Knee Replacement for Seniors Also Lowers Risk of Death and Heart Failure, Study Says

There’s no doubt that knee replacement is a big step, but it could pay benefits down the road in more than just mobility. Senior patients needing a total knee replacement because of osteoarthritis have new reasons to undergo the surgery, some doctors have said.

Research presented at a meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons showed that the operation not only repairs the knee, it also lowers the patient’s probability of heart failure and death.

The purpose of the study, however, was to compare differences in cost and health outcomes between osteoarthritic patients who undergo joint replacement therapy and those who do not. They found that it did cost Medicare a little more for the patients who received the total knee replacement than for those who did not.

There were significant positives in the osteoarthritis total knee replacement group: 

·         The risk of mortality was half that of the non-total knee replacement group and 

·         The congestive heart failure rate also was lower, at three, five and seven years after surgery.

“These patients had improved survivorship and reduced risk for cardiovascular conditions,” said Scott Lovald, Ph.D., MBA, lead investigator and senior associate at Exponent, Inc.“More specifically, total knee replacement in osteoarthritis patients may reduce patient mortality by half. There are few health care investments that are so cost effective.”

 To see more about the study, check out http://www6.aaos.org/news/pemr/releases/release.cfm?releasenum=1044.