Does racial background influence outcomes following total joint arthroplasty?

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Health Services Research
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are crucial for assessing total hip (THA) and knee (TKA) arthroplasty success.
• Racial and ethnic variations in healthcare experiences and outcomes are increasingly recognized.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether racial differences impact PROMs after primary THA and TKA.
• To identify potential disparities in surgical outcomes and postoperative care based on race.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of THA and TKA patients (2016-2020) with available PROMs.
• Patients categorized into Caucasian, African-American, and other racial groups.
• Statistical analysis (chi-square, ANOVA, ANCOVA) to compare demographics, clinical data, and PROMs.

Main Results:

• Caucasian patients reported significantly higher PROMs than non-Caucasian patients in both THA and TKA cohorts.
• African-Americans had significantly longer surgical times and lengths of stay (LOS) in both THA and TKA.
• No significant differences were observed in emergency department visits, 90-day postoperative events, or discharge disposition across racial groups.

Conclusions:

• Non-Caucasian patients generally report lower PROMs post-TJA compared to Caucasian patients.
• African-Americans experience longer LOS, indicating a potential area for targeted interventions.
• Further research is needed to address and mitigate racial disparities in joint replacement outcomes.