A large majority, 73 participants (72%), would not pay to have a 4 cm or smaller incision. The remaining the 29 patients (28%) who preferred to have a 4 cm or smaller incision would pay as much as $1,328 ± 1,629 (Fig. 1A). A majority, 64 participants (63%), did not want to be compensated to have a 4 cm or larger incision. However, 38 remaining patients (37%) wanted to be compensated as much as $2,771 ± 2,257 for a 4 cm or larger incision (Fig. 1B).

Incision length. A The percentage of participants indicating their willingness to pay to have a 4 cm smaller incision. B The percentage of participants indicating their willingness to be compensated to have a 4 cm larger incision

A large majority, 73 participants (72%), would not pay to extend their hospital stay by one day. However, the remaining 29 patients (28%) who would prefer to stay one day longer would pay a mean $827 ± 1,291 for that day (Fig. 2A). A majority, 58 patients (57%), would not need to be compensated to have their hospital stay shortened by one day. However, 44 patients (43%) would need to be compensated a mean $2,569 ± 2,253 to shorten their hospital stay by one day (Fig. 2B).

Duration of hospital stay. A The percentage of participants wanting to pay in order to extend their hospital stay by one day. B The percentage of participants needing compensation to shorten their hospital stay by one day

A majority, 60 patients (59%), would not pay to return to normal activity two weeks sooner. However, 42 patients (41%) would pay a mean of $1,695 ± 1,845 to return to normal activity two weeks sooner (Fig. 3A). A majority, 58 patients (57%), would not pay to return to normal activity four weeks sooner. However, 44 patients (43%) would pay a mean of $1,502 ± 1,675 to return to normal activity four weeks sooner (Fig. 3B).

Returning to activity. A The percentage of participants indicating their willingness to pay to return to normal activity two weeks sooner. B The percentage of participants indicating their willingness to pay to return to normal activity four weeks sooner

A large majority, 83 patients (81%), would not pay to choose their own implants. However, 19 patients (19%) would pay a mean $985 ± 1,445 to choose their own implants instead of having the physician choose them (Fig. 4).

Implants. The percentage of participants indicating their willingness to pay to return to choose their own implants

A large majority, 73 patients (72%), would not need to be compensated to forego the help of a home health aide. However, the remaining 29 patients (28%) would need to be compensated a mean $849 ± 1,227 to forego the help of a home health aide (Fig. 5). Additionally, a majority 67 patients (66%) would not need to be compensated to forego physical therapy. However, 35 patients (34%) would need to be compensated a mean $2,220 ± 1,981 to forego physical therapy (Fig. 6). Furthermore, a large majority, 76 patients (75%), would not need to be compensated forego a skilled nursing facility. However, 26 patients (25%) would need to be compensated a mean $2,559 ± 2,378 to return home after surgery instead of to a skilled nursing facility (Fig.7).

Assistance from home health aide. The percentage of participants requiring compensation to forego help from a home health aide

Physical therapy. The percentage of participants expecting compensation to forego physical therapy

Skilled nursing facility. The percentage of participants needing compensation to forego a skilled nursing facility

A majority, 61 patients (60%), would not pay to see the physician instead of another provider at the two-week follow-up. However, 41 patients (40%) would pay a mean $759 ± 1,276 to see the physician instead of another provider at the two-week follow-up (Fig. 8A). A majority 57 patients (56%) would not pay to see the physician instead of another provider at the six-week follow-up. However, 45 patients (44%) would pay a mean $813 ± 1,337 to see the physician instead of another provider at the six-week follow-up (Fig. 8B). Additionally, a large majority, 80 patients (78%), would not pay to conduct their two-week follow-up visit over the phone. However, 22 patients (22%) would pay a mean $426 ± 666 to conduct their two-week follow-up visit over the phone (Fig. 9A). A large majority, 82 patients (80%), would not pay to conduct their six-week follow-up visit over the phone. However, 20 patients (20%) would pay a mean $485 ± 697 to conduct their six-week follow-up visit over the phone (Fig. 9B).

Follow-up with a provider other than the physician. A The percentage of participants indicating their willingness to pay for a follow-up with their physician rather than another provider at the two-week follow-up visit. B The percentage of participants indicating their willingness to pay for a follow-up with their physician rather than another provider at the six-week follow-up visit

Telephone follow-up. A The percentage of participants indicating their willingness to pay for their two-week follow-up visit to be conducted over the telephone. B The percentage of participants indicating their willingness to pay for their six-week follow-up visit to be conducted over the telephone

Over half (51%) of the patients did not miss any work due to surgery. However, one-third needed to take more than 6 weeks off of work (Table 2). From the percentage patients who worked, 17 patients (17%) received an income through temporary disability when they were not working due to their surgery. Finally, 12 patients (12%) received an income through their employer as paid time off, while another 12 patients (12%) lost money as they did not receive any supplemental income after surgery (Figs. 7, 8 and 9).

A significant other or child provided assistance care for over half (51%) the patients after the surgery (Table 2). Another 33 patients (33%) stated they received post-operative care from someone designated as “other.” A majority of caretakers (65%) did not take time off of work to care for the patients after the surgery. 11 caretakers (11%) took less than seven days off of work to care for the patient after the surgery. Only 4% of caretakers (4%) needed to take more than 6 weeks off work.

Overall, a significant number of patients preferred not to use anticoagulation in total joint arthroplasty (p = 0.019). However, value attributed to avoiding a specific method of anticoagulation was found to be not significant (p = 0.507, Table 3). A large majority, 74 patients (73%), would not pay to avoid having their blood drawn for anticoagulation every 2 to 4 days. The remaining patients (27%) would pay a mean $1,145 ± 1,705 to avoid having their blood drawn every 2 to 4 days. A large majority, 70 patients (73%), would not pay to avoid having daily injections to dose their medication. The remaining 32 patients (31%) would pay a mean $1,166 ± 1,711 to avoid daily injections. A large majority, 84 patients (82%), would not pay to avoid taking medication via pills. The remaining 18 patients (18%) would pay a mean $701 ± 1,131 to avoid taking pills. A large majority, 86 patients (84%), would not pay to avoid wearing leg compression devices. The remaining 16 patients (16%) would pay a mean $261 ± 361 to avoid wearing leg compression devices.