EVALUATION OF THE FUNCTIONAL OUTCOME AFTER TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT AND FACTORS AFFECTING THE OVERALL FUNCTIONAL OUTCOME

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the functional outcome after total knee replacement and factors affecting the overall functional outcome
Materials &methods: 20 patients with knee arthritis, 8 female & 12 male, mean age 58(40-70) assigned for total knee replacement (TKR) at the Department Of Orthopedics, Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal. All patients were evaluated pre operatively & post operatively at 2 months, 4 months, 6 month and 1 year with knee society clinical and functional score for the functional outcome and also various factors assessed which may affect the outcome.
Results: The average pre-operative knee clinical score (KCS) was 29 which improved to an average post-operative score of 94. At 1 year follow up, 14 patients (70%) had Excellent, 4 patients (20%) had Good, and 1 patient had fair (5%) and 1 patient had poor (5%) results as per KCS. The average pre-operative knee functional score (KFS) was 36, which improved to a post-operative score of 88. At 1 year follow up, 12 patients (60%) had Excellent, 3 patients (15%) had Good, 3 patients (15%) had Fair and 2 patients (10%) had poor results as per KFS. Men had better results, older patients had better functional outcomes and those with rheumatoid arthritis fared well as compared to osteoarthritis.
Conclusion: Total knee replacement significantly improves the functional outcome of the arthritic knee. There are factors like age, sex; main diagnosis which may affects the overall functional outcome after TKR
Keywords: functional outcome, knee society score, total knee replacement