[Translated article] Do octogenarian patients undergoing total knee replacement return to physical activity?

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Geriatric medicine
• Rehabilitation science

Background:

• Total knee replacement (TKR) is known to enhance functional capacity and physical activity.
• The specific impact of advanced age on TKR outcomes requires further clarification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the influence of age on pre- and postoperative physical activity after TKR.
• To compare functional outcomes using the Knee Society Score (KSS) and Tegner score across different age groups.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort analysis of 450 patients undergoing TKR (2016-2019).
• Patients were divided into two groups: 65-79 years (Group A) and 80+ years (Group B).
• Collected demographic data, comorbidities, and functional scores (KSS, Tegner) for pre- and postoperative comparison.

Main Results:

• Group A (65-79) showed significantly greater improvement in Tegner scores (1.19) compared to Group B (80+) (0.61) (p<.001).
• While Group B (80+) had a higher increase in KSS Clinical (KSSc) scores (53 points vs 43 points), adjusted analysis indicated greater KSSc improvement in those >80.
• Group A demonstrated more substantial improvement in KSS Functional (KSSf) scores (33.91 points) than Group B (15.57 points).

Conclusions:

• TKR significantly improves physical and functional activity parameters across all patient populations.
• Patients younger than 80 years generally experience more pronounced improvements in functional activity and scores after TKR.