Osteoarthritis and cartilage
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Osteoarthr. Cartil. · May 2004
Multicenter StudyTwo knees or not two knees? Patient costs and outcomes following bilateral and unilateral total knee joint replacement surgery for OA.
This study aims to address medical and non-medical direct costs and health outcomes of bilateral and unilateral total knee replacement from the patients' perspective during the first year post-surgery. ⋯ Patients undergoing bilateral TKR and unilateral TKR had a similar length of stay in hospital and similar out-of-pocket expenditures. Bilateral replacement patients reported better physical function and general health with fewer health care visits one year post procedure. Patients requiring bilateral TKR have some additional information to aid their decision making. While their risk of peri-operative complications is higher, they have an excellent chance of good health outcomes at 12 months and are not going to be doubly "out-of-pocket" for the experience.