The Role of Physical Therapy in Decreasing Length of Stay Following Total Knee Arthroplasty in a Public Hospital Setting

Michael J. Moses, David Novikov, Afshin A. Anoushiravani, Ajit J. Deshmukh, Lazaros Poultsides, Neville Crick, Ran Schwarzkopf

Abstract


Background: The goal of this study is to analyze how a modified PT protocol affects length of stay following TKA in the public hospital patient population.

Methods: A retrospective review of 157 patients that underwent unilateral primary TKA was done. Basic demographics, perioperative and post-discharge characteristics were collected on TKA patients one year prior and one year following the initiation of a new PT protocol.

Results: There were 94 patients in the non-intensive PT cohort and 63 in the intensive PT cohort. Hospital LOS was significantly shorter in the intensive PT cohort (2.0 versus 3.9 days; p < 0.001). There was no difference in complication rates, ED-visits within 90 days, or 90-day readmission rates between the non-intensive and intensive cohorts, respectively.

Conclusion: In this study, we found that an intensive PT regimen significantly decreased LOS and increased home discharge for patients after TKA without negatively affecting postoperative clinical outcomes.


Keywords


Total knee arthroplasty; physical therapy; postoperative care; postoperative outcomes; rehabilitation

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