An Updated Estimate of Total Hip and Total Knee Arthroplasty Inpatient Case Volume During the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States

Nathanael D. Heckmann, MD; Cory K. Mayfield, MD; Mary K. Richardson, BS; Kevin C. Liu, BS; Jennifer C. Wang, MD; Amit S. Piple, MD; Jeffrey B. Stambough, MD; Daniel A. Oakes, MD; Alexander B. Christ, MD; Jay R. Lieberman, MD

Arthroplasty Today (Apr 2024)

An Updated Estimate of Total Hip and Total Knee Arthroplasty Inpatient Case Volume During the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States

Nathanael D. Heckmann, MD,
Cory K. Mayfield, MD,
Mary K. Richardson, BS,
Kevin C. Liu, BS,
Jennifer C. Wang, MD,
Amit S. Piple, MD,
Jeffrey B. Stambough, MD,
Daniel A. Oakes, MD,
Alexander B. Christ, MD,
Jay R. Lieberman, MD

Affiliations

Nathanael D. Heckmann, MD: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Corresponding author. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keck Medical Center of USC, 1520 San Pablo Street, Ste 2000, Los Angeles, CA 90333, USA. Tel.: +1 323 704 6363.
Cory K. Mayfield, MD: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Mary K. Richardson, BS: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Kevin C. Liu, BS: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Jennifer C. Wang, MD: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Amit S. Piple, MD: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Jeffrey B. Stambough, MD: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
Daniel A. Oakes, MD: 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
Jay R. Lieberman, MD: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 26
p. 101336

Abstract

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Background: Inpatient total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) practices were dramatically affected in the United States in 2020 as elective surgeries were paused in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study sought to provide an updated estimate of inpatient total joint arthroplasty (TJA) case volumes in the United States in 2020. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed by identifying all adult patients who underwent primary, elective TJA from January 1st, 2017 to December 31st, 2020, using the National Inpatient Sample. Monthly and annual case volumes were reported with descriptive statistics. Baseline case volumes were established by taking the average number of monthly cases performed in 2017, 2018, and 2019. These monthly averages were compared to 2020 values. Results: From 2017 to 2019, the average case volume was 1,056,669 cases per year (41.0% THA, 59.0% TKA) and 88,055 cases per month. In 2020, 535,441 cases were identified (45.4% THA, 54.6% TKA), corresponding to a 49.3% reduction from the 2017-2019 annual average. Monthly cases decreased to 4515 in April during the “first wave” of COVID-19, corresponding to a 94.8% decrease from prior years. In June, cases rebounded to 55,520 before decreasing again in July to 50,100 during the “second wave” of COVID-19. During the “third wave,” COVID-19 cases decreased month-over-month from October through December (56.5% decrease). Conclusions: This updated estimate identified a 49.3% decrease in inpatient TJA cases in 2020 compared to prior years. This is similar to the 46.5-47.7% decrease in case volume previously reported.

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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