Docs recommend less knee replacements for women

Knee replacement candidates read up -- but don't look at that scar! A new Canadian study reports women are less likely than men to walk away from a doctor's office with a recommendation for knee replacement. Huh? I know boys usually get picked first for sports, but what does gender have to do with an orthopedic's surgery schedule?

In this study, researchers had one man and one woman, each 67 years old and suffering from identical levels of knee osteoarthritis, visit 29 orthopedic surgeons and 38 family physicians. The potential surgery candidates presented their symptoms identically and ended with the same question, "Do you think I need a new knee?"

Two-thirds of docs gave the man a green light for knee replacement compared to only one-third recommending surgery for the woman. The study's lead author stated women need to be more aggressive in challenging doctors and seek second opinions. But here I sit still puzzled -- why would an elderly female be less of a candidate for knee replacement than an elderly man? Any insights from cyberspace?