Rehabilitation after total knee replacement

The principal aim in rehabilitation after knee arthroplasty is to obtain the best functional outcome in all patients. Implicit in this is a range of movements, which allows them to perform all activities of daily living with ease. Much recent attention has focused on early discharge from hospital as a way of a more efficient use of beds and controlling costs. It is as yet far from clear whether such a move is either cheaper or as effective as current practice. Then so-called “hospital at home” has been employed with success in many areas of medical and surgical care. Recovery from knee replacement is distinct in that patients do need to work hard to both gain and maintain movements during the first few weeks after surgery. The quality of rehabilitation, particularly when they would have otherwise been in the hospital, is therefore of utmost importance. Failure to monitor this or to act on a poor early outcome runs the risk of poor functional outcome.