Physical capability after total joint arthroplasty: long-term population- based follow-up study of 6,462 women

Ville Turppo; Reijo Sund; Jukka Huopio; Heikki  Kröger; Joonas Sirola

doi:10.1080/17453674.2021.1922039

Authors

Ville Turppo Kuopio Musculoskeletal Research Unit (KMRU), Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland (UEF), Kuopio
Reijo Sund Kuopio Musculoskeletal Research Unit (KMRU), Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland (UEF), Kuopio
Jukka Huopio Department of Orthopaedics, Traumatology and Hand Surgery, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
Heikki Kröger Department of Orthopaedics, Traumatology and Hand Surgery, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
Joonas Sirola Department of Orthopaedics, Traumatology and Hand Surgery, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1080/17453674.2021.1922039

Abstract

Background and purpose — There is lack of knowledge concerning patient-reported long-time outcome after arthro- plasty. Therefore, we investigated patient self-reported phys- ical capabilities (PC) and subjective well-being (SW) up to 20 years after total hip (THA) or knee (TKA) arthroplasty.

Subjects and methods — The self-reports from postal questionnaires for study checkpoints (baseline, 10-year fol- low-up, 20-year follow-up) were provided by the Kuopio OSTPRE study including only women aged 52–62 years (n = 6,462). The Finnish Arthroplasty Register and Care Reg- ister for Health Care provided data on arthroplasties in the OSTPRE population. The results of women with THA/TKA were compared with women without arthroplasty (control group).

Results — In subjects with THA performed before the 10-year follow-up, the proportion of good PC was initially decreased by 0.6 percentage points (pp) at the 10-year fol- low-up and later by 19 pp at the 20-year follow-up. After TKA, the proportion of subjects with good PC decreased by 4.1 pp (10–year follow-up) and 27 pp (20-year follow-up), respectively. The proportion of controls reporting good PC decreased by 1.4 pp at the 10-year follow-up and 14 pp at the 20-year follow-up compared with the baseline. After THA, the proportion of subjects with good SW stayed on the same level at 10-year follow-up and decreased by 2.3 pp at 20-year follow-up. After TKA, the proportion of good SW increased by 9.0 pp (10-year follow-up) and decreased by 14 pp (20- year follow-up). The proportion of controls reporting good SW increased by 4.0 pp (10-year follow-up) and decreased by 8.8 pp (20-year follow-up).

Interpretation — THA and TKA maintain PC and SW. The overall PC and SW are lower in women with arthro- plasty, in comparison with controls without arthroplasty. THA seems to outperform TKA in maintaining PC.