Joint Replacements on the Move: U.S. Shifts to Outpatient Care for Cost-effective Recovery
Joint is the most integral part of locomotor activity, performing a pivotal role in the movement of the human body. When these joints face difficulties with respect to physiological aspects, there is a strong requirement of replacement. This requirement of joint replacement potentiates different options for the replacement surgeries.
"The number of people needing hip and knee replacements, or reconstructions, is rising rapidly as the population ages and more people stay active as they grow older," said Sean Rajaee, MD.
There are two joint replacement care categories, where the surgery is performed, one is inpatient care, and the other one is outpatient care. There are certain points, such as cost effectiveness and no hospital stays, where outpatient care takes over. By taking these points into consideration, a remarkable shift towards outpatient care for joint replacement is being observed in U.S.
"Through their leadership, Drs. Penenberg and Rajaee, renowned hip and knee arthroplasty surgeons, will enhance the current state of orthopaedic surgical care and continue to innovate in the approach to minimally invasive and outpatient surgery,” said Mark Vrahas, MD, chair of Cedars-Sinai Orthopaedics.
The below-mentioned graph indicates a rising percentage of outpatient joint replacement from 2018 to 2023. This rise in outpatient joint replacement creates demand for orthopedic devices and drives the market growth.
Graph: Outpatient Joint Replacement in U.S., 2018-2023
Source: American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS)
Key Takeaways:
- The remarkable increase of 67% from 2018 to 2023 in outpatient joint replacement in U.S. is highlighting the major aspect of cost effectiveness. As the cost for outpatient services is less compared to inpatient care, high adoption of outpatient care for joint replacement has been observed. For instance, in the U.S., the cost of a knee replacement at an inpatient facility is approximately USD 41,620, while the same procedure at an outpatient facility costs around USD 25,100, highlighting the significant cost advantage driving outpatient adoption.
- Outpatient services eliminate the need for hospital stays, enhancing the patient experience and supporting faster recovery.
"As the trend toward outpatient arthroplasty continues, it is imperative that the orthopedic community continues to evaluate the safety and efficacy of HASCs to determine if this new model of care delivery should be further expanded," said Graham S. Goh, MD.
However, a uniform rise in outpatient joint replacements was not observed across all U.S. states. Interestingly, higher percentages were seen in states with smaller populations compared to those with larger populations.
The graph below illustrates the percentage of outpatient joint replacements across various U.S. states. This variation highlights untapped potential for expanding outpatient services, presenting opportunities to drive market growth.
Graph: Hospital Outpatient Joint Replacement in U.S., by State, 2023
Source: American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS)
Key Takeaways:
- Idaho, Maine, Delaware, New Hampshire states had high percentage of outpatient joint replacement as compared to Oklahoma, New York, Massachusetts, and West Virginia. This disparity may reflect regional differences in healthcare infrastructure, patient preferences, and the prevalence of orthopedic conditions, highlighting potential growth opportunities for outpatient joint care services in underpenetrated states.
Opportunities Shaping the Outlook of Orthopedic Devices Market
- The cost-effectiveness of outpatient joint replacement is expected to raise awareness and encourage greater adoption of orthopaedic care, particularly driving demand for orthopaedic devices.
- State-wise variations in outpatient penetration propose opportunities to expand joint replacement services nationwide, paving way for a better market coverage across the U.S.
