PREOPERATIVE MEDICAL EVALUATION IN PATIENTS HAVING JOINT REPLACEMENT SURGERY - ADDED BENEFITS

Elderly patients having elective total joint replacement surgery are a t increased perioperative risk because of comorbid conditions. To show the importance of the preoperative medical evaluation for total joint replacement, we reviewed the records of 238 patients who had screenin g for total joint replacement surgery in 1994. Of these 238 patients, 76 (32%) benefited from findings on the preoperative medical evaluatio n. Four percent of these patients were found to have a condition that warranted the postponement or cancellation of surgery, and others were found to have a condition that was immediately treatable. Some patien ts required referral to their primary care provider or to a specialist . This study emphasizes the importance and added benefits of the preop erative medical evaluation for elderly patients having elective total joint replacement surgery.