Optimising Patients For A Successful TKR And Choosing The Winners. Issue 5 (28th May 2020) - Patnaik, Sanjeev
Total knee replacement (TKR) is one of the most successful operations in the history of orthopaedic surgery and its effectiveness in relieving pain and improving functionin patients with end-stage advanced arthritis of knee is undisputed . Despite its scientific reputation as mainly successful, only 81% to 89% of patients are actually satisfied with the final result as per clinical literature. Awareness of the existence as well as identification of predictors of Patient - Surgeon disagreement, should help improve the dialogue that goes on between patients and surgeons, thus improving the clinical decision-making processes and making expectations more realistic in an attempt to enhance patient outcomes. Focussing on 5 major factors can help to ensure that patient safety is maintained, and satisfaction following a major surgery like TKR is enhanced :- 1.Correct patient selection, after a meticulous history taking and clinical examination, 2. Setting appropriate expectations 3. Avoiding preventable complications, 4. Adhering to the finer points of the surgical operation and following a meticulous surgical technique and 5. Using pre - and post- operative pathways. All these factors will help to ensure maximum patient satisfaction and aid in successful clinical outcome following Total Knee Replacement.