Patient Satisfaction Following Total Knee Arthroplasty: Comparison of Short-Term Results in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis

Abstract

Background: Due to the obvious differences in the natural course of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA),<br />different functional outcomes might be expected after Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) in these distinct patients. Although<br />several studies have reported the objective outcome of TKA in RA and OA patients, few studies have compared postoperative<br />patient-satisfaction levels.<br />Methods: In this clinical cohort study 171 patients (RA: n=33, OA: n=138) who underwent TKA with posterior<br />stabilizing knee prosthesis were included. The Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and Oxford<br />Knee Score (OKS) were used to evaluate and compare patients' satisfaction 6 and 12 months after TKA relative to<br />their preoperative state and to make an assessment between two groups.<br />Results: Both of patient-reported scoring systems showed a statistically significant improvement for OA and RA<br />patients at 6 and 12 months after surgery, relative to their preoperative scores. The results of the OKS and KOOS did<br />not show statistically significant improvement from 6 to 12 months n RA patients. Unlike RA group, OKS and KOOS<br />revealed further improvement between 6 and 12 months for the osteoarthritic patients.<br />Conclusion: OA patients had continuous improvement in their satisfaction in the first year after TKA with a gentle<br />upward curve. In contrast, in RA patients, recovery was faster and greater in the first six months after surgery and<br />slowed down in the second six months. Patient-reported outcome scores were not significantly different between two<br />groups at the end of the first year.<br />Level of evidence: II