BACKGROUND

Disparities exist in access to and outcomes following total knee arthroplasty. However, there is a paucity of data examining the relationship between travel distance and these disparities.

METHODS

We used the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, American Hospital Association, and UnitedStatesZipCodes.org Enterprise databases to gather patient demographic and postoperative outcomes data. We calculated the distance traveled between patient population-weighted zip code centroid points and the hospitals at which they received total knee arthroplasty. We then examined the association between travel distance and patient demographic characteristics as well as postoperative adverse outcomes.

RESULTS

Among of cohort of 384,038 patients, white patients (16.58 miles) traveled farther on average than Black (10.05) or Hispanic patients (10.54) ( < .0001). Medicare and commercial insurance coverage were associated with greater travel distance ( < .0001). Fewer medical comorbidities ( < .001) and residence in the highest-income areas ( < .0001) were associated with increased travel distance. Differences in postoperative complication rates related to travel distance were not clinically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased travel distance for total knee arthroplasty was associated with white race, commercial and Medicare insurance coverage, fewer medical comorbidities, and increased socioeconomic status. Future work is needed to determine the underlying causal mechanisms leading to these differences in access to specialized care.