The effects of different bandage and Kinesio Tape® applications on pain, edema and functional level in patients with total knee arthroplasty in the early postoperative period

The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of elastic bandages (EB), kinesio tape (KT) and short stretch inelastic bandages (SSIB) on postoperative pain, edema and functional level in the early stage after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The study was conducted on 30 volunteer individuals who underwent unilateral TKA surgery with an average age of 67,8 ± 4,81 years. Informed consent forms were signed to all subjects before the study. Physical and sociodemographic characteristics and preoperative pain, range of motion, leg circumference measurements and functional scores were recorded.Thirty participants who underwent unilateral TKA were randomized as EB Group (n=10), KT group (n=10) and SSIB group (n=10). EB and SSIB were wrapped from toes to groin with 50% overlap and 80% stretch and repeated daily. Kinesio tape was taped with lymphatic correction technique along the anterior, medial and lateral aspects of the leg. All treatments were stopped on the 8th day. Pain intensity was measured using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), range of motion (ROM) using universal goniometer, edema by measuring extremity circumference using tape measure, lower extremity functional level using Knee Society Score (KSS). All measurements which taken preoperatively were repeated postoperative 1st, 3rd, 5th, 8th, 14th, 28th days, 6th week and 3rd month. Functional level was measured on the 6th week and 3rd month. Statistical analysis was performed with Friedman test for the change of parameters according to time in the group and Kruskall Wallis test for intergroup differences.Pain scores and edema decreased, knee ROM and KSS scores increased in all treatment groups as compared with the baseline levels (p<0.05). However, there were no significant difference in the same parameters between groups at any time point (p>0.05). As a result, it was concluded that all EB, SSIB and KT applications are reliable modalities to decrease pain and edema after TKA surgery and KT and SSIB can be considered as alternative options versus elastic bandage treatment for pain and edema after TKA. Keywords: TKA, Edema, Elastic Bandages, Short Stretch Bandages, Kinesio Tape