Gait Training in Patients Discharged to a Skilled Nursing Facility Following Total Joint Arthroplasty
Background: Expenditures for postacute care in total joint arthroplasty (TJA) have risen dramatically over recent decades. Therefore, efforts are underway to better identify cost savings in postacute rehabilitation centers, such as skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). The primary purpose of this study...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2016-03-01
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| Series: | Geriatric Orthopaedic Surgery & Rehabilitation |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/2151458515627310 |
| _version_ | 1818131380956037120 |
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| author | Brandon Haghverdian BSc David Wright MSc Linda T. Doan BSc Dennis Tran BSc Ran Schwarzkopf MD, MSc |
| author_facet | Brandon Haghverdian BSc David Wright MSc Linda T. Doan BSc Dennis Tran BSc Ran Schwarzkopf MD, MSc |
| author_sort | Brandon Haghverdian BSc |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Expenditures for postacute care in total joint arthroplasty (TJA) have risen dramatically over recent decades. Therefore, efforts are underway to better identify cost savings in postacute rehabilitation centers, such as skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). The primary purpose of this study was to analyze gait training achievements in post-TJA patients in the interval between hospital discharge and the patients’ first 4 days at the SNF. Identification of potential losses in therapeutic progress may lead the way for improved patient care, outcomes, and cost savings. Our hypothesis is that patients discharged to an SNF will have a decline in gait achievements upon transfer from the hospital. Methods: A total of 68 patients who underwent TJA were included. The total distance ambulated during physical therapy (PT) was recorded for the last day of hospital therapy and the first 4 days at the SNF as well as the reported visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores. Results: There was a 73% decline in distance ambulated on SNF day 0 ( Hospital : 138.6 ft vs SNF : 37.9 ft; P < .001) and a 50% decline on SNF day 1 ( Hospital : 103.0 ft; SNF vs 51.1 ft; P < .001) compared to the last hospital session. There were no significant differences in distance walked on SNF days 3 and 4 relative to the last hospital session. The VAS pain scores did not significantly differ on SNF days 0 and 1 compared to the last hospital day but began to significantly decline on SNF day 3 ( Hospital: 4.9; SNF : 3.3; P = .02) and day 4 ( Hospital: 3.9; SNF : 2.3; P = .03). Conclusion: There was a significant decline in ambulatory proficiency in post-TJA patients on the day of and the day following hospital discharge to an SNF. These deficits cannot be attributed to heightened pain levels. Early and progressive ambulation is a recognized component of appropriate PT following TJA. This study therefore highlights the transition from hospital to SNF as a crucial and novel target for improvement in post-TJA care. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T08:20:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-87b56d22f1624b9aac0416234881bace |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2151-4585 2151-4593 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T08:20:01Z |
| publishDate | 2016-03-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geriatric Orthopaedic Surgery & Rehabilitation |
| spelling | doaj.art-87b56d22f1624b9aac0416234881bace2022-12-22T01:14:41ZengSAGE PublishingGeriatric Orthopaedic Surgery & Rehabilitation2151-45852151-45932016-03-01710.1177/2151458515627310Gait Training in Patients Discharged to a Skilled Nursing Facility Following Total Joint ArthroplastyBrandon Haghverdian BSc0David Wright MSc1Linda T. Doan BSc2Dennis Tran BSc3Ran Schwarzkopf MD, MSc4University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USAUniversity of California, Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USAUniversity of California, Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USAUniversity of California, Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USADivision of Adult Reconstruction, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USABackground: Expenditures for postacute care in total joint arthroplasty (TJA) have risen dramatically over recent decades. Therefore, efforts are underway to better identify cost savings in postacute rehabilitation centers, such as skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). The primary purpose of this study was to analyze gait training achievements in post-TJA patients in the interval between hospital discharge and the patients’ first 4 days at the SNF. Identification of potential losses in therapeutic progress may lead the way for improved patient care, outcomes, and cost savings. Our hypothesis is that patients discharged to an SNF will have a decline in gait achievements upon transfer from the hospital. Methods: A total of 68 patients who underwent TJA were included. The total distance ambulated during physical therapy (PT) was recorded for the last day of hospital therapy and the first 4 days at the SNF as well as the reported visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores. Results: There was a 73% decline in distance ambulated on SNF day 0 ( Hospital : 138.6 ft vs SNF : 37.9 ft; P < .001) and a 50% decline on SNF day 1 ( Hospital : 103.0 ft; SNF vs 51.1 ft; P < .001) compared to the last hospital session. There were no significant differences in distance walked on SNF days 3 and 4 relative to the last hospital session. The VAS pain scores did not significantly differ on SNF days 0 and 1 compared to the last hospital day but began to significantly decline on SNF day 3 ( Hospital: 4.9; SNF : 3.3; P = .02) and day 4 ( Hospital: 3.9; SNF : 2.3; P = .03). Conclusion: There was a significant decline in ambulatory proficiency in post-TJA patients on the day of and the day following hospital discharge to an SNF. These deficits cannot be attributed to heightened pain levels. Early and progressive ambulation is a recognized component of appropriate PT following TJA. This study therefore highlights the transition from hospital to SNF as a crucial and novel target for improvement in post-TJA care.https://doi.org/10.1177/2151458515627310 |
| spellingShingle | Brandon Haghverdian BSc David Wright MSc Linda T. Doan BSc Dennis Tran BSc Ran Schwarzkopf MD, MSc Gait Training in Patients Discharged to a Skilled Nursing Facility Following Total Joint Arthroplasty Geriatric Orthopaedic Surgery & Rehabilitation |
| title | Gait Training in Patients Discharged to a Skilled Nursing Facility Following Total Joint Arthroplasty |
| title_full | Gait Training in Patients Discharged to a Skilled Nursing Facility Following Total Joint Arthroplasty |
| title_fullStr | Gait Training in Patients Discharged to a Skilled Nursing Facility Following Total Joint Arthroplasty |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gait Training in Patients Discharged to a Skilled Nursing Facility Following Total Joint Arthroplasty |
| title_short | Gait Training in Patients Discharged to a Skilled Nursing Facility Following Total Joint Arthroplasty |
| title_sort | gait training in patients discharged to a skilled nursing facility following total joint arthroplasty |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/2151458515627310 |
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