Abstract: Accelerated recovery for unicompartmental knee replacement--a feasibility study.

Authors:

Beard DJ, Murray DW, Rees JL, Price AJ, Dodd CA.

Institution:

Nuffield Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, NDOS, University of Oxford, The Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre NHS Trust, Headington, Oxford OX3 7LD, UK.

Source:

Knee. 2002 Sep;9(3):221-4.

Abstract:

A pilot study assessed the feasibility of discharging NHS patients undergoing knee replacement within a day of surgery. Seven patients with medial compartment osteoarthritis were recruited after fulfilling strict exclusion criteria. Pre-operative assessment revealed that all patients had significant dysfunction and pain before operation. They had medial unicompartmental replacement through a short incision without dislocation of the patella. Each patient underwent an accelerated recovery program that included pain control, physiotherapy and self-assessment. Patients were mobilised immediately after operation. Follow-up assessment was performed at 1, 2 and 6 weeks after surgery. All patients, except one (who failed to go home because of an administrative error), returned home the day after surgery. The average pain score for the first 2 weeks after surgery was 2/10. At 6 weeks, knee flexion averaged 125 degrees and all patients were walking independently and painfree. The new protocol allows for early, safe discharge of patients undergoing unicompartmental knee replacement.

Keywords:

Orthopaedic Surgery Knee Replacement Unicompartmental Short stay