Medical Utilization and Expenditures Before and After Total Knee and Hip Arthroplasty in Osteoarthritis in Seoul, South Korea: A Retrospective Matched Cohort Study

Background

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic disease requiring long-term management, and its burden is expected to grow with population aging, including in South Korea’s rapidly aging population. Although total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA) are common interventions for OA, their long-term association with healthcare utilization and expenditures across benefit classifications remains unclear. This study examined differences in medical utilization and expenditures, disaggregated by benefit classification, between patients who underwent TKA/THA and matched non-surgical controls, before and after surgery.