Cost and Effectiveness of Postoperative Fever Workup in Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Patients

There is evidence that postoperative fevers are a physiologic response to surgery, and extensive workups for an infection may be unnecessary and costly. The purpose of this study is to describe the incidence, characteristics, and costs of the postoperative fever workup after total hip and knee arthroplasty. Our hypothesis is that the standard fever workup rarely changes clinical management and is thus inappropriate and cost ineffective.