Multidisciplinary Therapy After Major Total Knee Arthroplasty |

ABSTRACT:

Kneeosteoarthritis (OA) is one of the main causes of chronic disability in elderlypeople. In endstage knee OA, patients experience both short- and long-termbenefits from total knee arthroplasty (TKA). All the significant deficienciesin functional capacity and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) are notspontaneously resolved after surgery. Therefore, it is essential that patientsreceive effective rehabilitation. So far, there are no gold standards in termsof outcome measurements of TKA and rehabilitation in connection with surgery. Thepresent series of studies was designed for the purpose of examining the effectivenessand cost-effectiveness of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation program comparedwith conventional orthopedic care, the attributes of disability in elderly kneeOA patients waiting for primary TKA, and the impact of patient-relevant factorson the outcome of TKA one year after surgery. Special emphasis was placed onself-reported functional capacity, HRQOL, and objectively measured functionalcapacity. Objective and subjective physical function and HRQOL wereinvestigated with a battery of physical function tests and questionnaires(WOMAC, 15D, and RAND-36) during a one-year follow-up. Theresults highlight the multifactorial nature of health status in TKA. Furtherintervention studies are needed to identify patients who would benefit mostfrom intensive rehabilitation interventions after TKA and to create standardsfor outcome tools after joint replacement surgery and rehabilitationinterventions.