Effectiveness of knee replacement surgery in arthritis

This study examined the effectiveness of knee replacement surgery in an elderly population suffering from arthritis. Four questionnaires which measured pain, mobility, anxiety, depression and social isolation were completed by the study group before and after surgery to assess changes in physical function, psychological state, social interaction and somatic sensation. A statistically significant difference was found in pain which was reduced from a median score of 3 before the operation to 0 afterwards on an intensity scale of 0-5. Statistically significant improvements were also found in the mobility/dependency scores and in the level of anxiety and depression following the operation. It was concluded that knee replacement is a highly effective treatment for arthritis of the knee, reducing pain, increasing mobility and improving the persons emotional state, thus improving the quality of life of the recipient. The use of separate questionnaires to measure single dimensions of quality of life as opposed to a single health profile is also discussed.