Accelerated recovery for unicompartmental knee replacement--a feasibility study.

Journal article

A pilot study assessed the feasibility of discharging NHS patients undergoing knee replacement within a day of surgery. Seven patients with medial compartment osteoarthritis were recruited after fulfilling strict exclusion criteria. Pre-operative assessment revealed that all patients had significant dysfunction and pain before operation. They had medial unicompartmental replacement through a short incision without dislocation of the patella. Each patient underwent an accelerated recovery program that included pain control, physiotherapy and self-assessment. Patients were mobilised immediately after operation. Follow-up assessment was performed at 1, 2 and 6 weeks after surgery. All patients, except one (who failed to go home because of an administrative error), returned home the day after surgery. The average pain score for the first 2 weeks after surgery was 2/10. At 6 weeks, knee flexion averaged 125 degrees and all patients were walking independently and painfree. The new protocol allows for early, safe discharge of patients undergoing unicompartmental knee replacement.

Authors: Beard, D; Murray, D; Rees, J; Price, A; Dodd, C

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Knee
• Volume: 9
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 221-224
• Publication date: 2002-09-01
• DOI: 10.1016/s0968-0160(02)00016-9
• EISSN: 1873-5800
• ISSN: 0968-0160
• Language: English
• Keywords: Recovery of Function; Humans; Follow-Up Studies; Osteoarthritis, Knee; Range of Motion, Articular; Aged; Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; Pilot Projects; Middle Aged; Patient Discharge; Pain; Pain Measurement; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; Time Factors; Feasibility Studies; Menisci, Tibial