Professional practices and recommendations What is the interest of rehabilitation in physical medicine and functional rehabilitation ward after total knee arthroplasty? Elaboration of French clinical practice guidelines B. Barrois a, * , P. Ribinik a , F. Gougeon b , F. Rannou c , M. Revel c a Service de MPR, centre hospitalier de Gonesse, 25, rue Pierre-de-Theilley, BP 30071, 95503 Gonesse cedex, France b Service d’orthopédie D, hôpital Roger-Salengro, rue Professeur-Émile-Laine, 59000 Lille, France c Service de rééducation, groupe hospitalier Cochin, APHP, université Paris-Descartes, 75014 Paris, France Received 2 July 2007; accepted 20 August 2007 Abstract Objectives. – To develop clinical practice guidelines concerning the interest of post-operative rehabilitation in physical medicine and func- tional rehabilitation (PMR) ward after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Method. – The SOFMER (French Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Society) methodology, associating a systematic literature review, collection of everyday clinical practice, and external review by a multidisciplinary expert panel, was used. Main outcomes were impairment, disability, medico-economic implications and postoperative complications. Results. – Post-operative rehabilitation in a PMR ward after TKA is recommended for patients because of preoperative joint stiffness, and/or associated co-morbidities. The other parameters used by French physician for post-operative rehabilitation in a PMR ward after TKA are: the self-governing of the patient at home, the wishes of the patient and the opinion of the surgeon on the post-operative functional evolution of the patients. For patients in whom sustained rehabilitation is not necessary but who cannot return home, a stay in a non-specific (non-PMR) post- operative centre could be recommended. Post-operative rehabilitation in a PMR ward after TKA could reduce the length of stay in a surgical ward and increase the functional status of patients with co-morbidities. Studies with good methodological quality are needed to evaluate the cost/ benefit ratio in the French health care system. Conclusion. – This study suggests a value of rehabilitation in a PMR ward after TKA, but good methodological quality studies are needed to evaluate the cost/benefit ratio of rehabilitation in a PMR ward after TKA in the French health care system. © 2007 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved. Keywords: Osteoarthritis; Total knee arthroplasty; Practice guidelines; Rehabilitation ward; Indications Scientific committee Coudeyre Emmanuel (Sofmer), centre de MPR Notre- Dame, 63404 Chamalières, France Genet François (Sofmer), service de MPR, groupe hospita- lier Raymond-Poincare, 92380 Garches, France Genty Marc (Sofmer), service de MPR, clinique Valmont, 1823 Glion, Suisse Ribinik Patricia (Sofmer), service de MPR, centre hospita- lier de Gonesse, BP 71, 95503 Gonesse, France Rannou François (Sofmer), service de MPR, hôpital Cochin, université Paris-V, 75014 Paris, France Revel Michel (Sofmer), service de MPR, hôpital Cochin, université Paris-V, 75014 Paris, France Beaudreuil Johann (SFR [Société française de rhumatolo- gie]), fédération de rhumatologie, hôpital Lariboisière, 75475 Paris, France Lefevre-Colau Marie-Martine (SFR), service de MPR, hôpi- tal Corentin-Celton, 92133 Issy-les-Moulineaux, France Chevalier Xavier (SFR), service de rhumatologie, hôpital Henri-Mondor, 94010 Créteil, France http://france.elsevier.com/direct/ANNRMP/ Annales de réadaptation et de médecine physique 50 (2007) 729–733 * Corresponding author. E-mail address: brigitte.barrois@ch-gonesse.fr (B. Barrois). 0168-6054/$ - see front matter © 2007 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.annrmp.2007.08.005