How neighborhood and social factors influence when people get knee replacement
Official title: Social Determinants and Timeliness of Total Knee Replacement A National Perspective
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11252622 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how neighborhood, healthcare access, and social circumstances affect when adults who need knee replacement actually receive surgery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | March 19, 2021 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $440,499 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AR078342-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11252622 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with moderate-to-severe knee osteoarthritis who are candidates for or have received total knee replacement, especially Medicare beneficiaries and patients in the FORCE-TJR registry.
✕Less likely to help
People without knee osteoarthritis, those not considering surgery, or patients outside participating hospitals or the registry are unlikely to be directly impacted by participation in this project.
What this research studies
If you have knee arthritis, this project uses a national knee-replacement registry plus X-ray readings, maps of where people live, and Medicare records to understand timing of surgery. Researchers will classify whether operations happened earlier than ideal or at the right time based on symptoms and function. They will then examine how local healthcare access and the built environment (for example, transportation, clinics, sidewalks) relate to who gets surgery sooner or later and how much people improve afterward. The findings aim to identify social and neighborhood barriers that delay or hasten knee replacement so clinicians and policymakers can target help.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help direct knee replacement to people who will benefit most and reduce delays and inequities in access.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has linked social factors to access and use of joint replacement, but a national analysis combining radiographs, neighborhood data, and Medicare records to study timing of surgery is largely new.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ghomrawi, Hassan — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Ghomrawi, Hassan
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Self-powered knee implant load sensors to monitor total knee replacements
A tiny, self-powered sensor system is being developed to monitor the loads on a total knee replacement so doctors can keep an eye on implant health from afar.
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Remote-based physical activity program for adults after total knee replacement
A nationwide study tests a scalable, online program to help adults 12 months after knee replacement stay active and healthier without in-person visits.
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Self-powered knee implant that measures how your knee moves and bears weight inside the body
A new knee replacement implant will quietly power and transmit measurements of your knee’s movement and the forces across the joint during daily life.
-
Remote exercise program for people with knee replacements
Different online program features will be tried to help adults who had a total knee replacement become more active.
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Investigating how social factors affect the timing of total knee replacement surgery
This study looks at when people in the U.S. get knee replacement surgeries and how things like access to healthcare and living conditions affect that timing, so we can find ways to help more patients get the care they need when they need it.
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Improving Function and Pain After Total Knee Replacement Through Physical Activity and Weight Loss
This program helps adults who have had total knee replacement surgery improve their movement and reduce pain by focusing on physical activity and healthy weight.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.