ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: This study looks to investigate how not meeting eligibility criteria affects postoperative outcomes following total joint arthroplasty surgery. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of total joint arthroplasty patients at a single academic institution. Demographics, laboratory values, and complications were recorded. Continuous and categorical variables were compared using the Student's T-test and the Chi-Square test, respectively. Multivariable analysis was used to control for confounding variables. RESULTS: Our study included 915 total hip and 1,579 total knee arthroplasty patients. For total hip and total knee arthroplasty, there were no significant differences in complications (P = .11 and .87), readmissions (P = .83 and .2), or revision surgeries (P = .3 and 1) when comparing those who met all criteria to those who did not. Total hip arthroplasty patients who did not meet two criteria had 16.1 higher odds (P = .02) of suffering a complication. There were no differences in complications (P = .34 and .41), readmissions (P = 1 and .55), or revision surgeries (P = 1 and .36) between ineligible patients treated by total joint arthroplasty surgeons and those who were not. Multivariable analysis demonstrated no eligibility factors were associated with outcomes for both total hip and knee arthroplasty. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference in outcomes between those who met all eligibility criteria and those who did not. Not meeting two criteria conferred significantly higher odds of suffering a complication for total hip arthroplasty patients. Total joint arthroplasty surgeons had similar outcomes to non-total joint surgeons, although their patient population was more complex. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.
