Efficacy of continuous passive motion following total knee arthroplasty: a metaanalysis.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this metaanalysis is to examine the effectiveness of continuous passive motion (CPM) following total knee arthroplasty (TKA).


METHODS
This metaanalysis used the methodology proposed by the Cochrane Collaboration.


RESULTS
This review of 14 studies (952 patients) found significant improvements in active knee flexion and analgesic use 2 weeks postoperatively with the use of CPM and physiotherapy (PT) compared to PT alone. In addition, length of hospital stay and need for knee manipulations were significantly decreased in the CPM group. Not enough data were available to compare the degree of knee flexion applied or number of hours of application of CPM. However, significant results were not found for other comparisons such as short term CPM application versus longterm CPM application and wide treatment range versus small treatment range for the outcomes of active knee flexion, passive knee flexion and extension, presence of a fixed flexion deformity, use of analgesic, or total knee range of motion.


CONCLUSIONS
CPM combined with PT may offer beneficial results for patients post-TKA. However, the potential benefits will need to be carefully weighed against the inconvenience and expense of CPM. More research is necessary to assess the differences in effectiveness with different characteristics of application such as total duration of treatment and intensity of CPM interventions.
Brosseau
Lucie
L
School of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. lucie.brosseau@uottawa.ca
Milne
Sarah
S
Wells
George
G
Tugwell
Peter
P
Robinson
Vivian
V
Casimiro
Lynn
L
Pelland
Lucie
L
Noel
Marie-Josée
MJ
Davis
Jennifer
J
Drouin
Hugo
H
D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; D006801:Humans; D015915:Motion Therapy, Continuous Passive; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D016896:Treatment Outcome