A comparative health care inventory for primary hip arthroplasty between Germany versus the Netherlands. Is there a downside effect to fast-track surgery with regard to patient satisfaction and functional outcome?

Abstract

Germany and the Netherlands both offer highly protocolled care for THA with comparable functional outcome and patient satisfaction with treatment after 12 months. Despite the length of hospitalisation in Germany is significantly longer including a more intensive rehabilitation programme, no significant differences were recorded regarding functional outcome nor patient satisfaction compared to fast-track surgery performed in the Netherlands.