[Total knee arthroplasty - GPs' views in Germany: a questionnaire-based study]

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• General Practice
• Medical Education

Background:

• Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a common procedure for end-stage knee osteoarthritis.
• General practitioners (GPs) play a crucial role in patient referral and management.
• Understanding GPs' perspectives on TKA is vital for optimizing patient care pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the general knowledge of German GPs regarding TKA.
• To assess GPs' individual views on TKA outcomes, risks, and referral practices.
• To identify factors influencing GPs' recommendations for TKA surgical centers.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire-based survey was distributed to 170 GPs in Germany.
• Eighty-one GPs (47.6% response rate) completed and returned the survey.
• Data collected included GPs' experience with TKA patients and their perceptions of TKA outcomes and risks.

Main Results:

• GPs demonstrated good general knowledge of TKA.
• GPs perceived lower patient satisfaction rates and higher revision surgery risks compared to literature data.
• Accurate estimation of complication risks (infection, instability, pain) was noted; 78% deemed implant/cement allergy problematic.
• Referral decisions are influenced by case volume, surgeon experience, and local accessibility.

Conclusions:

• GPs possess adequate knowledge of TKA but exhibit a more cautious outlook on outcomes and risks.
• A significant need exists to enhance information exchange between orthopedic surgeons and referring GPs.
• Addressing these informational gaps can improve the TKA referral process and patient management.