Factors predicting patient satisfaction 2 years after total knee arthroplasty for osteoarthritis

To identify factors predicting patient satisfaction 2 years after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for osteoarthritis.

Prospective multicenter study of patients followed up for 2 years after TKA for osteoarthritis. We evaluated pain and function (Lequesne index and WOMAC) at baseline and after 2 years. After 2 years, the patients rated their satisfaction as a percentage, with values greater than 50% defining good satisfaction. Factors associated with good satisfaction were identified by univariate analyses followed by multivariate analysis.

Of 299 patients, 264 completed the study (26 were lost to follow-up, six died, and three refused the 2-year evaluation), including 237 (89.8%) with satisfaction scores greater than 50%. Highly significant improvements were found after 2 years versus baseline in the Lequesne index (7.9 vs. 14.5, P<0.0001) and WOMAC index (26.3 vs. 51.3, P<0.0001). There were 26 (9.8%) complications. Factors significantly associated with good satisfaction in the multivariate model were absence of complications (P=0.004), body mass index less than 27 kg/m² (P=0.015), high radiological joint narrowing score (P=0.038), age greater or equal to 70 years (P=0.038), and absence of depression at the 2-year evaluation (P=0.002).

We report the first prospective multicenter study done in France to assess pain and function in a large number of patients treated with TKA for osteoarthritis. Our results indicate a high success rate. We identified three factors that predict patient satisfaction and can be assessed before surgery (age greater than 70 years, absence of obesity, and severe joint space narrowing).