Over time, individuals may experience a deterioration of the joints that leads to the need for a hip or knee replacement. As a travel therapy professional, you may also work with patients who have had such a procedure due to a sports-related or other injury. In the past, undergoing a total hip or knee replacement came with some serious risks. While it's not uncommon for surgeries to have a list of possible negative side effects, those undergoing THR/TKR were at risk of death. However, new research has found that this is becoming a less likely possibility.
Study findings
A group of Dutch researchers wanted to see if new surgical and therapy techniques had any effect on the results of THR and TKR, and their findings were published in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism. By way of a nationwide Danish cohort study, 71,812 patients who had undergone a total hip replacement and an additional 40,642 individuals who received total knee replacements were included in the investigation. Each of the procedures occurred between 1989 and 2007, a time when a great deal of new advancements in medicine were made. Researchers paid specific attention to the causes of any instances of mortality among the patients.
The investigators found that from 1989 to 1991, the 60-day mortality rates were 3.4 percent annually, compared to 1.4 percent each year between 2004 and 2007 for patients who had undergone one of the two surgeries. More specifically, it was found that deaths caused by myocardial infarction, pneumonia, stroke and venous thromboembolism decreased the most. Authors point out that this is great news, considering a high percentage of TKR and THR patients who suffer from some type of chronic condition at the time of treatment. These improvements are related back to both changes in procedure as well as updated anesthesia techniques. Additionally, patients were faster to enter physical therapy at the end of the study when compared to the beginning.
"We get people out of bed and moving on the first day after – or the day of – surgery," Dr. Richard Iorio, chief of adult reconstruction at NYU Langone Medical Center, explained in the HealthDay Reporter.
This helps to improve patients' mobility, which can reduce their risk of complications. Following discharge from the hospital, most individuals who have had a TKR or THR will enter a rehab facility or return home and continue with physical therapy from there – that's where you come in as a travel physical therapy professional.
Recovering with PT
While working with a patient who has undergone either a total knee or total hip replacement, there are certain things you'll want to do to ensure his or her recovery and overall well-being. Although there are specific exercises and stretches you'll want to have him or her complete, it's equally important to provide the patient with motivation. Recovery from such a procedure can be difficult and lead to frustration, so it's best to celebrate even the smallest of accomplishments. You will also want to ensure that you keep an open dialogue with the patient so that he or she feels comfortable discussing any improvements or issues with pain and flexibility.
In some cases, a travel PT will suggest that the individual keep a list of questions to ask while at home. This can also be a useful way to monitor changes as they occur outside of therapy sessions. As the patient's strength improves, encourage him or her to complete workout routines at home or even assist with household chores. This is a great way to help prevent the onset of depression due to immobility during recovery.