title: Patient satisfaction after total knee arthroplasty: a comparison between subjective and objective outcome assessments.
abstract: We used a visual analog scale (VAS) to assess the satisfaction after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in a group of 108 patients (126 TKAs) with short-term to medium-term follow-up. We also used the Knee Society scoring system, Western Ontario and McMasters Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), pain VAS, and survival analysis. A comparison between the subjective and objective outcome systems revealed only poor correlations. This comparison suggests that the concerns and priorities of patients and surgeons differ. The outcome assessed with the satisfaction VAS revealed a significantly better subjective outcome in rheumatoid arthritis patients compared with osteoarthritis patients, whereas Knee Society scores were not different. The satisfaction VAS provides additional information about subjective outcome after TKA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, and Department of Rheumatic Diseases, University Hospital Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Bullens
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: van Loon
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: de Waal Malefijt
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Laan
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Veth
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000523:psychology