Disparities in the Use of Total Joint Arthroplasty

Osteoarthritis is a common, chronic, and degenerative disease of the joints. It afflicts more than 16 million people in the United States and is one of the leading causes of long-term disability. 1 It is the most prevalent chronic condition among women. 2 Although osteoarthritis is not preventable, the pain and disability that result from severe disease can be reduced dramatically through the surgical implantation of artificial joints. During the past two decades, substantial progress has been made in total joint arthroplasty. Outcomes research has shown that total joint replacement can restore patients with severe, end-stage disease of the knee to pain-free . . .