Costs and effectiveness of pre- and post-operative home physiotherapy for total knee replacement: randomized controlled trial

Aims and objectives To assess the effectiveness of pre‐ and post‐operative physiotherapy at home for unilateral total knee replacement (TKR). Methods In this pragmatic randomized controlled trial set in participants’ homes (four primary care trust areas) and physiotherapy outpatients in a South Yorkshire teaching hospital trust, 160 osteoarthritis patients waiting for unilateral TKR were randomly allocated to intervention (home) group (n = 80) or control (hospital outpatient) group (n = 80). The intervention group had pre‐ and post‐operative home visits for assessment and treatment by a community physiotherapist. Outcome measures were health‐related quality of life (HRQoL), measured by the Western Ontario McMaster Osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) and the Short Form 36 health survey (SF‐36) pre‐operatively and at 12 weeks post‐TKR operation; patient satisfaction; and NHS resource use. Results No significant differences were observed between the two treatment groups in the primary outcome measure, the WOMAC pain score, or any other HRQoL score. The home group had a significantly greater mean number of physiotherapy sessions than the hospital group [mean difference 5.2 sessions, 95% confidence interval (CI) = −6.3 to −4.1; P = 0.001]. There was no significant difference in the total NHS costs per patient between groups. However, home physiotherapy for TKR was significantly more expensive (mean difference –£136.5, 95% CI = –£160 to –£113; P = 0.001). Patients were equally satisfied with physiotherapy at home or in hospital; however, more of the home group would choose their location for physiotherapy again. Conclusions Although home physiotherapy was as effective and as acceptable to patients as hospital outpatient physiotherapy for unilateral TKR, it was more expensive. Additional pre‐operative home physiotherapy did not improve patient‐perceived health outcomes.