Subjective assessment of the quality of life of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee before and after endoprosthesoplasty

Introduction
Osteoarthritis is currently considered the fourth most common cause of disability in women and the eighth in men. In more than 10% of patients over 55 years of age, a long-lasting disease process leads to impairment of joint function, and in a quarter of the people in this group it can cause disability. Endoprosthesoplasty is becoming a method of treatment of osteoarthritis, considered today to be the “golden standard”.

Aim of the research
Subjective assessment of the quality of life of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee before and after endoprosthesoplasty.

Material and methods
The study group consisted of 65 patients (46 women and 19 men) who were systematically treated for osteoarthritis of the knee at the Trauma and Orthopaedic Department of the Health Care Centre in Dąbrowa Tarnowska and are still under the care of the Orthopaedic Clinic of the above-mentioned hospital. The study was conducted from 1 October 2015 to 1 March 2016 with a trademark questionnaire and a Life Quality Assessment Questionnaire (SF-36).

Results
In the majority of people (64.6%), the arthroplasty improved the quality of life. After surgery, all indicators of quality of life, i.e. the assessment of physical and social functioning, general health, vitality, mental health, and emotional functioning, were clearly improved (90.8%). Physical pain after the surgery also significantly decreased.

Conclusions
Endoprosthesoplasty has had a positive effect on the quality of life in every age group. The quality of life of patients with knee osteoarthritis after endoprosthesoplasty of the knee joint significantly improved in the physical, social, and emotional aspects.