| Hip and knee arthroplasty1 |
Patients were allocated to a clinical pathway group (received “proactive” treatment where specific daily goals were set for the patient) vs. control group (received “reactive” treatment where the healthcare team provided care in response to the patient’s conditions and wants) |
Complications (wound infection, chest infections deep venous thrombosis, joint dislocation, decubitus pressure areas, failure to cope at home and decreased range of motion after discharge) |
3 months |
28.2 |
10.9 |
6 (4 to 19) |
| Postoperative abdominal wound infection2 |
Impervious wound-edge protector vs. no wound edge protector (control) |
All wounds |
30 days |
30 |
14 |
7 (4 to 13) |
| Clean-contaminated wounds (minor interruption in aseptic technique or minor spillage from the gastrointestina1 tract) |
|
13 |
7 |
Not significant |
| Contaminated wounds (major interruption in aseptic technique or subsequent spillage |
|
67 |
24 |
3 (2 to 6) |
| Dirty wounds (gross fecal spillage) |
|
94 |
75 |
Not significant |
| Hip surgery3 |
Aspirin vs. placebo |
Symptomatic deep venous thrombosis |
35 days |
1.5 |
1 |
232 (140 to 2239) |
| Pulmonary embolism |
|
1.2 |
0.7 |
195 (140 to 466) |
