Preoperative predictors of locomotor ability two months after total knee arthroplasty for severe osteoarthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To identify preoperative predictors of locomotor ability 2 months after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).


METHODS
Sixty-five participants scheduled for a first TKA were recruited. The dependent variable was the distance covered during the 6-minute gait test 2 months after TKA. The independent variables, measured before surgery, were grouped into 3 categories: 1). personal; 2). organic system, and 3). capability variables. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to determine the best predictors of the dependent variable. Modified cross-validation of the model combining predictors from the three categories was obtained with 10 random samples derived from the original cohort by resampling with replacement.


RESULTS
Predictors were identified in the 3 categories: 1). gender, number of comorbidities, body mass index, 2). knee pain, flexion and strength, lower limb mechanical power, and 3). preoperative 6-minute gait distance. When these variables were modeled together only the preoperative 6-minute gait distance and knee pain and flexion remained significant (adjusted R(2) = 0.66).


CONCLUSIONS
Using variables easily measured before surgery, it is possible to predict with good accuracy locomotor ability 2 months after TKA.
Parent
Eric
E
CIRRIS Research Center, Quebec Rehabilitation Institute, 525 Boulevard Hamel, Room B-77, Quebec City, PQ, Canada G1M 2S8.
Moffet
Hélène
H
D000368:Aged; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results