Correlations between changes in gait and in clinical status after knee arthroplasty.

Twenty-six knee arthroplastics in 22 subjects were studied clinically and in a gait laboratory before and on one or more occasions after surgery. The purpose was to identify changes in gait characteristics and relate them to changes in the clinical situation of the patients. The gait patterns of the patients changed following surgery mainly with respect to their time-distance characteristics; stride length, cadence, time of swing, and time of support. Positive correlations were noted between these gait changes and the patient's pain, his limp, and his walking distance. It is concluded that the information obtained in sophisticated gait laboratory is of limited value to the surgeon in his clinical assessment.