Randomized Trials to Modify Patients' Preoperative Expectations of Hip and Knee Arthroplasties

UNLABELLED: Patients have multiple expectations of THA and TKA. We asked whether preoperative educational classes addressing recovery during the first year could modify patients' expectations of their 12-month postoperative recovery. Participants were enrolled consecutively in two randomized, controlled trials, one for THA (177 patients) and one for TKA (143 patients). Control patients preoperatively received a standard THA or TKA class addressing recovery immediately after surgery. Intervention patients preoperatively received the standard class plus a joint-specific module addressing recovery during the first 12 months. Before and after the class, patients completed either a hip-specific or knee-specific validated expectations survey. The main outcome was the within-patient change in expectation scores (maximum increase, +100; maximum decrease, -100) before and after the class but preoperatively. Mean changes in hip scores were +3.3+/-8 for intervention patients (range, -22+/-32) and +4.9+/-8 for control patients (range, -13+/-29). Mean changes in knee scores were -3.4+/-10 for intervention patients (range, -26+/-33) and +2.4+/-10 for control patients (range, -30+/-30). Patients' preoperative expectations of their recovery from THA or TKA can be modified by preoperative educational classes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level I, therapeutic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.