QUALITY OF LIFE AND SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PATIENTS SUBMITTED TO TOTAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY

Objective: To study the quality of life (QL) and social characteristics of patients submitted to total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods: The Brazilian validated version of the SF-36 Quality of Life Questionnaire was applied during the pre- and postoperative periods to assess the effect of TKA in QL. A semi-structured social questionnaire was used for the survey of patients’ socioeconomic profile. Results: Some characteristics were observed in the participants’ socioeconomic parameters, such as the predominance of females, age above sixty years old, family income up to three minimum salaries, patients’ participation in family income, living together with other cohabitants, educational level up to high school; and living in urban periphery housing. Regarding SF-36, there was a statistically significant rise in corresponding values in postoperative assessment when compared with the preoperative assessment in all domains. Conclusion: TKA was capable of bringing a significant improvement in quality of life. In terms of social and economic profile of this group of patients submitted to TKA, it was observed that this profile was predominantly female, aged over sixty years, with low educational level, and limited economic resources.