ANZCTR search results

Whilst most patients are satisfied with their outcomes after a total knee replacement, moderate to severe persistent knee pain, defined as pain persisting beyond 3 post-operative months following surgery, can affect 25% of people at 6-months. NJ’s PhD studies have found associations of persistent high pain with reduced function, and reduced health related quality of life. Other studies have found that pain persisting after a knee replacement can interfere with walking, general activity and mood and reduced quality of life. A literature review conducted as part of NJ’s PhD (unpublished) found no rehabilitation programs addressing persistent pain after knee replacement. NJ, during his PhD studies, has designed a web-based, self-paced, pain rehabilitation program called Kneed to treat pain, reduced function and reduced quality of life for those with persistent pain after total knee replacement for osteoarthritis. The program consists of pain neuroscience education, exercise, motor imagery, desensitization techniques, relaxation, sleep and cognitive strategies such as goal setting. Educational and other strategies aim to normalize movement patterns (by reducing protective movements) and engage participants in functional activities by empowering behavior change. Kneed is being evaluated for the first time in a research study but has been used by patients under clinical supervision from Dr NJ (a Rehabilitation Physician) in a clinical practice. The potential benefit of Kneed as a digital health solution is to provide low-cost treatment to a broad audience, not limited by location (for example, rural areas and cities without pain management services). There are currently no evidence-based treatments available for this persistent pain condition, Kneed aims to provide one.

Impaired arm and hand function is a common and often devastating problem for stroke survivors. Regaining lost movement in the arm/hand is more difficult to achieve than walking, with only 5% of people with hemiplegia regaining functional use of their hand. This devastating outcome could potentially be addressed, however we do not yet know how to best increase movement in the arm and hand after stroke for patients with spasticity. There is a lack of randomized controlled trials of botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) with a group who does not receive therapy in some dose, and so whether gains were achieved through BoNT-A or a combination of the BoNT-A and therapy cannot be determined from the studies to date.The research project is testing whether intense therapy given after botulinum toxin injections into the arm is more helpful than just the injections alone.

Primary total knee or total hip replacement surgeries are costly high volume procedures \& outcomes may be affected by surgical \& care processes \& individual patient characteristics. The primary hypotheses is that non compliance with recommended practice impacts patient outcomes (e.g. the likelihood of complications following surgery). The primary aims of the study are to evaluate the links between processes \& outcomes \& if possible develop a model that will improve patient outcomes \& reduce unnecessary practice variation whilst considering costs.