(1) Preoperative education: An appropriate walking aid was provided for the patient and instructions were given to guide correct use, while isometric muscle exercises were taught. (2) Postoperative care: Six hours after anesthesia recovery, the head of the patient's bed could be elevated as needed, and the patient was instructed to perform ankle pumps (dorsiflexion and plantarflexion of the ankle).(3) Postoperative exercise: One to two days after surgery, following the removal of the drainage tube, the patient was encouraged to continue with ankle pumps and isometric quadriceps contractions, as well as to begin straight-leg raises. (4) Postoperative Day 3: In strict accordance with medical advice and under the guidance of a physiotherapist, patients engaged in continuous passive motion therapy for the affected knee, along with manual knee joint massage. (5) Postoperative Days 5-7: the patient would try to stand with the assistance of a walker, gradually progressing to walking exercises

The SF-36 is a concise health survey divided into 8 subscales: physical function, role physical, bodily pain, global health, vitality, social function, role emotional, and mental health, where a higher score indicates a better health status.

The VAS was used to assess pain levels before and after treatment in the two groups. VAS scores are positively correlated with pain intensity, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the most severe pain. A score of ≤3 is defined as mild pain, 4-6 as moderate pain, and ≥7 as severe pain.

The Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale was employed to evaluate knee function. This scale covers eight aspects, including limping, support, restraining, instability, pain, swelling, climbing stairs, and squatting. It is scored on a scale of 0 to 100. The total score is 100 points, with higher scores indicating fewer symptoms and higher levels of functioning. A score above 95 is considered excellent, 85-94 is good, 65-84 is fair, and less than 65 is poor.

The Newcastle Satisfaction with Nursing Scale (NSNS) was used to measure patient satisfaction with nursing care. This scale consists of 19 items, such as nurse competence, communication, emotional support, and safety management. Each item is rated on a scale of 1-5, with a total score ranging from 19 to 95 points. A score of ≥77 indicates very satisfied, 58-76 indicates satisfied, 39-57 indicates moderately satisfied, and ≤38 indicates dissatisfied.