Economic and Functional Impact of Peri-Operative Bracing for Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA)

Kein Eingriff: Control group

Subjects will receive two out-patient physical therapy (PT) visits per week for 2 weeks, followed by additional PT visits at clinician's discretion after TKA.

Experimental: Bracing group

Subjects will be fitted with the Ongoing Care Solutions, Inc (OCSI) Rehabilitator brace prior to surgery. This brace will be worn for 6 weeks before surgery. The brace will be worn again after surgery ~10 days after surgery or when staples are removed until the end of the study. Participants will also have two PT visits per week for 2 weeks, followed by additional PT visits at clinician's discretion.

Gerät: OCSI Rehabilitator brace

Guardian Brace features the innovative Rehabilitator™ line of gait correcting, leg strengthening braces. Rehabilitator™ Knee Braces are clinically proven to reduce UNBRACED pain, strengthen the affected leg, and significantly improve function after only 90 days of brace wear.

Number of Physical Therapy Visits

Investigators will monitor the total number of physical therapy visits that was necessary to return to normal function between the control and bracing group and how it relates to overall cost.

Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for Pain (0-10 Scale)

Visual Analog Scale is a a pain scale assessment instrument that has been widely used to allow adult patients to report their pain level in musculoskeletal research studies. It is a continuous scale comprised of a horizontal line, 10 centimeters (100 mm) in length, anchored by 2 two ends representing the extremes of measurements with 0 point representing no pain and 10 representing the worst pain a patient may have had. Therefore, starting from zero point, increasing numbers demonstrate worse pain. Patient can pick a point on the scale that they believe represent their pain level at a given moment.

Timed up and go Test (Timed Measurement)

Used to assess a person's mobility and balance. It is measured in time units (seconds or minutes) using a stopwatch by a study personnel. To perform, the patient sits back in a standard arm chair and a line 3 meters, or 10 feet away on the floor is identified. At the investigator mark, the stopwatch is started and the patient is asked to stand up from chair, walk to the end of the line and come back to his chair at normal pace. The results is the time in seconds needed for the patient to perform the test (getting up from chair and coming back to it as timed by the investigator's stopwatch)

Timed Stair Climb (Timed Measurement Over Fixed Distance)

Used to assess a person's mobility and balance

One-leg Stance Time (Timed Measurement)

Used to assess a person's balance. Performed with eyes open and arms on hips. The patient is asked to stand unassisted on one leg and is timed in seconds (using stopwatch) from the time one foot is flexed off the floor to the time when it touches the ground or the standing leg or an arm leaves the hips.

6 Minute Walk Test (Distance Measurement)

Used to assess a person's endurance and aerobic capacity. The score of the test is distance a patient walks in 6 minutes. Longer distances walked by the patient in 6 minutes correlates with better performance. Distance is measured using distance measuring wheel.

Knee Society Score Questionnaire

Clinical outcome questionnaire developed by the consensus of the Knee Society. It comprises, a "Knee score" and a "Functional score." The Knee score assesses pain, stability, and range of motion. A maximum score of 100 is achieved by a painless, well-aligned knee with 125° range of motion, with neither anteroposterior nor mediolateral instability. Deductions are made for flexion contracture, extension lag, and malalignment. The Functional score assesses walking distance and stair climbing. A maximum score of 100 is assigned to individuals who can walk unlimited distances and can climb up and down stairs normally. Deductions are made for use of a walking stick or crutches. Therefore, higher scores correlate with better function and outcome.

Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score Jr. (KOOS Jr.) Questionnaires

Clinical outcome questionnaire that measure joint-specific pain and physical function. It has seven questions that focus on three categories: joint pain, stiffness, and function, in daily living. Raw scores are added up (range 0-28) and converted to an interval score (0-100) using an interval table. The interval score represents a patients total joint disability where 0 corresponds to total joint disability and 100 perfect joint health.

Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) Score (0-100 Scale)

Clinical outcome assessment tool. It is based on a total of 100 points. The score is divided into seven categories, which include pain, function, range of motion, muscle strength, flexion deformity, instability, and subtractions. The knee is initially given a score of 0, and additions or subtractions are made according to specific criteria. The higher the score, the better the outcome. Approximately 50% of the score is based on a patient interview and the remaining on physical exam.

Type of Pain Medication Used

Investigators will monitor the medical record for types of pain medications used.

Amount of Pain Medication Used

Investigators will monitor the medical record for the amount of pain medication used