Patient Perception Regarding the Safety of Elective Joint Arthroplasty Surgery During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Xiao T. Chen, MD; Brian C. Chung, BS; Ian A. Jones, BA; Alexander B. Christ, MD; Daniel A. Oakes, MD; Paul K. Gilbert, MD; Donald B. Longjohn, MD; Jay R. Lieberman, MD; Nathanael D. Heckmann, MD

Arthroplasty Today (Oct 2021)

Patient Perception Regarding the Safety of Elective Joint Arthroplasty Surgery During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Xiao T. Chen, MD,
Brian C. Chung, BS,
Ian A. Jones, BA,
Alexander B. Christ, MD,
Daniel A. Oakes, MD,
Paul K. Gilbert, MD,
Donald B. Longjohn, MD,
Jay R. Lieberman, MD,
Nathanael D. Heckmann, MD

Affiliations

Xiao T. Chen, MD: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Brian C. Chung, BS: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Ian A. Jones, BA: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Alexander B. Christ, MD: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Daniel A. Oakes, MD: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Paul K. Gilbert, MD: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Donald B. Longjohn, MD: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Jay R. Lieberman, MD: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Nathanael D. Heckmann, MD: Corresponding author. 1520 San Pablo St, Suite 2000, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA. Tel.: +1 323 704 6363.; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 11
pp. 113 – 121

Abstract

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Background: Total joint arthroplasty (TJA) practices have been dramatically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, no study has assessed trends in patient perceptions regarding the safety of elective TJA. Methods: A single-institution, prospective cohort study was conducted between May 11th and August 10th, 2020. All patients who underwent elective hip and knee arthroplasty were contacted via telephone or emailed surveys. Two-hundred and thirty-five consecutive patients were screened, and 158 agreed to participate. The average age was 65.9 ± 11.5 years, with 51.0% of patients being female. The percentage of participants who underwent total knee, total hip, and unicompartmental knee arthroplasty was 41.4%, 37.6%, and 21.0%, respectively. Survey components assessed demographic data, level of concern and specific concerns about the pandemic, and factors increasing patient comfort in proceeding with surgery. Results: Older age (P = .029) and female sex (P = .004) independently predicted higher concern on multivariate analysis. Race (P = .343), surgical site (knee vs hip, P = .58), and procedure type (primary vs revision, P = .26) were not significantly related to degree of concern. Most participants (71.5%) disagreed that the pandemic would negatively affect the outcome of their surgery. Patient concern mirrored statewide COVID-19 cases and deaths, rather than local municipal trends. The most cited reassuring factors were preoperative COVID-19 testing, personal protective equipment usage by hospital staff, and surgeon support. Conclusions: Patient concern regarding the safety of elective TJA may follow broader policy-level events rather than local trends. Surgeons should note that universal preoperative COVID-19 testing, adequate personal protective equipment, and surgeon support were reassuring to patients. Level of Evidence: Level IV Therapeutic.

Published in Arthroplasty Today

ISSN: 2352-3441 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Medicine: Surgery: Orthopedic surgery
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/arthroplasty-today/

About the journal

Abstract

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