Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) in hip and knee replacement surgery: current concepts and future trends

Abstract

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols have been recently studied and introduced in order to provide and develop peri-operative multidisciplinary programs able to shorten length of hospital stay (LOS), reduce complications, readmissions and costs for patients undergoing major surgery. The number of patients requiring and undergoing total knee replacement and total hip replacement surgery has been increasing for years; however individualized and standardized rehabilitation protocols after surgery are still lacking in most centers. Postoperative joint function, pain control, patient satisfaction, shortest possible length of stay and better quality of life are uppermost priorities for results related to patients undergoing joint replacement surgery. Therefore the knowledge and possibly the implementation of such protocols should be taken into account by all institution. In fact, by utilizing ERAS protocols, the orthopedic surgeons would be able to deliver not just good results strictly related to the surgery itself, but also provide good results in terms of pain, function, mobility, patients’ satisfaction, and complications compared to patients undergoing routine rehabilitation. There is enough scientific evidence that ERAS protocols should be seen as a valuable and efficient aid for the orthopedic surgeons and a safe and effective option of the patient after joint arthroplasty surgery.