A physical therapist–led clinical decision-making program reduced risk of adverse events after total knee arthroplasty over 3 years: A retrospective review

Abstract

Context

Reducing adverse events after total knee arthroplasty has implications for newly developed bundled payment models.

Objective

To examine the impact of a physical therapist–led clinical decision-making program on the risk of adverse events, function, visits used, or reaching knee range of motion (ROM) goals in patients after total knee arthroplasty.

Methods

The decision-making program consisted of quarterly meetings and recommendations for early risk identification and evidence-based intervention. A retrospective review of electronic records included adult patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty postoperative rehabilitation in an 18-month baseline period from 2014 to 2015 and an intervention period from 2015 to 2018. Relative risk reduction (RRR) determined whether a reduction in risk had occurred. Discharge function was measured with the Lower Extremity Functional Scale.

Results

A total of 160 patients were included, 69 from the 18-month baseline period and 91 from the 36-month intervention period. Mean (SD) age was 68 (9.2) years in the baseline period and 72 (9.7) years in the intervention period. There was an 8.4% (95% CI, 1.1%–64.9%) RRR in adverse events. The RRR for patients not reaching full knee extension was 70.5% (95% CI, 33.4%–87.0%) and the RRR for patients not reaching 120° of knee flexion was 65.5% (95% CI, 5.4%–87.4%). There was significant improvement in the discharge function score (P = 0.05), but not the number of visits used (P = 0.29).

Conclusion

The physical therapist–led clinical decision-making program reduced the risk of adverse events after total knee arthroplasty. The risk of not reaching ROM goals by discharge was also substantially reduced.