AAHKS Position Statements
These statements are policy expressions of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons. They are not comprehensive subject reviews nor are they intended as medical advice for the treatment of individual patients. HomeOutpatient Joint Replacement
While the number of outpatient TJAs has significantly increased since 2018, the goals outlined in the original position statement remain the same: improve quality, maximize patient safety, minimize adverse events, reduce costs for the healthcare system, and to improve patient outcomes. Recent literature has highlighted that to effectively and consistently achieve these goals proper patient selection, well-designed rapid recovery protocols, and a robust clinical infrastructure are necessary. Full statement.
Opioid Use for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis of the Hip and Knee
How best to manage osteoarthritis pain in the non-operative setting can be challenging and has been the subject of much debate. It is our position that the use of opioids for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the hip and knee should be avoided and reserved for only for exceptional circumstances. Full Statement.
CDC Guideline Use of Antibiotics
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released their 2017 Guideline for the Prevention of Surgical Site Infection, which recommends against the use of post-operative prophylactic antibiotics – including patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty (TJA). At this time, we do not agree with this recommendation for TJA as it contradicts current international standards of care with limited evidence and study. Full statement.
Biologics for Advanced Hip and Knee Arthritis
An increasing number of facilities and physicians are offering intra-articular injections of stem cells and/or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as a non-surgical treatment of advanced hip and knee osteoarthritis. Full statement.
Removal of TKA from CMS IPO List
