The reason why orthopaedic surgeons perform total knee replacement: results of a randomised study using case vignettes

Abstract

Purpose: End-stage knee osteoarthritis (OA) results in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) surgery. The decision to perform TKA is not well defined, resulting in variation of indications among orthopaedic surgeons. Non-operative treatment measures are often not extensively used. Aim of this study was to investigate factors influencing the decision to perform TKA by Dutch orthopaedic surgeons. Methods: Three case vignettes, each case divided into two versions, being identical except for information on age (younger and older age), pain (mild and severe pain) or radiological OA (low and high grade) were developed. A questionnaire including these three case vignettes was sent to 599 Dutch orthopaedic ..