10°c Overcast
17°c Variable cloudiness
Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Around half of knee, hip replacements in Manitoba performed within benchmark time
Surgeon Dr. Thomas Turgeon checks digital x-rays prior to knee replacement surgery. (PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store
Manitoba continues to lag behind most provinces in performing timely knee and hip replacements but is among the quickest in repairing hip fractures.
The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) released the latest national comparisons this afternoon.
Manitoba performed only 56 per cent of hip replacements and 46 per cent of knee replacements within the benchmark six-month period last year. That compares with the national average of 80 per cent and 75 per cent respectively.
For hip fracture repair, Manitoba did better, with 86 per cent of procedures done within the benchmark 48 hours. Across Canada, 81 per cent of hip fracture repairs were done within the benchmark.
CIHI said waits for joint replacement surgery vary greatly among provinces. More than half of them — including Manitoba — saw a reduction in the percentage of procedures meeting the benchmark time frames over a three year period.
The number of hip and knee replacements performed in Canada increased by 15 per cent between 2010 and 2012, costing the health care system more than $100 million.
Progressive Conservative health critic Cameron Friesen said the Selinger government has failed to correct a troubling trend.
"We have some of the longest waits in the country and despite promises to do better the NDP government has been all talk and no action," he said. "These types of surgeries matter to mobility and mobility matters to health."
Last week, Health Minister Theresa Oswald said that the province had cut waits for hip and knee replacements by 40 per cent over the last two years thanks to increased surgical capacity and a more streamlined system.
She said those needing non-emergency orthopedic surgery are now receiving them within the medically recommended benchmark — if they are willing to go to the first available surgeon.
Oswald said only 1,200 Manitobans are now awaiting non-emergency knee and hip replacement surgery, compared with 2,000 two years ago.
She said more than 3,600 replacement surgeries were performed in Manitoba last year — more than twice the number performed in 2004.
More Your Health
- Back to Top
- Return to Your Health
More Your Health
(1 of 50 articles for this week)
Sugar Injections for Knee Arthritis May Ease Pain: Study
05/20/2013 5:00 PM 0
Poll
Most Popular Your Health
- Skin picking gets status as distinct disorder, should help sufferers access help
- Measles outbreaks flourish in UK years after discredited research tied measles shot to autism
- Baker's cyst A sign of something else
- Three companies recall antipsychotic drug quetiapine: Health Canada says
- Avoid herpes -- make love like a porcupine
- Vitamin C and lysine proven to keep arteries healthy
- Saved by the kettlebell
- Adrenal fatigue can have significant impact
- Canadian becomes president of International Council of Nurses
- Reduced urinary flow a reality for older men
- Angelina Jolie's double mastectomy: Q&A
- No evidence cycle helmet laws reduce head injuries: study
- Skin picking gets status as distinct disorder, should help sufferers access help
- Measles outbreaks flourish in UK years after discredited research tied measles shot to autism
- Baker's cyst A sign of something else
- Vitamin C and lysine proven to keep arteries healthy
- Three companies recall antipsychotic drug quetiapine: Health Canada says
- Kidney problems price we pay for progress
- Avoid herpes -- make love like a porcupine
- Opposition wants inquest into death of woman who left Winnipeg hospital ER
- Baby delivery: safe haven baby drop-off sites open in Edmonton hospitals
- Boston Marathon bombing victims face huge medical bills; tens of millions in donations pour in
- Angelina Jolie's double mastectomy: Q&A
- Pharmacy assistant who found diluted cancer drugs says label raised questions
- Auditor general takes aim at residential schools, diabetes prevention
- Vitamin C and lysine proven to keep arteries healthy
- Hockey commentator Kelly Hrudey shares daughter's struggle with mental illness
- Biomedical engineer designs exercises, tests to battle Alzheimer's
- Baker's cyst A sign of something else
- No evidence cycle helmet laws reduce head injuries: study
- Three companies recall antipsychotic drug quetiapine: Health Canada says
- Measles outbreaks flourish in UK years after discredited research tied measles shot to autism
- Vitamin C and lysine proven to keep arteries healthy
- Ontario Nurses Association seeks moratorium on cuts to registered nursing jobs
- Canadian dies with aid of doctor in Zurich; wished it could have been in Canada
- No evidence cycle helmet laws reduce head injuries: study
- Avoid herpes -- make love like a porcupine
- Three companies recall antipsychotic drug quetiapine: Health Canada says
- Measles outbreaks flourish in UK years after discredited research tied measles shot to autism
- Vitamin C and lysine proven to keep arteries healthy
- Biomedical engineer designs exercises, tests to battle Alzheimer's
- AGING AMERICA: Poll finds people in denial about the need for long-term care as they get older
- Adrenal fatigue can have significant impact
- Kidney problems price we pay for progress
- Natural medicine best for lowering cholesterol
- Hockey commentator Kelly Hrudey shares daughter's struggle with mental illness
- Knee repair? Study finds physical therapy as good as surgery for torn cartilage, arthritis
- Federal Court tells Ottawa to reimburse First Nation for disabled child's costs
- If you see floaters, it's not necessarily serious
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.