Kim Karin Tucker

Interests

Research

Health Disparity in Total Joint ReplacementBarriers to Care in Total Joint ReplacementGender Disparity in the Field of Orthopaedic SurgeryThe Use of Social Media and Podcasts to Distribute Information from Peer Reviewed Journal Articles

Teaching

Total Joint Arthroplasty

Courses

No activities entered.

Scholarly Contributions

Journals/Publications

• Tucker, K. K., Stambough, J. B., Wolfe, S., Austin, M. S., Ihekweazu, U. N., Ast, M. P., Brown, T. S., Heckmann, N. D., & Lange, J. K. (2023). The Education Committee of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons. The Journal of arthroplasty, 38(5), 777.
• Tucker, K. K., Wellman, S. S., Pelt, C. E., Golladay, G. J., Barrington, J. W., Shahdar, C., & Rajgopal, A. (2023). The American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons Publications Committee. The Journal of arthroplasty, 38(5), 778.
• Suleiman, L. I., Tucker, K., Ihekweazu, U., Huddleston, J. I., & Cohen-Rosenblum, A. R. (2022). Caring for Diverse and High-Risk Patients: Surgeon, Health System, and Patient Integration. The Journal of arthroplasty, 37(8), 1421-1425.
  More info

  Access and outcome disparities exist in hip and knee arthroplasty care. These disparities are associated with race, ethnicity, and social determinants of health such as income, housing, transportation, education, language, and health literacy. Additionally, medical comorbidities affecting postoperative outcomes are more prevalent in underresourced communities, which are more commonly communities of color. Navigating racial and ethnic differences in treating our patients undergoing hip and knee arthroplasty is necessary to reduce inequitable care. It is important to recognize our implicit biases and lessen their influence on our healthcare decision-making. Social determinants of health need to be addressed on a large scale as the current inequitable system disproportionally impacts communities of color. Patients with lower health literacy have a higher risk of postoperative complications and poor outcomes after hip and knee replacement. Low health literacy can be addressed by improving communication, reducing barriers to care, and supporting patients in their efforts to improve their own health. High-risk patients require more financial, physical, and mental resources to care for them, and hospitals, surgeons, and health insurance companies are often disincentivized to do so. By advocating for alternative payment models that adjust for the increased risk and take into account the increased perioperative work needed to care for these patients, surgeons can help reduce inequities in access to care. We have a responsibility to our patients to recognize and address social determinants of health, improve the diversity of our workforce, and advocate for improved access to care to decrease inequity and outcomes disparities in our field.
• Kelley, T. C., Tucker, K. K., Adams, M. J., & Dalury, D. F. (2014). Use of tranexamic acid results in decreased blood loss and decreased transfusions in patients undergoing staged bilateral total knee arthroplasty. Transfusion, 54(1), 26-30.
  More info

  Tranexamic acid (TXA) is an antifibrinolytic that reduces blood loss and transfusion rates in total joint arthroplasty. Blood loss and allogenic transfusion rates have not been well studied in patients receiving TXA and undergoing bilateral staged total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The purpose was to evaluate the effect of TXA on blood loss, hemoglobin (Hb) changes, and transfusion in patients undergoing staged bilateral TKA.
• Dalury, D. F., Tucker, K. K., & Kelley, T. C. (2012). All-polyethylene tibial components in obese patients are associated with low failure at midterm followup. Clinical orthopaedics and related research, 470(1), 117-24.
  More info

  In the United States, the obese population has increased markedly over the last four decades, and this trend continues. High patient weight places additional stress on TKA components, which may lead to increased polyethylene wear, osteolysis, radiolucencies, and clinical failure. Metal-backed tibial components and all-polyethylene tibial components in the general population have comparable osteolysis and failure, but it is unclear whether these components yield similar osteolysis and failure in obese patients.
• Dalury, D. F., Tucker, K. K., & Kelley, T. C. (2011). When can I drive?: brake response times after contemporary total knee arthroplasty. Clinical orthopaedics and related research, 469(1), 82-6.
  More info

  After right total knee arthroplasty (TKA), patients are usually eager to return to driving. Previous studies suggest 6 weeks postsurgery is a safe time. However, recent advances in surgical technique, pain management, and rehabilitation have theoretically improved recovery after TKA.