Tale of Two Knees – What a Difference a Decade Makes

I’ve always wanted to do a post with the title, “A Tale of Two Knees.” Now, thanks to my better half, I can.  Nearly a decade ago, Anne had a total knee replacement. A couple of weeks ago, she got a second new knee on the other side. A comparison of the two procedures is nothing short of startling, as the below chart shows. Nothing against either surgeon or either hospital, but it’s changes in the last 3 rows that really tell the tale.

 

Year                            2011                                     2020

Hospital                   Penrose (C. Springs)     Swedish (Denver)
Surgeon                  O. Mitchell                          J. Assini
Procedure             Total Knee                         Total Knee
Anesthesia            General                               Spinal
Hospital-stay        2 nights                              Outpatient
Cost                          $60K                                    $20K

 

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Two weeks post-op the patient walks a mile, thus making her a PT rehab rock star.

Talk about a tale of two knees: That’s faster than an electoral recount in SOME states.

AHEM!