Joining Forces for Better Joints: A Critical Analysis of the Current Literature on Race and Ethnicity in Orthopaedic Surgery

Abstract

Osteoarthritis affects over 100 million people worldwide, with a greater impact on people of color compared to white patients. Race and ethnicity plays a large role in modern medicine, particularly in urban communities. The paper will focus on knee and hip reconstruction and, analyzing preoperative and postoperative management to identify disparities. We will explore the use of agency, solidarity, and social justice in implementing an urban bioethical toolbox. This thesis discusses the issue of racial disparities in joint surgery and explores the multifactorial systems that contribute to these inequities. I aim to emphasize the importance of recognizing and acknowledging these disparities and identifying several recommendations to address them, including an interdisciplinary approach to care, providing appropriate resources and care to underprivileged communities, prioritizing diet and exercise as primary preventive measures, increasing diversity in the field of orthopedics, and incorporating social workers into routine surgeries. I also aim to stress the significance of cultural competence and community engagement in improving patient outcomes and reducing disparities in healthcare.