Early Mobilization After Total Knee Arthroplasty
Early Mobilization After Total Knee Arthroplasty
Patients undergoing elective total knee arthroplasty are randomized to either intrathecal
 anesthesia, wound infiltration with local anesthetics and standardized postoperative care (NA
 = neuraxial anesthesia) or general anesthesia, intraoperative glucocorticoids with
 accelerated postoperative care principles (GA). The study hypothesis is that GA would reduce
 length-of-hospital stay. Outcome variables are postoperative nausea and vomiting,
 mobilization rate, pain, requirement of analgesics, and length-of-hospital stay.
Study design. The study design is consecutive and randomized. Patients with osteoarthritis
 scheduled for TKA at the department of orthopedic surgery, Hässleholm Hospital, Sweden, are
 eligible for participation in the study. Exclusion criteria are body mass index (BMI) > 35
 m/kg2, prior major knee surgery to the ipsilateral knee, ongoing infection, known
 immunological deficiency or ASA physical status category > IV.

 Randomization and blinding procedure Randomization is performed by an employee, not involved
 in the study, who prepared non-transparent, sealed envelopes each containing a slip of paper
 with descriptions of whether the patient should receive GA or NA. The randomization is
 computerized. On the study day a nurse, likewise not involved in the study, opens the
 appropriate envelope and prepared accordingly the procedures. From the point where
 anaesthesia is delivered both patients and staff in the operating theatre and in the recovery
 unit are, for obvious reasons, aware of the method of anaesthesia being used. However, once
 the patients leaves the recovery unit staff members assessing home readiness are blinded to
 group allocation.

 Assessments All patients are familiarized with a horizontal visual analogue scale (VAS, [100
 mm]) used for assessment of pain and PONV (0 = no symptom, 100 = worst symptom possible).
 Assessments of pain are made pre-operatively, upon arrival to the post-anesthesia care unit
 (PACU), every second hour the first day, twice a day during the remaining hospital stay and
 at follow-up visits 3 and 12 months after surgery. Plasma levels of troponin T (TNT) are
 measured three times during the first 24 postoperative hours in order to evaluate signs of
 myocardial ischemic events. The Short Portable Mental State Questionnaire (SPMSQ) is used to
 evaluate the cognitive function pre-operatively, at the discharge and at follow-up visits 3
 and 12 months after surgery. Global satisfaction score is assessed with a VAS (0 = best
 possible satisfaction, 100 = least possible satisfaction) at follow-up visits 3 and 12 months
 after surgery.

 Anesthesia Oral premedication, administered 1 hour before surgery, is with midazolam 2.5 mg,
 paracetamol 2 g, meclozine 10 mg, celecoxib 200 mg and oxycodone 10 mg. A low-volume fluid
 regimen is used with 1000 mL of Ringer's solution (Fresenius-Kabi AB, 751 74 Uppsala,
 Stockholm) and 1000 mL of glucose 2.5% during the first 24 hrs.

 In the NA group an indwelling urethral catheter is inserted prior to surgery. Intrathecal
 anesthesia is with bupivacaine 12.5-15.0 mg, morphine 0.2 mg and clonidine 30 µg (total
 volume (3.2-3.7 mL). During surgery an infusion of propofol (0.8-2.5 mg/min) is used to
 induce a light level of sedation. At the end of surgery a mixture of ropivacaine 110 mg,
 epinephrine 0.5 mg and morphine 10 mg (total volume 21 mL) is injected into the peri-surgical
 area. The mixture is injected using a systematic technique ensuring uniform delivery of the
 local anaesthetic to all tissues incised, handled or instrumented during the procedure. The
 first 7 mL of the mixture are injected into the posterior joint capsule and both collateral
 ligaments after the bone cuts had been performed. After insertion of the prosthesis another 7
 mL are to be injected along the borders of and into the capsule and cut quadriceps tendon,
 infra-patellar ligament, possible remnants of the fat pad, cruciate ligaments and the soft
 tissues surrounding the joint. The last 7 mL is infiltrated into the subcutaneous tissues
 before wound closure.

 In the GA group patients are asked to void before the transfer to the OR. The patients are
 draped before induction of anesthesia. Induction of anesthesia is with propofol and
 remifentanil, and endotracheal intubation is facilitated by succinylcholine. Maintenance of
 anesthesia is with target-controlled infusion (Marsh and Minto algorithm) with propofol
 (Braun Medical, Germany) and remifentanil (GlaxoSmithKline, Great Britain) aiming at initial
 concentrations of 5 µg/ml and 5 ng/ml, respectively. Ventilation is mechanical with oxygen in
 air (FIO2 = 0.45) and aiming at ETCO2 4.5 kPa. Betamethasone (Swedish Orphan Biovitrum,
 Sweden) 4 mg i.v. is given during surgery. At the end of surgery a mixture of ropivacaine 250
 mg and epinephrine 0.3 mg (100 mL) is injected in the tissues in the same way as described
 above. Twenty min before the end of anesthesia an i.v. bolus dose of oxycodone 7.5-10 mg is
 given.

 Surgery In the NA-group a tourniquet is applied around the thigh before the start of surgery.
 The GA-group does not receive a tourniquet. The surgeries are performed via a ventral
 incision with a parapatellar medial entrance to the joint. The patella is everted. A cemented
 single radius cruciate retaining (CR) total knee is used (the TriathlonTM Knee System
 (Stryker, Mahwah, New Jersey, USA)) for all patients. Appropriate guide instruments are used
 according to the surgical-technique manual supplied with the knee system.

 PACU In the PACU intermittent doses of oxycodone 2-8 mg i.v. is given as rescue medication.
 Patients complaining of PONV are given ondansetron 4 mg i.v.

 In the GA group bladder scans are done every second hour during the first 24 post-op hours.
 If the bladder contains > 400 ml an intermittent catheterization is performed. Mobilisation
 is started within 2 hrs of arrival to the PACU. A physiotherapist does passive bending of the
 knee to 90˚ and walks 10 meters with the patient on the floor.

 In the NA group mobilization is not started until the day after surgery, due to residual
 motor and sensory blockade.

 Ward In the NA group the indwelling urethral catheter is removed the day after surgery.
 Patients are considered ready to be discharged from the hospital when they are able to get in
 and out of bed, get dressed, sit down and get out of a chair, able to walk 50 m with or
 without walking aid, flex the knee to at least 70 º, fit for staircase climbing under
 supervision of a physiotherapist and accepting to be discharged. LOS is measured from end of
 surgery to time of discharge.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Patients with osteoarthritis scheduled for TKA at the department of orthopedic
 surgery, Hässleholm Hospital, Sweden, are eligible for participation in the study.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  body mass index (BMI) > 35 m/kg2,

 -  prior major knee surgery to the ipsilateral knee,

 -  ongoing infection, known immunological deficiency or ASA physical status category >
 IV.