Knee surgeries in abundance in rich areas

Study: More new knee joints in more prosperous regions

17/10/2013

The "Health" fact check released by the Bertelsmannstiftung on Thursday shows that significantly more patients in Germany's more affluent regions receive artificial knee joints than in other parts of the country. In Bavaria, an average of three times more operations are carried out than elsewhere.

The German Society for Orthopedics and Orthopedic Surgery (DGOOC) had accessed and evaluated anonymous AOK data for the study. As a result, 100,000 people in Germany are implanted with a new knee joint each year. For the experts, this does not necessarily say anything about the health status of the patients.

Looking at the regional differences more closely, the clear difference between the nationwide leader and the tail light is very noticeable. The Bavarian district Neustadt was in the first place in 2011 with 214 operations per 100,000 inhabitants, whereas in Frankfurt (Oder) only 73 operations were carried out. This is certainly a difference that is not necessarily explained by health facts. "In all Bavarian districts directly at the border proportionally more patients receive artificial knee joints than in the Baden-Württemberg neighboring districts", was called. This shows that apparently also non-medical factors play a role in the surgery.

"In affluent areas, knee surgery is more common, although people in those regions tend to suffer less from osteoarthritis," said Stefan Etgeton, health expert for the foundation. But even in the states of Hesse, Thuringia and parts of Lower Saxony, there are significantly more interventions. To counteract this development in the future, stricter medical guidelines are needed. (Fr)

Picture: Martin Büdenbender