Risk Factors of Post Discharge Falls in Patients Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty

Background: Falls are commonly reported among patients after total knee replacement. Previous literature and reviews have largely focused on the risk factors for fall among population undergoing total knee replacement. However, no systematic review has identified specific risk factors among female population undergoing the procedure regarding post discharge falls. Thus, the current review aimed to identify and provide summary of the key risk factors in women with total knee replacement about post discharge falls. Main Body: To identify the current evidence on risk factors among patients undergoing total knee replacement for after-discharge falls. Systematic review was conducted and data bases were searched including Cochrane, Medline, PEDro from 2000 to latest. A thorough search was performed to retrieve articles missed through databases as well as unpublished grey literature. Methodological quality assessment was performed using Nottawa Castle Scale for Case Control and Cohort studies and AXIS tool for cross sectional study. 10 articles finally met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review based on eligibility. There were 6 Cohort studies, 1 Cohort study protocol, 2 Case Control and 1 cross sectional, 3 randomized pilot studies and 1 prospective cohort study. Conclusion(s): Patients who underwent total knee replacement are at risk of post discharge falls. Advancing age, reduced proprioception, psychiatric disorders, living alone and operated knee pain were considered to be important risk factors for post discharge falls.