The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Patients in the United States: A Multicenter Update to the Previous Survey

Timothy S. Brown, MD; Nicholas A. Bedard, MD; Edward O. Rojas, MD; Christopher A. Anthony, MD; Ran Schwarzkopf, MD; Jeffrey B. Stambough, MD; Sumon Nandi, MD, MBA; Hernan Prieto, MD; Javad Parvizi, MD, FRCS; Stefano A. Bini, MD; Carlos A. Higuera, MD; Nicholas S. Piuzzi, MD; Michael Blankstein, MD; Samuel S. Wellman, MD; Matthew J. Dietz, MD; Jason M. Jennings, MD; Vinod Dasa, MD

Arthroplasty Today (Feb 2021)

The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Patients in the United States: A Multicenter Update to the Previous Survey

Timothy S. Brown, MD,
Nicholas A. Bedard, MD,
Edward O. Rojas, MD,
Christopher A. Anthony, MD,
Ran Schwarzkopf, MD,
Jeffrey B. Stambough, MD,
Sumon Nandi, MD, MBA,
Hernan Prieto, MD,
Javad Parvizi, MD, FRCS,
Stefano A. Bini, MD,
Carlos A. Higuera, MD,
Nicholas S. Piuzzi, MD,
Michael Blankstein, MD,
Samuel S. Wellman, MD,
Matthew J. Dietz, MD,
Jason M. Jennings, MD,
Vinod Dasa, MD

Affiliations

Timothy S. Brown, MD: Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA; Corresponding author. Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. Tel.: +1 319 384 7965.
Nicholas A. Bedard, MD: Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA
Edward O. Rojas, MD: Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA
Christopher A. Anthony, MD: Department of Orthopedics, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA
Ran Schwarzkopf, MD: Division of Orthopedics, Adult Joint Reconstruction NYU Langone, New York, NY, USA
Jeffrey B. Stambough, MD: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
Sumon Nandi, MD, MBA: Department of Orthopaedics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
Hernan Prieto, MD: Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
Javad Parvizi, MD, FRCS: Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Stefano A. Bini, MD: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
Carlos A. Higuera, MD: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
Nicholas S. Piuzzi, MD: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston, FL, USA
Michael Blankstein, MD: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, VT, USA
Samuel S. Wellman, MD: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
Matthew J. Dietz, MD: Department of Orthopaedics, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
Jason M. Jennings, MD: Colorado Joint Replacement, Denver, CO, USA
Vinod Dasa, MD: Department of Orthopaedics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 7
pp. 268 – 272

Abstract

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Background: In March 2020, elective total hip and knee arthroplasty (THA and TKA) were suspended across the United States in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We had previously published the results of a survey to the affected patients from 6 institutions. We now present the results of a larger distribution of this survey, through May and June 2020, to electively scheduled patients representing different regions of the United States. Methods: Fifteen centers identified through the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons Research Committee participated in a survey study of THA and TKA patients. Patients scheduled for primary elective THA or TKA but canceled due to the COVID-19 elective surgery stoppage (3/2020-5/2020) were included in the study. Descriptive statistics along with subgroup analysis with Wilcoxon rank were performed. Results: In total, surveys were distributed to 2135 patients and completed by 848 patients (40%) from 15 institutions. Most patients (728/848, 86%) had their surgery postponed or canceled by the surgeon or hospital. Unknown length of surgical delay remained the highest source of anxiety among survey participants. Male patients were more likely to be willing to proceed with surgery in spite of COVID-19. There were minimal regional differences in responses. Only 61 patients (7%) stated they will continue to delay surgery for fear of contracting COVID-19 while in the hospital. Conclusion: Similar to the previous study, the most anxiety-provoking thought was the uncertainty, over if and when the canceled joint replacement surgery could be rescheduled. Patients suffering from the daily pain of hip and knee arthritis who have been scheduled for elective arthroplasty remain eager to have their operation as soon as elective surgery is allowed to resume.

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/

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Abstract

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