Outcomes of Total Joint Arthroplasty in Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic Groups Versus Local Population: A Retrospective Review

Abstract

Background: Total hip and knee replacement decrease the disability caused by osteoarthritis of the lower extremities. Although it has been established that racial and ethnic minorities underutilize these procedures, little data on postoperative outcomes exists. The impact of race on postoperative Oxford scores and complications following total joint arthroplasty (TJA) will be investigated in this retrospective review. Methods: A retrospective review of 120 elective primary TJA procedures was undertaken between January 2016 and December 2019 in a single institution. To measure variations between the various groups, t-tests were used on their Oxford scores, and chi-squared bivariate regression was used to classify all categorical variables and the association of ethnicity and surgery type with gender. Results: There were 62 (51.6%) White patients and 59 (49.1.0%) Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic (BAME) patients in total. The majority of the patients were females (60.9% vs 39.2%, p = 0.032). Low vitamin D levels were seen in a small percentage of patients in the sample (15.8% vs 84.2%, p = 0.460). There is a statistically important connection (p = 0.001) between the surgery type (total knee replacement [TKR]/total hip replacement [THR]) and gender; 41 females had TKR surgery, and 32 had THR surgery. Conclusion: The study found that the relationships between ethnicity (White/BAME) and gender as well as surgery type (TKR/THR) and gender are statistically important. In all cases with low vitamin D and normal vitamin D levels, White patients had higher overall Oxford hip scores than the BAME patients. To comprehend the differences discovered, further research is needed. To try to eliminate the difference, targeted approaches should be created.