Postoperative Physical Therapy Program for Patients Receiving Simulataneous Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty: Results of the Same Method as Unilateral TKA

In our hospital, simulataneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has positively been performed on a patient with knee osteoarthritis, in whom the operation is indicated. We have then undertaken the postoperative physical therapy (PT) progam same as that for unilateral TKA, and have so far obtained satisfactory results; no patient has complained of loosening. In the present report, the postoperarive PT for patients receiving simultaneous bilateral TKA is introduced, and the PT method is examined from the functional viewpoint. Forty outpatients who had already showed functional stability (20 received simultaneous bilateral TKA, and 20 received bilateral TKA) participated in the study, and their knee ROM and walking velocity were measured. No differences in both knee ROM and walking velocity were observed between patients receiving bilateral TKA and those receiving unilateral TKA. The result suggests that PT program for unilateral TKA may be applicable to that for bilateral TKA without any modification.