Improving Rehabilitation for Veterans After Total Knee Arthroplasty Using Individualized Recovery Trajectories

Rehabilitation after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is often one-size-fits-all, but Veterans have unique recovery needs. To improve outcomes and efficiency, our research team has developed a clinical decision support (CDS) tool that predicts individual recovery trajectories using real patient data. This tool helps clinicians personalize rehabilitation plans, identify Veterans at risk for poor outcomes, and monitor recovery progress. Our study will refine the tool’s clinical guidelines, evaluate its impact in VHA outpatient physical therapy clinics, and assess its readiness for widespread implementation. By tailoring rehabilitation to each Veteran’s needs, we aim to enhance recovery, optimize resource use, and improve access to high-quality post-surgical care within the Veterans Health Administration.