This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Investigators found patient dissatisfaction may decrease over time following TKA
Satisfaction after total knee arthroplasty became clearer several years after surgery.
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
LAS VEGAS — Patient dissatisfaction following total knee arthroplasty decreased with the passage of time in results of a recently presented study.
Odei Shannak, MB, BS, MRCSEd, and colleagues found a correlation between patient satisfaction and the amount of time that elapsed following total knee arthroplasty (TKA).
“We have shown that dissatisfaction rates do decrease over time. There is a significant correlation between satisfaction and Oxford Knee Score. The commonest factors associated with dissatisfaction are residual pain, number one, and stiffness and lack of bend,” Shannak said.
Satisfaction rates increase over time
Shannak and colleagues used data from the Trent and Wales (United Kingdom) Arthroplasty Audit Register for 216 patients who underwent TKA between 2000 and 2007 and had indicated displeasure or uncertainty with the procedure postoperatively at 1 year. The patients completed a questionnaire at a mean of 9.1 years postoperatively to describe their current level of satisfaction with the procedure and whether they would undergo another TKA, recommend the procedure to a friend or if they had undergone revision surgery.
If patients indicated they were still displeased with TKA, they were asked whether it was due to factors such as pain, lack of mobility or numbness.
Shannak and colleagues also evaluated the patients based on their Oxford Knee Scores and EuroQol-5D values. Oxford Knees Scores were significantly associated with dissatisfaction rates.
Counseling patients may help
Overall, 114 (52.8%) patients felt better, 34 patients (15.7%) felt the same and 68 patients (31.5%) felt worse than they did after the initial questionnaire. The number of patients who were dissatisfied decreased from 120 to 56 at 1 year and 9 years postoperatively, respectively. The remaining 27 patients and 37 patients were either satisfied or unsure, respectively. Also during that time there was a decrease from 96 patients who were unsure to 20 patients who were unsure. The remaining patients became either satisfied (55 patients) or dissatisfied (21 patients).
About 54% of patients reported they would undergo another surgery, and 56% of patients reported they would recommend the procedure to their friends, according to the results.
“This study highlights the need to carefully counsel patients about the potential length of time required to feel satisfied after total knee replacement,” Shannak said.
The findings showed persistent pain was identified as the main cause for sustained dissatisfaction by patients, followed by lack of flexibility and persistent stiffness. – by Christian Ingram and Robert Linnehan
- Reference:
- Shannak O, et al. Paper #240. Presented at: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting; March 24-28, 2015; Las Vegas.
- For more information:
- Odei Shannak, MB, BS, MRCSEd, can be reached at Trauma and Orthopaedics Department, Leicester General Hospital, Gwendolen Rd., Leicester LE5 4PW, United Kingdom; email: oshannak@hotmail.com.
Disclosure: Shannak reports no relevant financial disclosures.