Primary total knee replacement: short-term outcomes in an Australian population

This study evaluated the short-term outcome of primary total knee replacement, using standard and reliable outcome measures, for osteoarthritis in an Australian population. This study also compared the pre-operative health status of the patient population with population norms using a quality of life questionnaire. Using the medical outcome study (MOS) 36-item short form health survey (SF-36), there was a statistically significant improvement in physical functioning and bodily pain in males and bodily pain, vitality, role-emotional and mental health in females (P < 0.05). A statistically significant improvement was also seen in Knee Society Scores following surgery for both males and females (P < 0.05). Comparison of pre-operative SF-36 data to age-matched Australian normative values demonstrate that female patients requiring total knee replacement were significantly below the norms in virtually all health dimensions while males were significantly below the norms in mainly physical health dimensions (P < 0.01).