TELEREHABILITATION AFTER TOTAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY: CURRENT STATE OF THE EVIDENCE

Relevance. With the increasing number of major joint arthroplasties, aging population, and limited access to medical care, including during the pandemic, telerehabilitation has gained particular relevance in recent years.

Materials and methods. A literature search was conducted in the databases PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar to identify publications on telehabilitation after total knee replacement. The original research and literature reviews published over the past 15 years were mainly selected. The analysis included full-text articles on telerehabilitation after total knee replacement.

Results. The data indicate the promising potential of implementing digital solutions through telerehabilitation within the rehabilitation medicine system and the advisability of using it as a complement to traditional rehabilitation methods. Telerehabilitation increases access to specialized care and enhances continuity of patient follow-up. Systematic literature review indicates that telerehabilitation can be a practical alternative to in-person rehabilitation therapy for patients who have undergone total knee arthroplasty. Telerehabilitation programs reduce direct postoperative rehabilitation costs by an average of 10-40 % per patient compared to traditional in-person rehabilitation, due to lower transportation costs, fewer clinic visits, and more efficient use of human resources.

Conclusion. Telerehabilitation should be regarded as a promising tool ensuring continuity of rehabilitation for patients after total knee arthroplasty. In digital healthcare, telerehabilitation helps optimize resource use and ensures patients in remote areas have access to rehabilitation services.

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