Total knee replacement is a highly-invasive procedure--and a big decision for patients. So it's hardly surprising that patients with severe osteoarthritis are happier when they feel truly comfortable with getting a knee replacement, as a new study suggests.
For the study, which appears in this month's issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism, researchers question 27 healthcare providers and 74 patients with severe osteoarthritis about the views on the need for total knee replacement, as well as their perception of the risks and benefits of the surgery.
According to the research, providers and patients usually agreed on the importance and possible benefits of the surgery, but that patients often had bigger concerns about the severity of their condition and potential complications. More important, researchers found, such differences could actually affect post-consultation outcomes.
To learn more about the study:
- read this HealthDay Day pieces [1]
Links:
[1] http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/19/AR2009011902286.html