Perceptions on sexual activity after total knee and total hip arthroplasty:A mixed method study of patients, partners, and surgeons

BackgroundIn-depth insight into couples’ experiences of sexual activity before and after total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is lacking. The aim of this study was to explore patients’ and partners’ experiences, complemented by surgeons’ opinions on safe resumption of sexual activity after surgery.MethodsMixed method study: 1) Semi-structured interviews among sexually active couples, 1.5 years postoperatively and 2) A survey among surgeons about recommendations of sexual activity after THA/TKA.ResultsOf the 150 invited couples, 90 (60%) responded (THA: n=39; TKA: n=42). Five couples participated (THA: n=3; TKA: n=2), while 85 (94%) couples refused participation. Two themes emerged: “Couples physically and mentally adjusted to the new situation” and “Couples undoubtedly trusted the surgeon as the provider of information.” In total, 27% (47/175) of THA surgeons participated. Fifty percent agreed with the recommended sexual positions researched by Charbonnier et al. Opinions differed widely regarding when to safely resume sexual activity. Of the TKA surgeons, 36% (76/211) responded. Almost all surgeons (95%) agreed that there were no restrictions. However, some discomfort was expected when patients bend the knee or kneel during sex. Half of the surgeons indicated that providing information about sex was necessary.ConclusionsAll couples physically and mentally adapted to the new situation without considering safety measures. Patients trusted surgeons in providing safety information. Surgeons should inform patients succinct and explicitly, especially since surgeons’ recommendations showed great variability. More motion research on hip and knee may add to uniform guidelines

Hip and knee replacement patients prefer pen-and-paper questionnaires : implications for future patient-reported outcome measure studies

Analysis and Stochastic

Genome wide DNA methylation profiling of osteoarthritic articular cartilage

Optimising joint reconstruction management in arthritis and bone tumour patient

Patient acceptable symptom states after total hip or knee replacement at mid-term follow-up. Thresholds of the Oxford hip and knee scores

Analysis and Stochastic

GUIDELINE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POST ACUTE POSTOPERATIVE PHYSIOTHERAPY IN TOTAL HIP AND KNEE JOINT REPLACEMENT SURGERY: ARE THEY USED IN DAILY CLINICAL PRACTICE?

Optimising joint reconstruction management in arthritis and bone tumour patient

GUIDELINE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POST ACUTE POSTOPERATIVE PHYSIOTHERAPY IN TOTAL HIP AND KNEE JOINT REPLACEMENT SURGERY: ARE THEY USED IN DAILY CLINICAL PRACTICE?

Optimising joint reconstruction management in arthritis and bone tumour patient

Supination Contractures in Brachial Plexus Birth Palsy: Long-Term Upper Limb Function and Recurrence After Forearm Osteotomy or Nonsurgical Treatment

Orthopaedics, Trauma Surgery and Rehabilitatio

Gait analysis after successful mobile bearing total ankle replacement.

Background: The effect of total ankle replacement on gait is not fully known in terms of joint kinematics, ground reaction force, and activity of the muscles of the lower leg. Methods: A comparative gait study was done in 10 patients after uneventful unilateral mobile-bearing total ankle replacement and 10 healthy controls. A rigid body model was used to describe the motion of the knee and the three-dimensional motion of the ankle-hindfoot complex during barefoot walking. An opto-electronic motion analysis system was used to analyze bilateral movement patterns, synchronized with recordings of the ipsilateral vertical ground reaction forces and the electromyographic activity of four lower leg muscles. Results: Velocity was 6% lower in the patient group. Dorsiflexion in the operated ankles was reduced (p < 0.001). No differences were found in the joint angular pattern of the knee joint and only minimal changes were found at the hindfoot-to-tibia and forefoot-to-hindfoot levels. The ground reaction force at midstance was somewhat increased (p = 0.005), while the magnitude of the vertical peak at terminal stance was decreased (p < 0.001). EMG activity patterns in the patient group were normal except for a higher activity of the gastrocnemius in early stance and the anterior tibial muscle in late stance. Conclusions: There is a near normal gait pattern in terms of joint kinematics of the knee, ankle, and foot after uneventful mobile-bearing total ankle replacement. The ground reaction forces and the EMG activity, however, do not fully normalize. Copyright © 2007 by the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society, Inc