438 patients that required total knee replacement (TKR) were randomized to a short waiting time for surgery (SWT <=3 months) or a nonfixed waiting time (NFWT >3 months) to determine the impact of waiting time on knee pain and physical function, health-reported quality of life (HRQoL), and cost of disease specific medication (DSM). The results after 12 months and subsequent follow-ups suggested that there was no influence of wait time on knee pain and physical function (measured using modified Knee Society Clinical Rating). Those in the SWT group had higher initial weekly cost of medication, with those in the NFWT having better HRQoL 12 months after surgery.