Psychological factors associated with short-term recovery from total knee replacement.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the psychological factors that predict short-term recovery following total knee replacement.


METHODS
A group of 42 patients undergoing total knee replacement received a pre-operative psychological assessment. Four self-report questionnaires were completed: the Pain Coping Strategies Questionnaire; the Short Form Social Support Questionnaire; the Recovery Locus of Control Scale; and the Brief Symptom Inventory. Post-operative outcome was assessed in terms of the number of days taken to achieve key physiotherapy milestones (straight leg raise; 90 degrees bend of the knee) and discharge.


RESULTS
The three response variables were analysed separately using an ordinal regression. Internal locus of control was associated with a shorter time to achieve a straight leg raise. Larger values of catastrophizing were associated with longer times to achieve a 90 degrees bend. There was a trend towards larger values of satisfaction with social support to be associated with an earlier achievement of the 90 degrees bend. No psychological variables were found to be associated with the length of hospital stay.


CONCLUSIONS
As suggested by previous studies, coping style and locus of control appear to be important in the rehabilitation process. The current data suggest that psychological variables could be usefully included in a pre-operative assessment for total knee replacement.
Department of Psychology, Priority Healthcare Wearside NHS Trust, Sunderland, UK.
K
K
Kendell
B
B
Saxby
M
M
Farrow
C
C
Naisby