National Amb

Factsheet

ulatory Medical Care Survey

ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY

Percent distribution of office visits by 

patient’s age: 2009

41

18 16 13

5 7

<15 15–24 25–44 45–64 65–74 75+

Patient’s age in years

In 2009, there were an estimated 

49 million visits to nonfederally 

employed, office-based physicians 

specializing in orthopedic surgery in the 

United States. More than half of the visits 

were made by persons aged 25–64 years.

The annual visit rate increased with age 

until age 74.

Primary expected source of 

payment included:

 Private insurance — 69%

 Medicare — 26%

 Workers’ compensation — 10%

 Medicaid — 6%

 

The major reason for visit was:

 New problem — 35% 

 Pre- or post-surgery/injury

 follow-up — 28%

 Chronic problem, routine — 20%

 Chronic problem, flare-up — 15%

The top 5 reasons given by patients 

for visiting orthopedic surgeons were: 

 Knee symptoms

 Postoperative visit

 Shoulder symptoms

 Hip symptoms

 Back symptoms

The top 5 diagnoses were:

 Arthropathies and related disorders

 Rheumatisms, excluding back

 Spinal disorders

 Sprains and strains

 Fracture of lower limb

 

Medications were provided or

prescribed at 54 percent of office visits. 

The top 5 generic substances utilized 

were:

 Acetaminophen with hydrocodone

 Ibuprofen

 Acetaminophen with oxycodone

 Meloxicam

 Lidocaine

For more information, contact the 

Ambulatory Care Statistics Branch at 

301-458-4600 or visit our Web site at 

<www.cdc.gov/namcs>.

Annual office visit rates by patient’s 

age: 2009

<15 4

15–24 8

25–44 11

45–64 26

65–74 37

75+ 36

Male 15

Female 17

Number of visits per 100 persons per year
THE IMPORTANCE OF NAMCS DATA Orthopedic Surgery

NAMCS data are widely used in research studies appearing in nationally recognized 

medical journals, including JAMA, Journal of Family Practice, and Spine. Here are just a 

few publications using NAMCS data: 

Friedman BW, Chilstrom M, Bijur PE, Gallagher EJ. Diagnostic testing and treatment of low 

back pain in United States emergency departments: a national perspective. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 

35(24):E1406–11. Nov 2010.

Sacks JJ, Luo YH, Helmick CG. Prevalence of specific types of arthritis and other rheumatic 

conditions in the ambulatory health care system in the United States, 2001–2005. Arthritis Care 

Res (Hoboken). 62(4):460–4. Apr 2010.

Licciardone JC. The epidemiology and medical management of low back pain during ambulatory 

medical care visits in the United States. Osteopath Med Prim Care. 2(1):11. Nov 2008.

[Epub ahead of print]

Avasarala J, Odonovan CA, Roach S, Camacho F, Feldman S. Analysis of NAMCS data for 

Multiple Sclerosis, 1998–2004. BMC Med. 5(1):6. Apr 2007. [Epub ahead of print]

Riddle DL, Schappert SM. Volume and characteristics of inpatient and ambulatory medical care 

for neck pain in the United States: data from three national surveys. Spine. 32(1):132–40; 

discussion 141. Jan 2007.

Deyo RA, Mirza SK, Martin BI. Back pain prevalence and visit rates: estimates from U.S. 

national surveys, 2002. Spine. 31(23):2724–7. Nov 2006.

Federman AD, Litke A, Morrison RS. Association of age with analgesic use for back and joint 

disorders in outpatient settings. Am J Geriatr Pharmacother. 4(4):306–15. Dec 2006.

Wofford JL, Mansfield RJ, Watkins RS. Patient characteristics and clinical management of 

patients with shoulder pain in U.S. primary care settings: Secondary data analysis of the National 

Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 6(1):4. Feb 2005.

[Epub ahead of print]

Caudill-Slosberg MA, Schwartz LM, Woloshin S. Office visits and analgesic prescriptions for 

musculoskeletal pain in US: 1980 vs. 2000. Pain. 109(3):514–9. Jun 2004.

Riddle DL, Schappert SM. Volume of Ambulatory Care Visits and Patterns of Care for Patients 

Diagnosed With Plantar Fasciitis: A National Study of Medical Doctors. Foot and Ankle Int’l.

25(5):303–310. 2004.

Freburger JK, Holmes GM, Carey TS. Physician referrals to physical therapy for the treatment of 

musculoskeletal conditions. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 84(12):1839–49. Dec 2003.

The complete list of publications using NAMCS data, which includes hundreds of articles 

and reports, is available on our Web site.

NAMCS(FS)-9 (7-11)