Patient-Level Factors, Outcomes, and Costs Associated with Facility Transfer following Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Retrospective Database Study.

Background: Patient disposition following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has major implications for patient outcomes and costs. Current studies are limited in sample size and dates of data collection. We evaluated patient factors, outcomes, and costs associated with disposition to a facility following TKA.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study including 1,906,670 patients undergoing TKA from a national wide database, from the years 2016 to 2020. Of these, 25,485 (1.34%) patients were transferred to a facility for rehabilitation. Demographic data, hospital-related outcomes, and postoperative complications were collected. Multivariate regression was performed to assess outcomes associated with facility transfer for rehabilitation.

Results: Patients were more likely to be transferred if they were women (Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.10; P < 0.001), greater than 80 years old (OR = 2.25; P < 0.001), had an increased Elixhauser comorbidity index (OR = 1.38; P < 0.001), or were in the lowest income quartile (OR = 1.38; P < 0.001). Transferred patients were more likely to experience medical (OR = 1.92; P < 0.001) and surgical complications (OR = 2.74; P < 0.001), including vascular complications (OR = 2.07; P < 0.001), neurologic complications (OR = 5.72; P < 0.001), and dislocation (OR = 2.01; P < 0.001). They also had greater hospital lengths of stay (OR = 5.27; P < 0.001) and hospital charges (OR = 1.88; P < 0.001); however, they were less likely to undergo reoperation within 30 days (OR = 0.61; P = 0.002).

Conclusions: Elderly, lower-income patients who had more comorbidities are more likely to be transferred to a facility following TKA. While there are associated increased costs, complications, and hospital lengths of stay, there are lower rates of reoperation for those who transferred to a facility after TKA.