Staged Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty: Time of the Second Side

The interval between staged bilateral total knee arthroplasties does not affect early complications of the second knee or long-term function of the first and second knees

BACKGROUND

This study explored the optimal time interval between staged bilateral total knee arthroplasty (BTKA) to minimize early complications of the second TKA and maximise the long-term function of the first and second knees.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 266 patients who underwent staged BTKA between 2013 and 2018. Groups 1-4 had time intervals between BTKAs of 1-6, 6-12, 12-18, and 18-24 months, respectively. Demographics, postoperative complications within 90 days of the second TKA, Knee Society Score (KSS), and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) score were compared among the groups.

RESULTS

In total, 54, 96, 75, and 41 patients were assigned to groups 1-4, respectively. Although group 1 had the highest overall complication rate (11.11%), there was no significant difference in the complication rate among the four groups. Also, no significant differences were found among the four groups in functional and patient-reported outcomes, in either the first or second knee at 5 years postoperatively, including KSS-knee, KSS-function, WOMAC-pain, WOMAC-stiffness, and WOMAC-physical function. The interval between BTKA did not influence complications or the function of the second knee. The TKA type (posterior-stabilised vs. medial-pivot) and age did not correlate significantly with any scores.

CONCLUSIONS

There was no group difference in early complications of the second TKA, and postoperative function was equivalent between the two knees and did not vary by the interval between surgeries. The results of this study give surgeons and patients more choices. If patients cannot tolerate severe symptoms in the contralateral knee after the first TKA, the second TKA should be performed as early as possible. If knee joint function is not well recovered after the first TKA, and patients are anxious to undergo the second TKA, surgeons can advise patients to postpone the operation based on these results.

What Is the Safest Intersurgical Interval between Staged Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty? A Nationwide Analysis of 20,279 Patients

In staged bilateral total knee arthroplasty (BTKA), the intersurgical time is yet to be determined. This study aimed to (1) test for differences in in-hospital metrics between the index and contralateral TKA and (2) determine the safest intersurgical time interval to minimize adverse outcomes after the contralateral surgery. The National Readmissions Database was queried for patients who received staged BTKA (2016-2017). A total of 20,279 patients were included. Demographics, comorbidities, baseline determinants, and intersurgical time between index and contralateral TKAs (≤ 3 month, 4-6 months, 7-9 months, and 10-12 months intervals) were captured. Outcomes included healthcare utilization (length of stay [LOS] and nonhome discharge), in-hospital costs, and in-hospital complications. Outcomes were compared between index versus contralateral surgeries and among contralateral surgeries of various intersurgical intervals. Contralateral surgeries had shorter LOS (2.2 ± 1.9 vs. 2.4 ± 2.0 days; p < 0.001), lower nonhome discharge (n = 2692[13.2%] vs. n = 2963[14.7%]; p = 0.001), and in-hospital costs ($16,476 ± $7,404 vs. 16,774 ± $9,621; p < 0.001), but similar rates of nonmechanical (p = 0.40) complications compared with index TKA. Multivariable regression demonstrated that intersurgical time was not associated with nonmechanical complications or transfusion, or 30-day readmission (p > 0.05, each). Compared with the less than or equal to 3-month interval, the 4 to 6-month interval exhibited highest odds ratio (OR) of any infection (OR: 1.81; 95% confidence interval [CI]: [1.13-2.88]; p = 0.013), urinary tract infection (OR:1.81, 95%CI: [1.13-2.90]; p = 0.014), and any-cardiac complications (OR:1.17; 95%CI: [1.01-1.35]; p = 0.037). Patients in the 10-12-month cohort had lowest odds of posthemorrhagic anemia (OR: 0.84; 95% CI: [0.72-0.98]; p = 0.03). Overall, the second surgery of a staged BTKA has lower healthcare utilization despite similar complication rates. While patients in the 10 to 12-month intersurgical interval had the most favorable overall safety profile, no single interval exhibited consistently lower complications for all measured outcomes. Special care pathways should be optimized to care for patients undergoing staged BTKA.

Effectiveness of Robotic Arm-Assisted Total Knee Arthroplasty on Transfusion Rate in Staged Bilateral Surgery

The transfusion rate in staged bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) remains high despite the application of blood management techniques. The potential of robotic arm-assisted TKA (R-TKA) in reducing the transfusion rate in staged bilateral surgery has not yet been investigated. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of R-TKA on transfusion reduction compared with conventional TKA (C-TKA) in staged bilateral surgery. This retrospective study involved two groups of patients who underwent 1-week interval staged bilateral TKA-the C-TKA group and the R-TKA group-using MAKO SmartRobotics (Stryker, Kalamazoo, MI, USA). Each group comprised 53 patients after propensity score matching and was compared in terms of nadir hemoglobin (Hb) level and transfusion rate after each stage of surgery. Both groups showed no significant differences in the propensity-matched variables of age, sex, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status score, and preoperative Hb level. The R-TKA group showed a significantly higher nadir Hb level than the C-TKA group after the second TKA (p = 0.002). The transfusion rate was not significantly different between the two groups after the first TKA (p = 0.558). However, the R-TKA group showed a significantly lower transfusion rate in the TKA (p = 0.030) and overall period (p = 0.023) than the C-TKA group. Patients who undergo staged bilateral R-TKA have lower transfusion rate than those who undergo C-TKA. R-TKA may be effective in minimizing unnecessary allogeneic transfusions in staged bilateral surgery.

The Optimal Period of Staged Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty Procedures under Enhanced Recovery: A Retrospective Study

OBJECTIVE

The implications of the interval of staged bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) procedures for postoperative complications and costs are not clear. We aimed to determine the optimal time interval between the two stages of bilateral TKA procedures under the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol.

METHODS

This retrospective study of collected data included bilateral TKA cases under the ERAS protocol performed between 2018 and 2021 at the West China Hospital of Sichuan University. The staged time was subdivided into three groups according to the interval between the first TKA and second contralateral TKA: group 1: 2- to 6-month, group 2: 6- to 12-month, and group 3: >12 months. The primary outcome was the incidence of postoperative complications. The secondary outcomes were the length of hospital stay (LOS), hemoglobin (Hb) decrease, hematocrit (Hct) decrease, and albumin (Alb) decrease.

RESULTS

We analyzed 281 patients who underwent staged bilateral TKAs between 2018 and 2021 at the West China Hospital of Sichuan University. Regarding postoperative complications, there were no statistically significant differences among the three groups (P = 0.21). For the mean LOS, the 6- to 12-month group had a significantly shorter LOS compared with the 2- to 6-month group (P < 0.01). There was also a significant decrease in Hct of the 2- to 6-month group compared with the 6- to 12-month group and the >12 months group (P = 0.02; P < 0.05, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Staging the second arthroplasty for more than a half year seems to offer a reduction in the rate of postoperative complications and LOS under ERAS protocol. ERAS shortens the interval of staged bilateral TKA by at least 6 months for patients who might receive their second surgery without the need to wait for an extended period.

Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty: Current Concepts Review

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Bilateral total knee arthroplasty (BTKA) is an effective surgical treatment for bilateral knee arthritis and can be performed as a simultaneous surgery under a single anesthetic setting or as staged surgeries on separate days.

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Appropriate patient selection is important for simultaneous BTKA with several factors coming into consideration such as age, comorbidities, work status, and home support, among others.

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While simultaneous BTKA is safe when performed on appropriately selected patients, current evidence suggests that the risk of complications after simultaneous BTKA remains higher than for staged BTKA.

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When staged surgery is preferred, current evidence indicates that complication risks are minimized if the 2 knees are staged at least 3 months apart.

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Simultaneous BTKA is the economically advantageous treatment option relative to staged BTKA, primarily because of shorter total operative time and total hospital stay.

Comparison of the Effect and Complications of Sequential Bilateral Arthroplasty at Different Time Intervals and Simultaneous Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Single-Centre Retrospective Cohort Study

INTRODUCTION

To the authors' knowledge, there is no current consensus regarding the optimal interprocedural interval for patients who have undergone bilateral total knee arthroplasty (BTKA). The purpose of this study is to evaluate complication rates and functional outcome in patients who have undergone BTKA (simultaneous or sequential at different time intervals), and to determine an optimal time frame for the second knee.

METHODS

Data from 315 patients who were able to tolerate simultaneous BTKA according to the anaesthesiologist's preoperative assessment between 2016 and 2020 were analysed retrospectively. According to the operative time interval, they were divided into simultaneous, ≤ 1-month sequential, 1- to 3-month sequential, and ≥ 3-month sequential BTKA groups. The primary outcomes were revision and readmission rates during the follow-up period, and the secondary outcomes were hospital length of stay (LOS), transfusion and postoperative complications.

RESULTS

There was no difference in the implant survival or readmission rate between the groups (p > 0.05). Multivariable linear regression showed that interprocedural interval and body mass index (BMI) affected LOS; the LOS of simultaneous BTKA was the shortest (p < 0.05). BMI was associated with an increased LOS of 0.25 days (95% CI 0.02-0.48, p = 0.03). A modified Poisson regression model showed that the odds of blood transfusion were reduced in sequential BTKAs of any interval (p < 0.05), and preoperative haemoglobin (Hb) was also a risk factor (RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.95-0.98, p < 0.001). The interprocedural interval was not a risk factor for postoperative cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications.

CONCLUSION

For appropriate patients, simultaneous BTKA is beneficial. However, higher preoperative haemoglobin was required to mitigate the high blood transfusion rate associated with simultaneous surgeries. If suitable patients refuse simultaneous BTKA for other non-medical reasons, sequential BTKA with an interval greater than 1 month is recommended.

Bilateral total shoulder arthroplasty: A systematic review of clinical outcomes

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical outcomes following bilateral total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA).

METHODS

A systematic search of the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases following PRISMA guidelines was performed. English-language literature published from 2010 to 2018 analyzing bilateral TSA (anatomic and/or reverse) with a minimum one-year follow-up was reviewed by two independent reviewers. Study quality was evaluated with the Modified Coleman Methodology Score and the methodological index for non-randomized studies score.

RESULTS

Eleven studies (1 Level II, 3 Level III, 7 Level IV) with 292 patients were included. Two studies reported on bilateral anatomic TSA (n = 54), six reported on bilateral reverse TSA (RTSA; n = 168), two reported on anatomic TSA with contralateral RTSA (TSA/RTSA; n = 31), and one compared bilateral anatomic TSA (n = 26) and bilateral RTSA (n = 13). Among studies, mean revision rate ranged from 0% to 10.53% and mean complication rate ranged from 4.9% to 31.3%. At final follow-up, patients experienced significant overall improvements in range of motion and patient-reported outcome score measurements. However, bilateral anatomic TSA resulted in greater improvements in external rotation compared to bilateral RTSA. Overall patient satisfaction was 91.0%.

CONCLUSION

The available data indicate that bilateral TSA allows for functional and pain improvements and result in high patient satisfaction.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV.

Different clinical outcomes on the second side after staged total knee replacement. A systematic review

BACKGROUND

The clinical outcomes of the contralateral side in staged bilateral total knee arthroplasty (BTKA) are relatively unknown. The purpose of this study was to answer: 1) Does the second-operated knee in a staged BTKA result in inferior clinical and functional outcomes? 2) Is the duration of time between the first- and the second-operated knee defined in a consistent fashion in the literature? 3) Does the time interval between TKAs influence clinical outcomes?

METHODS

Two reviewers independently conducted a systematic search of the literature using different databases according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

RESULTS

Five of the seven included studies reported significantly inferior postoperative clinical outcomes for the second-operated knee compared with the first-operated knee. There was no difference in the overall major complication rate between first- and second-operated TKA (2.4% and 1.2% respectively). Based on the literature reviewed, there is no consensus on the optimal time interval between the stages. Most studies, which investigated the impact of different intervals on the outcomes of the second-operated knee, concluded that the differences in outcomes with different intervals were not significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Current literature suggests that the second-operated knee, in patients undergoing staged BTKAs, might have inferior clinical outcomes when compared with the first-operated knee.