Schwarzkopf R, et al. - Through a retrospective analysis on unplanned readmissions within 90 days of discharge after elective primary total hip (THA) and knee (TKA) arthroplasty among Medicare subjects who were discharged between April 2013 and March 2016, the researchers contrasted payments, timing, and location of unplanned readmissions with Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)-defined surgical complications to readmissions with no such complications. Among THA (n=23,231) and TKA (n=43,655) patients with unplanned 90-day readmissions, 27.1% and 16.4% were observed having CMS-defined surgical complications, respectively. These readmissions with surgical complications were mostly noted occurring usually at the hospital of the index procedure and within 30 days post-discharge. For subjects with no CMS-defined surgical complications, it was markedly less likely to be rehospitalized at the index hospital or within 30 days of discharge. In comparison to those without CMS-defined complications, payments correlated with 90-day readmissions were greater for THA and TKA patients with CMS-defined complications. Hence, readmissions correlated with surgical complications post-THA and TKA were more likely to happen at the hospital of index surgery, within 30 days of discharge, and cost higher than readmissions with no CMS-defined surgical complications, yet they accounted for only 1 in 5 readmissions.