Published online Jul 18, 2024. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v15.i7.608
Revised: May 13, 2024
Accepted: May 29, 2024
Published online: July 18, 2024
Processing time: 112 Days and 20.5 Hours
Besides return to work (RTW) and return to sports (RTS), patients also prefer to return to daily activities (RTA) such as walking, sleeping, grocery shopping, and domestic work following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, evidence on the timelines and probability of patients’ RTA is sparse.
To assess the percentage of patients able to RTA, RTW, and RTS after TKA, as well as the timeframe and influencing factors of this return.
A retrospective cohort study with prospectively collected data was conducted at a medium-sized Dutch orthopedic hospital. Assessments of RTA, RTW, and RTS were performed at 3 mo and/or 6 mo following TKA. Investigated factors en
TKA patients [n = 2063; 66 years old (interquartile range [IQR]: 7 years); 47% male; 28 kg/m2 (IQR: 4 kg/m2)] showed RTA ranging from 28% for kneeling to 94% for grocery shopping, with 20 d (IQR: 27 d) spent for putting on shoes to 74 d (IQR: 57 d) for kneeling. RTW rates varied from 62% for medium-impact work to 87% for low-impact work, taking 33 d (IQR: 29 d) to 78 d (IQR: 55 d). RTS ranged from 48% for medium-impact sports to 90% for low-impact sports, occurring within 43 d (IQR: 24 d) to 90 d (IQR: 60 d). One or more of the investigated factors influenced the return to each of the 14 activities examined, with R² values ranging from 0.013 to 0.127.
Approximately 80% of patients can RTA, RTW, and RTS within 6 mo after TKA. Return is not consistently in
Core Tip: Everyday, patients with knee osteoarthritis and knee arthroplasty are seen in consultation rooms. In this large sample study (n = 2063 patients), approximately 80% of patients were able to return to daily activities, work, and sports within 6 mo after total knee arthroplasty. Return was not consistently influenced by identifiable predictive factors. This new knowledge creates realistic pre- and postoperative expectations.