Changes in Patient Satisfaction Following Total Joint Arthroplasty

Abstract Background The primary aim was to identify the degree to which patient satisfaction with the outcome of THA or TKA changes between one and three years from the procedure. The secondary aim was to identify variables associated with satisfaction and assess whether certain patient sub-groups are predisposed to changes in satisfaction in the early follow-up period. Methods Data were sourced from two prospective international, multicenter studies examining the long-term clinical outcomes of patients treated with THA or TKA. A total of 919 and 450 patients were enrolled in the THA and TKA studies, respectively. Satisfaction was assessed by a 10-point numerical rating scale (NRS), at 1- and 3-year follow-up. Linear mixed-effects models were used to assess factors associated with satisfaction. Results Paired analyses revealed that the degree of satisfaction did not change between 1- and 3-years for the collective THA (p=0.620) or TKA (p=0.417) cohorts. For the THA cohort, higher preoperative joint space width (odds ratio (OR) = 0.28; p=0.004), pain from other joints (OR=0.26; p=0.033), and lower preoperative health state (OR= -0.02; p For the TKA cohort, anterior (vs neutral or posterior) tibial component slope (OR=0.90; p=0.008), greater femoral component valgus angle (OR=0.05; p=0.012), less severe OA (OR= -0.10; p Conclusion Changes in satisfaction following THA and TKA are rare between 1-and 3-years follow-up. The findings of this study can be used to guide patient counselling preoperatively and to determine intervals of routine follow-up postoperatively.