Knee Positioning After Total Knee Replacement

Conditions

• Knee Arthroplasty

Eligibility Criteria

Sex

ALL

Age

18 Years - N/A

Healthy Volunteers

Not accepted

Interventions

• Knee Flexion — OTHER
  Participants will receive knee flexion postoperatively following primary total knee arthroplasty. The surgical knee will positioned at approximately 60° flexion using an abduction pillow as a jig underneath the knee during the immediate postoperative recovery period. Positioning will occur following surgery while the participant is still in the operating room. This is a soft construct and a noninvasive intervention. A goniometer will be used to approximate 60° of flexion as closely as possible. It is expected that the knee will be positioned for 2-4 postoperative hours until a physical therapist comes to mobilize the patient. However, the duration may vary because of the pragmatic context. There is no minimum or maximum positioning time that would make the intervention duration ineligible.
• Standard Care — PROCEDURE
  Participants in this arm will receive usual care. No specific attention will be placed to knee positioning in the immediate period after surgery. However, the current usual practice in the health system is that the knee is positioned in extension.

Study Details

Many total knee replacements are performed each year, but there is no clear recommendation regarding knee positioning following this surgery. While the surgical knee is usually positioned in a straight position immediately after surgery, there may be benefits of positioning it in a partially bent position. A trial will compare the outcomes of two groups of patients: a) those whose knees are positioned in a partially bent position for a few hours after surgery and b) those who receive usual care where the knee is most likely positioned in a straight position. The investigators are looking to see whether knee motion and pain differ for patients in the two groups.

Key Dates

First listed

Aug 5, 2026

Start date

Sep 30, 2026

Status verified

Jul 2026

Primary completion

Feb 29, 2028

Completion

Feb 28, 2029

Study Design

Enrollment

150 participants (estimated)

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Arms

• Experimental: Knee Flexion
  Participants in this arm will receive the knee flexion intervention.
• Active Comparator: Usual Care
  Participants in this arm will receive usual care. No specific attention will be placed to knee positioning in the immediate period after surgery. However, the current usual practice in the health system is that the knee is positioned in extension.

Primary Outcome Measure

Knee Passive Total Arc of Motion [ Time Frame: At 6 weeks after surgery ]

Central Contacts

• Brocha Stern
  212-659-9650
  [email protected]

Locations (1)

Find similar trials in New York, NY

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