Studying quality of life in patients with gonartrhrosisafter decompression-draining surgeries

Purpose. To assess quality of life quantitatively in elderly patients with gonarthrosis treated at RISC RTO using the techniques of decompression-draining surgeries. Materials and Methods. Eighty patients (95 joints) with gonarthrosis (Stage II-III) at the age of 64±0.5 years treated by the techniques of decompression-draining surgeries. The patients were divided into two groups: those without limb axis disorder, and those with the disorder. All the patients operated according to the techniques developed at the Center. The Algofunctional Index (AFI) developed at RISC RTO in order to reveal changes in the joint for patient’s self-assessment of pain, discomfort (stiffness), and doing everyday activity. This is a measure of patient’s state scored according to a special questionnaire including the criteria of pain levels, discomfort, and doing everyday activity, and calculated by 19 criteria. Results. Significant decrease in pain sensations, up to their disappearance, and that in joint stiffness observed in the patients of both groups after surgical treatment; significant improvement achieved in terms of doing everyday activity. Conclusion. Patient’s comparative algofunctional subjective self-assessment of the rehabilitative treatment performed for gonarthrosis using the Center techniques is an additional social confirmation which supplements objective rehabilitation efficiency measures determined by the physician.