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Published on: November 9, 2018
Effect of continuous passive motion on knee flexion range of motion after total knee arthroplasty
Naveed Baloch1, Akbar Jaleel Zubairi1, Rizwan Haroon Rashid1
1Department of Orthopedics, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.
Objective:
To compare mean knee flexion in patients on continuous passive motion and those without it after total knee arthroplasty.
Methods:
The randomised controlled study was conducted at Aga Khan University Hospital, from July 2013 to June 2014, and comprised patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty. Patients were randomly assigned to either group, with Group A receiving standardised physiotherapy from 1st postoperative day, and Group B receiving physiotherapy and one hour of continuous passive motion twice a day from 1st postoperative day until discharge. Outcome assessment was done on the day of discharge.
Results:
Of the 76 patients, there were 38(50%) in each group. There were 61(80%) women and 15(20%) men, with a mean age of 65.5±7.9 years in Group A and 61.6±9.1 years in Group B. The mean preoperative knee flexion in Group A was 90.3±13.2° and in Group B it was 96.9±11.5°. Mean maximum flexion at the time of discharge was 96.3±5.7° in Group A and 94.3±8.4° in Group B (p=0.22). The mean length of stay in Group A was 6.1±1.4 days and in Group B it was 8.6±2.4 days (p=0.01).
Conclusions:
Continuous passive motion had no influence on knee range of motion after total knee arthroplasty at the time of discharge.
