Waltham, MA, January 29, 2026—A new study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) shows that joint replacement surgeries are increasing in workers’ compensation.

“Monitoring the trend of joint replacements is important as various stakeholders seek to understand claim outcomes,” said Sebastian Negrusa, vice president of research at WCRI. “This study offers a consistent framework for tracking these surgeries and provides a better understanding of who receives them, where they occur, and how surgical decisions influence claim costs and outcomes.”

The report focuses on shoulder, hip, and knee replacements, which represent the majority of joint replacement surgeries.

The study, Recent Trends in Joint Replacement Among Workers’ Compensation Claims, answers key questions such as:

  • How often are these surgeries performed, and in what settings (inpatient, hospital outpatient, or ambulatory surgery centers)?
  • Who are the workers receiving them?
  • How much do claims with these surgeries cost, and how long is the workers’ disability duration?
  • How often do workers with joint replacement procedures have revision surgery?

The study also discusses several implications from its findings, including the growing importance of health promotion and musculoskeletal wellness programs, and explores how state policies may influence patterns and trends of joint replacement surgeries.

The report was authored by Dongchun Wang, Vennela Thumula, and Randall D. Lea.