Abstract
Aims: To compare the preoperative knee function in patients of Asian origin and Caucasians living in the same community.
Background: The prevalence of osteoarthritis is high in all ethnic and demographic groups. The timing of surgery is important as poor preoperative functional status is related to poor postoperative function.
Methods: Prospective study of 63 Asian patients age and sex matched with Caucasian patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty. Pre operative Knee Society Clinical Rating System scores were recorded as a separate Knee Score and Knee Function.
Results: The mean preoperative Knee Score in Asian patients was 37.6 in comparison to 41.5 in Caucasians (p< 0.10) this difference was not statistically significant. The mean preoperative Knee Function in Asian patients was 32.5 in comparison to 45.0 in Caucasians (p< 0.0001) this difference was highly statistically significant.
Conclusions:Patients of Asian origin undergoing total knee arthroplasty have lower preoperative knee function to Caucasians. Cultural beliefs and social support explain part of this discrepancy but health care providers must also attempt to educate patients and close family members about the importance of timing the surgery to obtain the optimum benefits of pain relief and function.
Correspondence should be addressed to Mr Tim Wilton, BASK at the Royal College of Surgeons, 35–43 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PE.
