Primary spoken language and regional anaesthesia use in total joint arthroplasty

A growing body of literature has demonstrated racial and socioeconomic disparities in total joint arthroplasty (TJA) utilisation, outcomes and related care, such as the type of anaesthesia.1 2 However, identification of associated factors is lacking. One proposed factor behind disparities is primary spoken language, as studies have suggested that patients who do not speak the same language as their physician may receive different types of care.3 In anaesthesia, language differences may complicate or impair preoperative patient-anaesthesiologist conversations regarding the choice of neuraxial or general anaesthesia (NA, GA). We hypothesised that non-English primary spoken language is associated with lower NA use, as a potential language barrier may lead to GA as the default. © American Society of Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine 2023. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.