Three orthopaedic operations, over 1,000 randomized controlled trials, in over 100,000 patients
Hosam E. Matar, Simon R. Platt, Benjamin V. Bloch, Tim N. Board, Martyn L. Porter, Hugh U. Cameron, Peter J. James
Abstract
In orthopaedic surgery, the three most commonly performed operations are total knee arthroplasty (TKA), total hip arthroplasty (THA), and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). The demand for TKA is ever-increasing, with an estimated 700,000 TKAs performed each year in the USA alone, and a projected increase in demand to over 3.48 million procedures by 2030.1,2 Similarly, THA is one of the most successful and cost-effective interventions in orthopaedic surgery, considered by many as the operation of the century.3 The demand for THA is also rising worldwide.4-6 The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is the most commonly injured ligament in the knee with an estimated 400,000 ACLRs performed each year worldwide.7-9 Despite the success of and high demand for these procedures, debate continues on many surgical and technical aspects of these operations.