Elsevier

The Journal of Arthroplasty

Volume 16, Issue 6, September 2001, Pages 740-747
The Journal of Arthroplasty

Original Articles
Patient satisfaction after total knee arthroplasty: A comparison between subjective and objective outcome assessments,☆☆

https://doi.org/10.1054/arth.2001.23922Get rights and content

Abstract

We used a visual analog scale (VAS) to assess the satisfaction after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in a group of 108 patients (126 TKAs) with short-term to medium-term follow-up. We also used the Knee Society scoring system, Western Ontario and McMasters Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), pain VAS, and survival analysis. A comparison between the subjective and objective outcome systems revealed only poor correlations. This comparison suggests that the concerns and priorities of patients and surgeons differ. The outcome assessed with the satisfaction VAS revealed a significantly better subjective outcome in rheumatoid arthritis patients compared with osteoarthritis patients, whereas Knee Society scores were not different. The satisfaction VAS provides additional information about subjective outcome after TKA.

Section snippets

Patients and methods

Between January 1992 and December 1995, 126 consecutive primary cemented TKAs were carried out in 108 patients, using the Press-Fit Condylar (PFC) TKA system (Johnson & Johnson Professional Inc, Raynham, MA) [6]. The average age at the time of operation was 67.4 years (SD, 11.3 years). There were 67 patients (77 knees) with osteoarthritis, 37 patients (44 knees) with rheumatoid arthritis, 3 patients (4 knees) with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and 1 patient (1 knee) with hemophilic

Knee society clinical rating system

The average preoperative knee score for all 128 knees was 32.9 (SD, 16.3), whereas the average preoperative Function Score for all 128 knees was 29.1 (SD, 18.0). The average follow-up knee score for the 100 knees was 83.5 (SD, 12.9), for knees with rheumatoid arthritis, 86.9 (SD, 8.3); and for knees with osteoarthritis, 81.7 (SD, 14.5). The average follow-up function score for the 100 knees was 51.5 (SD, 28.), for knees with rheumatoid arthritis, 51.6 (SD, 29.3); and for knees with

Discussion

Total condylar TKAs yield excellent clinical and radiologic results 1, 2, 3. Results differ, however, depending on the evaluation assessment. The Knee Society knee score may not be a sensitive tool for the assessment of outcome after TKA because most TKAs score >80 points at any follow-up stage 1, 2, 3, 17. Radiologic assessment seemed to be nonspecific in predicting results because no significant correlation between the occurrence of thin radiolucent lines and clinical results has been

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    No benefits or funds were received in support of this study.

    ☆☆

    Reprint requests: Maarten C. de Waal Malefijt, MD, PhD, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University Hospital Nijmegen, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands. E-mail: [email protected]

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