Total joint replacement may be a valuable treatment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with osteoarthritis, but uptake is low

Abstract

Background: Despite bearing a higher burden of osteoarthritis, little research has examined disparities in the access, utilisation and surgical outcomes associated with total joint replacement (TJR) among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study to compare the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Aboriginal patients who underwent primary hip and knee replacement at St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne between 1996 and 2019. Results: A total of 10 277 primary total knee or hip replacements were performed in the 1996–2019 study period, of which 49 (0.5%) patients identified as eithe..