The economic recession and its effect on utilization of elective total joint arthroplasty

The United States economy entered a recession in December 2007. This study aims to determine whether the utilization of elective orthopedic surgeries has been impacted by this recession. From January 2007 to December 2009 at a single private practice in New Jersey, 4820 total joint replacement procedures were scheduled, of which 649 of those were cancelled. The rate of cancellation for financial reasons was compared to multiple economic measures by linear regression analysis. The results show that the rate of financially motivated cancellations increased over time concurring with multiple financial markers reflecting the economic recession. The results suggest that the recession has created a financial barrier for a significant number of Americans, leading to decreased utilization of care. While there was a statistically significant increase in cancellations for financial reasons, the overall rate of cancellations in the total joint population is still low, representing only about 1% of all cases.