Total knee replacements increase mobility and motor skills in older patientsJune 26, 2009Findings from Duke researchers demonstrate the positive impact of surgery on health-related quality-of-life outcomes and maintenance of independent lifestyles DURHAM, NC-According to a new study from researchers at Duke University, total knee arthroplasty (TKA) procedures performed in older patients with osteoarthritis of the knee result in long-term, significant improvement of physical functioning and motor skills when compared to patients who do not receive TKA. Published in the July 2009 issue of Medical Care, the study examined physical functioning and gauged outcomes in a national sample of Americans aged 65 and older for up to four years-a longer period than previous TKA studies. Relative to the untreated comparison group, recipients of total knee replacements experienced significant improvement in function, including a 17.5% increase in mobility, a 39.3% improvement in motor skills; and a 46.9% decrease in limitations in activities of daily living such as bathing and dressing oneself. The number of total knee replacements performed in the United States has increased dramatically since 1990; currently 581,000 such procedures are performed every year. This number is expected to increase markedly as Baby Boomers age. "In this era of cost-cutting, policymakers have underscored the importance of evaluating treatments in terms of effectiveness and benefits to patients," says lead author Frank Sloan, Ph.D., McMahon professor of health policy and management and professor of economics at Duke University. "Our findings show that knee replacements are effective in treating patients with advanced osteoarthritis, contributing to reduced disability and improved quality of life for these individuals. Such findings are extremely important for the broader context of discussions about healthcare reform, cost-containment, device quality, and patient safety." For the study, Duke researchers identified 2272 patients diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the lower leg using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) linked to Medicare claims from 1994 through 2006. Of that group, 516 underwent TKA procedures and 1756 did not. Researchers used propensity score matching to generate 515 pairs of treated and untreated individuals who were matched on relevant, measurable factors such as baseline functional status, other health conditions, socioeconomic characteristics, and time before TKA or diagnosis. Among the patients who underwent TKA, baseline physical functioning measures were taken at an interview before and closest to surgery. For the comparison group, these measures were taken from an interview preceding and closest in time to the year of their first diagnosis with osteoarthritis of the lower leg. Each pair was followed for up to four years, and their resulting physical abilities were compared. The study's mobility, gross motor skills, large muscle activities, and limitations in activities of daily living indices accounted for a wide breadth of physical activities, including getting in and out of bed; the ability to bathe and dress oneself; sitting for two hours; getting up from a chair; stooping, kneeling, and crouching; walking across the room, one block, and several blocks; climbing one flight and several flights of stairs; and pushing and pulling a large object. The study comes at a time when Congress and the nation's healthcare agencies are looking for ways to identify diagnostics and therapies that offer the greatest value to patients and the healthcare system. Representatives Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-NJ) and Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) have introduced legislation to establish a federally-funded registry of patients who have received artificial hips or knees, providing researchers and policymakers with an ongoing source of data about patient outcomes with such devices and related surgical procedures. According to Sloan, total knee replacement has repeatedly been shown to offer clinical benefits for patients with osteoarthritis, a major risk factor for disability in the United States. Recently, a team at Brigham and Women's Hospital and the Boston University School of Public Health confirmed that, for older adults with advanced osteoarthritis, total knee replacement also appears to be a cost-effective procedure across all patient risk groups. "We know that the inability to perform activities of daily living is highly predictive of nursing home admittance, as patients can no longer care for themselves," says Sloan. "TKA offers the potential for extending independence and therefore delays the need for assisted living." InHealth: The Institute for Health Technology Studies |
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| Related Knee Replacement Current Events and Knee Replacement News Articles Market based reforms have not harmed equity in the NHS, say researchers Recent NHS reforms, such as the introduction of patient choice and provider competition, have not had a deleterious impact on equity with respect to waiting times for elective surgery in England. Joint replacement patients with diabetes greatly benefit from controlled glucose Diabetics undergoing total joint replacement often are at a higher risk of experiencing complications after surgery due to various pre-existing health conditions. Severe obesity increases risks of health problems during surgery Healthcare providers must carefully consider the unique risk factors related to severe obesity in patients undergoing all types of surgery, according to an American Heart Association scientific advisory published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association. Exercise after knee replacement critical It may be uncomfortable at first, but doing exercises to strengthen your quadriceps after you've had knee replacement surgery due to osteoarthritis is critical to your recovery. In fact, it can boost the function of your new knee to nearly that of a healthy adult your age. Research highlights new approaches to prevent blood clots Blood clotting, or coagulation, is an important process that prevents excessive bleeding when a blood vessel is injured. Nearly half of U.S. adults will develop painful knee osteoarthritis by age 85: study Almost half of all U.S. adults and nearly two-thirds of obese adults will develop painful osteoarthritis of the knee by age 85, a study based at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill suggests. How often do hip and knee replacements need revision? A comprehensive study using nationwide data on hip and knee replacements in England has found that one in seventy-five patients require a revision of their joint replacement after three years. New test to diagnose osteoarthritis early A newly developed medical imaging technology may provide doctors with a long-awaited test for early diagnosis of osteoarthritis (OA), scientists from New York reported today at the 236th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society. No justification for denying obese patients knee replacements There is no justification for denying obese patients knee replacement surgery: They benefit almost as much as anyone else from the procedure, concludes a small study published ahead of print in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. Research Examines Factors in Delaying or Declining Total Knee Replacement Surgery A study led by Dr. Ann F. Jacobson, associate professor in Kent State's College of Nursing, unveils the reasons why people may initially choose to postpone but ultimately undergo total knee replacement surgery and emphasizes the need for better patient education before and after the procedure. More Knee Replacement Current Events and Knee Replacement News Articles |
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