Intraoperative Hypothermia in Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty.

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are among the most common and successful orthopedic surgical procedures currently performed. Their frequency is expected to increase in the coming decades, with growth projections nearing 137% and 601% for THA and TKA, respectively, between 2005 and 2030.1-4 Increased focus has been directed toward perioperative complications including surgical site infection (SSI), acute blood loss anemia, venous thromboembolism (VTE) events, and cardiovascular events because of their significant clinical implications for patients and the substantial financial burden for the health care system at large.5-7 Consequently, there has been an enhanced focus on reducing surgical complications, as demonstrated by guidelines published by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), and the Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP).8-10 Concurrently, large joint registries also have been established in an effort to improve quality and outcomes measurements. Poor clinical outcomes and signifiIntraoperative Hypothermia in Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty