Complications in bilateral total knee arthroplasty

Improvement in health-related quality of life after unilateral total knee arthroplasty in patients with bilateral knee osteoarthritis

PURPOSE

To review the outcome of unilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in patients with bilateral knee osteoarthritis (OA) to determine whether unilateral TKA can achieve good health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

METHODS

Records of 68 women and 25 men with severe bilateral knee OA who underwent unilateral TKA on the more symptomatic knee by a single surgeon and did not return for the second TKA within 2 years were reviewed. Outcome at 6 months and 2 years was assessed using the mental and physical component summary (MCS and PCS) of the Short-Form 36 (SF-36) for HRQoL as well as the Oxford Knee Score (OKS) and Knee Society Score (KSS) for knee-specific outcome.

RESULTS

The SF-36, OKS, and KSS improved significantly after unilateral TKA. Respectively for MCS and PCS of SF-36, OKS, and KSS knee and function scores, 65%, 89%, 98%, 98%, and 98% of patients reported absolute improvement at 2 years. Respectively for PCS, OKS, and KSS function score that a minimal clinically important difference (MCID) was established, 77%, 96%, and 80% of patients achieved MCID at 2 years.

CONCLUSION

Unilateral TKA achieves good outcome in HRQoL at 2 years in patients with bilateral knee OA.

Simultaneous versus staged bilateral total knee arthroplasty: a meta-analysis evaluating mortality, peri-operative complications and infection rates

BACKGROUND

An important source of debate in many orthopaedic practices is the choice of performing simultaneous or staged bilateral total knee arthroplasty.

QUESTIONS/PURPOSE

The objective of this meta-analysis is to compare simultaneous bilateral with staged bilateral total knee arthroplasty for peri-operative complication rates, infection rates and mortality outcomes.

METHODS

All relevant citations were retrieved from MEDLINE, EMBASE, COCHRANE databases and the unpublished literature. Included studies were assessed for methodological quality and abstracted data was conducted independently by two reviewers. Data was categorized into subgroups and pooled using the DerSimonian and Laird's random effects model.

RESULTS

A total of 18 articles were identified from 873 potentially relevant titles and selected for inclusion in the primary meta-analyses. The incidence of mortality was significantly higher in the simultaneous group at 30 days (RR [relative risk] 3.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.68-8.02, p = 0.001, I (2) = 59%, n = 67,691 patients), 3 months (RR 2.45, 95% CI 2.15-2.79, p < 0.00001, I (2) = 0%, n = 66,142 patients) and 1 year (RR 1.85, 95% CI 1.66-2.06, p < 0.001, I (2) = 0%, n = 65,322 patients) after surgery. However, there were no significant differences between the two groups in regards to in-hospital mortality rates (R 1.18, 95% CI 0.74-1.88, p = 0.48, I (2) = 0%, n = 33,814 patients). In addition, there was no increased risk of deep vein thrombosis, cardiac complication, and pulmonary embolism or infection rates in either comparison group.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the analysis suggest that simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty has a significantly higher rate of mortality at 30 days, 3 months and 1 year after surgery, but similar infection and complication rates in comparison to staged bilateral total knee arthroplasty.