Functional outcomes of total knee arthroplasty In patients with knee osteoarthritis

Abstract

Introduction: Osteoarthritis of the knee is the main cause of functional disability in the elderly, as pain and limited movement are among the main reasons for their decreased quality of life. Due to the progressive nature of the disease, many patients with osteoarthritis of the knee require surgical intervention, and the first goal of total knee arthroplasty is to relieve pain. Which is caused by severe degenerative inflammation.

Research objective: Improving functional outcomes for patients with knee osteoarthritis who underwent total joint arthroplasty by establishing a post-operative rehabilitation program and reducing complications occurring during and after surgery. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study that included 38 patients (26 females, 12 males) who underwent total knee arthroplasty following advanced grades of osteoarthritis of the knee and with severe symptoms in the third and fourth grades, in the Orthopedic Surgery Department at Tishreen University Hospital in Lattakia during the time period 2021. -2019 Who met the criteria for inclusion in the research.

The ages of the research sample patients ranged from 55 to 75 years, with an average of 65.82±5.5 years.

 Results: The number of females in our study was greater than the number of males. We note that osteoarthritis of the knee joint is common in the age group 66-75. Most of the patients in our study were overweight, with a total of 29 cases, at a rate of 76.3%, and the right side was the most affected, at a rate of 62.2%. Most of the patients in our study had grade 4 osteoarthritis at a rate 57.8%.

The results of the KFS functional score were excellent for the majority of patients, with a total of 28 cases. The results of the KCS clinical score were excellent for a larger percentage of patients, with a total of 37 cases. By comparing the results of the functional assessment with the clinical score, there were 38 cases according to the clinical score with excellent results and consistent with the functional score. In 28 cases.

The most common complication observed in patients was joint stiffness in 4 patients (8.9%), while anterior knee pain occurred in 3 patients (6.7%), superficial wound infection occurred in 2 patients, and one case of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) occurred. While no case of vehicle loosening was observed, no case of joint replacement was recorded.

By studying the relationship of the KSS index with the body mass index, it was revealed that there is a statistically significant relationship with p-value=0.001. We did not notice cases of excellent improvement with obesity, and the poor evaluation was found only with cases of obesity, which amounted to 66.7%.

Conclusion: We have found that total knee arthroplasty improves the patient's function and returns it almost to the condition it was in before the patient developed the degenerative disease; Which improves the quality of life, as the patient is able to move the joint without pain, as was shown by the Knee Clinical and Functional Score after surgery, and the KSS is an effective indicator that evaluates the clinical and functional results following total knee arthroplasty.