title: Gait assessment as a functional outcome measure in total knee arthroplasty: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the study was to assess gait in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients, using a technique that can to be used on a routine basis in a busy orthopaedic clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 103 subjects were recruited: 29 pre-op TKA patients; 17 TKA patients at 8 weeks post-op; 28 TKA patients at 52 weeks post-op; and 29 age-matched controls. Inertial measurement units (IMUs) were used to assess gait. Limb segment angles, knee angle and temporal parameters of gait were calculated. Specific gait parameters were quantified, and data analysed using MANOVA and discriminant analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The gait of TKA patients as a group was only slightly improved at 12 months when compared with the pre-operative group, and both groups were significantly different to controls in several variables. Knee flexion range in stance was the most important variable in discriminating between patients and controls; knee flexion range in swing was the only variable that showed a significant difference between pre- and post-operative patients. When considered individually, only 1/29 patient was within the normal range for this variable pre-operatively, but 9/28 patients were within the normal range 12 months post-operatively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Even after 12 months after surgery, many TKA patients have not improved their gait relative to pre-operative patients. Routine gait assessment may be used to guide post-operative rehabilitation, and to develop strategies to improve mobility of these patients.
authors.affiliation: UCL Institute of Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal Science, London, UK. jeeshanr@me.com.|Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, London, UK. jeeshanr@me.com.
authors.forename: Jeeshan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.affiliation: Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, London, UK. quentang@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Quen
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: UCL Institute of Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal Science, London, UK. mmonda87@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Monda
authors.affiliation: Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, London, UK. jonathan.miles@rnoh.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miles
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Instrumentation Group, Pedestrian Accessibility and Movement Environment Laboratory, UCL, London, UK. i.mccarthy@ucl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: McCarthy
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome