Comparison of two continuous passive motion protocols for patients with total knee implants

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Physical Therapy
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Total knee replacement (TKR) is a common surgical procedure for severe knee arthritis.
• Post-operative rehabilitation, including continuous passive motion (CPM), is crucial for recovery.
• Optimal CPM duration for TKR patients remains a subject of clinical investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of prolonged (≥20 hours/day) versus limited (≤5 hours/day) CPM use after TKR.
• To evaluate the impact of different CPM durations on key post-operative recovery variables.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study involving two groups of TKR patients receiving different CPM durations.
• Group 1: Minimum 20 hours/day CPM (n=15).
• Group 2: Maximum 5 hours/day CPM (n=8).
• Analysis of range of motion, edema-effusion, pain, and hospital stay on post-operative days 3 and 6.

Main Results:

• Significant improvement in knee extension was observed in the limited CPM group (Group 2) by Day 6 (p < .001).
• A significant negative correlation was found between hospital stay length and the number of physical therapy treatments.
• No significant differences were detected between the groups in total knee excursion, edema-effusion, pain, hospital stay, or physical therapy treatment count.

Conclusions:

• Comparable recovery outcomes can be achieved with either prolonged or limited daily CPM use following TKR.
• Shorter CPM durations may be as effective as extended use, potentially optimizing resource allocation and patient comfort.
• Further research could explore patient-specific factors influencing optimal CPM protocols post-TKR.