Preoperative Risk Stratification and Risk Reduction for Total Joint Reconstruction

Demand for primary total hip arthroplasty and demand for total knee arthroplasty in the United States are anticipated to grow by 174% and 673%, respectively, over the next twenty years1. Satisfaction rates are good to excellent in most patients2-4. Modern techniques and perioperative care have reduced systemic and local complications5-7. Nevertheless, the risks of major adverse outcomes (2.2% to 7.4%)8-10 and death (0.1% to 0.8%)5,7-9,11-19 remain real. Careful preoperative clearance and targeted therapeutic interventions are necessary to minimize complications.