Why timing, not surgery, determines patient survival
She was 68. Diabetic. Living alone with chronic osteoarthritis. Like many patients, she carried a story more complex than any preoperative checklist could capture: a long history of opioid dependence, obesity, limited mobility, and no one at home to help her recover.
Her total knee replacement—performed with state-of-the-art robotic precision—was flawless. The surgical plan was executed to perfection. The implant was perfectly aligned. She was discharged on time, per protocol.
But protocol …
