Ethical Considerations in Total Joint Arthroplasty

Abstract

Hip and knee arthroplasty surgeries have excellent outcomes and notably improve quality of life. However, ethical issues permeate the practice of adult reconstruction, and as economics and technology evolve, these issues have become increasingly important. This article will review the currently published literature on ethical issues including industry influences, implants and instrumentations, surgical innovation, new technology adoptions, and healthcare policy–relevant issues, including patient cost sharing and bundled care programs. In addition, the direct marketing of implants from the manufacturer to the general public may falsely raise patient expectations concerning the long-term clinical outcome and performance of newer devices in the absence of long-term studies. This article will also focus on relevant contemporary ethical issues that do not necessarily have preexisting published literature or guidelines but, nonetheless, are crucial for adult reconstruction surgeons to address. These issues include access to care and challenges with orthopaedic resident and fellow education. Surgeons must understand the ethical issues that can arise in their clinical practice and how those issues affect patients. Clinicians are tasked with making the best-reasoned judgment possible to optimize their patients' outcomes. Still, the ability to standardize treatment while optimizing individual outcomes for unique patients remains a challenge.