Minority populations have lower rates of total knee replacement (TKR) utilization but higher rates of adverse health outcomes associated with the procedure, according to a new study appearing in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery.
More than 600,000 knee replacements are performed each year in the United States, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). The number of TKRs more than doubled from 329,000 in 1997 to 719,000 in 2010. Knee replacements may be recommended for patients with severe knee pain, stiffness and reduced function, often resulting from arthritis or injury.
