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Preoperative Pain and Function Profiles Reflect Consistent TKA Patient Selection Among US Surgeons

  • Symposium: 2014 Knee Society Proceedings
  • Published:
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research®

Abstract

Background

As the number of primary total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) performed in the United States increases, policymakers have questioned whether the indications and timing of TKA have evolved so that surgery is offered earlier.

Questions/purposes

We analyzed data from a US national TKA cohort to evaluate variation in surgeon selection criteria for elective unilateral TKA based on preoperative patient-reported pain and function scores.

Methods

Preoperative SF-36 (Physical Component Summary [PCS]/physical function) scores and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) (pain, activities of daily living/function) of 4900 patients undergoing elective unilateral TKA enrolled in this national database of prospectively followed patients from 22 states were evaluated. The 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile pain and function scores for patients cared for in 24 orthopaedic offices with 20 or more patients in the database were compared to assess whether consistent preoperative criteria are used in selecting patients undergoing TKA across settings.

Results

The preoperative global function (PCS median, 32.6; national norm, 50; SD, 10) and knee-specific function (KOOS median, 51.5; maximum score, 100; SD, 17) percentile scores represented substantial patient disability, because both values approached 2 SDs below ideal. Consistency in patients across 24 surgeon offices, and more than 100 surgeons, was noted because site-specific medians varied from the national median by less than the minimum clinically important change.

Conclusions

These data suggest that despite the rapidly growing use of TKA, surgeons in the participating sites use consistent patient criteria in scheduling TKA. Today’s patients report significant pain and disability, supporting the need for TKA.

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Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge the more than 120 surgeons who participate in the FORCE-TJR national consortium, especially the core site Principal Investigators, Courtland Lewis MD, Philip Noble PhD, Regis O’Keefe MD, PhD, and Vincent Pellegrini MD. We also appreciate the editorial assistance of Sylvie Puig PhD.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedics and Physical Rehabilitation, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA, 01655, USA

    David C. Ayers MD, Wenjun Li PhD, Leslie Harrold MD, MPH & Patricia D. Franklin MD, MBA, MPH

  2. Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA, 01655, USA

    Jeroan Allison MD, MS

Authors
  1. David C. Ayers MD
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  2. Wenjun Li PhD
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  3. Leslie Harrold MD, MPH
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  4. Jeroan Allison MD, MS
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  5. Patricia D. Franklin MD, MBA, MPH
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to David C. Ayers MD.

Additional information

During the study period, the authors’ institution has received funding from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (Grant P50HS018910).

All ICMJE Conflict of Interest Forms for authors and Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research ® editors and board members are on file with the publication and can be viewed on request.

Each author certifies that his or her institution approved the human protocol for this investigation, that all investigations were conducted in conformity with ethical principles of research, and that informed consent for participation in the study was obtained.

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Ayers, D.C., Li, W., Harrold, L. et al. Preoperative Pain and Function Profiles Reflect Consistent TKA Patient Selection Among US Surgeons. Clin Orthop Relat Res 473, 76–81 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-014-3716-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-014-3716-5

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