Variability of in-Clinic and Sensor-Based Free-Living Gait Outcomes in Total Knee Arthroplasty Candidates

Description

In this presentation, Annemarie Laudanski from Dalhousie University discusses the role of variability in both in-clinic and free-living gait outcomes for individuals awaiting total knee arthroplasty (TKA). She highlights concerns surrounding persistent pain and dissatisfaction following standardized surgical procedures, with reports indicating that many joint replacements fail to restore adequate knee functionality. The presentation emphasizes the necessity of considering patient biomechanics in surgical planning, particularly in light of the heterogeneity among TKA candidates and the introduction of modern tools such as robotic-assisted surgery.



The study involves 22 patients, where key biomechanical measures are assessed preoperatively in a clinical setting, combined with data obtained from wearable sensors over a week of free living. The results underscore significant variations in gait patterns, with findings suggesting that higher stride variability may correlate with both healthy and unhealthy gait mechanics, complicating the interpretation of results when comparing in-clinic measurements to free-living data. The discussion concludes with a note on the importance of longitudinal tracking and the integration of novel variability metrics into patient-specific surgical planning for improved outcomes.

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