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Evaluation of the balance function before and after total knee arthroplasty using Berg balance scale

  • Knee Arthroplasty
  • Published:
Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to evaluate balance function before and after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) using Berg balance scale (BBS). The study also aimed to identify factors associated with balance impairment.

Materials and methods

Ninety-three knees in 90 patients were prospectively evaluated using their BBS scores, passive knee extension/flexion angles, Visual analogue scale for pain scores, hip–knee–ankle angles, and knee extensor/flexor muscle strengths before and after TKA. A total BBS score of less than 45 indicates an enhanced risk of multiple falls. Multivariate logistic regression models were performed to elucidate factors associated with post-operative BBS score.

Results

A significant difference in mean pre- and post-operative BBS scores were noted (49.3 ± 6.4 vs. 52.2 ± 4.7) (p < 0.05). The percentage of pre- and post-operative BBS scores less than 45 were 20% and 10% (p < 0.05). Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), lower pre-operative BBS score, and larger post-operative knee flexion contracture were significantly associated with lower post-operative BBS score (p < 0.01). The post-operative knee flexion contracture greater than 10° was significantly associated with substantially high odds of post-operative BBS scores less than 45 (Odds ratio 7.6; 95% confidential interval 1.69–34.17).

Conclusions

While TKA significantly improved BBS scores, 10% of the patients remained at a risk for multiple falls. RA, lower pre-operative BBS score, and post-operative knee flexion contracture greater than 10° retained balance impairment even after TKA.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Kenichi Kawaguchi and Koji Murakami from Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, and Motoji Yamamoto, Yoshihiko Furuta, and Koki Honda from Department of Medical-Engineering Collaboration for Healthy Longevity, Kyushu University for their providing helpful advice during this study as well as Tokieda Miki, Miyazato Miyuki, Fujita Tsutomu, Nezu Tomoyuki, Ochiishi Kei, Okazawa Kazuya, and Takashima Miho from Rehabilitation Medicine, Kyushu University Hospital, Kyushu University, for their support with data collection.

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan

    Masato Kiyohara, Satoshi Hamai, Hideki Mizu-uchi & Yasuharu Nakashima

  2. Department of Medical-Engineering Collaboration for Healthy Longevity, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan

    Satoshi Hamai

  3. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, 8-1 Kawada-cho, Shinjyuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-8666, Japan

    Ken Okazaki

  4. Rehabilitation Medicine, Kyushu University Hospital, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan

    Daisuke Fujiyoshi

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  1. Masato Kiyohara
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Correspondence to Satoshi Hamai.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. No benefits in any form have been received or will be received from a commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of our institution and the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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The subject was given informed consent to participate in this Institutional Review Board approved study (IRB number 24–166).

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Kiyohara, M., Hamai, S., Okazaki, K. et al. Evaluation of the balance function before and after total knee arthroplasty using Berg balance scale. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 142, 3461–3467 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-021-04233-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-021-04233-z

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