Outcomes of Total Knee Arthroplasty in English-Versus Non–English-Speaking Patients

Abstract

Purpose. To compare outcomes of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in English- versus non–English-speaking patients. Methods. 193 women and 85 men (mean age, 72 years) underwent 117 left and 161 right primary TKAs. 237 and 41 patients were English and non–English speaking, respectively. Interpretation was provided. Pre- and post-operative functional outcomes were measured using the International Knee Society (IKS) score. Results. Most non–English-speaking patients were female (38 vs 3 of 41, p<0.001). The mean body mass index of non–English-speaking patients was significantly higher (34 vs 31 kg/m 2 , p=0.003). 14 foreign languages were spoken among the 41 non–English-speaking patients, of which Greek and Italian were the most common. Non–English-speaking patients had significantly worse IKS scores both preoperatively and at the 12-month follow-up. The proportions of poor postoperative IKS scores were significantly higher in non–English-speaking patients (58% vs 27%, p<0.001), in whom pain was also significantly worse (p=0.017). In a multiple logistic regression analysis, being non–English speaking was the only predictor of poor functional outcome at the 12-month follow-up (odds ratio=2.77, confidence interval=1.25–6.14, p=0.012). Conclusion. The non–English-speaking background of a patient is a predictor of less favourable functional outcome after TKA.