title: Similar clinical outcome after unicompartmental knee arthroplasty using a conventional or accelerated care program: a randomized, controlled study of 40 patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Over the last 5 years, there has been increasing interest in reducing length of hospitalization (LOS) through accelerated programs. We examined the clinical outcome of patients undergoing a unicompartmental knee replacement (UKR) in an accelerated care program (A group) compared to a conventional care program (C group).
  
  
  METHODS
  40 patients randomized into 2 groups were included (A group: 17 patients; C group: 23 patients). Nausea, micturition problems, lower limb dysfunction, pain (VAS), opiate consumption, Knee Society score (KSS), day of discharge, rehospitalization within 3 months, contact with a general physician or nurse, and level of satisfaction were registered. Patients in the A group attended an information meeting. An intraarticular infiltration with Marcaine and adrenaline was used peroperatively. Patients in the C group had an epidural pump for 2 or 3 days. Patients in the A program were treated with NSAID and paracetamol postoperatively. Opiates were used in both groups in the case of breakthrough pain. The patients were considered ready for discharge when they were able to climb stairs to the second floor within 5 min.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median length of stay was 1 (1-3) day in the A group and 6 (4-7) days in the C group. The median pain score (VAS) at day 0 was 1 (0-3) in the A group and 5 (0-8) in the C group (p < 0.001). 11/23 of the patients in the C group had weakness of the lower limbs on day 1 due to the epidural; all patients in the A group were exercising on the day of the operation. Micturition problems necessitating intermediate catherization were more frequent in patients in the C program (19/23) than in patients in the A programme (3/17) (p = 0.001). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups concerning nausea, average pain on days 1 and 2, use of opioids (during the first week postoperatively), KSS, contact with primary sector, level of satisfaction, or level of confidence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We achieved a reduction in LOS of 5 days without affecting the clinical outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Frederiksberg University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark. lotteborgwardt@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Lotte
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Borgwardt
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zerahn
authors.forename: Henning
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bliddal
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Christiansen
authors.forename: Jesper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sylvest
authors.forename: Arne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Borgwardt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004434:Early Ambulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011300:Preoperative Care; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome