Affiliations: [a] Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Regional Rheumatoid and Degenerative Arthritis Center, Jeju National University Hospital, Jeju National University College of Medicine, Jeju, Korea | [b] Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Regional Rheumatoid and Degenerative Arthritis Center, Jeju National University Hospital, Jeju National University College of Medicine, Jeju, Korea | [c] Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Regional Rheumatoid and Degenerative Arthritis Center, Jeju National University Hospital, Jeju National University College of Medicine, Jeju, KoreaKorea
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Jun Hwan Choi, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Regional Rheumatoid and Degenerative Arthritis Center, Jeju National University Hospital, Jeju National University College of Medicine, 15, Aran 13-gil, Jeju, 63241, Korea. E-mail: [email protected].
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Length of stay and functional outcomes after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are related to the timing and intensity of post-operative rehabilitation. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of early and high-intensity rehabilitation after simultaneous bilateral TKA. METHODS: Prospective cohort data of 156 patients (11 men and 145 women; average age 72.0 ± 5.6 years) who underwent simultaneous bilateral primary TKA were analyzed. The intervention group (n= 82) underwent a high-intensity rehabilitation (phase II) after early postoperative standard rehabilitation (phase I) between June 2019 and May 2021. The control group (n= 74) underwent a lower-intensity rehabilitation (phase II) after phase I rehabilitation between July 2017 and May 2019. The timed up-and-go (TUG) test, timed stair climbing test (SCT), 6-minute walk test, isometric knee extensor and flexor strength of both knees, knee flexion and extension range of motion, Western Ontario McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) for pain, stiffness, and functional levels, and the EuroQol five-dimension questionnaire were assessed preoperatively and 6 weeks after TKA. RESULTS: The average length of hospital stay was shortened by 5.7 days (p< 0.001). Phase II rehabilitation started earlier in the intervention group than in the control group (7.7 ± 1.3 vs 13.5 ± 2.0, p< 0.001). Compared with the control group, the intervention group showed significant improvements in the measures of mobility (WOMAC-function and SCT) and strength (isometric strength of both knee extensors and flexors) 6 weeks after TKA by statistically controlling for age and preoperative functional status. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that early and high-intensity rehabilitation could achieve functional improvement and shorten the length of hospital stay.
Keywords: Rehabilitation, length of stay, knee, arthroplasty
