Outcomes for patients undergoing one or more total hip and knee arthroplasties

Self-Reported Assessments of Quality of Life after Total Knee Arthroplasty

To understand quality of life after knee replacement, researchers must consider the total functional and social burden for patients. This article reports the results of a prospective study to understand patients' subjective perspectives of quality of life during total knee replacement surgery and healing. Data were collected through longitudinal interviews, patients' diaries, and standardized measures of quality of life. The findings include that problems of living undermine older patients' assessments of quality of life. They suggest that the events that bear on healing require a process analysis rather than sequential measurement.

Cemented total hip arthroplasty in rheumatoid arthritis. A systematic review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Cemented total hip arthroplasty (THA) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is allegedly associated with increased rates of infection, dislocation and aseptic loosening of cup and stem.

METHOD

Systematic review of the literature on clinical and radiological results of cemented THA in RA.

RESULTS

Twenty-one case series and eight reports on four implant registries were included. The quality of most studies was judged to be poor. The reported rates of infection and dislocation in the case series were conflicting with a risk of bias due to under-registration. The registries proved unsuitable for providing reliable data on the incidence of these two complications. Increased rates of aseptic loosening were reported in 10 out of 20 case series on the cup and in six out of 19 on the stem. Nearly all of these were based on series implanted before 1980. None of the registries reported a significantly increased risk of aseptic loosening of cup or stem.

CONCLUSIONS

Considering the relatively frequent reports of increased infection rates in combination with the potential under-registration of complications, RA patients have to be considered to have a mild increased risk of postoperative infection. Case series and registries cannot answer the question of whether RA is a risk factor for dislocation as multivariate analysis is required. Increased rates of cup and stem failure due to aseptic loosening in RA patients are found in older but not in more recent studies.

Clinical and patient-reported outcomes of patients with four major lower extremity arthroplasties

Few studies report the outcomes of patients treated with total joint arthroplasty of both hips and both knees. We present the outcomes of 14 patients with total joint arthroplasty of both hips and both knees using validated outcome measures. Eleven patients (79%) were satisfied at final review. Ten patients (71%) required revision surgery of at least one joint. Clinical, functional, radiographic, and patient-reported outcomes were consistent with previously reported outcomes in the literature. Mean Timed Up and Go test was 32 seconds (6-158). Mean Berg Balance Scale was 38.5 (4-55). Good outcomes can be achieved in this group of patients with high levels of satisfaction despite the frequent need for revision surgery. Importantly, it was recognized that these patients have a high risk of falls and must be educated in measures for fall prevention.

Knee instruments and rating scales designed to measure outcomes

In this article, the knee instruments and rating scales that are designed to measure outcomes are revised. Although the International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Form can be used as a general knee measure, no instrument is currently universally applicable across the spectrum of knee disorders and patient groups. Clinicians and researchers looking to use a patient-based score for measurement of outcomes must consider the specific patient population in which it has been evaluated. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index is recommended for the evaluation of treatment effect in persons with osteoarthritis (OA). This is a generic health status questionnaire that contains 36 items, is widely used, and easy to complete. The Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) questionnaire evaluates the functional status and quality of life (QoL) of patients with any type of knee injury who are at increased risk of developing OA; i.e., patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, meniscus injury, or chondral injury. So far, the KOOS questionnaire has been validated for several orthopedic procedures such as total knee arthroplasty, ACL reconstruction, and meniscectomy. The utilization of QoL questionnaires is crucial to the adequate assessment of a number of orthopedic procedures of the knee. The questionnaires are generally well accepted by the patients and open up new perspectives in the analysis of prognostic factors for optimal QoL of patients undergoing knee surgery.

Physiotherapy following elective orthopaedic procedures

As haemophilic arthropathy and chronic synovitis are still the most important clinical features in people with haemophilia, different kinds of invasive and orthopaedic procedures have become more common during the last decades. The availability of clotting factor has made arthroplasty of one, or even multiple joints possible. This article highlights the role of physiotherapy before and after such procedures. Synovectomies are sometimes advocated in people with haemophilia to stop repetitive cycles of intra-articular bleeds and/or chronic synovitis. The synovectomy itself, however, does not solve the muscle atrophy, loss of range of motion (ROM), instability and poor propriocepsis, often developed during many years. The key is in taking advantage of the subsequent, relatively safe, bleed-free period to address these important issues. Although the preoperative ROM is the most important variable influencing the postoperative ROM after total knee arthroplasty, there are a few key points that should be considered to improve the outcome. Early mobilization, either manual or by means of a continuous passive mobilization machine, can be an optimal solution during the very first postoperative days. Muscle isometric contractions and light open kinetic chain exercises should also be started in order to restore the quadriceps control. Partial weight bearing can be started shortly after, because of quadriceps inhibition and to avoid excessive swelling. The use of continuous clotting factor replacement permits earlier and intensive rehabilitation during the postoperative period. During the rehabilitation of shoulder arthroplasty restoring the function of the rotator cuff is of utmost importance. Often the rotator cuff muscles are inhibited in the presence of pain and loss of ROM. Physiotherapy also assists in improving pain and maintaining ROM and strength. Functional weight-bearing tasks, such as using the upper limbs to sit and stand, are often discouraged during the first 6 weeks postoperatively. This may be influenced by the condition of the joints of the lower limbs. Attention should be given to the total chain of motion, of which the shoulder itself is only a part. We conclude that physiotherapy management is of major importance in any invasive or orthopaedic procedure, regardless of which joints are involved. Both pre- and postoperative physiotherapy, as part of comprehensive care is needed to achieve optimal functional outcome and therefore optimal quality of life for people with haemophilia.

Clinical and functional results after the rehabilitation period in minimally-invasive unicondylar knee arthroplasty patients

The objective of the present study was to analyze the clinical and functional outcome after minimally-invasive implantation of a Repicci-type unicompartmental sledge prosthesis . In 29 patients with primary unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis, 29 replacements of the medial compartment and four of the lateral compartment were performed using the minimally-invasive technique with the metal-backed and the all-polyethylene versions of the Repicci sledge prosthesis. Electromyography (EMG) of standardized locations was measured with the MyoSystem 2000 and analyzed with Myoresearch software. Gait analysis was performed with a six-camera motion analysis system and force platforms. Established clinical and quality of life (SF-36) scores were used to compare patients with 11 healthy age-matched individuals. The Repicci sledge prosthesis led postoperatively to functional results that were in the range of healthy joints, and superior to sledge prostheses of a different design. Gait and balance parameters were comparable to the control group, whilst electromyographically lower amplitudes were found in the patients than the controls and in the operated legs as compared to the non-operated legs. Many parameters of quality of life and activity were comparable to age-matched healthy individuals, and quality of life was superior to total knee replacement. When implanted using a minimally-invasive technique and with suitable patient selection, the Repicci sledge led to functional results comparable to those of healthy joints and gait parameters comparable to those of healthy individuals. The level of evidence is Level III, retrospective cohort study.

Health-related quality of life in total hip and total knee arthroplasty. A qualitative and systematic review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Total hip and total knee arthroplasties are well accepted as reliable and suitable surgical procedures to return patients to function. Health-related quality-of-life instruments have been used to document outcomes in order to optimize the allocation of resources. The objective of this study was to review the literature regarding the outcomes of total hip and knee arthroplasties as evaluated by health-related quality-of-life instruments.

METHODS

The Medline and EMBASE medical literature databases were searched, from January 1980 to June 2003, to identify relevant studies. Studies were eligible for review if they met the following criteria: (1). the language was English or French, (2). at least one well-validated and self-reported health-related quality of life instrument was used, and (3). a prospective cohort study design was used.

RESULTS

Of the seventy-four studies selected for the review, thirty-two investigated both total hip and total knee arthroplasties, twenty-six focused on total hip arthroplasty, and sixteen focused on total knee arthroplasty exclusively. The most common diagnosis was osteoarthritis. The duration of follow-up ranged from seven days to seven years, with the majority of studies describing results at six to twelve months. The Short Form-36 and the Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index, the most frequently used instruments, were employed in forty and twenty-eight studies, respectively. Seventeen studies used a utility index. Overall, total hip and total knee arthroplasties were found to be quite effective in terms of improvement in health-related quality-of-life dimensions, with the occasional exception of the social dimension. Age was not found to be an obstacle to effective surgery, and men seemed to benefit more from the intervention than did women. When improvement was found to be modest, the role of comorbidities was highlighted. Total hip arthroplasty appears to return patients to function to a greater extent than do knee procedures, and primary surgery offers greater improvement than does revision. Patients who had poorer preoperative health-related quality of life were more likely to experience greater improvement.

CONCLUSIONS

Health-related quality-of-life data are valuable, can provide relevant health-status information to health professionals, and should be used as a rationale for the implementation of the most adequate standard of care. Additional knowledge and scientific dissemination of surgery outcomes should help to ensure better management of patients undergoing total hip or total knee arthroplasty and to optimize the use of these procedures.

Causes of death after total hip arthroplasty: a nationwide cohort study with 24,638 patients

Based on the nationwide registration of the total hip arthroplasties (THAs) in Finland since 1980, a cohort of 24,638 patients with primary THA was gathered and followed for causes of death until December 31, 1996. The causes of death were divided into 20 main categories according to the classification of diseases ICD-10. The number of person-years was 153,410, and the mean length of follow-up of a person was 6.2 years. During the follow-up, 4,626 patients died; the expected number was 6,746. The standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was 0.69 (95% confidence interval; 0.67-0.70), without any difference between men and women. The total risk increased during the follow-up, with the highest being 0.84 (95% confidence interval, 0.81-0.87). Among the ICD categories, there were significantly low SMRs for cancers (0.54), accidents (0.74), cardiovascular diseases (0.70), and respiratory diseases (0.46). Among the diseases, there was a constant and significant decline of the SMR for dementia and Alzheimer's disease (0.50), diabetes (0.40), myocardial infarction (0.73), hypertension (0.68), other ischemic diseases (0.70), other heart diseases (0.57), and cerebrovascular diseases (0.70). The explanation for the decreased SMRs seems to be attributed to factors other than the THA per se, such as preoperative patient selection, more active lifestyle after THA, and possibly the use of anti-inflammatory drugs.

Recovery from hip and knee arthroplasty: Patients' perspective on pain, function, quality of life, and well-being up to 6 months postoperatively

OBJECTIVE

To provide a more detailed description from patients' perspectives than is yet available of recovery from hip and knee arthroplasty and to use this information to test 2 assumptions about recovery from these procedures: that recovery from knee arthroplasty, as assessed by patients, routinely reaches the level achieved by hip arthroplasty; and that fatigue is prolonged after major orthopedic surgery.

DESIGN

A cohort study.

SETTING

University teaching hospitals.

PARTICIPANTS

Consecutive patients undergoing hip (n = 107) or knee (n = 53) arthroplasty.

INTERVENTIONS

Unilateral hip or knee arthroplasty.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Standardized self-rated measurements of pain, function, quality of life, and well-being from preoperatively to 6 months follow-up.

RESULTS

Pain and function improved significantly less after knee arthroplasty than after hip arthroplasty, but the 2 procedures led to similar improvements in life evaluation, mood, and subjective health. Fatigue was only transiently increased.

CONCLUSION

The findings were inconsistent with both assumptions. Nevertheless, despite poorer recovery in pain and function, patients receiving knee arthroplasty felt that life had improved as much as did patients with hip arthroplasty. Detailed information about how major joint arthroplasty in routine practice affects patients' lives can be used to advise patients and clinicians and can invalidate influential, but inaccurate, assumptions.