Physical Function After Total Knee Replacement: An Observational Study Describing Outcomes in a Small Group of Women From China and the United States

Abstract

ObjectiveTo describe physical function before and six months after Total Knee Replacement (TKR) in a small sample of women from China and the United States. DesignObservational. SettingCommunity environment. OutcomesBoth groups adhered to the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) protocols for the 6-minute walk and 30-second chair stand. We compared physical function prior to TKR and 6 months after using linear regression adjusted for covariates. ParticipantsWomen (N=60) after TKR. InterventionsNot applicable. ResultsAge and body mass index in the China group (n=30; 66y and 27.0kg/m2) were similar to those in the U.S. group (n=30; 65y and 29.6kg/m2). Before surgery, the China group walked 263 (95% confidence interval [CI], −309 to −219) less meters and had 10.2 (95% CI, −11.8 to −8.5) fewer chair stands than the U.S. group. At 6 months when compared with the U.S. group, the China group walked 38 more meters, but this difference did not reach statistical significance (95% CI, −1.6 to 77.4), and had 3.1 (95% CI, −4.4 to −1.7) fewer chair stands. The China group had greater improvement in the 6-minute walk test than did the U.S. group (P<.001). ConclusionsDespite having worse physical function before TKR, the China group had greater gains in walking endurance and similar gains in repeated chair stands than did the U.S. group after surgery.