From the Journals

Shifting Views Linked to Fewer Joint Surgeries, Study 

A Swedish study found that patients with knee or hip osteoarthritis who became unwilling to have joint replacement after a 3-month education and exercise program were significantly less likely to undergo surgery over the next several years.

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A large Swedish study found that patients with knee or hip osteoarthritis who became unwilling to undergo joint replacement after completing a 3-month education and exercise program were significantly less likely to have surgery in the following years. Those who shifted from willing to unwilling had a 20% lower risk of undergoing joint replacement compared with those who remained willing, with surgery delayed by an average of 1.1 years. Participants who became unwilling for surgery showed symptom improvement, and their effect was more pronounced in hip osteoarthritis. The findings suggest that shifts in patient preferences following non-surgical interventions may influence surgical outcomes, emphasizing the value of patient-reported outcomes in evaluating osteoarthritis treatment strategies.

Original Source(s)

Shifting Views Linked to Fewer Joint Surgeries, Study 

A Swedish study found that patients with knee or hip osteoarthritis who became unwilling to have joint replacement after a 3-month education and exercise program were significantly less likely to undergo surgery over the next several years.

  • by Stanley Gajete

  • June 6, 2025

  • 3 min

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