Choices, Compromises, and Controversies in Total Knee and Total Hip Arthroplasty Modifiable Risk Factors: What You Need to Know

Abstract

Background: Total joint arthroplasty has historically been very successful for most patients, yet some still incur a complication. In an era of value-based care, certain efforts need to be taken to optimize patients' risk profile before surgery to decrease the chances of readmission or surgical complication.

Methods: We reviewed 10 key medical conditions and lifestyle factors that surgeons should improve before pursuing total joint arthroplasty and provide a summary of the available literature to guide certain optimization thresholds.

Results: With careful attention to and the creation of a preoperative checklist, surgeons can identify key domains, including morbid obesity, malnutrition, diabetes, smoking, opioid use, poor dentition, cardiovascular disease, preoperative anemia, staphylococcus colonization, and psychological disorders and intervene based on an individual's areas of deficiencies.

Conclusion: By following stringent protocols and rescheduling surgery until optimization has occurred, we can work to provide patients the best chance for a successful outcome with an elective hip or knee arthroplasty.

Keywords: obesity; opioid; risk factors; smoking; total hip arthroplasty; total knee arthroplasty.