None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Continuous passive motion (CPM) machines, which move the leg up and down, are often used for patients who have had knee replacement surgery to improve knee movement. Studies have shown CPM does not improve knee movement or function if used routinely for all patients who have had knee replacement surgery. In this study we want to find out whether or not CPM is beneficial for patients who are slow to regain knee movement after knee replacement surgery, compared to standard physiotherapy treatment without CPM. Our standard practice at the Royal Adelaide Hospital is to use CPM only for those patients who are slow to regain knee movement after knee replacement surgery but no studies have investigated the use of CPM in this setting.
Interventions
Treatment Group patients will be treated as for the Control Group, but, from day 3 onwards postoperatively,will in addition, receive continuous passive motion (CPM) for two hours twice a day. The CPM will be set up by a physiotherapist as follows. With the patient in supine, the hip and knee axes of the CPM unit will be aligned with the greater trochanter of the hip and the patient’s knee joint respectively and the length of the lower leg section of the CPM adjusted to fit the patient. Mid-thigh
Treatment Group patients will be treated as for the Control Group, but, from day 3 onwards postoperatively,will in addition, receive continuous passive motion (CPM) for two hours twice a day. The CPM will be set up by a physiotherapist as follows. With the patient in supine, the hip and knee axes of the CPM unit will be aligned with the greater trochanter of the hip and the patient’s knee joint respectively and the length of the lower leg section of the CPM adjusted to fit the patient. Mid-thigh and mid-calf straps will then be secured. The range of movement of the CPM will be increased until it reaches the patient’s maximal tolerated range. The speed of the CPM will be adjusted up to the fastest tolerated speed. The CPM will be continued until such time as the patient can achieve 90 degrees of active knee flexion range of movement or is discharged from hospital.
Sponsors
Tony McDonald
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
0 to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
All patients following elective total knee arthroplasty with less than 60 degrees active knee flexion range of movement on day 3 postoperatively.
Exclusion criteria
Patients who are unwilling to participate in the study. Patients who are unable to understand written or spoken English or co-operate with the assessment and treatment procedures. Patients who are unable to walk prior to admission. Patients who are partial weight bearing post-operatively or have limitations on permitted range of movement as directed by their orthopaedic surgeon.
Outcome results
None listed