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Do We Need Gender-specific Total Joint Arthroplasty?

  • Symposium: AAOS/ORS/ABJS Musculoskeletal Healthcare Disparities Research Symposium
  • Published:
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research®

Abstract

Background

Gender-specific differences in knee and hip anatomy have been well documented. Although it has been accepted these differences exist, there is controversy regarding if and how these differences should be addressed with gender-specific implant designs.

Questions/purposes

(1) What are the anatomic and morphologic differences, if any, in the knee and hip between men and women? (2) Do gender-specific TKA designs provide better clinical functioning, survivorship, and improved fit in women? (3) How have anatomic differences in the hip been addressed, if at all, by THA?

Methods

We conducted a systematic review of the MEDLINE database to identify all articles reviewing basic science and clinical outcomes of gender-specific total knee and total hip implants. From these, we reviewed 253 studies.

Results

The anatomic studies elucidated multiple differences in the anatomy of knees and hips between men and women. All reviewed studies report similar clinical function and satisfaction scores between men and women for gender-specific TKA and no improvement in these scores when comparing gender-specific TKA to unisex TKA. Current modularity in THA appears to accommodate any anatomic differences in the hip.

Conclusions

Based on the available literature, there is no difference in the outcome of patients with a gender-specific knee arthroplasty versus a unisex arthroplasty. It does not appear gender-specific THAs would provide any benefit over current systems.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Joint Preservation and Replacement, Rubin Institute for Advanced Orthopedics, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, 2401 West Belvedere Avenue, Baltimore, MD, 21215, USA

    Aaron J. Johnson MD, Christopher R. Costa MD & Michael A. Mont MD

Authors
  1. Aaron J. Johnson MD
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  2. Christopher R. Costa MD
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  3. Michael A. Mont MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael A. Mont MD.

Additional information

MAM is a consultant for Stryker Orthopaedics (Mahwah, NJ) and Wright Medical Technologies Inc (Arlington, TN) and receives royalties from Stryker Orthopaedics. The remaining authors have no disclosures to make. No external funding was received specifically in support of this work.

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Johnson, A.J., Costa, C.R. & Mont, M.A. Do We Need Gender-specific Total Joint Arthroplasty?. Clin Orthop Relat Res 469, 1852–1858 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-011-1769-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-011-1769-2

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