Is minimally invasive total knee arthroplasty associated with lower costs than traditional TKA?

Background: Studies of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) approaches to TKA have shown decreased postoperative pain, earlier return to function, and shorter lengths of stay in the hospital. However, it is unclear whether these differences translate into decreased costs or charges associated with care.

Questions/purposes: We asked whether a minimally invasive approach to TKA is associated with lower inpatient charges and direct inpatient costs than the traditional approach.

Geographic disparities in cervical cancer mortality: what are the roles of risk factor prevalence, screening, and use of recommended treatment?

Context: Despite advances in early detection and prevention of cervical cancer, women living in rural areas, and particularly in Appalachia, the rural South, the Texas/Mexico border, and the central valley of California, have had consistently higher rates of cervical cancer mortality than their counterparts in other areas during the past several decades.

Methods: This paper reviews the published literature from 1966 to July 2002 to assess three potential pathways underlying this excess mortality--high human papilloma virus (HPV) prevalence, lack of or infrequent screening and advanced disease at diagnosis, and under-use of recommended treatment and shorter survival.

Findings: Living in rural areas may impose barriers to cervical cancer control, including lack of transportation and medical care infrastructures.