Role of growth hormone status in the outcome of total knee replacement

The objective was to assess whether the aging related, variable decline in growth hormone influences total knee replacement outcome. In this prospective cohort study, consecutive patients who underwent unilateral total knee replacement and who met criteria were enrolled from the practice of 1 orthopaedic surgeon at a university hospital. Participants were evaluated 1 month before and 3 months after total knee replacement. Evaluators were not involved in patient care. The primary outcome measure was the Medical Outcome Study 36-item Short Form Health Survey Physical Functioning Scale score 3 months after total knee replacement. In a multiple regression analysis performed to assess the influence of growth hormone status, controlling for social support, body mass index, gender, previous reconstruction, mental health, motivation, and baseline physical functioning, only mental health contributed significantly to outcome. Mental health accounted for 18% of outcome variance. Growth hormone levels did not predict functional status after total knee replacement. Psychological status contributes significantly to total knee replacement physical functional outcome.