44.
Work, wellbeing, and sexual life in younger patients after knee
replacement
Jakob Klit, Steffen Jacobsen , Stig Sonne-Holm, Signe Rosenlund, Anders
Troelsen
Ortopædkirurgisk afdeling Hvidovre Hospital; Ortopædkirurgisk afdeling,
Hvidovre Hospital; Ortopædkirurgisk afdeling , Hvidovre Hospital;
Ortopædkirurgisk afdeling, Køge Sygehus; Ortopædkirurgisk afdeling ,
Hvidovre Hospital
Background:
Survivorship of implants and knee function has been traditional
endpoints in the evaluation of the outcome of total knee arthroplasty (TKA).
Other endpoints, such as the influence on personal welfare and sex life may be
of crucial importance to the patients, but little is known about what patients
can expect following TKA.
Purpose / Aim of Study:
To investigate how the relation to work, income and
sexual activity is affected in younger patients after TKA.
Materials and Methods:
In a prospective cohort study performed at 3
arthroplasty units in a 1 year period we included patients ¡Ü 60 years of age
scheduled for primary TKA. Questionnaires including oxford knee score
(
OKS), SF-36, questions regarding relation to work, income and sex-life, were
collected preop. and at, 3, 6, and 12 months postop. The 12 month follow-up
was returned by 81 patients. Median age at surgery was 54 years (33-60).
Findings / Results:
At 12 mouths the OKS and SF-36 showed impressive
improvements. Ten of 69 patients in work preop. lost their job and four went
from part-time to full- time employment. Patients that were sexually active
before TKA surgery remained active. Of 68 sexually active patients, 16
experienced a decrease in sexual activity postop. due to increased pain and
decreased range of motion, and 26 patients had to change their normal pattern
of intercourse positions. Two males developed erectile dysfunction postop.
Conclusions:
This study shows that there are considerable negative effects on
younger patients¡¯ sex life following TKA. This information is important to
patients and should be included in preoperative patient information.
