Targeting rehabilitation to improve outcomes after total knee arthroplasty in patients at risk of poor outcomes: randomised controlled trial

Understanding Patient and Physiotherapist Requirements for a Personalized Automated Smartphone Telemonitored App for Posttotal Knee Arthroplasty Rehabilitation: Qualitative Study

Background

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a cost-effective surgical intervention for painful knee osteoarthritis in older adults, but postsurgery rehabilitation access is limited. Telerehabilitation offers a solution, but existing models require significant therapist involvement and a costly setup. A personalized smartphone-based automated program could be a cost-effective alternative.

Objective

This study aimed to understand the requirements of both patients and physiotherapists in developing an automated telemonitored rehabilitation smartphone app for individuals undergoing TKA. To ensure uptake and long-term sustainability, this study adopted a person-based approach.

Methods

A multistakeholder qualitative study of user needs was conducted. Physiotherapists and patients who underwent TKA were recruited via purposive sampling. Individual in-depth, hour-long interviews were conducted via Zoom by an experienced, trained female interviewer with a Master of Arts in Sociology. Data were audio-recorded and transcribed by the same interviewer. Two reviewers (ESC and SSK) independently analyzed the data using thematic analysis, with data triangulation achieved through cross-checking of data sources by 3 reviewers (ESC, SSK, and AES). Interviews were conducted to data saturation.

Results

Six patients and 4 physiotherapists participated. For the patient interface, patients emphasized ease of use and specified features like a search function and multilingual options. For the physiotherapist interface, physiotherapists stated ease of accessing patient data and outcome measures for effective monitoring as important. Both patients and physiotherapists highlighted the need for timely, condition-specific information, supplemented by visual aids to support exercises, pain management, and recovery goals. They also stressed the significance of progress tracking, feedback, and the ability to access health care professionals for reassurance. Motivational features, including reminders, prompts, and exercise logs, were recommended to improve adherence. Both groups similarly identified the need for initial training to ensure confident use of the app.

Conclusions

This study provided insights into the requirements of potential end users of a smartphone app for automated telemonitored rehabilitation following TKA. This is useful for steering the development of a user-centric smartphone app.

Preoperative Predictors Associated With Postoperative Chronic Knee Pain Following Total Knee Arthroplasty and the Effect on Patient Reported Outcomes at 6-Months

AIM

The aim was to identify independent variables associated with chronic knee pain (CKP) 6 months after knee arthroplasty (KA) and to determine whether CKP influenced improvement in patient reported outcomes measures (PROMs).

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted over an 8-year period and included 3310 patients with completed PROMs at 6 months postoperatively; with a mean age of 69.9 (standard deviation 9.3) and 1823 (55.1%) were females. The Oxford knee score (OKS) pain component score was used to define patients with CKP (≤ 14 points) at 6 months.

RESULTS

There were 551 (16.6%) patients with CKP. Gender (p < 0.001), BMI (p = 0.025), preoperative EQ-5D (p = 0.010) and pain VAS (p < 0.001) as well as questions 2: washing (p = 0.006), 8: night pain (p = 0.001), 10: stability (p = 0.008) and 11: shopping (p = 0.047) of the OKS were independently associated CKP. The pre-operative OKS total score (p = 0.542) was not independently associated with CKP. The risk of CKP was shown to vary from 3.0% to 30.5% when discriminatory threshold values were used in the pre-operative responses to questions 2, 8, 10 and 11 of the OKS. Patients with CKP had significantly (p < 0.001) worse 6-month OKS, EQ-5D, EQ-VAS, and pain VAS scores and improvements in scores relative to preoperative baseline that were potentially not clinically meaningful (OKS mean difference 2.6, 95% CI 2.1-3.2). Those with CKP were significantly less likely to be satisfied with their KA (odds ratio 0.076, p < 0.001): only 231 (42.9%) patients with CKP were satisfied.

CONCLUSIONS

Approximately one-in-six (16.6%) patients had CKP at 6 months following KA, which was associated with significantly worse PROMs and lower satisfaction. Preoperative responses to four (2, 8, 10 and 11) of the pre-operative OKS questions were independently associated with CKP. These questions could be used to inform patients of their risk of CKP (3.0%-30.5%) following KA and potentially with expectation modification this may improve their PROMs.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Retrospective study, Level III.

Postoperative Rehabilitation Interventions in Patients at Risk of Poorer Outcomes Following Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review

PURPOSE

This systematic review evaluated the efficacy of postoperative rehabilitation for patients at risk of poorer outcomes after total knee arthroplasty.

METHODS

Six databases were searched, and only randomised controlled trials were included. Two reviewers independently screened, extracted data, and appraised the quality of the studies.

RESULTS

Twenty-three studies were included. Insufficient evidence supports cognitive behavioural therapy for patients with kinesiophobia, while continuous passive motion may not be effective for range of motion deficits. The impact of exercise therapy on functional recovery is conflicting; however, longer durations tend to be more effective for older patients and those with functional limitations. Limited evidence suggests that exercise may not alleviate pain. Outpatient exercise therapy improves health-related quality of life more than home-based programs for older patients and those with functional limitations. The efficacy of other rehabilitation aspects remains inconclusive due to high heterogeneity in interventions and outcome measures, and high or unclear risk of bias in most studies.

CONCLUSION

While limited evidence suggests benefits for specific rehabilitation interventions, there is insufficient data to assess the efficacy of most interventions on postoperative recovery in those at risk of poorer outcomes. More robust evidence is needed to guide clinical practice and standardise outcome measures.

TRAIL REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42022355574.

The influence of sociodemographic and health factors on adherence to home-based rehabilitation after fast-track total knee arthroplasty: secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial

PURPOSE

Adherence to home rehabilitation following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is essential to reach optimal functional outcomes, especially in fast-track procedures. The aim of this study is to identify which sociodemographic and health factors significantly affect adherence in this context.

METHODS

This is a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial with 52 patients. Adherence was measured as the percentage of completed exercises. Two statistical analyses were performed, one on the entire population and another on the telerehabilitation group only, to study which factors significantly affects adherence.

RESULTS

The analysis included the 42 patients with adherence data (23 TRH, 19 control). In Analysis I (n = 42), six variables were statistically significant: history of depression (p = 0.00026), educational level (p = 0.00151), social support (p = 0.00157), treatment group (p = 0.0081), history of diabetes (p = 0.01153), and ASA score (p = 0.02752). In Analysis II (TRH, n = 23), three variables were significant: history of depression (p = 0.003), educational level (p = 0.006), and history of hypertension (p = 0.047).

CONCLUSION

There are sociodemographic and health factors affecting adherence to home rehabilitation post-TKA. Depression stands out as a negative factor, while high educational level and social support improve adherence. Telerehabilitation has positive effects and reduces the influence of social and economic factors.

Validity of wearable sensors for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) rehabilitation: A study in younger and older healthy participants

BACKGROUND

With 100,000 total knee arthroplasty (TKA) procedures taking place in the United Kingdom annually, the demand on rehabilitation services is high. Most regimes are home-based. Without clinician-patient interaction, detection of rehabilitation concerns can be delayed, reducing the chance of successful early intervention. Wearable technologies, such as MotionSenseTM (Stryker, US), may offer a solution to this problem by remotely supporting post-operative TKA rehabilitation through the provision of personalised rehabilitation and tracking of home exercises, enabling healthcare professionals to continuously monitor rehabilitation progress remotely. Validation of such devices against a known kinematic model in activities of daily living is important for confident interpretation of resulting clinical data. The aim of this study therefore was to validate the accuracy of MotionSenseTM against a clinical motion capture standard.

METHODS

Twenty younger and 14 older healthy, able-bodied adults attended one testing session (Younger: 24 ± 4 years old; Older: 71 ± 5 years old). Movement was tracked using Vicon motion analysis and a Plug-In-Gait lower body model was applied to all participants. Three activities were performed - walking, stair ascent, stair descent. The knee flexion angle root mean square error (RMSE) between the technologies was determined.

RESULTS

For both groups the knee flexion RMSE remained below 3° for all activities. The combined RMSE for all adults was 2.4° for walking, 2.7° for stair ascent, and 2.6° for stair descent. The signed error increased during the swing phase of gait.

CONCLUSION

MotionSenseTM was found to accurately estimate knee flexion angles during several common activities compared to Vicon motion capture.

Strategies to Manage Poorer Outcomes After Hip or Knee Arthroplasty: A Narrative Review of Current Understanding, Unanswered Questions, and Future Directions

PURPOSE

Although hip or knee arthroplasty is generally a successful intervention, it is documented that 15%-30% of patients undergoing arthroplasty report suboptimal outcomes. This narrative review aims to provide an overview of the key findings concerning the management of poorer outcomes after hip or knee arthroplasty.

METHOD

A comprehensive search of articles was conducted up to November 2023 across three electronic databases. Only studies written in English were included, with no limitations applied regarding study design and time.

RESULT

Efficiently addressing poorer outcomes after arthroplasty necessitates a thorough exploration of appropriate methods for assessing recovery following hip or knee arthroplasty, ensuring accurate identification of patients at risk or experiencing poorer recovery. When selecting appropriate outcome measure tools, various factors should be taken into consideration, including understanding patients' priorities throughout the recovery process, assessing psychometric properties of outcome measure tools at different time points after arthroplasty, understanding how to combine/reconcile provider-assessed and patient-reported outcome measures, and determining the appropriate methods to interpret outcome measure scores. However, further research in these areas is warranted. In addition, the identification of key modifiable factors affecting outcomes and the development of interventions to manage these factors are needed.

CONCLUSION

There is growing attention paid to delivering interventions for patients at risk or not optimally recovering following hip or knee arthroplasty. To achieve this, it is essential to identify the most appropriate outcome measure tools, factors associated with poorer recovery and management of these factors.

A Systematic Review of the Effectiveness of Rehabilitation Programmes or Strategies to Treat People With Persistent Knee Pain Following a Total Knee Replacement

BACKGROUND

Persistent high levels of knee pain after a total knee replacement have been estimated to affect 5%-10% of people and this is related to dissatisfaction with surgery, reduced function and reduced quality of life. This systematic review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs or strategies to reduce persistent pain and improve function and quality of life in people following a total knee replacement.

METHODS

The systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines with a search of relevant online databases up to 17 July 2024. The search criteria included English language randomised controlled trials of rehabilitation programs or strategies in any setting to treat people with persistent knee pain more than 3 months after a total knee replacement. Rehabilitation could include exercise, education, cognitive strategies and self-management programs and excluded medication trials, procedural techniques and complementary therapies.

RESULTS

After removal of duplicates, there were 468 abstracts screened for eligibility with 23 remaining for full-text screening and finally, one study meeting the eligibility criteria. This study's interventions were pain neuroscience education alone and pain neuroscience education plus neuromuscular exercise. There were no statistically significant between-group differences for pain reduction or functional improvement.

CONCLUSION

The evidence examining the value of rehabilitation programs or strategies for pain reduction and functional improvement in people with persistent pain following total knee replacement is deficient. Given the high number of people affected annually, further research concerning both prevention and management of persistent pain after knee replacement is warranted.

Gubi decoction mitigates knee osteoarthritis via promoting chondrocyte autophagy through METTL3-mediated ATG7 m6A methylation

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a chronic joint disease that significantly affects the health of the elderly. As an herbal remedy, Gubi decoction (GBD) has been traditionally used for the treatment of osteoarthritis-related syndromes. However, the anti-KOA efficacy and mechanism of GBD remain unclear. This study aimed to experimentally investigate the anti-KOA efficacy and the underlying mechanism of GBD. The medial meniscus (DMM) mice model and IL-1β-stimulated chondrocytes were, respectively, constructed as in vivo and in vitro models of KOA to evaluate the osteoprotective effect and molecular mechanism of GBD. The UPLC-MS/MS analysis showed that GBD mainly contained pinoresinol diglucoside, rehmannioside D, hesperidin, liquiritin, baohuoside I, glycyrrhizic acid, kaempferol and tangeretin. Animal experiment showed that GBD could alleviate articular cartilage destruction and recover histopathological alterations in DMM mice. In addition, GBD inhibited chondrocyte apoptosis and restored DMM-induced dysregulated autophagy evidenced by the upregulation of ATG7 and LC3 II/LC3 I but decreased P62 level. Mechanistically, METTL3-mediated m6A modification decreased the expression of ATG7 in DMM mice, as it could be significantly attenuated by GBD. METTL3 overexpression significantly counteracted the protective effect of GBD on chondrocyte autophagy. Further research showed that GBD promoted proteasome-mediated ubiquitination degradation of METLL3. Our findings suggest that GBD could act as a protective agent against KOA. The protective effect of GBD may result from its promotion on chondrocyte autophagy by suppressing METTL3-dependent ATG7 m6A methylation.

Comparison the Effect of Rehabilitation at Home and Outpatient Physiotherapy after Total Knee Arthroplasty Surgery on Quality of Life and Knee Function: A Clinical Trial Study

Background

Primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is an effective procedure to better function and relief the pain in advanced osteoarthritis patients. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of outpatient clinic-based setting of physiotherapy versus home-based rehabilitation (HBR) for functional recovery immediately after primary TKA procedure.

Materials and Methods

This randomized clinical trial study was conducted on patients underwent TKA in 2021-2022. Participants were randomly allocated to either "usual care" or a "home-based rehabilitation" in a 1:1 ratio. The primary outcome measurement of this study was the Knee Society Score (KSS). The secondary outcome was patient quality of life using the 36-item Short Form Survey Instrument (SF-36). Data were entered into the SPSS software 25 and analyzed.

Results

In this study, 80 patients who underwent TKA in equal proportion in two outpatient physiotherapy (36 women; average age 64.37 ± 5.12 years) and home rehabilitation (33 women; average age 62.4 ± 4.87 years) groups were examined. The findings our study showed that after the intervention (3 and 5 months after the operation), there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the quality of life (total score) (P > 0.05). KSS had no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

This randomized controlled trial found no significant differences in the outcomes of rehabilitation using either a HBR or a traditional outpatient physiotherapy model.

One and Done? The Effectiveness of a Single Session of Physiotherapy Compared With Multiple Sessions to Reduce Pain and Improve Function and Quality of Life in Patients With a Musculoskeletal Disorder: A Systematic Review With Meta-analyses

OBJECTIVE

To compare single and multiple physiotherapy sessions to improve pain, function, and quality of life (QoL) in patients with musculoskeletal disorders (MSKDs).

DATA SOURCES

AMED, Cinahl, SportsDiscus, Medline, Cochrane Register of Clinical Trials, Physiotherapy Evidence Database, and reference lists.

STUDY SELECTION

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing single and multiple physiotherapy sessions for MSKDs.

DATA EXTRACTION

Two reviewers extracted data and assessed risk of bias and certainty of evidence using Cochrane Risk of Bias tool 2.0 and Grading of Recommendation Assessment, Development, and Evaluation.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Six RCTs (n=2090) were included (conditions studied: osteoporotic vertebral fracture, neck, knee, and shoulder pain). Meta-analyses with low-certainty evidence showed a significant pain improvement at 6 months in favor of multiple sessions compared with single session interventions (3 RCTs; n=1035; standardized mean difference [SMD]: 0.29; 95% CI: 0.05 to 0.53; P=.02) but this significant difference in pain improvement was not observed at 3 months (4 RCTs; n=1312; SMD: 0.39; 95% CI: -0.11 to 0.89; P=.13) and at 12 months (4 RCTs; n=1266; SMD: -0.05; 95% CI: -0.49 to 0.39; P=.82). Meta-analyses with low-certainty evidence showed no significant differences in function at 3 (4 RCTs; n=1583; SMD: 0.05; 95% CI: -0.11 to 0.21; P=.56), 6 (4 RCTs; n=1538; SMD: 0.06; 95% CI: -0.12 to 0.23; P=.53) and 12 months (4 RCTs; n=1528; SMD: 0.08; 95% CI: -0.08 to 0.25; P=.30) and QoL at 3 (4 RCTs; n=1779; SMD: 0.08; 95% CI: -0.02 to 0.17; P=.12), 6 (3 RCTs; n=1206; SMD: 0.03; 95% CI: -0.08 to 0.14; P=.59), and 12 months (4 RCTs; n=1729; SMD: -0.03; 95% CI: -0.12 to 0.07; P=.58).

CONCLUSIONS

Low certainty meta-analyses found no clinically significant differences in pain, function, and QoL between single and multiple physiotherapy sessions for MSKD management for the conditions studied. Future research should compare the cost-effectiveness of those different models of care.

Exercise and Pain Neuroscience Education for Patients With Chronic Pain After Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance

Up to 20% of patients develop chronic pain after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), yet there is a scarcity of effective interventions for this population.

Objective

To evaluate whether neuromuscular exercise and pain neuroscience education were superior to pain neuroscience education alone for patients with chronic pain after TKA.

Design, Setting, and Participants

A superiority randomized clinical trial was conducted at 3 outpatient clinics at Aalborg University Hospital in Denmark. Participants with moderate-to-severe average daily pain intensity and no signs of prosthesis failure at least 1 year after primary TKA were included. Participant recruitment was initiated on April 12, 2019, and completed on October 31, 2022. The 12-month follow-up was completed on March 21, 2023.

Interventions

The study included 24 sessions of supervised neuromuscular exercise (2 sessions per week for 12 weeks) and 2 total sessions of pain neuroscience education (6 weeks between each session) or the same pain neuroscience education sessions alone. The interventions were delivered in groups of 2 to 4 participants.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was change from baseline to 12 months using the mean score of the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, covering the 4 subscales pain, symptoms, activity of daily living, and knee-related quality of life (KOOS4; scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better outcomes). The outcome assessors and statistician were blinded. All randomized participants were included in the intention-to-treat analysis.

Results

Among the 69 participants (median age, 67.2 years [IQR, 61.2-71.9 years]; 40 female [58%]) included in the study, 36 were randomly assigned to the neuromuscular exercise and pain neuroscience education group, and 33 to the pain neuroscience education-alone group. The intention-to-treat analysis showed no between-group difference in change from baseline to 12 months for the KOOS4 (7.46 [95% CI, 3.04-11.89] vs 8.65 [95% CI, 4.67-12.63] points; mean difference, -1.33 [95% CI, -7.59 to 4.92]; P = .68). Among the 46 participants who participated in the 12-month assessment in the 2 groups, 16 (34.8%) experienced a clinically important improvement (a difference of ≥10 points on the KOOS4) with no between-group difference. No serious adverse events were observed.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this randomized clinical trial, the results demonstrated that neuromuscular exercises and pain neuroscience education were not superior to pain neuroscience education alone in participants with chronic pain after TKA. Approximately one-third of the participants, regardless of intervention, experienced clinically important improvements. Future studies should investigate which patient characteristics indicate a favorable response to exercises and/or pain neuroscience education.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03886259.

Factors Associated With Higher Utilization of Outpatient Physical Therapy for Patients Who Have Undergone Primary Total Joint Arthroplasty: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background

Research has identified predictive factors for inpatient complications and short-term recovery following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA). Predictors that may influence length of care in outpatient physical therapy (PT) have yet to be examined. Doing so may improve the quality and efficiency of PT care following TKA and THA.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to determine factors associated with a higher utilization of outpatient PT visits for patients who have had primary THA or TKA.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was performed using a population of 5147 patients who underwent THA and TKA between January 2017 and October 2022. Demographic and clinical factors were analyzed to determine which factors influenced PT utilization.

Results

Our multivariable linear regression model revealed that female sex, need for inpatient PT visits, and TKA as opposed to THA were significantly associated with an increase in outpatient PT visits. Older age, number of telerehabilitation visits, and history of depression were associated with fewer outpatient PT visits while accounting for all other variables.

Conclusions

The results of this retrospective analysis may help to identify some potential factors including TKA vs THA, patient age, and a history of depression that can be evaluated prospectively in future studies to determine whether they predict subsequent outpatient PT utilization.

Identifying patients at risk of prolonged hospital length of stay after total knee arthroplasty: A real-world study on the creation and validation of a cloud estimator

Accurate prediction of the length of stay for patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is critical for efficient medical resource allocation. This study aimed to create a user-friendly model to assist this estimation process. A secondary analysis was conducted on 2676 patients who underwent elective primary TKA at a tertiary academic medical center in Singapore from January 2013 to June 2014. The eligible patients (n = 2600) were randomly divided into a training cohort (n = 2081) and a validation cohort (n = 519), at a ratio of 4:1. A prolonged hospital stay was defined as exceeding six days. Multivariable logistic regression was used to develop a prediction model, and an online calculator was created to facilitate its application. The model's discrimination power, goodness-of-fit, and clinical applicability were evaluated. Additionally, models using other statistical methods were developed for performance comparison. The model includes predictors such as age, operation duration, history of cerebrovascular accidents, creatinine levels, procedure site, the American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical status, hemoglobin levels, and primary anesthesia type. The model demonstrated robust discrimination power with a C statistic of 0.70 (95% confidence interval, 0.64 to 0.75), satisfactory goodness-of-fit (Hosmer-Lemeshow test, P=0.286), and was applicable when thresholds were between 0.08 and 0.52, based on decision curve analysis. A predictive model was developed that can be used to identify patients who are likely to require an extended stay following TKA. This could assist in planning bed availability and guiding therapeutic decisions.

Home-based tele-rehabilitation versus hospital-based outpatient rehabilitation for pain and function after initial total knee arthroplasty: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to compare the effectiveness of home-based tele-rehabilitation programs with hospital-based rehabilitation programs in improving pain and function at various time points (≤6 weeks, ≤14 weeks, and ≤ 52 weeks) following the initial total knee arthroplasty.

METHODS

This study used PRISMA and AMSTAR reporting guidelines. We systematically searched 5 databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Medline) to identify randomized controlled trials published from January 1, 2019, to January 1, 2023. The primary outcomes were pain, knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score, and mobility (knee range of motion).

RESULTS

We included 9 studies involving 1944 patients. Low-quality evidence showed hospital-based rehabilitation was better than home-based tele-rehabilitation in knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score (mean difference [MD], -2.62; 95% confidence interval [CI], -4.65 to -0.58; P = .01) at ≤ 14 weeks after total knee arthroplasty. Based on low-quality evidence, home-based tele-rehabilitation was better than hospital-based rehabilitation in knee range of motion (MD, 2.00; 95% CI, 0.60 to 3.40; P = .005). There was no significant difference between hospital-based rehabilitation and home-based tele-rehabilitation in knee pain at ≤ 6 weeks (MD, 0.18; 95% CI, -0.07 to 0.42; P = .16), 14 weeks (MD, 0.12; 95% CI, -0.26 to 0.49; P = .54), and ≤ 52 weeks (MD, 0.16; 95% CI, -0.11 to 0.43; P = .24).

CONCLUSION

Home-based tele-rehabilitation and hospital-based rehabilitation programs showed comparable long-term outcomes in pain, mobility, physical function, and patient-reported health status after primary total knee arthroplasty. Considering the economic costs, home-based tele-rehabilitation programs are recommended as a viable alternative to hospital-based rehabilitation programs.

Comparison of ultrasound-guided genicular nerve block and knee periarticular infiltration for postoperative pain and functional outcomes in knee arthroplasty - A randomised trial

Background and Aims

Optimal analgesia after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) enhances patients' and surgical outcomes. The study investigated the ultrasound-guided genicular nerve block versus the periarticular infiltration in TKA.

Methods

Eighty-eight patients aged above 50 years scheduled for unilateral TKA were randomised as: Group 1 received intraoperative periarticular infiltration (0.5 mL adrenaline [4.5 µg/mL], 20 mL bupivacaine 0.5% with 89.5 mL saline) and Group 2 received immediate postoperative genicular nerve block (15 mL bupivacaine 0.25% with 2.5 g/mL adrenaline). The postoperative morphine consumption was during the first two postoperative days the primary outcome. The secondary outcomes were time to rescue analgesia, pain scores and functional outcomes. The comparison between groups was performed using the Chi-square test, the Student's t-test and the Mann-Whitney U test, as appropriate.

Results

The postoperative morphine consumption during the first two postoperative days and pain scores at rest at 12 h postoperatively were less in Group 1 than in Group 2 (P < 0.001). Pain scores during movement on the first postoperative day were lower in the periarticular group than the genicular group at 6, 12 and 24 h (P < 0.001). At 18 h, pain scores were higher in the periarticular group than in the genicular group at rest and movement (P < 0.001). Quadriceps motor strength scores were comparable between groups (P > 0.05). The knee range of motion and time up and go test during both days showed a statistically significant difference in the periarticular group compared to the genicular group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Periarticular infiltration and genicular nerve block yield effective postoperative analgesia and functional outcomes after TKA without motor affection.

Effectiveness and safety of outpatient rehabilitation versus home-based rehabilitation after knee arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Rehabilitation post-knee arthroplasty is integral to regaining knee function and ensuring patients' overall well-being. The debate over the relative effectiveness and safety of outpatient versus home-based rehabilitation persists.

METHODS

A thorough literature review was conducted adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines across four databases. Two researchers independently identified eligible studies centering on knee arthroplasty patients undergoing either outpatient or home-based rehabilitation. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's risk of bias tool, while continuous outcomes were subject to meta-analyses using Stata 17 software.

RESULTS

Our analysis identified no significant differences in primary outcomes, including Range of Motion, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, Oxford Knee Score, and the Knee Society Score, between home-based and outpatient rehabilitation across different follow-up points. Adverse reactions, readmission rates, the need for manipulation under anesthesia, reoperation rate, and post-surgery complications were also similar between both groups. Home-based rehabilitation demonstrated cost-effectiveness, resulting in substantial annual savings. Furthermore, quality of life and patient satisfaction were found to be comparable in both rehabilitation methods.

CONCLUSIONS

Home-based rehabilitation post-knee arthroplasty appears as an effective, safe, and cost-efficient alternative to outpatient rehabilitation. Despite these findings, further multicenter, long-term randomized controlled trials are required to validate these findings and provide robust evidence to inform early rehabilitation choices post-knee arthroplasty.

Not All Patients Need Supervised Physical Therapy After Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Although postoperative physical therapy (PT) has long been considered essential to successful total knee arthroplasty (TKA) recovery, recent literature has suggested that unsupervised home exercise regimens may offer similar benefits to formal supervised sessions. We aimed to compare objectively measured physical function and subjective patient-reported outcomes (PROs) between primary TKA patients who received formal supervised physical therapy sessions and those who received unsupervised home exercise regimens after discharge. Six electronic databases were queried to identify randomized controlled trials comparing supervised physical therapy to unsupervised home exercise regimens in primary TKA patients after discharge. Outcomes of interest included change from baseline in objective measures (knee flexion range of motion (ROM), lower extremity strength, and aerobic capacity) and PROs (physical function and quality of life scores). These outcomes were subdivided into short-term (<6 months from surgery; closest data point to three months is used if multiple measurements were made in this time period) and long-term (≥6 months from surgery; closest data point to 12 months is used if multiple measurements were made in this time period) assessments. A total of 1,884 cases performed in 11 studies were included in this review. There were no significant differences between cohorts with regard to short-term knee flexion ROM (p = 0.7), lower extremity strength (p = 0.6), or patient-reported quality of life (p = 0.5), as well as long-term knee flexion ROM (p = 0.7), patient-reported quality of life (p = 0.2), or patient-reported physical outcome scores (p = 0.3). A small difference in short-term patient-reported physical outcomes was observed in favor of the supervised cohort (standardized mean difference (SMD): 0.3 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.01, 0.6); I2 = 82%; p = 0.04). Formal supervised physical therapy regimens do not confer clinically significant benefits over unsupervised home exercise regimens following primary TKA. The routine use of supervised physical therapy after discharge may not be warranted. Further study is needed to determine the subset of patients that may benefit from supervised care.

Effects of physiotherapy interventions for home-based rehabilitation on physical function after primary total knee arthroplasty: a systematic review protocol

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this review is to provide a systematic and transparent overview of the effects of common physiotherapy techniques and exercises for the rehabilitation of patients following total knee arthroplasty.

INTRODUCTION

Many protocols exist for the rehabilitation of patients after total knee arthroplasty, but there is a lack of systematic evidence on rehabilitation components, including precise exercise descriptions and their parameters. This review will fill in some of the gaps in reporting on scientific rehabilitation protocol components and the evaluation of their effectiveness.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

We will include randomized controlled trials investigating active and passive physiotherapy techniques and exercises employed after primary total knee arthroplasty, and which report concrete parameters, such as dosage, duration, frequency, intensity, and function-related measurements. We will exclude other study types and randomized controlled trials reporting on techniques and exercises without precise descriptions.

METHODS

This review will aim to find both published and unpublished studies. The key information sources to be searched are MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCO), PEDro, Cochrane CENTRAL, ClinicalTrials.gov, and WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. Two independent reviewers will screen titles, abstracts, and full texts; assess the methodological quality; and extract the data. We will perform narrative synthesis, followed by meta-analyses for pooled studies, where possible.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42022309185.

Effects of psychological distress on the general health to self-reported pain and function outcome relationship in knee arthroplasty: A causal mediation study

Objectives

We examined two potential causal pathways that could be intervention targets to enhance knee arthroplasty outcomes. Data from a no-effect trial of persons with moderate to high pain catastrophizing were used to determined whether pain catastrophizing, depressive symptoms causally mediate the effect of preoperative general health on postoperative knee pain and functional difficulty.

Methods

We used natural-effects models to conduct causal mediation analyses using the preoperative dichotomized EQ-5D-5L general health measure as the exposure, 2-month postoperative pain catastrophizing, depressive symptoms, and localized knee pain as potential mediators, and 12-month dichotomized Western Ontario and McMaster's University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) Pain and Function scores reflecting good versus poor outcome as the outcomes.

Results

Estimates of the indirect (mediating) effect suggested that pain catastrophizing mediated the effect of preoperative general health on 12-month WOMAC pain score by increasing odds of a good outcome by 8% (natural indirect effect odds ratio ​= ​1.08, 95% CI: 0.88, 1.29). The direction of mediating effects and their magnitude were similar for depressive symptoms; Sensitivity analyses suggested similar magnitudes and mediating effects to those reported for the main analyses.

Conclusions

Our findings suggested that pain catastrophizing and depressive symptoms have a mediating role on the effect of baseline general health on self-reported pain and function outcomes. These findings support the continued treatment of pain catastrophizing and depressive symptoms as viable targets for interventions to potentially enhance pain and function outcomes for patients with moderate to high levels of psychological distress prior to surgery.

Physical therapy as a promising treatment for osteoarthritis: A narrative review

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent joint disease and a leading cause of disability in older adults. With an increasing population ageing and obesity, OA is becoming even more prevalent than it was in previous decades. Evidence indicates that OA is caused by the breakdown of joint tissues from mechanical loading and inflammation, but the deeper underlying mechanism of OA pathogenesis remains unclear, hindering efforts to prevent and treat this disease. Pharmacological treatments are mostly related to relieving symptoms, and there is no drug for radical cure. However, compelling evidence suggests that regular practice of resistance exercise may prevent and control the development of several musculoskeletal chronic diseases including OA, which may result in improved quality of life of the patients. In this review, we introduced the current understanding of the mechanism and clinical treatments of OA pathogenesis. We also reviewed the recent study of physical therapy in the treatment of skeletal system disorders, especially in OA. Finally, we discuss the present challenges and promising advantages of physical therapy in OA treatment.

Recharge of chondrocyte mitochondria by sustained release of melatonin protects cartilage matrix homeostasis in osteoarthritis

Recent evidence indicates that the mitochondrial functions of chondrocytes are impaired in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA). Melatonin can attenuate cartilage degradation through its antioxidant functions. This study aims to investigate whether melatonin could rescue the impaired mitochondrial functions of OA chondrocytes and protect cartilage metabolism. OA chondrocytes showed a compromised matrix synthesis capacity associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and aberrant oxidative stress. In vitro treatments with melatonin promoted the expression of cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM) components, improved adenosine triphosphate production, and attenuated mitochondrial oxidative stress. Mechanistically, either silencing of SOD2 or inhibition of SIRT1 abolished the protective effects of melatonin on mitochondrial functions and ECM synthesis. To achieve a sustained release effect, a melatonin-laden drug delivery system (DDS) was developed and intra-articular injection with DDS successfully improved cartilage matrix degeneration in a posttraumatic rat OA model. These findings demonstrate that melatonin-mediated recharge of mitochondria to rescue the mitochondrial functions of chondrocytes represents a promising therapeutic strategy to protect cartilage from OA.

Predictors of psychological resilience trajectories in patients with knee arthroplasty: A longitudinal study

AIMS

To identify the different classes of total knee arthroplasty patients according to the heterogenous trajectories of psychological resilience and investigate the predictors for different patterns of resilience.

DESIGN

A prospective cohort study.

METHODS

A total of 210 patients with total knee arthroplasty from March to December 2021 were included. Baseline assessment (T0) data were collected before surgery and included demographic, biological (clinical characteristics), psychological (psychological resilience, self-efficacy, psychological distress, hope, medical coping mode) and social (social support) factors. Resilience measurements were repeated at 3 days after surgery (T1), the date of discharge (T2), and 1 month (T3) and 3 months (T4) after discharge. Latent growth mixture modelling was employed to define different resilience trajectories. Predictors of class membership were identified using multinomial logistic regression.

RESULTS

Data from 198 patients were analysed. Three latent classes were identified with similar patterns in different intercepts, showing a significant decrease in resilience from admission (T0) to 3 days after surgery (T1) followed by an increase from T1 to T4. The three trajectories of psychological resilience were named the stable-resilience class (65.66%), high-resilience class (17.68%), and low-resilience class (16.66%). Multinomial logistic regression showed that compared with the stable-resilience class, the high-resilience class was predicted by having a higher level of hope, having higher education, living in urban areas and having more children, while the low-resilience class was predicted by having lower levels of self-efficacy and hope, living in semirural areas, and having more children.

CONCLUSIONS

The three trajectories indicated that surgery was the major stressor influencing patients' psychological resilience and that patients in the low-resilience class needed to be intervened.

IMPACT

Predictors of patients in different classes provide evidence for the identification of vulnerable populations and lay a foundation for future research contributing to the development of targeted interventions for improving patients' psychological resilience. No patient or public contribution but the time points of investigation were decided based on our interviews with 12 total knee arthroplasty patients.

Less improvement in knee function and higher rates of dissatisfaction in the short-term following total knee arthroplasty in people with mild radiographic arthritis

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study was to assess if severity of radiographic changes of knee arthritis was associated with patient improvement after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We hypothesised that patients with mild arthritis were more likely to report lower satisfaction, improvement in knee function and Oxford knee score (OKS) compared to patients with moderate or severe arthritis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Secondary analysis of prospectively collected data from TKA patients of two arthroplasty centres with knee radiographs available for assessment of disease severity. Patients completed the Oxford knee score (OKS) and were asked to rate the global improvement in knee condition and their satisfaction at 6 months post-TKA. Bivariable analysis and multivariable regression models were used to test the association between disease severity and each outcome.

RESULTS

2226 patients underwent primary TKA and 3.6% had mild arthritis. Mean OKS improved from 17.0 (SD 18.0) to 38.0 (SD 8.1) 6 months after TKA. Two hundred and twenty-two patients (10%) reported 'Poor' or 'Fair' satisfaction, and 173 (8%) reported knee function was 'Much worse', 'A little worse' or 'About the same' 6 months post-TKA. Patients with mild arthritis showed improvement in OKS [mean improvement in OKS = 19 (SD 15)], but were significantly more likely to report dissatisfaction (OR = 3.10, 95% CI 1.62 to 5.91, p = 0.006), lack of improvement (OR = 4.49, 95% CI 2.38 to 8.47, p < 0.001) and lower OKS scores (- 3 points, 95% CI - 5.39 to - 0.85, p = 0.008) compared to patients with moderate to severe arthritis.

CONCLUSIONS

While patients with mild radiographic arthritic changes improve after TKA, they were significantly more likely to report higher rates of dissatisfaction, less improvement in knee function and OKS compared to patients with moderate-severe grades of arthritis.

CDDO-Im ameliorates osteoarthritis and inhibits chondrocyte apoptosis in mice via enhancing Nrf2-dependent autophagy

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent chronic degenerative joint disease with few treatment options. The pathogenesis of OA is characterized by sustained inflammation, oxidative stress and chondrocyte apoptosis that eventually lead to cartilage degradation and joint dysfunction. In the present study, we identified a synthetic triterpenoid CDDO-Im(1-[2-cyano-3,12-dioxooleana-1,9(11)-dien-28-oyl] imidazole) as an activator of Nrf2 (nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2) that displayed strong anti-OA effects. We showed that CDDO-Im (20 nM) significantly alleviated TNF-α-induced apoptosis of primary human chondrocytes and extracellular matrix degradation. In a mouse OA model incurred by DMM (destabilization of medial meniscus), administration of CDDO-Im (2.5 mg/kg, ip, every other day for 8 weeks) effectively reduced knee joint cartilage erosion and serum levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6. We revealed that CDDO-Im (20 nM) significantly enhanced autophagy activities in chondrocytes, whereas the autophagy inhibition by chloroquine (CQ, 50 μM) or 3-methyladenine (3-MA, 5 mM) abrogated the anti-apoptosis and chondroprotective effects of CDDO-Im in TNF-α-treated chondrocytes. Moreover, we confirmed that CDDO-Im (1-20 nM) dose-dependently activated Nrf2 pathway in TNF-α-treated chondrocytes, and its chondroprotective and autophagy-enhancing effects were significantly diminished when Nrf2 signaling was blocked by Nrf2 inhibitor ML385 (20 μM) or siRNA-mediated Nrf2 knockdown. Together, our results demonstrate that CDDO-Im exhibits prominent chondroprotective and anti-OA activities owing to its Nrf2 activation and autophagy-enhancing properties, which might provide new insights into the strategies of OA clinical prevention and treatment.

A physical therapist-led clinical decision-making program reduced risk of adverse events after total knee arthroplasty over 3 years: A retrospective review

CONTEXT

Reducing adverse events after total knee arthroplasty has implications for newly developed bundled payment models.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the impact of a physical therapist-led clinical decision-making program on the risk of adverse events, function, visits used, or reaching knee range of motion (ROM) goals in patients after total knee arthroplasty.

METHODS

The decision-making program consisted of quarterly meetings and recommendations for early risk identification and evidence-based intervention. A retrospective review of electronic records included adult patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty postoperative rehabilitation in an 18-month baseline period from 2014 to 2015 and an intervention period from 2015 to 2018. Relative risk reduction (RRR) determined whether a reduction in risk had occurred. Discharge function was measured with the Lower Extremity Functional Scale.

RESULTS

A total of 160 patients were included, 69 from the 18-month baseline period and 91 from the 36-month intervention period. Mean (SD) age was 68 (9.2) years in the baseline period and 72 (9.7) years in the intervention period. There was an 8.4% (95% CI, 1.1%-64.9%) RRR in adverse events. The RRR for patients not reaching full knee extension was 70.5% (95% CI, 33.4%-87.0%) and the RRR for patients not reaching 120° of knee flexion was 65.5% (95% CI, 5.4%-87.4%). There was significant improvement in the discharge function score (P = 0.05), but not the number of visits used (P = 0.29).

CONCLUSION

The physical therapist-led clinical decision-making program reduced the risk of adverse events after total knee arthroplasty. The risk of not reaching ROM goals by discharge was also substantially reduced.

Total Joint Arthroplasty Training (Prehabilitation and Rehabilitation) in Lower Extremity Arthroplasty

Lower extremity total joint arthroplasty (TJA) has an established track record of success and a subset of patients who fail to experience desired improvements. Current TJA success can be attributed to refined surgical techniques, improved preparation of patients for surgery, and enhanced postoperative recovery protocols. One aspect of preoperative patient preparation and enhanced postoperative recovery includes training regimens intended to prepare patients for TJA and facilitate TJA functional recovery (often referred to as using the jargon prehabilitation and rehabilitation). The importance of prehabilitation and rehabilitation is open to debate because of historically insufficient and inconsistent evidence. This review aims to provide direction for future investigative efforts by presenting an overview of current preoperative and postoperative TJA training/exercise programs within the framework of utility, timing, form, setting, and cost.

Randomised controlled trial of a behaviour change physiotherapy intervention to increase physical activity following hip and knee replacement: the PEP-TALK trial

OBJECTIVE

To test the effectiveness of a behaviour change physiotherapy intervention to increase physical activity compared with usual rehabilitation after total hip replacement (THR) or total knee replacement (TKR).

DESIGN

Multicentre, pragmatic, two-arm, open, randomised controlled, superiority trial.

SETTING

National Health Service providers in nine English hospitals.

PARTICIPANTS

224 individuals aged ≥18 years, undergoing a primary THR or TKR deemed 'moderately inactive' or 'inactive'.

INTERVENTION

Participants received either six, 30 min, weekly, group-based exercise sessions (usual care) or the same six weekly, group-based, exercise sessions each preceded by a 30 min cognitive behaviour discussion group aimed at challenging barriers to physical inactivity following surgery (experimental).

RANDOMISATION AND BLINDING

Initial 75 participants were randomised 1:1 before changing the allocation ratio to 2:1 (experimental:usual care). Allocation was based on minimisation, stratifying on comorbidities, operation type and hospital. There was no blinding.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Primary: University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Activity Score at 12 months. Secondary: 6 and 12-month assessed function, pain, self-efficacy, kinesiophobia, psychological distress and quality of life.

RESULTS

Of the 1254 participants assessed for eligibility, 224 were included (139 experimental: 85 usual care). Mean age was 68.4 years (SD: 8.7), 63% were women, 52% underwent TKR. There was no between-group difference in UCLA score (mean difference: -0.03 (95% CI -0.52 to 0.45, p=0.89)). There were no differences observed in any of the secondary outcomes at 6 or 12 months. There were no important adverse events in either group. The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the reduced intended sample size (target 260) and reduced intervention compliance.

CONCLUSIONS

There is no evidence to suggest attending usual care physiotherapy sessions plus a group-based behaviour change intervention differs to attending usual care physiotherapy alone. As the trial could not reach its intended sample size, nor a proportion of participants receive their intended rehabilitation, this should be interpreted with caution.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ISRCTN29770908.

The preventive and therapeutic role of physical activity in knee osteoarthritis

The aim of this narrative review is to discuss the results of studies investigating the role of physical activity in knee osteoarthritis (OA). We also formulated two evidence-based exercise programs that could be prescribed to patients with symptomatic knee OA or after joint replacement. The PubMed and Google Scholar databases were searched for articles related to knee OA and physical activity. A total of 86 papers written in English and published from 1957 to 2021 were selected. Adapted physical activity, even at high intensity, does not appear to trigger or exacerbate knee OA; on the contrary, it may prevent obesity or lower limb muscle weakness, both of which are considered predisposing factors for the disease. In patients already diagnosed with knee OA, scientific evidence suggests that both land-based and aquatic activities combining aerobics, strength, and endurance programs are safe and effective. Physical interventions tailored to the patient may also accelerate recovery time after knee arthroplasty. Knee OA is a painful and disabling rheumatic disease that is very common in the elderly population. Pharmacotherapy has a modest effect in controlling disease progression, possibly due to the still limited understanding of OA pathogenesis. Non-pharmacologic interventions, including dietary and lifestyle changes and physical activity, may be more effective and safer than drugs in preventing or treating knee OA.

Effect of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation After Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Background: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on quadriceps muscle strength, pain, and function outcomes following total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Methods: PubMed/Medline, Embase, Web of Science, CENTRAL, Scopus, PsycINFO, PEDro, CINAHL, CNKI, and Wanfang were systematically searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from their inception to 18 June 2021.

Results: Nine RCTs that involving 691 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Our pooled analysis showed that NMES improved quadriceps muscle strength after TKA within 1 months [standardized mean difference (SMD): 0.81; 95% CI: 0.51–1.11], 1–2 months (SMD: 0.55; 95% CI: 0.13–0.97), 3–4 months (SMD: 0.42; 95% CI: 0.18–0.66), and 12–13 months (SMD: 0.46; 95% CI: 0.18–0.74), pain between 1 and 2 months [mean difference (MD): −0.62; 95% CI: −1.04 to −0.19], pain between 3 and 6 months (MD: −0.44; 95% CI: −0.74 to −0.14) Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) between 3 and 4 months (MD: −0.43; 95% CI: −0.82 to −0.05), timed up and go test (TUG) within 1 month (MD: −2.23; 95% CI: −3.40 to −1.07), 3 minutes walk test between 3 and 6 months (MD: 28.35; 95% CI: 14.55–42.15), and SF-36 MCS between 3 and 6 months after TKA (MD: 4.20, 95% CI: 2.41–5.98).

Conclusion: As a supplementary treatment after TKA, postoperative NMES could improve the short-term to long-term quadriceps muscle strength, mid-term pain, and mid-term function following TKA. However, many outcomes failed to achieve statistically meaningful changes and minimal clinically important difference (MCID), thus the clinical benefits remained to be confirmed.

Level of Evidence: Therapeutic level I.

Systematic Review Registration:https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42021265609.

Virtual reality-based rehabilitation in patients following total knee arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Physical therapy is regarded as an essential aspect in achieving optimal outcomes following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has made face-to-face rehabilitation inaccessible. Virtual reality (VR) is increasingly regarded as a potentially effective option for offering health care interventions. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigate VR-based rehabilitation's effectiveness on outcomes following TKA.

METHODS

From inception to May 22, 2021, PubMed/Medline, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Scopus, PsycINFO, Physiotherapy Evidence Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang were comprehensively searched to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effect of VR-based rehabilitation on patients following TKA according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions.

RESULTS

Eight studies were included in the systematic review, and seven studies were included in the meta-analysis. VR-based rehabilitation significantly improved visual analog scale (VAS) scores within 1 month (standardized mean difference [SMD]: -0.44; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.79 to -0.08, P = 0.02), the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) within 1 month (SMD: -0.71; 95% CI: -1.03 to -0.40, P < 0.01), and the Hospital for Special Surgery Knee Score (HSS) within 1 month and between 2 months and 3 months (MD: 7.62; 95% CI: 5.77 to 9.47, P < 0.01; MD: 10.15; 95% CI: 8.03 to 12.27, P < 0.01; respectively) following TKA compared to conventional rehabilitation. No significant difference was found in terms of the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test.

CONCLUSIONS

VR-based rehabilitation improved pain and function but not postural control following TKA compared to conventional rehabilitation. More high-quality RCTs are needed to prove the advantage of VR-based rehabilitation. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, it is necessary to promote this rehabilitation model.

Home based rehabilitation after a knee replacement is as effective as physiotherapy

The studyBarker KL, Room J, Knight R, et al. Outpatient physiotherapy versus home-based rehabilitation for patients at risk of poor outcomes after knee arthroplasty: CORKA RCT. Health Technol Assess 2020;24:1-116.To read the full NIHR Alert, go to: https://evidence.nihr.ac.uk/alert/knee-replacements-home-based-rehabilitation-as-effective-physiotherapy/.

Phase 3 Trials of Enhanced Versus Usual Care Physical Therapy for Patients at Risk of Poor Outcome Following Knee Arthroplasty: A Perspective on Meaning and a Way Forward

Physical therapy is routinely delivered to patients after discharge from the hospital following knee arthroplasty. Posthospitalization physical therapy is thought to be beneficial, particularly for those patients most at risk of poor outcome, the subgroup with persistent function-limiting pain, despite an apparently successful surgery. Research teams have undertaken 3 large-scale multicenter Phase 3 randomized clinical trials designed specifically for patients at risk of poor outcome following knee arthroplasty. All 3 trials screened for poor outcome risk using different methods and investigated different physical therapist interventions delivered in different ways. Despite the variety of types of physical therapy and mode of delivery, all trials found no effects of the enhanced treatment compared with usual care. In all cases, usual care required a lower dosage of physical therapy compared with the enhanced interventions. This Perspective compares and contrasts the 3 trials, speculates on factors that could explain the no-effect findings, and proposes areas for future study designed to benefit the poor outcome phenotype.

Home-based rehabilitation programme compared with traditional physiotherapy for patients at risk of poor outcome after knee arthroplasty: the CORKA randomised controlled trial

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate whether a home-based rehabilitation programme for people assessed as being at risk of a poor outcome after knee arthroplasty offers superior outcomes to traditional outpatient physiotherapy.

DESIGN

A prospective, single-blind, two-arm randomised controlled superiority trial.

SETTING

14 National Health Service physiotherapy departments in the UK.

PARTICIPANTS

621 participants identified at high risk of a poor outcome after knee arthroplasty using a bespoke screening tool.

INTERVENTIONS

A multicomponent home-based rehabilitation programme delivered by rehabilitation assistants with supervision from qualified therapists versus usual care outpatient physiotherapy.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome was the Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument (LLFDI) at 12 months. Secondary outcomes were the Oxford Knee Score (a disease-specific measure of function), Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score Quality of Life subscale, Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly, 5 dimension, 5 level version of Euroqol (EQ-5D-5L) and physical function assessed using the Figure of 8 Walk test, 30 s Chair Stand Test and Single Leg Stance.

RESULTS

621 participants were randomised between March 2015 and January 2018. 309 were assigned to CORKA (Community Rehabilitation after Knee Arthroplasty) home-based rehabilitation, receiving a median five treatment sessions (IQR 4-7). 312 were assigned to usual care, receiving a median 4 sessions (IQR 2-6). The primary outcome, LLFDI function total score at 12 months, was collected for 279 participants (89%) in the home-based CORKA group and 287 participants (92%) in the usual care group. No clinically or statistically significant difference was found between the groups (intention-to-treat adjusted difference=0.49 points; 95% CI -0.89 to 1.88; p=0.48). There were no statistically significant differences between the groups on any of the patient-reported or physical secondary outcome measures at 6 or 12 months.There were 18 participants in the intervention group reporting a serious adverse event (5.8%), only one directly related to the intervention, all other adverse events recorded throughout the trial related to underlying chronic medical conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

The CORKA intervention was not superior to usual care. The trial detected no significant differences, clinical or statistical, between the two groups on either primary or secondary outcomes. CORKA offers an evaluation of an intervention utilising a different service delivery model for this patient group.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ISRCTN13517704.

Common elective orthopaedic procedures and their clinical effectiveness: umbrella review of level 1 evidence

OBJECTIVE

To determine the clinical effectiveness of common elective orthopaedic procedures compared with no treatment, placebo, or non-operative care and assess the impact on clinical guidelines.

DESIGN

Umbrella review of meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials or other study designs in the absence of meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials.

DATA SOURCES

Ten of the most common elective orthopaedic procedures-arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, arthroscopic meniscal repair of the knee, arthroscopic partial meniscectomy of the knee, arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, arthroscopic subacromial decompression, carpal tunnel decompression, lumbar spine decompression, lumbar spine fusion, total hip replacement, and total knee replacement-were studied. Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, and bibliographies were searched until September 2020.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES

Meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials (or in the absence of meta-analysis other study designs) that compared the clinical effectiveness of any of the 10 orthopaedic procedures with no treatment, placebo, or non-operative care.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS

Summary data were extracted by two independent investigators, and a consensus was reached with the involvement of a third. The methodological quality of each meta-analysis was assessed using the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews instrument. The Jadad decision algorithm was used to ascertain which meta-analysis represented the best evidence. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Evidence search was used to check whether recommendations for each procedure reflected the body of evidence.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Quality and quantity of evidence behind common elective orthopaedic interventions and comparisons with the strength of recommendations in relevant national clinical guidelines.

RESULTS

Randomised controlled trial evidence supports the superiority of carpal tunnel decompression and total knee replacement over non-operative care. No randomised controlled trials specifically compared total hip replacement or meniscal repair with non-operative care. Trial evidence for the other six procedures showed no benefit over non-operative care.

CONCLUSIONS

Although they may be effective overall or in certain subgroups, no strong, high quality evidence base shows that many commonly performed elective orthopaedic procedures are more effective than non-operative alternatives. Despite the lack of strong evidence, some of these procedures are still recommended by national guidelines in certain situations.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42018115917.

The effect of COVID-19 restrictions on rehabilitation and functional outcome following total hip and knee arthroplasty during the first wave of the pandemic

AIMS

The primary aim was to assess the patient-perceived effect of restrictions imposed due to COVID-19 on rehabilitation following total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Secondary aims were to assess perceived restrictions, influence on mental health, and functional outcome compared to patients undergoing surgery without restriction.

METHODS

During February and March 2020, 105 patients underwent THA (n = 48) or TKA (n = 57) and completed preoperative and six-month postoperative assessments. A cohort of 415 patients undergoing surgery in 2019 were used as the control. Patient demographic data, BMI, comorbidities, Oxford Hip Score (OHS) or Knee Score (OKS), and EuroQoL five-domain (EQ-5D) score were collected preoperatively and at six months postoperatively. At six months postoperatively, the 2020 patients were also asked to complete a questionnaire relating to the effect of the social restrictions on their outcome and their mental health.

RESULTS

Nearly half of the patients (47.6%, n = 50/105) felt that the restrictions imposed by COVID-19 had limited their rehabilitation and were associated with a significantly worse postoperative OKS (p < 0.001), EQ-5D score (p < 0.001), and lower satisfaction rate (p = 0.019). The reasons for the perceived limited rehabilitation were: being unable to exercise (n = 32, 64%), limited access to physiotherapy (n = 30, 60%), and no face-to-face follow-up (n = 30, 60%). A quarter (n = 26) felt that their mental health had deteriorated postoperatively; 17.1% (n = 18) felt depressed and 26.7% (n = 28) felt anxious. Joint-specific scores and satisfaction for the 2020 group were no different to the 2019 group, however patients undergoing THA in 2020 had a significantly worse postoperative EQ-5D compared to the 2019 cohort (difference 0.106; p = 0.001) which was not observed in patients undergoing TKA.

CONCLUSION

Half of the 2020 cohort felt that their rehabilitation had been limited and was associated with worse postoperative Oxford and EQ-5D scores, and lower rates of patient satisfaction, but relative to the 2019 cohort their overall outcomes were no different, with the exception of THA patients who had a worse general health score. Level of evidence: Prospective study, Level 2 Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2021;2(6):380-387.

Physical Therapy Use, Costs, and Value for Latent Classes of Good vs Poor Outcome in Patients Who Catastrophize About Their Pain Prior to Knee Arthroplasty

OBJECTIVE

To examine use, costs, and value of physical therapy (PT) among subgroups.

DESIGN

We conducted an observational study of data from a randomized trial of a pain coping skills intervention. Good and poor outcome subgroups were determined based on Western Ontario and McMasters Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) Pain and Physical Function scores. The use and costs of PT care as well as changes in WOMAC Pain and Physical Function scores over 4 time periods during a 1-year follow-up were reported. We compared the number of PT visits, total PT costs, and cost per 1-unit improvement in WOMAC scores for the 2 latent subgroups.

SETTING

Five academic medical centers.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients who catastrophized about their pain prior to knee arthroplasty (N=384).

INTERVENTIONS

Pain coping skills training, arthritis education, and usual care.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The WOMAC Pain Scale was the primary outcome.

RESULTS

The value of PT was lower and the cost of PT was higher for poor vs good outcome subgroups beginning 2 months after knee arthroplasty. For example, during the 2- to 6-month period, participants in the poor outcome subgroup incurred a PT cost of $5181.22 per 1-unit improvement in WOMAC Pain compared with $437.87 per 1-unit improvement in WOMAC Pain for the good outcome subgroup (P<.001). From the 6- to 12-month period, WOMAC scores worsened for the poor outcome subgroup, indicating no benefit from PT.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients in 2 latent classes demonstrated clinically important differences in value of PT. Future research should identify rehabilitation-based interventions that reduce utilization and enhance effectiveness for patients at high risk for poor outcome.

Physical rehabilitation versus no physical rehabilitation after total hip and knee arthroplasties: Protocol for a pragmatic, randomized, controlled, superiority trial (The DRAW1 trial)

Background: Following total hip- and knee arthroplasty (THA and TKA), post-discharge physical rehabilitation is common practice, but varies significantly regarding content, duration, intensity and mode of delivery. Recent systematic reviews have found home-based rehabilitation to be as good as outpatient rehabilitation in terms of pain and physical function. We therefore wonder if physical rehabilitation "works" at all when compared to no physical rehabilitation after THA and TKA - "no rehabilitation" defined as no prescribed therapeutic rehabilitation exercises. The purpose of this trial is to compare the effectiveness of home-based telerehabilitation, home-based rehabilitation and no physical rehabilitation following THA and TKA.  Methods: This pragmatic, randomized controlled trial will include 168 patients following discharge after THA or TKA, in Bornholm Denmark. Patients will be randomized into one of the three 6-week rehabilitation strategies: home-based telerehabilitation, home-based rehabilitation or no physical rehabilitation. The trial is designed as a superiority trial to test the hypothesis that rehabilitation (home-based telerehabilitation and home-based rehabilitation) is superior to no physical rehabilitation. The primary outcome will be the hip disability and osteoarthritis outcome score (HOOS)/ the knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS)-subscale: function of daily living at first follow-up (end of the 6-weeks' intervention). Additional follow-ups are scheduled at 3 and 12 months. Outcome assessors and data analysts are blinded to group allocation. Conclusions: Knowledge about the effectiveness of the three investigated rehabilitation strategies will help guide the future organization of post-discharge rehabilitation after THA and TKA. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03750448 (23/11/2018).