The outpatient experience in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty: How to perform safely in the ambulatory surgery center

Abstract

The number of outpatient unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) procedures has increased substantially over the last decade. The ambulatory surgery center (ASC) and hospital outpatient department provide a safe, cost-effective alternative with significant cost savings to the healthcare system. Advancements in technology and perioperative management strategies have expanded the number of eligible patients to optimize outcomes with a focus on safety. Therefore, this review will describe the safety, efficacy, economics, and perioperative protocols for performing UKA in an outpatient setting. Patient selection, risk factors, patient education and expectations, anesthesia, pain management strategies, and outcomes will be discussed.

Keywords: Ambulatory surgical center; Outpatient; Patient selection; Perioperative management; Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty.