Health-Related Quality of Life and Appropriateness of Knee or Hip Joint Replacement

Abstract
As life expectancies increase, the rates of hip joint and knee replacement are expected to increase.1-3 Although these procedures are expensive,4-6 they also are among the most effective in terms of patient benefits. Substantial variations in the indications for a variety of surgical procedures, including hip joint and knee replacement, have been reported during the last 20 years.7,8