Does more testing in routine preoperative evaluation benefit the orthopedic patient? Case control study from a resource-constrained setting

•The “routine” pre-operative tests in healthy orthopaedic patients undergoing intermediate/major surgery are not justified.•Surgical plan was influenced in <1% of ASA-I & ASA-II elective orthopedic patients.•Blood tests were not associated with change in surgical plan.•Surgeons should be sensitized to reconsider this practice particularly with limited resources.