Patient satisfaction, function and return to work after knee arthroplasty

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Health Economics

Background:

• Knee arthroplasty is a common procedure for managing severe knee osteoarthritis.
• Predicting patient outcomes, including return to work and satisfaction, is essential for managing patient expectations and healthcare resources.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify preoperative factors that predict patient satisfaction, functional status, and working capacity after primary knee prosthetic surgery.
• To analyze the impact of preoperative sick-leave duration on postoperative outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 162 patients under 60 years old undergoing primary knee prosthetic surgery in 1993 was studied.
• Preoperative and postoperative working status (sick-leave) and patient-reported outcomes using the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) were assessed.
• Data on disability pension were obtained from the Social Insurance Office.

Main Results:

• A positive association was found between the duration of pre- and postoperative sick-leave for patients who returned to work.
• Preoperative sick-leave exceeding 180 days significantly increased the risk of postoperative disability pension.
• Patients with less than 180 days of preoperative sick-leave reported better functional status and higher overall satisfaction post-surgery.

Conclusions:

• Prolonged preoperative sick-leave is a significant predictor of long postoperative sick-leave and disability pension after knee replacement.
• Minimizing preoperative sick-leave duration can improve functional outcomes and patient satisfaction following knee arthroplasty.
• Preoperative work status is a critical factor influencing the overall success and quality of life after knee prosthetic surgery.