In our retrospective cohort we aimed to evaluate the predictive value of preoperative physical functioning for short stay THA. Our results indicate that perioperative performance based physical functioning (TUG) was independently associated with short stay THA. A basic model (age, sex and ASA) with TUG, score had a slightly better predictive value compared to the basic model without TUG, with an acceptable AUC of 0.77. Adding the TUG to the existing screening models can be of added value in selecting eligible patients for short stay THA.
Like other studies, this study again confirms that the TUG is a predictor of LOS. The added value of the current study is that we used a cohort with unselected patients in a fast-track pathway approaching the outpatient setting. Several studies confirmed performance based measures like TUG or gait speed as independent determinants of LOS or functional recovery [15, 17, 19, 23, 24]. However, the focus in these studies was on predicting prolonged LOS or functional recovery of patients in a pathway with a mean LOS of 3–4 days. Holm et al. did study the role of preoperative TUG in discharge readiness for THA in a comparable fast track pathway as the current study, but did not find a relation in a relative small cohort of THA patients (n = 75). Although Bodrogi et al. stated in their review about management of patients undergoing same-day discharge primary total hip and knee arthroplasty that a Timed Up and Go Test > 10 s is a relative exclusion criteria for outpatient THA [14], TUG has not been used in selection criteria for outpatient THA [9, 10, 12, 13]. The next step is to evaluate the value of TUG as a predictor of outpatient THA.
Similar to the cutoff point that Bedrogi et al. mentioned in their review, we found a rounded cutoff point of 10 s. Several studies also calculated a cutoff point for TUG in relation to LOS or functional recovery after THA. Poitras et al. describe an association between preoperative TUG (cut off point 11.7 s) and LOS (cut off point 3 days) and a cutoff point of 10 s for the TUG for functional recovery 2 weeks after surgery. Elings et al. describe a cutoff point of 12.5 s [19] and Oosting et al. found a cutoff point of 10.5 s to predict delayed recovery of functioning (of respectively more than four and 3 days) [19]. In our study, patients with a TUG less than 9.7 s had an OR of 4.01 of being discharged within 36 h. Although TUG was of added value to a basic prediction model, the performance of the TUG score as a dichotomous variable on its own as prognostic test was moderate, so a low TUG score should not be used as an absolute exclusion criterion and should be part of a prognostic model including at least age, sex and comorbidity. Furthermore, the cutoff point of a test depends on the local pathway and context, so it should be validated in each local setting.
Most short stay (or outpatient) protocols primarily focus on ASA-score or other tools assessing medical condition like the recently developed Outpatient Arthroplasty Risk Assessment (OARA) [13]. This screening instrument has nine medical items to predict safe outpatient TJA and is effective for identifying patients who can safely undergo outpatient total joint arthroplasty. However, this is a one-dimensional approach and does not take into account the functional capabilities of patients. As reported in the study of Gromov et al., lack of safe mobilization might be one of the most common reasons for THA patients not being discharged at the day of surgery [25]. Therefore, it makes sense that better preoperative functional mobility is related to successful short stay THA. A measure of performance based physical functioning cannot simply be replaced by a questionnaire [16]. Our study found that the HOOS-PS was not associated with short-stay THA. Performance-based measures assess what an individual can do rather than what the individual perceives they can do. Furthermore, patients could under- or overestimate their functional ability by use of self-reported measures [26]. In our study both ASA and TUG were associated with short-stay THA, so we propose to take into account both physical functioning and comorbidity, by use of the ASA or the OARA score, in preoperative risk stratification to estimate whether a quick and uncomplicated recovery is likely.
Although social status is also related to LOS after THA (84% of the patients in the short stay group were living together vs 58% in the long-stay group) we did not include this variable in the regression model. In our experience, single patients who are motivated, confident and who have sufficient care and someone at home for the first days after discharge, are also candidates for short-stay THA. Horne et al. described this as a ‘Joint Coach’ in their enhanced recovery pathway [27].
This study had several strengths. We used a large cohort with patients without selecting candidates for short-stay THA prior to surgery, providing a good reflection of daily practice without being biased. We assume a large number of patients in our cohort who were discharged the next postoperative day are candidate for outpatient THA, provided that attention is paid to managing expectations, optimizing the mindset of patient and caregivers within a multidisciplinary approach and evidence based fast track protocols [5, 6, 14]. The strength of TUG as an objective measure for physical functioning lies in its wide use and simplicity of performance. TUG can be performed during preoperative physical therapy, which is part of most outpatient protocols [6] or even at the patients’ home. Furthermore, TUG is not only useful in predicting LOS after THA but may also be useful to predict long term outcome and other postoperative risks considering that TUG is also found to be associated with functional independence and risk of falling and frailty in elderly [28, 29] and with deep venous thrombosis after THA [30]. In addition, including preoperative measurement of physical functioning like TUG may be an important starting point to a more function tailored pathway. Van der Sluis et al. studied a function tailored approach and were able to reduce LOS by use of measurements of physical functioning, reduction of inactivity and stimulation of self-efficacy of the patients [31]. Functional mobility, measured by TUG, is a modifiable risk factor and could be a target in preoperative preparation of patients.
This study has several limitations. First, it was a single-center retrospective study without external validation. Second, although we took into account confounding factors like age, sex and ASA score, there are more preoperative factors related to short-stay THA, which may result in some residual bias. Thirdly, we only evaluated one single test of physical functioning. Further studies are necessary to validate the use of TUG or other measures of physical functioning in preoperative risk stratification for short-stay or outpatient THA and their added value to other existing risk assessment instruments like the OARA score.