[A knee clinical stateaffects the preoperative level of anxiety in patients undergoing knee arthroplasty - preliminary report].

AIM The aim of this study was to evaluate whether intensity of state anxiety before operation depends on knee function. MATERIAL AND METHOD The study was conducted among 81 patients qualified to knee arthroplasty because of severe arthrosis. A knee function was evaluated with Knee Society score and Oxford questionnaires, and level of anxiety - with State-Trait Anxiety Inventory by C.D. Spielberger a day before the operation. RESULTS Patients with higher intensity of trait anxiety had higher level of state anxiety before operation. To a group with higher intensity of trait anxiety belonged above all elderly persons. In addition, in these patients the knee function was worse. It was indicated that the better knee state and knee function were, the higher level of state anxiety before operation was. CONCLUSIONS The knee clinical state prior to knee arthroplasty and trait anxiety are the predictors of the preoperative state anxiety. In the group of patients undergoing knee arthroplasty trait anxiety levels were found to be higher in older persons. Before the operation worse clinical knee state was found in patients with primary education as compared to patients with secondary education and university degree. No statistically significant correlation were found between preoperative anxiety and gender, patient's work status and marital status.