Washington, June 26: Total knee replacement surgery can significantly
improve physical functioning and motor skills of older patients with
osteoarthritis, according to Duke researchers.
The study showed that recipients of total knee replacements experienced 17.5pct
increase in mobility, a 39.3pct improvement in motor skills; and a 46.9pct
decrease in limitations in activities of daily living such as bathing and
dressing oneself. "In this era of cost-cutting, policymakers have underscored
the importance of evaluating treatments in terms of effectiveness and benefits
to patients," said lead author Dr Frank Sloan, 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,"
he added.
According to Sloan, total knee replacement has repeatedly been shown to offer
clinical benefits for patients with osteoarthritis, a major risk factor for
disability.
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," said Sloan.
"TKA offers the potential for extending independence and therefore delays the
need for assisted living," he added.
