Effectiveness of continuous passive motion and conventional physical therapy after total knee arthroplasty

Abstract EN

Background : Adequate and intensive rehabilitation is an important requirement for successful total knee arthroplasty.

The primary focus of early rehabilitation is ambulation of patients and regaining range of motion in the knee.

Although many studies suggested that continuous passive motion should be implemented in the first rehabilitation phase following surgery, others concluded that the use of continuous passive motion was of no added benefit.

Objective : the aim of our study was to compare the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs with and without continuous passive motion for range of motion in knee flexion and knee extension, functional ability and length of stay after primary total knee arthroplasty.

Methodology : Forty patients suffered from osteoarthritis who underwent unilateral total knee arthroplasty were selected.

Immediately after total knee arthroplasty, they were subdivided into two groups.

Group 1 of 20 patients who received conventional physical therapy only and group 2 of another 20 patients who received conventional physical therapy with two hours of continuous passive motion applications daily.

All subjects were evaluated once before total knee arthroplasty and at discharge.

The primary outcome measures were active range of motion in knee flexion at discharge.

Active range of motion at knee extension, timed "Up and Go" test results, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index questionnaire scores, and length of stay were the secondary outcome measures.

Results : the characteristics of and outcome measurement for the subjects in the two groups were similar at baseline.

No significant difference between the two groups was demonstrated in primary or secondary outcomes at discharge.

Conclusion : the results of this study do not support the addition of continuous passive motion application to conventional physical therapy in rehabilitation program after primary unilateral total knee arthroplasty.

It did not further reduce knee motion impairments or disability or reduce the length of the hospital stay.