Medical care
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The decision to perform orthopedic surgery requires substantial discretion and judgment. Similar conditions have been associated with health care disparities in other fields, but the extent of racial and ethnic disparities in orthopedics is unknown. ⋯ Patients from racial and ethnic minority populations seem to be at increased risk of complications and/or mortality following spine surgical or joint replacement procedures. There is insufficient evidence to support generalization to the entire orthopedic field. Studies specific to African American patients identify health care disparities at a significantly higher rate than those utilizing non-white cohorts.
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The decision to perform orthopedic surgery requires substantial discretion and judgment. Similar conditions have been associated with health care disparities in other fields, but the extent of racial and ethnic disparities in orthopedics is unknown. ⋯ Patients from racial and ethnic minority populations seem to be at increased risk of complications and/or mortality following spine surgical or joint replacement procedures. There is insufficient evidence to support generalization to the entire orthopedic field. Studies specific to African American patients identify health care disparities at a significantly higher rate than those utilizing non-white cohorts.