Abstract
Total knee replacement (TKR) is intended to satisfy patients rather than surgeons. The latter could be more optimistic when they assess the outcome of their own operations. We envisage that there is a variation between patients’ own assessment and those of surgeons. This study reviewed long-term results of TKR and compared between patients’ assessment and surgeon’s assessment.
Four hundred and six TKR were performed between 1980 and 1994 in a DGH by one surgeon using single knee prosthesis. The follow up was up to 14 years (mean 7.2). Clinical assessment was done by the surgeon in out patient clinic and was compared to the patients’ assessment, which was done through a confidential postal questionnaire (PQ).
Response rate to PQ was 84 %. There was an obvious discrepancy in reporting pain and patients’ satisfaction between the two methods of assessment however there was similarity in other parameters. Surgeon rated satisfaction more highly and patients reported more pain in PQ. In this study revision rate was 4 %, infection 1.7 %, instability 1.4 % and patellar pain 20 %.
There is a variation between patients’ own assessment and those of surgeons. For accurate assessment of the outcome of TKR we recommend the use of postal questionnaire alongside clinical assessment.
The abstracts were prepared by Nico Verdoschot. Correspondence should be addressed to him at Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, Universitair Medisch Centrum, Orthopaedie / CSS1, Huispost 800, Postbus 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, Th. Craanenlaan 7, 6525 GH Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
