OBJECTIVES: To document the disease burden of osteoarthritis and the benefits of total joint replacement by using the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) general health status survey and evaluate other factors that could affect scores. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients scheduled for primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA) (n = 622 preoperatively) in 2 years were surveyed using the SF-36, which assesses health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients' physical and social functioning and mental health. Follow-up surveys were administered 12 months after surgery to all patients and 3 and 24 months after surgery to a subset of patients. RESULTS: Preoperatively, patient scores were significantly lower than normative scores in the physical functioning, bodily pain, and social functioning domains. Preoperative scores were not different between THA and TKA patients. Women scored lower than men. Comorbid conditions were weakly associated with low SF-36 scores. Postoperatively, the largest incremental improvement in scores was seen at 3-month follow-up. Scores improved sooner and more substantially in THA vs TKA patients and in men vs women, paralleling improvement in clinical and subjective ratings of postoperative physical function and pain. CONCLUSIONS: The SF-36 has the sensitivity to document improvement in HRQOL after surgery and to reveal differences in THA vs TKA and in men vs women. However, routine use of outcome assessment instruments to monitor this patient population is costly and unjustified in our current healthcare environment.
OBJECTIVES: To document the disease burden of osteoarthritis and the benefits of total joint replacement by using the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) general health status survey and evaluate other factors that could affect scores. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients scheduled for primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA) (n = 622 preoperatively) in 2 years were surveyed using the SF-36, which assesses health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients' physical and social functioning and mental health. Follow-up surveys were administered 12 months after surgery to all patients and 3 and 24 months after surgery to a subset of patients. RESULTS: Preoperatively, patient scores were significantly lower than normative scores in the physical functioning, bodily pain, and social functioning domains. Preoperative scores were not different between THA and TKA patients. Women scored lower than men. Comorbid conditions were weakly associated with low SF-36 scores. Postoperatively, the largest incremental improvement in scores was seen at 3-month follow-up. Scores improved sooner and more substantially in THA vs TKA patients and in men vs women, paralleling improvement in clinical and subjective ratings of postoperative physical function and pain. CONCLUSIONS: The SF-36 has the sensitivity to document improvement in HRQOL after surgery and to reveal differences in THA vs TKA and in men vs women. However, routine use of outcome assessment instruments to monitor this patient population is costly and unjustified in our current healthcare environment.
Authors: Christian-Dominik Peterlein; Markus Dietmar Schofer; Susanne Fuchs-Winkelmann; Friedrich Georg Scherf Journal: Chir Organi Mov Date: 2009-10-30
Authors: Johanna M van der Waal; Caroline B Terwee; Daniëlle A W M van der Windt; Lex M Bouter; Joost Dekker Journal: Qual Life Res Date: 2005-05 Impact factor: 4.147
Authors: Cédric Baumann; Anne-Christine Rat; Didier Mainard; Christian Cuny; Francis Guillemin Journal: Qual Life Res Date: 2011-04-30 Impact factor: 4.147