A fast-track program (FT) can shorten hospital stay after total hip arthroplasty. The aim of this prospective randomized study was to investigate the feasibility and safety of 2-day discharge after fast-track total hip arthroplasty in a Chinese population.
A total of 258 selected patients who underwent unilateral primary total hip arthroplasty were enrolled into the final cohort and were randomized into the FT (n = 126) and standard program group (n = 132). In the FT group, the patients received a multidisciplinary FT, whereas the patients in the standard program group only followed a standard care program. After setting restricted discharge criteria, we undertook follow-up evaluations to investigate the length of hospital stay, clinical performance, 30-day and 90-day complications, and 90-day admissions in both groups. A multivariate regression model was used to assess independent predictors of delayed discharge (>2 days).
The mean length of stay was reduced from 5.8 to 2.1 days after implementation of our FT (P < .001). Most patients in the FT group (82.5%) were discharged within 2 days postoperatively. However, the complications and readmissions appeared no difference between the two groups. The multivariate regression analysis identified age (P = .041), operative time (P < .001), intraoperative blood loss (P = .026), and total blood loss (P < .001) as the predictive factors for delayed discharge.
A 2-day discharge protocol after fast-track total hip arthroplasty can be safe and feasible in selected patients, without increasing the risk of complications and readmissions. Further efforts are needed to shorten operative time and reduce perioperative blood loss and eventually to shorten hospital stay.