[A review on psychosomatic factors affecting the outcome after total knee-arthroplasty (TKA)].

A review on psychosomatic factors affecting the outcome after total knee-arthroplasty (TKA) Objectives: In today's ageing Western societies, arthroplasty is a common treatment for endstage osteoarthritis. Despite highly developed implants and surgery, however, this treatment does not always succeed in relieving pain and restoring joint function, i.e., in restoring satisfactory algofunction. Clinicians partly blame psychological factors for this discrepancy, especially in the absence of objective medical complications.

METHODS: The present review summarizes previous studies on the role of psychosomatic interactions affecting the course after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

RESULTS: During the perioperative period, patients with TKA suffer from marked psychic distress that is also linked to the postoperative algofunction.

CONCLUSIONS: We discuss the theoretical and clinical implications of the findings reviewed.