Cedars-Sinai Speeds Up Joint Replacement Recovery

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Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles has launched a joint replacement recovery program that integrates spinal and regional anesthesia, updated surgical techniques, and coordinated care to reduce pain and shorten recovery time. Nearly 80% of the orthopedic department's joint replacement patients now walk and go home within 24 hours of surgery, up from 68% in 2022.

Why it matters

The enhanced recovery pathway aims to improve patient outcomes and experiences by minimizing opioid use, accelerating mobility, and reducing the overall burden on the healthcare system through shorter hospital stays.

The details

Anesthesiologists use spinal blocks and nerve catheters to reduce opioid use and accelerate mobility. Surgeons are also using tissue-sparing approaches and, in some cases, avoiding tourniquets to minimize trauma and improve outcomes. Patient education and preoperative screening help identify those most likely to benefit, with plans underway to expand the protocol to other procedures, including robotic prostate surgery.

• Cedars-Sinai launched the joint replacement recovery program in 2022.
• The program has increased the percentage of joint replacement patients who walk and go home within 24 hours from 68% in 2022 to nearly 80% currently.

What’s next

Cedars-Sinai plans to expand the enhanced recovery protocol to other procedures, including robotic prostate surgery.