A home visit program versus a non-home visit program in total knee replacement patients: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: The goals in total knee replacement (TKR) are pain relief, restore functions, and improve quality of life. Surgical outcomes were not related to patients’ satisfaction. Low 1-year WOMAC especially in the first 6 weeks and painful TKR related to patient dissatisfied. To improve satisfaction, we created the home visit program (TKR-H) after hospital discharge. INHOMESSS was the rationale for home visit activities. METHODS: We recruited 52 TKRs. Four TKRs were excluded. We used simple randomization for 24 patients as a home visit (TKR-H) and 24 patients as a non-home visit (TKR). Patients were evaluated by general demographics, pain intensity scores (VAS), range of motion (ROM), WOMAC, knee scores, and functional scores as a primary objective. A duration for gait aid independent and patient’s satisfaction score as secondary objective. The study was 6 weeks after surgery. RESULTS: TKR-H and TKR had significant differences in the mean of WOMAC score (88.29 ± 10.66 vs. 68.00 ± 12.47, respectively, P < 0.001), pain score (VAS) (6.25 ± 10.13 vs. 35.67 ± 22.05, respectively, P < 0.001), knee score (81.67 ± 10.08 vs. 68.38 ± 6.45, respectively, P < 0.001), functional score (77.83 ± 4.22 vs. 73.70 ± 7.48, respectively, P = 0.037), and range of motion (107.71 ± 8.47 vs. 98.17 ± 9.57, respectively, P = 0.001). The patient’s satisfaction score in TKR-H group (4.71 ± 0.46) was significantly higher than the TKR group (4.13 ± 0.45) (P < 0.001) and time to gait aid independent (2.75 ± 0.99 vs. 3.71 ± 1.23, respectively, P = 0.005). CONCLUSION: Our TKR-H showed better clinical outcomes and satisfaction than non-home visit. The rationale in TKR-H improves satisfaction after total knee replacement. TRIAL REGISTRATION: TCTR20190514001.