Temporal Relationship Between Knee Arthroscopy and Arthroplasty: A Quality Measure for Joint Care?
Norman A. Johanson; Fredric A. Kleinbart; Douglas L. Cerynik; Jennifer M. Brey; Kevin L. Ong; Steven M. KurtzKnee
This study examined the incidence and rates of knee arthroscopy in patients older than 65 years and the risk of subsequent knee arthroplasty. Medicare claims data (1997-2006, 5% sample) were used to identify 78 137 knee arthroscopy patients. Performance of arthroscopy increased 56.1%. Prevalence increased 44.6% from 362.2 to 523.7 per 100 000 Medicare patients. The prevalence was greater for women and white patients. Prevalence of knee arthroscopy was greater in the South. Within 1 year after arthroscopy, 10.2% of arthropathy patients and 8.5% of injury patients underwent knee arthroplasty. A progressive increase was seen in the rates of use of knee arthroscopy in elderly Medicare patients for a 10-year period. A 10.2% failure rate 1 year after knee arthroscopy may be a reasonable benchmark against which performance of knee arthroscopy in patients older than 65 years can be measured.
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