Preoperative Physical Therapy Results in Shorter Length of Stay and Discharge Disposition Following Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Retrospective Study

OBJECTIVE: Total knee arthroplasty is an effective surgical approach used to treat arthritis and knee trauma. Its utilization has grown, as has the accompanying financial impact, resulting in an equal need to advance physical therapy practice. One emerging approach improving patient outcomes and reducing cost is the inclusion of a preoperative physical therapy visit. The aim of this study was to quantify the economic impact of a standardized preoperative physical therapy visit in the healthcare setting. DESIGN: This study is a retrospective review of 1,043 adult patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty. METHODS: Patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty were divided into those who received a prehab compared with those who did not. RESULTS: Preoperative physical therapy resulted in a marked decrease in length of stay, with 37.1% of preoperative physical therapy patients leaving inpatient care on post-operative day 1 compared to 27.0% of the no preoperative physical therapy controls (p < 0.001). Preoperative physical therapy also improved discharge disposition, with 41.6% of preoperative physical therapy patients returning home and utilizing outpatient services compared to 23.2% of controls (p < 0.001). No effect on duration of care was observed. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that a single pre-operative physical therapy visit improves key outcomes, both clinically and financially, following total knee arthroplasty.