TY - JOUR
T1 - The role of pain for early rehabilitation in fast track total knee arthroplasty
AU - Holm, Bente
AU - Kristensen, Morten Tange
AU - Myhrmann, Lis
AU - Husted, Henrik
AU - Andersen, Lasse Østergaard
AU - Kristensen, Billy
AU - Kehlet, Henrik
PY - 2010/1/1
Y1 - 2010/1/1
N2 - Purpose. To investigate the relationship between early functional mobility and pain intensity in a fast track program after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods. One hundred consecutive patients operated with TKA in an orthopaedic unit at a University hospital were prospectively studied. Measurements of independence in transfer and ambulation (Cumulated Ambulation Score), pain intensity (Verbal Analog Scale (VAS)), range of knee motion, functional mobility ('Timed Up and Go' (TUG) test), and walking distance were recorded daily from the first postoperative day until discharge. Results. On the first postoperative day, 90 of the patients were able to walk independently with median pain intensity of ≤5 on VAS. Of these, 78% walked > 70m. All patients walked independently on postoperative Day 2 with pain intensity of ≤4. On the day of discharge, all patients walked with crutches with pain intensity of ≤3, walking distance > 70m, median range of motion 10-80°, and median test time of the 'TUG' 19.2 s. The length of hospital stay was median 3 days. Conclusion. Pain has a limited influence on the functional recovery beyond the first postoperative day after TKA, thereby allowing early physiotherapy.
AB - Purpose. To investigate the relationship between early functional mobility and pain intensity in a fast track program after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods. One hundred consecutive patients operated with TKA in an orthopaedic unit at a University hospital were prospectively studied. Measurements of independence in transfer and ambulation (Cumulated Ambulation Score), pain intensity (Verbal Analog Scale (VAS)), range of knee motion, functional mobility ('Timed Up and Go' (TUG) test), and walking distance were recorded daily from the first postoperative day until discharge. Results. On the first postoperative day, 90 of the patients were able to walk independently with median pain intensity of ≤5 on VAS. Of these, 78% walked > 70m. All patients walked independently on postoperative Day 2 with pain intensity of ≤4. On the day of discharge, all patients walked with crutches with pain intensity of ≤3, walking distance > 70m, median range of motion 10-80°, and median test time of the 'TUG' 19.2 s. The length of hospital stay was median 3 days. Conclusion. Pain has a limited influence on the functional recovery beyond the first postoperative day after TKA, thereby allowing early physiotherapy.
U2 - 10.3109/09638280903095965
DO - 10.3109/09638280903095965
M3 - Journal article
SN - 0963-8288
VL - 32
SP - 300
EP - 306
JO - Disability and Rehabilitation
JF - Disability and Rehabilitation
IS - 4
ER -