Author details

5. Authors' experience

120 Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty

evaluation.

6. Conclusion

Acknowledgements

Conflict of interest

program throughout the perioperative duration.

improved care and evidence-based interventions.

interest in connection with the submitted article.

As the most cost-effective surgical intervention for arthritic knee, TKA has become the daily practice of many orthopedic surgeons. Based on the supportive literature and our past experiences in establishment of clinical pathway, we believe the concepts and approaches of fasttrack program (or enhanced recovery after surgery) are patient-friendly and practical. We found it a great idea to integrate various caring specialties to construct a comprehensive

Within a decade, we had shortened the length of stay of our patients from 12 days to less than a week using only part of the aforementioned recommendations in FT program, though more elder patients and unchanged criteria of discharge. In our institution, better recovery and satisfaction are to be expected after the completion of detailed preoperative education and

In conclusion, fast track program represents a multimodal and multidisciplinary standardized care which aimed at early mobility, early discharge with better prognosis and less complications. By combination of preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative strategies, the synergistic effects are shown to improve peri-operative outcomes. Decreasing length of hospital stay, complications, and overall medical costs can be expected. For a well-established surgical intervention as TKA, FT program provides benefits for the patients with their earlier recovery, early discharge with better prognosis and less complications. Further, the approaches of FT program will keep up with continued understanding of perioperative pathophysiology,

This work was supported by National Cheng Kung University Hospital (Grant number NCKUH-10609007) and National Cheng Kung University (Grant number NCKU-FD104008). We also acknowledge the technical assistance from Ms. Mei-Hui Shieh, and Yu-Chieh Chen.

Each author certifies that he or she has no commercial associations (e.g., consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc.) that might pose a conflict of Jou-Hua Wang<sup>1</sup> , Chih-Wei Chang1,2,3\*, Yi-Chen Chen4 , Chyun-yu Yang1,2 and Kai-Lan Hsu1,3

\*Address all correspondence to: u7901064@yahoo.com.tw

1 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan

2 Bone and Joint Center, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan

3 Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan

4 Department of Nursing, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
