The Impact of Sars-CoV-2 Pandemic on Patient Selection, Length of Stay, and Short-Term Postoperative Outcomes in Elective Total Joint Arthroplasty.

# Introduction: The purpose of this study is to examine how COVID-19 has impacted patient selection and short-term outcomes for total joint arthroplasty (TJA). # Methods: Retrospective study of patients who underwent TJA between 1/1/2019-8/1/2020 at an urban multi-center institution. Baseline characteristics and short term outcomes were reviewed. Study groups were assigned by date of procedure. # Results: 5448 patients (2871 total knee and 2677 total hip arthroplasties) met inclusion criteria with 652 TJA performed in post-COVID period. Patients undergoing TJA after COVID-19 were younger, had lower ASA scores, had increased operative times, decreased LOS, greater proportion of home discharges, and lower readmission and reoperation rates. # Discussion: We observed significant differences in patient characteristics and short-term postoperative outcomes for patients undergoing TJA after the spread of COVID19.