Effects of socioeconomic status on patients' outcome after total knee arthroplasty

Abstract

Across all four countries, patients with lower incomes appeared to have a greater need for total knee arthroplasty. However, level of income and educational status did not appear to affect the final outcome following total knee arthroplasty. Patients with lower incomes appeared able to compensate for their worse pre-operative score and obtain similar outcomes post-operatively. These findings are in contrast to studies on other medical conditions and surgical interventions, in which a lower SES has been found to have a negative impact on patient outcomes.