Knee-Replacement Surgery in the United States and Ontario

To the Editor: To a Canadian rheumatologist, Coyte et al.'s description of rapid access to orthopedic surgeons and subsequent knee-replacement surgery (Oct. 20 issue) 1 seems utopian. Imagine my surprise on finding that the description was of my own country. In Edmonton, Alberta, my patients wait a minimum of three months to see a surgeon. One surgeon even keeps a separate office waiting list for patients before they start the formal wait of three or four months. I surveyed 12 patients admitted during the previous three weeks for joint-replacement surgery (hip and knee). All had waited for more than a year. . . .