Structured total knee replacement rehabilitation programme and quality of life following two different surgical approaches - A randomised controlled trial

Introduction: The key important factor influencing the outcomes following rehabilitation is the surgical approach involved in Total Knee Replacement (TKR). Most studies have analysed the functional outcome in comparing the approaches on surgical perspective rather on post-operative therapeutic interventions. The current study was to analyse the effects of structured TKR rehabilitation programme on the quality of life and joint specific outcomes between two different surgical approaches. Materials and Methods: In this double-blind randomised controlled trial, participants were randomly allocated to one of two groups: Group 1-those who underwent medial parapatellar approach and Group 2-those who underwent mid-vastus approach. Both groups received three-phase structured rehabilitation protocol for 12 weeks. The outcome measures of SF-36, knee mobility, isometric knee musculature strength and six-minute walk distance were measured at baseline, on discharge and at review after three months. Results: The quality of life and joint specific outcome scores were better in mid-vastus approach than the popular medial parapatellar approach. The outcomes of knee flexion mobility (p=0.04), knee extension mobility (p=0.03), isometric muscle strength of quadriceps (p=0.001), isometric muscle strength of hamstrings (p=0.03), six-minute walk distance (p=0.001) and Physical Cumulative Scores (PCS) (p=0.03) were found to exhibit significant improvements at three months follow up. Conclusion: The mid-vastus approach was found to exhibit better improvements following structured rehabilitation care, in physical summary scores of quality of life and joint specific outcomes than medial parapatellar approach.