TOTAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY;

EVALUATION OF THE PATIENT SATISFACTION, ITS COMPARISON WITH TRADITIONAL PHYSICIAN BASED SCORES, AT KARACHI, PAKISTAN.

Abstract

Objectives: We aim to evaluate the level of satisfaction after total knee arthroplasty
procedure in the patient population at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan, and to assess
the relationship between patient satisfaction and the outcome based on traditional scores.
Methods: Study Design: Case series for determination of patient satisfaction. Period: One
year duration from April 2015 to May 2016. Setting: Tertiary care centre in Karachi, Pakistan.
The inclusion criteria was all the patients with late stage osteoarthritis of the knee joint and
underwent total knee arthroplasty at our institute. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 22.
Results: A total of n= 102 patients were included in the study while n= 109 knee surgeries
were done in total (n= 95 patients had unilateral surgery, while n= 7 patients had bilateral
surgeries on both the knee joints) n= 58 patients were females while n= 44 patients were
males, the median age was 60 years, patients had a mean body mass index (BMI) of 27kg/
m2. Of the total surgeries performed n= 100 were in the satisfaction group while n= 9 were in
the dissatisfaction group. The majority of the patients reported that they would recommend the
procedure. The co morbid conditions did not affect the patient’s level of satisfaction having a
p value of 0.678. In the dissatisfied group, there was no significant difference when it comes to
gender, the mean age of patients in the dissatisfaction group was higher than the mean age of
patients in the satisfaction. We found that WOMAC scores for functioning and the final WOMAC
scores were correlated with patient satisfaction and that was statistically significant, similarly
SF-36 form patients were satisfied about the improvement in the physical health while they did
not improve the mental health aspect of their disease. Conclusion: According to our study
total knee arthroplasty is an effective treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee, patient satisfaction
is correlated with post-operative WOMAC function and overall scores, and SF-36 physical
component. It is important to keep patients expectations in check through proper counseling.