[Every two year follow-up of arthroplasties: myth or reality?].
In this article, we propose a simple calculation to project quantitatively the number of consultations implied by a systematic follow-up protocol for arthroplasty surgery. In France, this surveillance schedule has become mandatory and will have a pertinent impact on health care expenditures. The longevity of implanted prostheses as well as patient life expectancies can be used to estimate the number of consultations necessary for a regular follow-up. For example, a surgeon who performs 200 arthroplasty procedures per year will have to see 17 patients per week 20 years later.
Piriou
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P
Service de Chirurgie Orthopédique, Hôpital Raymond-Poincaré, Garches. philippe.piriou@rpc.aphp.fr
Biau
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D
Judet
T
T
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D019643:Arthroplasty, Replacement / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005602:France; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006801:Humans; D007595:Joint Prosthesis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D016019:Survival Analysis