Postoperative Supine Sleeping Position Following Total Knee Arthroplasty Decreases Knee Flexion Contractures
2024

Sleeping Position After Knee Surgery Affects Recovery

Sample size: 150 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Zondervan Robert L., Riggle Patrick K., Cien Adam J., Penny Philip C., Cochran Jason M.

Primary Institution: McLaren Greater Lansing Hospital

Hypothesis

Patients who slept in the supine position would achieve earlier knee extension and range of motion when compared to those in the lateral recumbent position.

Conclusion

Sleeping position does affect initial postoperative knee terminal extension, with supine sleepers achieving better outcomes than lateral sleepers.

Supporting Evidence

  • Patients who slept in the supine position had an average of 2.98 degrees of flexion contracture.
  • Patients in the lateral position had an average of 6.03 degrees of flexion contracture.
  • Statistical analysis showed a significant interaction between surgery and sleep position on knee extension.

Takeaway

If you sleep on your back after knee surgery, you might be able to bend your knee better than if you sleep on your side.

Methodology

Data was collected from 150 consecutive primary TKAs, comparing outcomes based on self-reported sleeping positions.

Potential Biases

Subjective reporting of sleeping position may introduce bias.

Limitations

The study was non-randomized, had a small cohort, and was conducted at a single institution.

Participant Demographics

Average age was 64.88 years, with 37.5% females and 47.7% surgeries on right knees.

Statistical Information

P-Value

<0.001

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.51894/001c.123412

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