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Patient preferences before and after total knee arthroplasty
James G Wright1, P Lina Santaguida, Nancy Young
1Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Population Health Sciences, Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada. james.wright@sickkids.ca
The Knee Patient-Specific Index (KPSI) effectively captures patient concerns before knee replacement surgery. Most patients experience significant symptom and function improvements after total knee arthroplasty, except for crouching/kneeling and stairs.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic surgery
- Patient-reported outcomes
- Rehabilitation
Background:
- Patient concerns before total joint arthroplasty are diverse and vary in importance.
- Understanding these concerns is crucial for effective patient management and surgical planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Knee Patient-Specific Index (KPSI).
- To identify the types and significance of patient concerns pre- and post-knee arthroplasty.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 119 patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty were interviewed.
- Patients completed validated questionnaires including the KSS, SF-36, WOMAC, and MACTAR.
Main Results:
- Patients reported significant improvements in 42 symptoms and physical limitations post-arthroplasty.
- Areas like crouching/kneeling and stair walking showed less improvement.
- Patient concerns correlated with WOMAC pain and physical function subscales, and KSS.
Conclusions:
- The KPSI is a valuable tool for assessing individual patient preferences in total knee arthroplasty.
- Total knee arthroplasty leads to substantial improvements in most patient symptoms and function, with specific exceptions.