Quality of life post total knee arthroplasty: Saudi Arabian experience

Osteoarthritis of knee is quite common in Saudi Arabian population. Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) was reluctantly accepted in Saudi Arabia about 2 decades ago but there are few small number reports on quality of life (QOL) postsurgery. The objective of this study was to investigate the QOL and overall satisfaction postTKA.

We retrospectively studied 200 patients' consecutive patients who underwent primary TKA at King Fahd Hospital of the University, AlKhobar, Saudi Arabia. Patient's age, sex, weight, height, body mass index, and range of movements at the time of surgery were extracted from the QuadraMED patients Database. The minimum follow-up was 24 months. At the last visit of 24 months, patients were evaluated using modified Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (MWOMAC), QOL using Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36), and patient satisfaction was assessed.

Among the 212 TKAs performed, 52 were male and 148 were female. One hundred and twenty two were right side and 90 were left side and 22 were bilateral. The mean age was 62.7 ± 5.1 years. There were no intraoperative complications. Nearly 95% resulted in patient satisfaction. SF-36 and all the parameters assessed significantly improved (P < 0.001). MWOMAC scores of the patients, which show all functions, had statistically significantly improved to (P < 0.001) except prayers before and after surgery did not change which was expected. The overall level of satisfaction was observed 95% of patients.

Our study shows that TKA has a positive effect on pain, mobility, QOL, and ultimate satisfaction.