The quality of life of patients after total knee replacement

Introduction
At an advanced stage of degenerative knee joint disease, when conservative treatment is no longer possible, surgical treatment is applied.

Aim of the study
To assess the quality of life of patients after total knee replacement.

Material and methods
This survey-based study was conducted in the Traumatic Surgery and Orthopaedics Ward, 107th Military Hospital in Wałcz, from June 2013 to December 2013. It involved 60 patients before and eight weeks after total knee replacement. The research instruments employed in the study were a self-developed questionnaire concerning health and sociodemographic data, and the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36).

Results
The patients’ score for general quality of life before surgery was 40.49 points, and after surgery 67.76 points. The patients who had to use crutches and walking canes after surgery scored lower for all functioning domains than those who could walk without any assistance. An analysis of the patients with concomitant diseases such as osteoporosis (38.3%), diabetes (31.7%), and hypertension (58.3%) confirmed that they had lower general quality of life. The respondents who obtained the highest score (72.68) for general quality of life were the youngest patients (44-59 years old).

Conclusions
Total knee replacement considerably improves both the general quality of life and its particular aspects. The necessity of using crutches/walking canes after total knee replacement involves lower quality of life. Concomitant diseases such as osteoporosis, hypertension, and diabetes contribute to lower quality of life of patients after total knee replacement. Quality of life is substantially influenced by sociodemographic factors such as age, sex, and marital status.