Knee, Hip and CABG Rates

Today, I continue to explore how medical services are provided in the developed world using Johns Hopkins researchers Gerard F. Anderson's and Patricia Markovich's study Multinational Comparisons of Health System Data, 2008.  

The following graph shows the rate of knee and hip replacement operations performed in five developed countries.  Note the U. S. ranks first in the rate of knee replacements performed per 100,000, but last in the number of hip replacements.  In Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany and France, roughly two hip replacements are performed for each knee replacement.  In the United States, 1.2 knees are replaced for each hip replacement.  Are Americans equipped with stronger hips but weaker knees than Europeans?
(Click to enlarge graph.)  

The United States ranks second among 12 countries in its rate of coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG) performed per 100,000 people.  Interestingly, the rate of CABG in Germany is 55 percent above the rate in the United States.  (Click to enlarge graph.)

These data do not provide evidence of severe restriction of health services in countries which provide universal health coverage for their populations.