Insurance Status and Patient Outcomes After Total Ankle Arthroplasty

, and Fisher exact tests.ResultsThe study analyzed 830 participants, with 401 in the Medicare cohort and 429 in the PPO/HMO cohort. Medicare patients were older (mean 70.4 years vs 59.1 years, P < .001), had a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (3.72 vs 2.51, P < .001), and experienced longer lengths of stay (1.73 vs 1.44 days, P < .001). Prior ankle surgery was more common in the PPO/HMO cohort (49.9% vs 41.4%, P = .017). Preoperative VAS pain scores were significantly higher in the PPO/HMO cohort (6.70 vs 5.91, P = .021), whereas postoperative VAS scores were similar between groups (P = .100). There were no significant differences in reoperation, readmission, or return to normal activities between the cohorts.ConclusionInsurance type is associated with differences in patient demographics and preoperative characteristics among patients undergoing TAA. Despite higher comorbidity burden and longer hospital stays among Medicare patients, postoperative clinical outcomes and functional recovery were comparable between Medicare and PPO/HMO cohorts.Level of EvidenceIII-Retrospective Comparative Study.