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Highland Hospital / Quality of Care / Knee Replacement / Annual Surgeon Volume
 

Annual Surgeon Volume for Knee Replacement

In 2011, 100% of Highland Hospital's orthopaedic surgeons performed at least 12-15 knee replacements.

 

Studies have demonstrated an association between higher surgeon volumes and better patient outcomes for total knee replacements. Surgeon volumes of at least 15 total knee replacements per year were associated with lower mortality rates (The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, September 2003: 85; 1775-1783).

Another study of 80,904 Medicare patients noted that patients who had a first time total knee replacement, done by surgeons who performed more than 50 procedures annually, had fewer complications than patients who had surgeons with an annual volume of 12 procedures or less.

Other important factors associated with higher complication rates following total knee replacement are advanced patient age and additional patient health problems (The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, 2006; 88: 480-485). Those who are elderly, or who have multiple health problems may benefit the most from having an experienced surgeon.