Knee Replacement Rate

This indicator measures the age-standardized hospitalization rate for all knee replacement procedures performed in acute care hospitals or same-day surgery facilities per 100,000 population age 18 and older.
Data updated:
Data availability: to (fiscal years)
Geographic coverage
All provinces/territories
Reporting level
National, Province/Territory, Region
Calculation

(Total number of discharges for all knee replacements for patients age 18 and older ÷ Total mid-year population age 18 and older) × 100,000 (age-adjusted)

Denominator

Total mid-year population age 18 and older

Numerator

Total number of discharges or same-day visits for all knee replacement procedures for patients age 18 and older

Unit of analysis: Single admission or same-day visit

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Name

Knee Replacement Rate

Short/Other Names

Age-Standardized Rate for Knee Replacements

Description

This indicator measures the age-standardized hospitalization rate for all knee replacement procedures performed in acute care hospitals or same-day surgery facilities per 100,000 population age 18 and older.

The indicator includes all knee replacement types: total knee replacement, unicompartmental knee replacement (medial, lateral or patellofemoral) and patella-only procedures.

For further details, please see the General Methodology Notes (PDF).

Rationale

Knee replacement surgery has the potential to improve functional status, reduce pain and contribute to other gains in health-related quality of life. Over the past two decades, rates of knee replacement procedures have increased substantially. Wide inter-regional variation in joint replacement rates may be attributable to numerous factors, including the availability of services, provider practice patterns and patient preferences.

HSP Framework Dimension

Health system resources

Areas of Need

Not applicable

Targets/Benchmarks

Not applicable

Available Data Years

to

Geographic Coverage

  • All provinces/territories

Reporting Level/Disaggregation

  • National
  • Province/Territory
  • Region

Indicator Results

Web Tool:
Health Indicators e-Publication

Update Frequency

Every year

Latest Results Update Date

Updates

Not applicable

Description

(Total number of discharges for all knee replacements for patients age 18 and older ÷ Total mid-year population age 18 and older) × 100,000 (age-adjusted)

Type of Measurement

Rate

Per 100,000

Denominator

Description:

Total mid-year population age 18 and older

Numerator

Description:

Total number of discharges or same-day visits for all knee replacement procedures for patients age 18 and older

Unit of analysis: Single admission or same-day visit

Inclusions:

  1. Knee replacement procedures occurring during inpatient stay or same-day visit CCI: 1.VG.53^^ and 1.VP.53^^

    Note: Rates are based on the total number of discharges or same-day visits for knee replacement procedures in a given year. Therefore, a patient who received a simultaneous bilateral knee replacement or underwent multiple knee replacement procedures within a single hospital admission or same-day visit would be counted only once.
  2. Age at admission: 18 and older
  3. Sex recorded as male or female
  4. Admission to an acute care institution or day surgery facility (Facility Type Code = 1 or A)

Exclusions:

  1. Records with cement spacers not coded as revision (intervention code 1VG53LASLN and Intervention Status Attribute does not equal R)
  2. Knee replacement procedures that were abandoned after onset or performed out of hospital (Intervention Status Attribute = A or OOH Indicator Flag = Y)
  3. Newborn, stillbirth or cadaveric donor records (Admission Category Code = N, R or S)

Method of Adjustment

Direct standardization

Standard Population
Canada 2011

Adjustment Applied

Age-adjusted

Geographic Assignment

Place of residence

Data Sources

  • DAD
  • HMDB
  • NACRS

Caveats and Limitations

Rates are based on the total number of discharges or same-day visits for knee replacement procedures in a given year. However, it is possible for a patient to undergo more than one knee replacement procedure in a single hospitalization or day surgery visit.

Trending Issues

Prior to 2013–2014, the Canadian Joint Replacement Registry (CJRR) annual report included results for knee replacements performed in acute care hospitals only. Beginning in 2013-2014, the results for knee replacement include both acute and day surgery cases.

As of 2013–2014, the knee replacement rates published in the Health Indicators E-Publication include additional patella-only replacement procedures. Comparability with previous years might be affected.

Comments

  1. Regional results are available in the Health Indicators e-Publication.
  2. Provincial results are also available in Quick Stats. Please note the following:
  • Prior to 2013–2014, results for Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut were suppressed in the CJRR annual report. However, their numbers are included in Canadian calculations.
  • As of 2013–2014, knee replacements from day surgery settings are included in the CJRR annual report.
  • Calculation of a patient's geography in the Health Indicators e-Publication is based on the Postal Code Conversion File (PCCF).
  • Beginning with 2015–2016 data, procedures involving implantation of a cement spacer are excluded from knee replacement cases when it is not part of a revision surgery; comparability with previous years should not be affected.

References

Not applicable

How to cite:

Canadian Institute for Health Information. Knee Replacement Rate. Accessed April 28, 2024.

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