Article

Functional recovery of patients after a total knee arthroplasty (TKA)
usually is measured with questionnaires. However, these self-report measures
assess the patient's perspective on his or her ability to perform a task.
Performance-based tests are needed to assess the patient's actual ability to
perform a task. OBJECTIVE: The main purpose of this study was to quantify
improvement in performance of the sit-to-stand movement of patients with a TKA.
Design and METHODS: In this prospective study of 16 patients with end-stage knee
osteoarthritis followed by a TKA, the maximal knee angular extension velocity and
amount of unloading (shifting weight) of the affected leg during the sit-to-stand
movement and the visual analog scale score for pain were assessed preoperatively
and 6 months and 1 year postoperatively. These data were compared with data for a
control group of individuals who were healthy (n=27). RESULTS: Before surgery,
the participants in the TKA group unloaded their affected leg, but within 6
months after implantation, the affected leg was almost fully loaded again and
comparable to the loading symmetry ratio of the control group. Furthermore, knee
extension velocity also had increased, but remained lower than that of the
control group. The changes in knee extension velocity took place during the first
6 months, after which a plateau was visible. Limitations A potential limitation
of the study design was that the patients were not perfectly matched with the
control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Implantation of a total knee prosthesis partly
improved performance of the sit-to-stand movement. Participants in the TKA group
could fully load their operated leg, but they could not generate enough knee
angular velocity during rising compared with the control group.

Langue : ANGLAIS