Patients’ reasons for electing to undergo total knee arthroplasty impact post-operative pain severity and range of motion.

Patients’ reasons for electing to undergo total knee arthroplasty impact post-operative pain severity and range of motion.

Cremeans-Smith Julie K; Boarts Jessica M; Greene Kenneth; Delahanty Douglas L

Journal of Behavioral Medicine

2009

2009-06

The present study examines the reasons cited by 103 patients for their electing to undergo total knee arthroplastic surgery and the relationship between these reasons and their post-operative pain and range of motion. Results suggest that individuals who describe different reasons for undergoing surgery vary in their post-operative recovery. Specifically, patients who cite pain as the reason they are undergoing surgery report greater levels of pain during the early post-operative period. In contrast, patients who describe goals of regaining mobility or a specific activity as their reason for undergoing surgery achieve a greater range of motion during early post-operative physical therapy. Individuals who express avoidance goals for undergoing total knee arthroplasty report more severe post-operative pain at 1 and 3 months following surgery compared to patients who express approach goals. Interventions targeted towards patients reporting pre-operative pain or avoidance goals may decrease subsequent post-operative pain and increase mobility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PATIENTS; TOTAL knee replacement; HEALTH outcome assessment; KNEE surgery; POSTOPERATIVE pain; RANGE of motion of joints

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