Evaluation of early rehabilitation intervention-based nursing care in total knee arthroplasty

Knee osteoarthritis is a common degenerative joint disease that severely affects mobility and quality of life in elderly populations. Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is an effective treatment for advanced knee osteoarthritis, yet patients often experience suboptimal postoperative recovery. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an early rehabilitation intervention-based nursing care model in improving postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing unilateral TKA. A total of 180 patients who underwent unilateral TKA at our hospital from January 2023 to December 2024 were included in this retrospective cohort study. Patients were divided into 2 groups: the observation group (n = 98) received early rehabilitation intervention-based nursing care, while the control group (n = 82) received conventional nursing. Postoperative outcomes were assessed at 1 month using the Hospital for Special Surgery knee score, 30-second chair stand test, active range of motion, SF-36 quality of life scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia, and incidence of adverse events. One month after surgery, the observation group showed significantly better outcomes than the control group in Hospital for Special Surgery scores, 30-second chair stand test, active range of motion, SF-36 quality of life, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia scores (all P < .05). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse events between groups. Early rehabilitation intervention-based nursing care significantly enhances functional recovery, pain control, psychological well-being, and overall quality of life in TKA patients. These findings support its clinical value and provide a basis for optimizing perioperative nursing strategies.