Elective arthroplasty on “high-risk” calendar dates: no evidence for worse outcomes in 43,000 procedures - Takeaways - MDSpire
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Impact of Scheduling Elective Arthroplasty on "High-Risk" Dates: Analysis of 43,000 Procedures Reveals No Adverse Outcomes

  • By

  • Nike Walter

  • David W. Lowenberg

  • Christian Heiss

  • Edmund C. Lau

  • Markus Rupp

  • August 22, 2026

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  • 1

    The study analyzed 43,000 elective arthroplasties to assess the impact of performing surgeries on Friday the 13th.

  • 2

    Data were sourced from Medicare records covering procedures from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2019.

  • 3

    No significant differences were found in complication rates or mortality between surgeries on Friday the 13th and other Fridays.

  • 4

    A total of 945 arthroplasties were performed on Fridays that fell on the 13th, with similar outcomes to other Fridays.

  • 5

    Statistical analyses showed adjusted hazard ratios for revisions and mortality were not significantly different for Friday the 13th surgeries.

Original Source(s)

Elective arthroplasty on “high-risk” calendar dates: no evidence for worse outcomes in 43,000 procedures

  • by Nike Walter, David W. Lowenberg, Christian Heiss, Edmund C. Lau, Markus Rupp

  • August 22, 2026

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