Influence of Psychiatric Problems on Clinical Outcomes during the First 12 Months after Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty

Abstract

Background: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a useful treatment option for advanced knee osteoarthritis. Excellent clinical outcomes after TKA have been widely recognized, but the influence of psychiatric problems on them has not been focused on until quite recently. This study aimed to assess the influence of psychiatric problems on clinical outcomes after TKA in Japanese patients using two assessment scales developed in Japan because the Japanese cultural lifestyle is specifically characterized by bending to the floor and standing up. Methods: Clinical outcomes and psychiatric problems were evaluated using the Japanese Knee Osteoarthritis Measure (JKOM) and Brief Scale for Psychiatric Problems in Orthopaedic Patients (BS-POP), respectively. A total of 115 TKA patients were evaluated preoperatively and at 3, 6, and 12 months after TKA. The patients were classified into four groups (groups A-D) based on the BS-POP score. The JKOM scores were then compared between the two groups (groups A and D) with the worst and least psychiatric problems. The JKOM improvement rate between pre- and postoperative status in both groups A and D was also calculated. Results: The total JKOM score was significantly poorer in group A than in group D preoperatively and at 3, 6, and 12 months after TKA. The improvement rate showed no significant difference between groups A and D. Conclusion: Psychiatric problems influence both the poorer post- and preoperative clinical outcomes. However, a similar improvement rate in both groups A and D has indicated that TKA can be an effective treatment even for patients with psychiatric problems.