title: Efficacy of rapid recovery protocol for total knee arthroplasty: a retrospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to compare the clinical results and cost-effectiveness of a rapid recovery protocol for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with a current standard protocol.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included patients undergoing primary elective TKA with at least 6 months of follow-up. The rapid recovery protocol was applied to 96 patients (Group 1) and the standard protocol to 108 (Group 2). All patients underwent standard TKA. All pre-, peri-, and postoperative procedures in the treatment and follow-up of patients were appropriately standardized to the philosophies of the different treatment plans. The postoperative length of hospital stay, total financial cost, postoperative surgical infection, 6-month American Knee Society scores, and knee range of motion (ROM) were compared between the groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 169 patients were included. Group 1 patients had significantly shorter postoperative length of hospital stay (p=0.021), significantly lower mean total financial cost (p=0.041), significantly lower infection rates (p=0.034), and significantly higher 6-month knee function scores (p=0.032). In comparison with Group 2, Group 1 knee flexion (p=0.04) and extension (p=0.48) ROM at 6 months postoperatively were both significantly improved.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Application of the rapid recovery protocol to patients who underwent TKA reduced costs and infection rates and improved functional results.
authors: Yenimahalle State Hospital, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Ankara, Turkey. ismetkoksal@hotmail.com.
authors: İsmet
authors: İ
authors: Köksal
authors: Atatürk Training and Research Hospital, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, İzmir, Turkey.
authors: Mesut
authors: M
authors: Tahta
authors: Atatürk Training and Research Hospital, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Mehmet Emin
authors: ME
authors: Şimşek
authors: Yıldırım Beyazıt University Faculty of Medicine, Atatürk Training and Research Hospital, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Metin
authors: M
authors: Doğan
authors: Yıldırım Beyazıt University Faculty of Medicine, Atatürk Training and Research Hospital, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Murat
authors: M
authors: Bozkurt
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000191:economics* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome