Travel Distance Does Not Affect Patient-Reported Outcomes Following Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty

Conor M Jones ¹, Enrico M Forlenza ², Jonathan Spaan ²

⁰Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL. Electronic address: conor_m_jones@rush.edu.

The Journal of Arthroplasty +

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June 13, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

Travel distance does not impact total knee arthroplasty (TKA) outcomes. Patients traveling over 50 miles showed similar range of motion (ROM) and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) compared to local patients, with no increase in complications.

Area Of Science

Orthopedic Surgery
Arthroplasty Research
Patient Outcomes

Background

Increasing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) volume at high-volume centers raises concerns about patient travel burden.
Potential for fragmented postoperative care and adverse outcomes due to increased travel distance.

Purpose Of The Study

To evaluate the impact of travel distance on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and range of motion (ROM) after TKA.
To compare outcomes between patients living >50 miles (travelers) and <50 miles (locals) from the surgical center.

Main Methods

Retrospective analysis of 430 primary TKA patients (2017-2022).
Patients categorized as 'travelers' (>50 miles) or 'locals' (<50 miles).
Primary outcomes: change in ROM, VR-12, KSS, KOOS JR. Secondary outcomes: 90-day complications, ED visits, readmissions, reoperations.

Main Results

No significant difference in ROM change between travelers and locals.
Similar rates of achieving minimal clinically important difference (MCID) in PROs for both groups.
Comparable rates of ED visits, 90-day readmissions, and reoperations between travelers and locals.

Conclusions

Travel distance did not adversely affect PROs or 90-day complication rates following TKA.
Patients traveling over 50 miles achieved MCID at similar rates to local patients.
High-volume centers can perform TKA without negatively impacting patient outcomes based on travel distance.

Keywords:

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) complications outcomes patient-reported outcomes (PROs) range of motion (ROM) travel