consumption (mean oral morphine equivalent [OME]), proportion of patients not requiring opioid analgesic in PACU, and PACU and 24-hour postoperative nausea/vomiting requiring antiemetic.

RESULTS

The PNB and non-PNB groups included 78 and 157 patients, respectively. PNB administration increased from <5% to 53% after implementation of the improvement bundle. Mean PACU and 24-hour opioid analgesic consumption was lower in the PNB group (PACU OME 38.96 mg vs. 55.42 mg, P = 0.001; 24-hour OME 50.83 mg vs. 65.69 mg, P = 0.008). A greater proportion of patients in the PNB group did not require PACU opioids (62.8% vs. 27.4%, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

By performing a root cause analysis and implementing a multidisciplinary, patient-centered improvement bundle, we increased PNB administration for AFSs, resulting in reduced postoperative opioid analgesia consumption.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Consecutive surgeries with complications: the impact of scheduling decisions

Purpose

The authors determine how the scheduling and sequencing of surgeries by surgeons impacts the rate of post-surgical complications and patient length-of-stay in the hospital.

Design/methodology/approach

Leveraging a dataset of 29,169 surgeries performed by 111 surgeons from a large hospital network in Ontario, Canada, the authors perform a matched case-control regression analysis. The empirical findings are contextualized by interviews with surgeons from the authors’ dataset.

Findings

Surgical complications and longer hospital stays are more likely to occur in technically complex surgeries that follow a similarly complex surgery. The increased complication risk and length-of-hospital-stay is not mitigated by scheduling greater slack time between surgeries nor is it isolated to a few problematic surgery types, surgeons, surgical team configurations or temporal factors such as the timing of surgery within an operating day.

Research limitations/implications

There are four major limitations: (1) the inability to access data that reveals the cognition behind the behavior of the task performer and then directly links this behavior to quality outcomes; (2) the authors’ definition of task complexity may be too simplistic; (3) the authors’ analysis is predicated on the fact that surgeons in the study are independent contractors with hospital privileges and are responsible for scheduling the patients they operate on rather than outsourcing this responsibility to a scheduler (i.e. either a software system or an administrative professional); (4) although the empirical strategy attempts to control for confounding factors and selection bias in the estimate of the treatment effects, the authors cannot rule out that an unobserved confounder may be driving the results.

Practical implications

The study demonstrates that the scheduling and sequencing of patients can affect service quality outcomes (i.e. post-surgical complications) and investigates the effect that two operational levers have on performance. In particular, the authors find that introducing additional slack time between surgeries does not reduce the odds of back-to-back complications. This result runs counter to the traditional operations management perspective, which suggests scheduling more slack time between tasks may prevent or mitigate issues as they arise. However, the authors do find evidence suggesting that the risk of back-to-back complications may be reduced when surgical pairings are less complex and when the method involved in performing consecutive surgeries varies. Thus, interspersing procedures of different complexity levels may help to prevent poor quality outcomes.

Originality/value

The authors empirically connect choices made in scheduling work that varies in task complexity and to patient-centric health outcomes. The results have implications for achieving high-quality outcomes in settings where professionals deliver a variety of technically complex services.

A retrospective analysis of early discharge following minimally invasive colectomy in an enhanced recovery pathway

BACKGROUND

There is increasing evidence to support discharge prior to gastrointestinal recovery following colorectal surgery. Furthermore, many patients are discharged early despite being excluded from an ambulatory colectomy pathway. The objective of this study was to determine the outcomes of patients discharged early following laparoscopic colectomy in an enhanced recovery pathway (ERP).

METHODS

A retrospective review of all adult patients undergoing elective laparoscopic colectomy at a single university-affiliated colorectal referral center (08/2017-06/2021) was performed. Patients were included if they had undergone elective laparoscopic colectomy or ileostomy closure and excluded if they had been enrolled in an ambulatory colectomy pathway. Patients were then divided into three groups: LOS =1 day, LOS 2-3 days, and LOS 4+ days. The main outcomes were 30-day emergency room (ER) visits and readmissions. Reasons for inpatient stay per post-operative day (POD) were also recorded.

RESULTS

A total of 497 patients were included [LOS1 n = 63 (13%), LOS2-3 n = 284 (57%), and LOS4+ n = 150 (30%)]. There were no differences in patient characteristics, diagnosis, or procedure between the groups. Patients were discharged with gastrointestinal recovery (GI-3) in 54% LOS1 vs. 98% LOS2-3 vs. 100% LOS4+ (p<0.001). Shorter procedure duration, transversus abdominus plane block, and lower opioid requirements were associated with shorter LOS (p<0.001). The absence of flatus was the most common reason to keep patients hospitalized: 61% on POD1, 21% on POD2, and 8% on POD3 (p<0.001). There were no differences in 30-day emergency visits, or readmission between the groups. In the LOS1 group, there were no differences in outcomes between patients with full return of bowel function at discharge compared to those without.

CONCLUSION

Discharge on POD1 was not associated with increased emergency department use, complications, or readmissions. Importantly, full return of bowel function at discharge did not affect outcomes. There may be potential to expand eligibility criteria for ambulatory colectomy protocol.

Live births with cerebral palsy at a tertiary maternity hospital: incidence and associated risk factors over a 17-year period

The aim of this retrospective study was to establish the incidence and associated risk factors for cerebral palsy (CP) at a tertiary maternity hospital in the UK between 2000-2016. We identified CP patients from our electronic coding system using ICD codes. Multiple independent variables for all live births born during this period were included in a univariate and multivariate logistic regression (LR) to identify associations between these and CP. We identified 130 CP children out of 87318 live births. Univariate LR determined male sex, birth weight <2500 g, gestational age of ≤36 weeks, Small-for-gestational-age, 1-and 5-minute Apgar score <9, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission, multiple births, breech, emergency Caesarean section and delivery between 16.00-20.00 as significant risk factors. In the multivariate LG male sex, 1-minute Apgar <9, 5-minute Apgar <5 and admission to NICU remained as significant risk factors. The risk for delivery between 16.00-19.59 was nearly significant. There was a significant association between NICU admission and moderate-severe CP. Our CP incidence of 0.149% is at the lower end of the incidence spectrum of international comparisons.Impact StatementWhat is already known on this subject? The historic reported incidence of cerebral palsy (CP) ranges from 1.1 to 3.6 cases per 1000 live births, with birth weight <2500g, birth <28 weeks of gestation, Apgar scores ≤4 and male sex having been associated with an increased incidence.What do the results of this study add? This is a large series of live births from a tertiary maternity hospital with a comparative low CP incidence of 0.149%, despite the hospital dealing with many complex pregnancies and deliveries. We identified that already an Apgar score of <9 at 1 minute (significant) and births between 16.00-20.00 (non-significant) were associated with an increased risk to develop CP but not with a specific day of the week.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or future research? Our significant association between a 1-minute Apgar score of <9 and CP stresses the importance of immediate efficient resuscitation already for babies with a 1-minute score as high as 8. The increased CP risk for deliveries between 16.00-19.59 may be linked to staffing issues and needs further exploration.What this paper addsNew data from a single maternity hospitalAnalysis of risk factorsGMFCS distribution.

Assessing Root Causes of First Case On-time Start (FCOTS) Delay in the Orthopedic Department at a Busy Level II Community Teaching Hospital

INTRODUCTION

Due to the high cost of operating room time, hospitals have been under increasing pressure to optimize operating room (OR) efficiency. One parameter that has been used to predict OR efficiency is First Case On-Time Start (FCOTS). In this brief report, the authors describe results from a quality improvement project designed to identify the rates and primary causes of first case delay for elective procedures within the orthopedic department at their suburban community hospital.

METHODS

This was a retrospective, quality improvement project. The authors reviewed information from their anesthesia group to identify the rate and causes for delayed FCOTS, as well as observations and employee interviews to map contributing factors of delay.

RESULTS

Surgery data on 159 days reviewed indicated that 107 (67.3%) days had first case delays. Of the 398 total first cases during this period, 156 (39.2%) were found to be delayed. The authors identified surgeon practices, with 74 (56.5%) as the main contributor to delay, followed by pre-operative processes, with 24 (18.3%), and room-related causes, 17 (13.0%). The anesthesia department and the patient were minor causes of delay, with 9 (6.9%) and 7 (5.3%) of case delays respectively.

DISCUSSION

Results were similar to other studies, indicating surgeons and pre-operative as main cause for delay. A fishbone diagram revealed patient factors, inefficiency in the pre-operative process, and staff tardiness as some of the causes.

CONCLUSIONS

During this project, surgeon practices and preoperative processes were the main factors contributing to OR inefficiency within the community-based hospital. Future strategies to improve daily OR flow within similar institutions should target surgeon on-time arrival and streamlining of the pre-operative process to effectively reduce FCOTS delays.

Surgical Scheduling Impacts Hospital Length of Stay and Associated Healthcare Costs for Patients Undergoing Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

Surgical scheduling, specifically the day of the week on which surgery is performed, has been associated with various postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing lower extremity joint arthroplasty.

PURPOSE

We sought to investigate surgical scheduling as a potential modifiable factor for patient quality metrics and related costs.

METHODS

In a retrospective prognostic study, all total knee and total hip arthroplasty (TKA/THA) cases that took place in 2017 to 2018 at a multihospital academic health system were queried. Patients were separated by the day of the week the surgery was performed, with Monday/Tuesday compared to Thursday/Friday. Outcomes included length of stay (LOS) (extended LOS defined as 3 days or longer), cost, and complications. Multivariable regression models measured associations between scheduling of surgery and outcomes; odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) are reported.

RESULTS

Overall, 1,571 TKA and 992 THA patients were included (65% and 35%, respectively, performed on Monday/Tuesday and 70% and 30%, respectively, performed on Thursday/Friday). Patients undergoing TKA on Monday/Tuesday versus Thursday/Friday had higher American Society of Anesthesiologists scores (42% vs 33% with score of 3 or higher) but less often an extended LOS (31% vs 54%; adjusted OR: 2.76, 95% CI: 2.22-3.46), lower skilled nursing facility costs (unadjusted mean, $12,515 vs $14,154) and lower home health aide costs (unadjusted mean, $3,793 vs $4,192). Similar patterns were observed in THA patients.

CONCLUSION

These results from institutional data suggest that surgical scheduling is a modifiable factor possibly associated with postoperative outcomes. Furthermore, more rigorous study is warranted.

The impact of case order and intraoperative staff changes on spine surgical efficiency

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Despite concerted efforts toward quality improvement in high-volume spine surgery, there remains concern that increases in case load may compromise the efficient and safe delivery of surgical care. There is a paucity of evidence to describe the effects of spine case order and operating room (OR) team structure on measures of intraoperative timing and OR efficiency.

PURPOSE

This study aims to determine if intraoperative staff changes and surgical case order independently predict extensions in intraoperative timing after spinal surgery for spondylotic diseases.

STUDY DESIGN/ SETTING

Retrospective cohort analysis PATIENT SAMPLE: All patients over age 18 who underwent primary or revision decompression and/or fusion for degenerative spinal diseases between 2017 to 2019 at a single academic institution were retrospectively identified. Exclusion criteria included absence of descriptive data and intraoperative timing parameters as well as surgery for traumatic injury, infection, and malignancy.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Intraoperative timing metrics including total theater time, wheels in to induction, induction start to cut, cut to close, and close to wheels out. Postoperative outcomes included length of hospital stay and 90-day hospital readmissions.

METHODS

Surgical case order and intraoperative changes in staff (circulator and surgical scrub nurse or technician) were determined. Patient demographics, surgical factors, intraoperative timing and postoperative outcomes were recorded. Extensions in each operative stage were determined as a ratio of the actual duration of the parameter divided by the predicted duration of the parameter. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to compare outcomes within case order and staff change groups.

RESULTS

A total of 1,108 patients met the inclusion criteria. First, second, and third start cases differed significantly in intraoperative extensions of total theater time, wheels in to induction, induction start to cut, cut to close, and close to wheels out. On regression, decreasing case order predicted extension in wheels in to induction time. Surgeries with intraoperative staff changes were associated with increases in total theater time, induction start to cut time, cut to close time, close to wheels out time, and length of hospital stay. Switch in primary circulator predicted extended theater time and cut to close time. Relief of primary circulator or scrub predicted extended total theater time, induction start to cut time, cut to close time, and close to wheels out time.

CONCLUSIONS

Intraoperative staff change in spine surgery independently predicted extended operative duration. However, higher case order was not significantly associated with procedural time.

Patient-Specific Factors Drive Intensive Care Unit and Total Hospital Length of Stay in Operative Patients with Brain Tumor

BACKGROUND

Hospital length of stay (LOS) is an important cost driver in neurosurgery. Broader surgical literature has shown that patient-related factors, including comorbidities, and procedure-related factors, such surgeon experience, may be associated with LOS. Because value optimization strategies may be targeted toward either domain, this study investigated the contributions of patient-related and procedure-related factors in predicting prolonged intensive care unit LOS (iLOS) and total hospital LOS (tLOS).

METHODS

Data for adult patients undergoing brain tumor surgery (2017-2019) were collected. Bivariate analyses for iLOS and tLOS were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test and Fisher exact test. Variables associated with either outcome with P < 0.10 were included in patient-only, procedure-only, and patient+procedure factor multivariate linear regression models. Model discrimination was quantified using C-statistics.

RESULTS

Our 654 patients had a mean age of 57.54 years (standard deviation, ± 14.34 years). For iLOS, the patient-only model significantly outperformed the procedure-only model (P < 0.0001) and performed similarly to the patient+procedure model (P = 0.50). Other than tumor diagnosis, 5-Factor Modified Frailty Index score was the only factor associated with iLOS (P < 0.001) and tLOS (P < 0.001) on multivariate analysis. When predicting prolonged tLOS, the patient-only model significantly outperformed the procedure-only model (P < 0.0001), and performed similarly to patient+procedure models (P = 0.49).

CONCLUSIONS

Patient-specific factors are the main drivers of prolonged iLOS and tLOS among patients with brain tumor. Frailty was significantly associated with both iLOS and tLOS on multivariate analysis. Efforts to improve care value should focus on strategies to optimize patient status, such as prehabilitation and enhanced recovery after surgery.

Early outcomes of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy following completion of a structured training curriculum: a single surgeon cohort study

Objective:

Technical skills in robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) are not mandated by the Intercollegiate Surgical Curriculum Programme. The European Association of Urology Robotic Urology Section (ERUS) developed a structured curriculum; however, surgeons’ outcomes data from subsequent independent practice are limited. We describe the initial post-ERUS curriculum RARP outcomes for a United Kingdom (UK)-based surgeon.

Patients and methods:

This was a prospective single surgeon cohort study of 272 patients who underwent RARP between February 2016 and October 2019 in a high-volume UK centre and who were followed up at approximately 3 and 12 months. Positive surgical margins (PSMs), and 3- and 12-month continence rates were obtained and used to generate learning curves, with point of plateau estimated from logarithmic trendlines.

Results:

Overall (⩾3 mm) PSM rate for pT2 was 14.9% (5.4%) and pT3 was 22.6% (3.2%). Where data were available, 70.5% (of n=251) and 95.5% (of n=154) patients achieved social continence (0–1 pads) at 3 and 12 months, respectively. PSM and 3-month social continence rates plateaued at ~175 and ~100 cases, respectively.

Conclusion:

Following completion of the ERUS RARP curriculum, early oncological and functional outcomes consistent with published standards are rapidly achievable in independent practice. These data exemplify the potential value of a standardised RARP training curriculum to mitigate possible compromises in outcomes.

Level of evidence:

IV

Late-week surgery and discharge to specialty care associated with higher costs and longer lengths of stay after elective lumbar laminectomy

OBJECTIVE

In a healthcare landscape in which costs increasingly matter, the authors sought to distinguish among the clinical and nonclinical drivers of patient length of stay (LOS) in the hospital following elective lumbar laminectomy-a common spinal surgery that may be reimbursed using bundled payments-and to understand their relationships with patient outcomes and costs.

METHODS

Patients ≥ 18 years of age undergoing laminectomy surgery for degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis within the Cleveland Clinic health system between March 1, 2016, and February 1, 2019, were included in this analysis. Generalized linear modeling was used to assess the relationships between the day of surgery, patient discharge disposition, and hospital LOS, while adjusting for underlying patient health risks and other nonclinical factors, including the hospital surgery site and health insurance.

RESULTS

A total of 1359 eligible patients were included in the authors' analysis. The mean LOS ranged between 2.01 and 2.47 days for Monday and Friday cases, respectively. The LOS was also notably longer for patients who were ultimately discharged to a skilled nursing facility (SNF) or rehabilitation center. A prolonged LOS occurring later in the week was not associated with greater underlying health risks, yet it nevertheless resulted in greater costs of care: the average total surgical costs for lumbar laminectomy were 20% greater for Friday cases than for Monday cases, and 24% greater for late-week cases than for early-week cases ultimately transferred to SNFs or rehabilitation centers. A Poisson generalized linear model fit the data best and showed that the comorbidity burden, surgery at a tertiary care center versus a community hospital, and the incidence of any postoperative complication were associated with significantly longer hospital stays. Discharge to home healthcare, SNFs, or rehabilitation centers, and late-week surgery were significant nonclinical predictors of LOS prolongation, even after adjusting for underlying patient health risks and insurance, with LOSs that were, for instance, 1.55 and 1.61 times longer for patients undergoing their procedure on Thursday and Friday compared to Monday, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Late-week surgeries are associated with a prolonged LOS, particularly when discharge is to an SNF or rehabilitation center. These findings point to opportunities to lower costs and improve outcomes associated with elective surgical care. Interventions to optimize surgical scheduling and perioperative care coordination could help reduce prolonged LOSs, lower costs, and, ultimately, give service line management personnel greater flexibility over how to use existing resources as they remain ahead of healthcare reforms.

Contemporary Mortality Rate and Outcomes in Nonagenarians Undergoing Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

Nonagenarians (90-99 years) have experienced the fastest percent growth in primary THA utilization recently. However, there are limited data on this population. This study aimed to determine the mortality rate, implant survivorship, clinical outcomes, and complications of primary THAs in nonagenarians.

METHODS

Our institutional total joint registry was used to identify 144 nonagenarians who underwent 149 primary THAs for osteoarthritis only between 1997 and 2017. The mean age was 92 years, with 63% being female. Mortality, revision, and reoperation were assessed using cumulative incidence with death as a competing risk and Cox regression methods. Clinical outcomes were assessed using Harris hip scores (HHSs). Cemented femoral components were used in 68%. The mean follow-up was 4 years.

RESULTS

The mortality rates were 6%, 8%, 14%, and 49% at 90 days, 1 year, 2 years, and 5 years, respectively. The 5-year cumulative incidences of any revision and reoperation were 1% and 4%, respectively. The mean HHS improved significantly from 48 preoperatively to 76 at 5 years (P < .001). The 5-year cumulative incidence of any complication was 69%, with the most common being periprosthetic femur fracture (7) intraoperatively, delirium (25) early postoperatively, and periprosthetic femur fracture (10) later postoperatively. Uncemented stem fixation was associated with a higher risk for intraoperative femur fracture (Hazard ratio 5, P = .04) but not with a higher 5-year periprosthetic postoperative femur fracture risk (P = .19).

CONCLUSION

Nonagenarians undergoing primary THA had substantial mortality rates at 90 days (6%) and 1 year (8%). While the cumulative incidence of any revision and reoperations were low at 5 years, the high complication rate is mostly due to periprosthetic fractures.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, retrospective cohort.

Surgical Start Time Is Not Predictive of Microdiscectomy Outcomes

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective analysis of clinical data from a single institution.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to assess the time of surgery as a possible predictor for outcomes, length of stay, and cost following microdiscectomy.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

The volume of microdiscectomy procedures has increased year over year, heightening interest in surgical outcomes. Previous investigations have demonstrated an association between time of procedures and clinical outcomes in various surgeries, however, no study has evaluated its influence on microdiscectomy.

METHODS

Demographic and outcome variables were collected from all patients that underwent a nonemergent microdiscectomy between 2008 and 2016. Patients were divided into 2 cohorts: those receiving surgery before 2 pm were assigned to the early group and those with procedures beginning after 2 pm were assigned to the late group. Outcomes and patient-level characteristics were compared using bivariate, multivariable logistic, and linear regression models. Adjusted length of stay and cost were coprimary outcomes. Secondary outcomes included operative complications, nonhome discharge, postoperative emergency department visits, or readmission rates.

RESULTS

Of the 1261 consecutive patients who met the inclusion criteria, 792 were assigned to the late group and 469 were assigned to the early group. There were no significant differences in demographics or baseline characteristics between the 2 cohorts. In the unadjusted analysis, mean length of stay was 1.80 (SD=1.82) days for the early group and 2.00 (SD=1.70) days for the late group (P=0.054). Mean direct cost for the early cohort was $5088 (SD=$4212) and $4986 (SD=$2988) for the late cohort (P=0.65). There was no difference in adjusted length of stay or direct cost. No statistically significant differences were found in operative complications, nonhome discharge, postoperative emergency department visits, or readmission rates between the 2 cohorts.

CONCLUSION

The study findings suggest that early compared with late surgery is not significantly predictive of surgical outcomes following microdiscectomy.

Implications of Admission and Surgical Timing on Hospital Length of Stay in Patients with Hip Fractures

INTRODUCTION

Hospital reimbursements for geriatric hip fractures are contingent on patient outcomes and hospital length of stay (LOS). This study examined if the day of the week (DOTW) and time of day (TOD) of both admission and surgery are associated with increased LOS.

METHODS

LOS, time from admission to surgery, DOTW of admission/surgery, TOD of admission/surgery, and demographics were retrospectively collected. The average LOS was 4.5 days. Patients were grouped into cohorts of LOS 1 to 4 days (short-stay) and 5 to 12 days (long-stay). The percentage of short-stay patients was compared with the percentage of long-stay patients for each DOTW/TOD of admission/surgery with chi square tests.

RESULTS

One hundred patients were included, 58 short stays and 42 long stays. Both groups were similar regarding demographics. Long-stay patients were 4.2 times more likely to have been admitted ([95% confidence interval 1.2 to 14.6], P = 0.02) and 4.8 times as likely to have undergone surgery ([95% confidence interval 1.0 to 5.6], P = 0.01) on a Thursday, respectively. TOD of admission/surgery did not demonstrate any association with LOS.

DISCUSSION

Thursday admission/surgery was associated with longer LOS. Delayed surgical optimization coupled with insurance companies' observance of regular business hours may delay admission to inpatient rehab or skilled nursing facilities, resulting in avoidable healthcare expenditures.

Does day of surgery affect length of stay and hospital charges following lumbar decompression?

Study Design:

This is a retrospective cohort study.

Introduction:

Spine procedures are the most expensive surgical interventions on a per-case basis. Previously, orthopedic procedures occurring later in the week have been associated with an increased length of stay (LOS) and consequent increase in costs. However, no such analysis has been performed on common spinal procedures such as minimally invasive lumbar decompression (MIS LD). The purpose of this study is to determine if there is an association between day of surgery and LOS or direct hospital costs after MIS LD.

Materials and Methods:

A prospectively maintained surgical database of patients who underwent primary, single, or multilevel MIS LD for degenerative spinal pathology between 2008 and 2017 was reviewed. Patients undergoing MIS LD were grouped as early in the week (Monday/Tuesday) or late in the week (Thursday/Friday). Differences in patient demographics and preoperative characteristics were compared using χ 2 analysis or Student’s t-test. Associations between date of surgery, LOS, and costs were assessed using multivariate linear regression.

Results:

A total of 717 patients were included. Of these, 420 (58.6%) were in the early surgery cohort and 297 (41.4%) were in the late surgery cohort. There were no differences in demographic characteristics, operative levels, operative time, blood loss, or hospital LOS between cohorts ( p > 0.05). Furthermore, there was no difference in total direct costs or specific cost categories between cohorts ( p > 0.05).

Discussion:

The timing of surgery within the week is not associated with differences in inpatient LOS or hospital costs following MIS LD. As such, hospitals should not alter surgical scheduling patterns to restrict these procedures to certain days within the week.

The Effect of Length of Hospital Stay and Patient Factors on Patient Satisfaction in an Academic Hospital

The Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) is a metric for patient satisfaction consisting of 19 questions divided into 10 domains. Scores affect hospital reimbursements and accreditation and may play a role in patient outcomes. It is unclear how length of stay and other factors affect each of the 10 domains. This retrospective review gathered data of 600 patients between December 2008 and January 2017 who completed the HCAHPS survey. The odds of complete satisfaction in each of the 10 domains was evaluated. The results suggest increased length of stay is associated with lower odds of patient satisfaction and decreased likelihood of recommending the hospital. The odds of being completely satisfied regarding communication with physicians, discharge information, and responsiveness of the hospital staff, as well as the odds of recommending the hospital to others, were lower if the care provider was younger than the patient. Obese patients were also more likely to be satisfied with responsiveness and care transition. Male patients were more satisfied with communication about medications (odds ratio [OR], 1.694), care transition (OR, 1.489), and cleanliness (OR, 2.120). Medicare and fewer consults were related to increased odds of patient satisfaction with care transition (OR, 1.748 and 0.573, respectively). Males, older patients, and White patients were more likely to recommend the hospital (OR, 1.476, 1.025, and 1.690, respectively). Length of stay affects patient satisfaction and likelihood of recommending the hospital to others. Other factors such as a younger provider age than the patient, lower body mass index, female sex, non-Medicare insurance, and higher number of consults are also associated with lower satisfaction in various domains. Hospital systems can bolster patient satisfaction by strategizing day-of-surgery and weekend staffing to reduce length of stay. [Orthopedics. 2020;43(6):373-379.].

Adult spinal deformity surgery: the effect of surgical start time on patient outcomes and cost of care

PURPOSE

There are reports investigating the effect of surgical start time (SST) on outcomes, length of stay (LOS) and cost in various surgical disciplines. However, this has not been studied in spine deformity surgery to date. This study compares outcomes for patients undergoing spinal deformity surgery based on SST.

METHODS

Patients at a single academic institution from 2008 to 2016 undergoing elective spinal deformity surgery (defined as fusing ≥ 7 segments) were divided by SST before or after 2 PM. Co-primary outcomes were LOS and direct costs. Secondary outcomes included delayed extubation, ICU stay, complications, reoperation, non-home discharge, and readmission rates.

RESULTS

There were 373 surgeries starting before 2 PM and 79 after 2 PM. The cohorts had similar demographics including age, sex, comorbidity burden, and levels fused. The late SST cohort had shorter operation durations (p = 0.0007). Multivariable linear regression showed no differences in LOS (estimate 0.4 days, CI - 1.2 to 2.0, p = 0.64) or direct cost (estimate $3652, 95% CI - $1449 to $8755, p = 0.16). Multivariable logistic regression revealed the late SST cohort was more likely to have delayed extubation (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.4-4.9, p = 0.004) and non-home discharge (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.1-4.2, p = 0.03). All other secondary outcomes were non-significant.

CONCLUSION

Patients undergoing spinal deformity surgery before and after 2 PM have similar LOS and cost of care. However, the late SST cohort had increased likelihood of delayed extubation and non-home discharges, which increase cost in bundled payment models. These findings can be utilized in OR scheduling to optimize outcomes and minimize cost.

Later Surgical Start Time Is Associated With Longer Length of Stay and Higher Cost in Cervical Spine Surgery

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective study of a surgical cohort from a single, large academic institution.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate associations between surgical start time, length of stay, cost, perioperative outcomes, and readmission.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

One retrospective study with a smaller cohort investigated associations between surgical start time and outcomes in spine surgery and found that early start times were correlated with shorter length of stay. No examinations of perioperative outcomes or cost have been performed.

METHODS

All patients undergoing anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) and posterior cervical decompression and fusion (PCDF) were queried from a single institution from January 1, 2008 to November 30, 2016. Patients undergoing surgery that started between 12:00 AM and 6:00 AM were excluded due to their likely emergent nature. Cases starting before and after 2:00 PM were compared on the basis of length of stay and cost as the primary outcomes using multivariable logistic regression.

RESULT

The patients undergoing ACDF and PCDF were both similar on the basis of comorbidity burden, preoperative diagnosis, and number of segments fused. The patients undergoing ACDF starting after 2 PM had longer LOS values (adjusted difference of 0.65 days; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.28-1.03; P = 0.0006) and higher costs of hospitalization (adjusted difference of $1177; 95% CI: $549-$1806; P = 0.0002). Patients undergoing PCDF starting after 2 PM also had longer LOS values (adjusted difference of 1.19 days; 95% CI: 0.46-1.91; P = 0.001) and higher costs of hospitalization (adjusted difference of $2305; 95% CI: $826-$3785; P = 0.002).

CONCLUSION

Later surgical start time is associated with longer LOS and higher cost. These findings should be further confirmed in the spine surgical literature to investigate surgical start time as a potential cost-saving measure.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

3.

The effect of a new perioperative practice model on length of hospital stay and on the surgical care process in patients undergoing hip and knee arthroplasty under spinal anesthesia: a randomized clinical trial

Background

The shortened length of hospital stays (LOS) requires efficient and patient-participatory perioperative nursing approaches to enable early and safe discharge from hospitals for patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The primary aim of this study was to explore the effect comparative to standard perioperative care of a new perioperative practice model (NPPM) on the LOS and the time points of the surgical care process in patients undergoing THA and TKA under spinal anesthesia. The secondary aim was to find out if any subgroups with different response could be found.

Methods

Patients scheduled for elective, primary THA and TKA were assessed for eligibility. A two-group parallel randomized clinical trial was conducted with an intervention group (n = 230) and control group (n = 220), totaling 450 patients. The patients in the intervention group were each designated with one named anesthesia nurse, who took care of the patient during the entire perioperative process and visited the patient postoperatively. The patients in the control group received standard perioperative care from different nurses during their perioperative processes and without postoperative visits. The surgical care process time points for each study patient were gathered from the operating room management software and hospital information system until hospital discharge.

Results

We did not find any statistically significant differences between the intervention and control groups regarding to LOS. Only slight differences in the time points of the surgical care process could be detected. The subgroup examination revealed that higher age, type of arthroplasty and ASA score 3–4 all separately caused prolonged LOS.

Conclusion

We did not find the new perioperative practice model to shorten either length of hospital stays or the surgical care process in patients undergoing THA and TKA. Further studies at the subgroup level (gender, old age, and ASA score 3 and 4) are needed to recognize the patients who might benefit most from the NPPM.

Trial registration

This study was registered in NIH Clinical.Trials.gov under registration number NCT02906033, retrospectively registered September 19, 2016.

Patient Characteristics and Surgical Start Time Affect Length of Stay Following Anterior Total Hip Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

Currently, no consensus exists for selection criteria of appropriate candidates for outpatient total hip arthroplasty (THA). This study evaluates patient characteristics associated with same-day discharge, examined surgical start time's effect on rates of same-day discharge, and compares readmission and reoperation rates between groups.

METHODS

All patients who underwent a THA by one surgeon at a single quaternary care hospital between February 2016 and May 2018 were captured. All patients were given the option for same-day discharge. Patient characteristics and perioperative variables were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 429 patients met inclusion criteria, 153 (36%) were discharged on the day of surgery. In a multivariate analysis, age (P = .000), multiple comorbidities (P = .004), and start time remained statistically significant (P = .000). Patients with start times prior to 9 AM had odds ratio of 11.56 of being discharged same day when compared to those with start times after 12 PM. Patients discharged the day of surgery were less likely to have a 90-day emergency room visit (P = .010), a readmission within 30 days (P = .001) or 90 days (P = .000), or a reoperation (0 vs 14, P = .003).

CONCLUSION

Same-day discharge following THA is safe and feasible. Patient's age and number of comorbidities should be considered when developing selection criteria for same-day discharge programs. Patients selected for same-day discharge should receive earlier operating room start times.

Outpatient total hip or knee arthroplasty in ambulatory surgery center versus arthroplasty ward: a randomized controlled trial

Background and purpose - Discharge on the day of surgery (DOS) in selected patients operated with total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has been shown to be feasible, but different factors may determine whether patients are discharged on the DOS or not and setting may be one of them. We investigated the importance of the setting in which the short stay following outpatient THA or TKA takes place: was there a difference between the proportion of patients being discharged on the DOS from an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) compared with patients staying on an arthroplasty ward?Patients and methods - 50 patients (30 TKA, 20 THA) were included in the study and postoperatively randomized to either staying in the ASC or the arthroplasty ward until discharge. All patients were operated under general anesthesia by the same experienced surgeon (HH) and were discharged upon fulfillment of standardized discharge criteria.Results - 24/25 of the patients who stayed in the ASC compared with 20/25 of the patients on the arthroplasty ward were discharged on the DOS following fulfillment of discharge criteria (p = 0.08). All THA patients were discharged on the DOS and significantly more TKA patients were discharged from the ASC (15/16) vs. from the ward (9/14) (p = 0.04).Interpretation - Despite fixed discharge criteria, the logistical setting may play a role for achieving discharge on DOS and the ASC may facilitate achieving discharge criteria earlier especially in TKA.

Reasons and Risk Factors for Delayed Discharge After Total Knee Arthroplasty Using an Opioid-Sparing Discharge Protocol

BACKGROUND

In this study, we aimed to assess the length of hospital stay after total knee arthroplasty in a European healthcare setting. We also aimed to investigate risk factors and reasons for delayed discharge when using an opioid-sparing fast-track protocol.

METHODS

From our institutional database, we retrospectively identified all primary elective unilateral total knee arthroplasties performed during January to December 2015. Both patient-related and surgery-related variables were collected from our databases. Risk factors were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

The median length of stay (LOS) was 3 days. Independent risk factors for delayed discharge were higher age, higher American Society of Anesthesiologists score, general anesthesia, surgery performed toward the end of the week, longer duration of surgery, longer stay in the post-anesthesia care unit, and shorter preoperative walking distance. The main reasons for delayed discharge were delayed functional recovery and pain.

CONCLUSION

This study identified several independent risk factors for an LOS longer than 3 days. These risk factors add to the current knowledge on which patients have an increased risk of prolonged LOS, and which patients should be targeted when striving to further reduce the LOS.

Does the Day of the Week Affect Length of Stay and Hospital Charges Following Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion?

Background

To reduce the economic impact of excessive costs, risk factors for increased length of stay (LOS) must be identified. Previous literature has demonstrated that surgeries later in the week can affect the LOS and costs following joint arthroplasty. However, few investigations regarding the day of surgery have been performed in the spine literature. The present study attempts to identify the association between day of surgery on LOS and hospital charges following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) procedures.

Methods

A prospectively maintained surgical database of primary, level 1-2 ACDF patients between 2008 and 2015 was retrospectively reviewed. Patients were stratified by surgery day: early week (Tuesday) or late week (Friday) ACDF. Differences in patient demographics and preoperative characteristics were compared between cohorts using chi-square analysis or Student t test for categorical and continuous variables, respectively. Direct hospital costs were obtained using hospital charges for each procedure and subsequent care prior to discharge. Associations between date of surgery and costs were assessed using multivariate linear regression controlled for.

Results

Two hundred and ninety-five patients were included in the analysis. One hundred and fifty-three patients underwent early week ACDF, and 142 underwent late week ACDF. Surgery day cohorts reported similar baseline characteristics. There were no differences in operative characteristics or hospital LOS between cohorts. Additionally, no differences in total or subcategorical hospital costs were identified between surgery day cohorts.

Conclusions

Patients undergoing ACDF later in the week exhibit similar LOS and hospital costs compared to those undergoing ACDF early in the week. These results suggest that outpatient procedures with short postoperative stays are likely not affected by the changes in hospital work efficiency that occur during the transition to the weekend. As such, hospitals should not restrict outpatient procedures to specific days of the week.

Level of Evidence

3.

Length of Stay in Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: Does Day of Surgery Matter?

Purpose: With health-care utilization becoming an important factor in patient care, we investigated the effect that surgical day of week has on length of hospital stay (LOS) for shoulder arthroplasty patients.Methods: All patients undergoing primary anatomic or reverse total shoulder arthroplasty by a single surgeon on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday over a 10-year period were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 1784 patients met inclusion criteria. Demographics, LOS, and discharge disposition were recorded for all study participants.Results: The overall average LOS was 2.9 ± 1.8 days and was significantly longer for patients having surgery Friday (3.0 ± 1.9 days) versus Wednesday (2.7 ± 1.7 days, P = .002). For those discharged home, the mean LOS was 2.6 ± 1.3 days versus 4.3 ± 3.3 days for those discharged to extended care facilities (ECFs). Patients discharged to ECF with Friday surgery had a significantly longer LOS than Monday ( P = .028) and Wednesday ( P = .010) patients, with 30% of patients with Friday surgery being discharged postoperative day 4 versus 14% and 9% on Monday and Wednesday, respectively. LOS trended toward being longer for Friday surgery in the home disposition group but did not reach significance.Discussion: These results should be considered during surgical scheduling in order to minimize health-care expenditures. Patients at high risk for requiring ECF at discharge should be scheduled at the beginning of the week, while more resources are available to expedite their discharge.

Socio-demographic factors impact time to discharge following total knee arthroplasty

AIM

To determine social, logistical and demographic factors that influence time to discharge in a short stay pathway (SSP) by following total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

METHODS

The study included primary TKA’s performed in a high-volume arthroplasty center from January 2016 through December 2016. Potential variables associated with increased hospital length of stay (LOS) were obtained from patient medical records. These included age, gender, race, zip code, body mass index (BMI), number of pre-operative medications used, number of narcotic medications used, number of patient reported allergies (PRA), simultaneous bilateral surgery, tobacco use, marital status, living arrangements, distance traveled for surgery, employment history, surgical day of the week, procedure end time and whether the surgery was performed during a major holiday week. Multivariate step-wise regression determined the impact of social, logistical and demographic factors on LOS.

RESULTS

Eight hundred and six consecutive primary SSP TKA’s were included in this study. Patients were discharged at a median of 49 h (post-operative day two). The following factors increased LOS: Simultaneous bilateral TKA [46.1 h longer (P < 0.001)], female gender [4.3 h longer (P = 0.012)], age [3.5 h longer per ten-year increase in age (P < 0.001)], patient-reported allergies [1.1 h longer per allergy reported (P = 0.005)], later procedure end-times [0.8 h longer per hour increase in end-time (P = 0.004)] and Black or African American patients [6.1 h longer (P = 0.047)]. Decreased LOS was found in married patients [4.8 h shorter (P = 0.011)] and TKA’s performed during holiday weeks [9.4 h shorter (P = 0.011)]. Non-significant factors included: BMI, median income, patient’s living arrangement, smoking status, number of medications taken, use of pre-operative pain medications, distance traveled to hospital, and the day of surgery.

CONCLUSION

The cost of TKA is dependent upon LOS, which is affected by multiple factors. The clinical care team should acknowledge socio-demographic factors to optimize LOS.

Assessment of Time-Series Machine Learning Methods for Forecasting Hospital Discharge Volume

IMPORTANCE

Forecasting the volume of hospital discharges has important implications for resource allocation and represents an opportunity to improve patient safety at periods of elevated risk.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the performance of a new time-series machine learning method for forecasting hospital discharge volume compared with simpler methods.

DESIGN

A retrospective cohort study of daily hospital discharge volumes at 2 large, New England academic medical centers between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2014 (hospital 1), or January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2010 (hospital 2), comparing time-series forecasting methods for prediction was performed. Data analysis was conducted from February 28, 2017, to August 30, 2018. Group-level data for all discharges from inpatient units were included. In addition to conventional methods, a technique originally developed for allocating data center resources, and comparison strategies for incorporating prior data and frequency of model updates, was conducted to identify the model application that optimized forecast accuracy.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Model calibration as measured by R2 and, secondarily, number of days with errors greater than 1 SD of daily volume.

RESULTS

During the forecasted year, hospital 1 had 54 411 discharges (daily mean, 149) and hospital 2 had 47 456 discharges (daily mean, 130). The machine learning method was well calibrated at both sites (R2, 0.843 and 0.726, respectively) and made errors greater than 1 SD of daily volume on only 13 and 22 days, respectively, of the forecast year at the 2 sites. Last-value-carried-forward models performed somewhat less well (calibration R2, 0.781 and 0.596, respectively) with 13 and 46 errors of 1 SD or greater, respectively. More frequent retraining and training sets of longer than 1 year had minimal effects on the machine learning method's performance.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Volume of hospital discharges can perhaps be reliably forecasted using simple carry-forward models as well as methods drawn from machine learning. The benefit of the latter does not appear to be dependent on extensive training data and may enable forecasts up to 1 year in advance with superior absolute accuracy to carry-forward models.

Does Day of Surgery Affect Hospital Length of Stay and Charges Following Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion?

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective Cohort.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if an association exists between surgery day and length of stay or hospital costs after minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS TLIF).

SUMMARYOF BACKGROUND DATA

Length of inpatient stay after orthopedic procedures has been identified as a primary cost driver, and previous research has focused on determining risk factors for prolonged length of stay. In the arthroplasty literature, surgery performed later in the week has been identified as a predictor of increased length of stay. However, no such investigation has been performed for MIS TLIF.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A surgical registry of patients undergoing MIS TLIF between 2008 and 2016 was retrospectively reviewed. Patients were grouped based on day of surgery, with groups including early surgery and late surgery. Day of surgery group was tested for an association with demographics and perioperative variables using the student t test or χ analysis. Day of surgery group was then tested for an association with direct hospital costs using multivariate linear regression.

RESULTS

In total, 438 patients were analyzed. In total, 51.8% were in the early surgery group, and 48.2% were in the late surgery group. There were no differences in demographics between groups. There were no differences between groups with regard to operative time, intraoperative blood loss, length of stay, or discharge day. Finally, there were no differences in total hospital charges between early and late surgery groups (P=0.247).

CONCLUSIONS

The specific day on which a MIS TLIF procedure occurs is not associated with differences in length of inpatient stay or total hospital costs. This suggests that the postoperative course after MIS TLIF procedures is not affected by the differences in hospital staffing that occurs on the weekend compared with weekdays.

Day of Surgery Affects Length of Hospitalization for Patients Undergoing Total Joint Arthroplasty Discharged to Extended Care Facilities

Although the average hospital length of stay (LOS) after total joint arthroplasty (TJA) has decreased during the past 10 years, it continues to play a significant role in postoperative costs. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of surgical day of the week on hospital LOS among TJA patients discharged to an extended care facility (ECF). A TJA database from a single hospital was used to identify all patients who underwent primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA) between January 2013 and December 2016. Inclusion criteria were age older than 50 years, surgery Monday through Friday, and discharge to an ECF. A total of 2184 patients met inclusion criteria. Patients were divided into groups based on surgical day of the week. There was no statistically significant difference in age (P=.120), sex (P=.959), or procedure (TKA vs THA, P=.395) between groups based on surgery day. The LOS varied significantly by the day of the week (P<.001). Thursday varied significantly from every other day of the week (P<.001), with the greatest LOS (mean, 3.56±0.84 days) and the highest percentage of patients discharged (27.8%) compared with all other days. Tuesday had the shortest LOS (mean, 3.25±0.70 days) and differed significantly from Thursday and Friday (P<.05). Patients discharged to an ECF after primary TKA and THA have an increased mean hospital LOS when their surgery falls on a Thursday. The authors recommend preferentially scheduling patients with planned postoperative discharge to an ECF for surgery on Tuesday and avoiding surgery on Thursday. [Orthopedics. 2018; 41(2):82-86.].

Preoperative Physical Therapy Education Reduces Time to Meet Functional Milestones After Total Joint Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

As length of stay decreases for total joint arthroplasty, much of the patient preparation and teaching previously done in the hospital must be performed before surgery. However, the most effective form of preparation is unknown. This randomized trial evaluated the effect of a one-time, one-on-one preoperative physical therapy education session coupled with a web-based microsite (preopPTEd) on patients' readiness to discharge from physical therapy (PT), length of hospital stay, and patient-reported functional outcomes after total joint arthroplasty.

QUESTIONS/PURPOSES

Was this one-on-one preoperative PT education session coupled with a web- based microsite associated with (1) earlier achievement of readiness to discharge from PT; (2) a reduced hospital length of stay; and (3) improved WOMAC scores 4 to 6 weeks after surgery?

METHODS

Between February and June 2015, 126 typical arthroplasty patients underwent unilateral TKA or THA. As per our institution's current guidelines, all patients attended a preoperative group education class taught by a multidisciplinary team comprising a nurse educator, social worker, and physical therapist. Patients were then randomized into two groups. One group (control; n = 63) received no further education after the group education class, whereas the intervention group (experimental; n = 63) received preopPTEd. The preopPTEd consisted of a one-time, one-on-one session with a physical therapist to learn and practice postoperative precautions, exercises, bed mobility, and ambulation with and negotiation of stairs. After this session, all patients in the preopPTEd group were given access to a lateralized, joint-specific microsite that provided detailed information regarding exercises, transfers, ambulation, and activities of daily living through videos, pictures, and text. Outcome measures assessed included readiness to discharge from PT, which was calculated by adding the number of postoperative inpatient PT visits patients had to meet PT milestones. Hospital length of stay (LOS) was assessed for hospital discharge criteria and 6-week WOMAC scores were gathered by study personnel. At our institution, to meet PT milestones for hospital discharge criteria, patients have to be able to (1) independently transfer in and out of bed, a chair, and a toilet seat; (2) independently ambulate approximately 150 feet; (3) independently negotiate stairs; and (4) be independent with a home exercise program and activities of daily living. Complete followup was available on 100% of control group patients and 100% patients in the intervention group for all three outcome measures (control and intervention of 63, respectively).

RESULTS

The preopPTEd group had fewer postoperative inpatient PT visits (mean, 3.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.0-3.6 versus 4.4; 95% CI, 4.1-4.7; p < 0.001) and achieved readiness to discharge from PT faster (mean, 1.6 days; 95% CI, 1.2-1.9 days versus 2.7 days; 95% CI, 2.4-3.0; p < 0.001) than the control group. There was no difference in hospital LOS between the preopPTEd group and the control group (2.4 days; 95% CI, 2.1-2.6; p = 0.082 versus 2.6 days; 95% CI, 2.4-2.8; p = 0.082). There were no clinically relevant differences in 6-week WOMAC scores between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Although this protocol resulted in improved readiness to discharge from PT, there was no effect on LOS or WOMAC scores at 6 weeks. Preoperative PT was successful in improving one of the contributors to LOS and by itself is insufficient to make a difference in LOS. This study highlights the need for improvement in other aspects of care to improve LOS.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level II, therapeutic study.

The Impact of Discharge Disposition on Episode-of-Care Reimbursement After Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

Total joint arthroplasty (TJA) accounts for more Medicare expenditure than any other inpatient procedure. The Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement model was introduced to decrease cost and improve quality in TJA. The largest portion of episode-of-care costs occurs after discharge. This study sought to quantify the cost variation of primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) according to discharge disposition.

METHODS

The Medicare and Humana claims databases were used to extract charges and reimbursements to compare day-of-surgery and 91-day postoperative costs simulating episode-of-care reimbursements. Of the patients who underwent primary THA, 257,120 were identified (204,912 from Medicare and 52,208 from Humana). Patients were stratified by discharge disposition: home with home health, skilled nursing facility, or inpatient rehabilitation facility.

RESULTS

There is a significant difference in the episode-of-care costs according to discharge disposition, with discharge to an inpatient rehabilitation facility the most costly and discharge to home the least costly.

CONCLUSION

Postdischarge costs represent a sizeable portion of the overall expense in THA, and optimizing patients to allow safe discharge to home may help reduce the cost of THA.