Background: Different surgical approaches for total hip arthroplasty (THA) exist, without predisposition when it comes to dislocation risk. The direct anterior approach (DAA) is thought to have reduced risk since soft tissue trauma is minimalized. Therefore, we assessed the dislocation risk for different surgical approaches, and the relative dislocation risk of DAA compared to other approaches. Methods: Six electronic databases were systematically searched for prospective studies reporting dislocation following THA. Proportion meta-analyses were performed to assess the dislocation rate for subgroups of the surgical approach. Meta-analysis for binary outcomes was performed to determine the relative risk of dislocation for the DAA compared to other approaches. Results: Eleven studies with 2025 patients were included (mean age 64.6 years, 44% male, mean follow-up 10.5 months), of which four studies were also used in the risk ratio meta-analysis. Overall dislocation rate was 0.79% (95% CI 0.37–1.69). Subgroup analyses showed that most dislocations occurred in the posterior approaches group (1.38%), however non-significant. Furthermore, the DAA emerged with a non-significant lower risk of dislocation (RR 0.37, 95% CI 0.05–2.46) compared to other surgical approaches. Conclusion: Current literature shows non-significant predisposition for a surgical approach to THA regarding dislocation risk. To what extent patient characteristics influence the risk of dislocation could not be determined. Future research should focus on this, as well as on the influence of a surgeon's experience with a specific approach.
ObjectiveFirst, to make an inventory of activity limitations commonly reported by knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients undergoing multidisciplinary rehabilitation. Second, to evaluate treatment outcome using the Patient Specific Functional Scale (PSFS) and compare it to the Western Ontario and McMasters Universities Osteoarthritis Index physical function subscale (WOMAC-pf).DesignAn observational study with assessments before and immediately after multidisciplinary rehabilitation. Five hundred and thirteen patients used the PSFS, a patient-reported tool to identify activity limitations and score the patient's ability to perform the activity on an 11-point Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), to report three activities in which they were limited. Frequencies and percentages of their highest-prioritized activity were calculated and categorized according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF). Paired-samples T-tests were used to analyze the change in ability to perform the activities. Effect sizes of PSFS and WOMAC-pf were compared.ResultsMost patients indicated limitations in walking, walking up/down stairs, prolonged standing, and standing up from a chair. Following these common activities, 26 different activities were identified. The majority of these highest-prioritized activities fell under the first-level ICF category of Mobility. The ability to perform all activities significantly improved after treatment. Effect sizes ranged between 0.60 and 0.97 and were greater than the effect size of the WOMAC-pf (0.41).ConclusionKnee OA patients who undergo multidisciplinary rehabilitation exhibit improvements in performing daily activities. The PSFS is a valuable tool to evaluate patient-specific activity limitations and seems to capture improvements in activity limitations beyond the WOMAC-pf.
Swelling is a common phenomenon after total knee arthroplasty, with potential for negative impact on the rehabilitation process and final outcome. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a new compression protocol with a self-adjustable, nonelastic compression wrap for the knee region. This study was conducted as a prospective comparative study. Total leg volume and the circumference of the knee at three levels were compared between groups. The results of our study suggest that the application of the new compression protocol has no effect on swelling in the acute postoperative phase (0-2 days) but reduces swelling at Day 14 within the subacute phase. The observed positive effect of the compression protocol could be of clinical importance in the subacute phase as well as for a subgroup of patients suffering from aberrant quadriceps weakness concomitant with knee swelling.
