Total joint replacement: baseline benchmark data for interdisciplinary outcomes management.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this review was to define and describe 2 years of adverse outcome variances for elective primary or revision of major total joint replacement in terms of baseline benchmark data.


METHODS
Descriptive variance.


METHODS
Retrospective review of patients with greater than 4 days in acute care after total joint replacement, patients with unexpected comorbidities that required medical subspecialist management, patients who were transferred to a higher level of care, and patients who did not survive postoperatively.


RESULTS
This review indicates that patients treated on a higher volume dedicated orthopaedic unit experience fewer adverse outcomes and shorter length of stay than patients treated on a general surgical unit.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients who are treated on a dedicated orthopaedic unit experience significantly fewer adverse outcomes or outcome variations. Costs can be effectively managed, and optimal clinical patient outcomes can be achieved with few complications. Treatment strategies can be used as a template for enhanced care processes for this population.
Graul
Terry L
TL
Southwest Center for Neurological Surgeons, Mesa, Arizona, USA.
D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D019643:Arthroplasty, Replacement / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019985:Benchmarking / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003363:Cost Control; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000592:standards*; D012086:Reoperation / Q000592:standards; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015206:Southwestern United States