Lumbar Spine Sagittal Mismatch Deformity Negatively Affects Total Knee Arthroplasty Outcomes

Impact of Knee Osteoarthritis and Arthroplasty on Full-body Sagittal Alignment in Adult Spinal Deformity Patients

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data.

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluates the impact of knee osteoarthritis (OA) and knee arthroplasty on alignments and patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMS) of patients undergoing adult spinal deformity (ASD) corrective surgery.

BACKGROUND

The relationship between knee OA and spinal alignment in patients with ASD is incompletely understood. It is also unknown how patients with knee arthroplasty and ASD compare to ASD patients with native knees.

METHODS

Baseline full-body radiographs were used, and hip and knee OA were graded by two independent reviewers using the KL classification. Spinopelvic parameters and PROMs were compared across the different knee OA groups and compared between patients with knee replacement and native knees.

RESULTS

One hundred ninety-nine patients with bilateral nonsevere OA (G1), 31 patients with unilateral severe knee OA (G2), and 60 patients with bilateral severe knee OA (G3). Patients with severe knee OA presented with worse spinopelvic parameters. However, after multivariable regression analysis controlling for age, frailty, PI, T1PA, knee OA was an independent predictor of knee flexion (G1: -0.02±7.3, G2: 7.8±9.4, G3: 4.5±8.7, P <0.001), and ankle dorsiflexion (G1: 2.3±4.0, G2: 6.6±4.5, G3: 5.1±4.1, P <0.001). There was no difference in PROMs ( P >0.05). Secondary analysis included 96 patients: 48 patients (50%) with nonsevere knee OA, and 48 patients (50%) with knee replacement. There was no difference in radiographic parameters or PROMs between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study of complex ASD patients, patients with worse spinal deformities were more likely to have concomitant knee OA. Knee OA was shown to be a predictor of knee flexion and ankle dorsiflexion angles, but was not associated with worse PROMs in this study population. Patients with knee arthroplasty, however, had comparable spinal alignment and PROMs relative to those with mild OA.

Total knee arthroplasty in patients with degenerative spine disease: does spinal fusion affect outcomes? A matched comparative analysis using a national database

BACKGROUND

The need for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and spinal fusion (SF) for degenerative spine disease (DSD) is increasing. However, it is still unknown if prior SF for DSD impacts outcomes following TKA. This study aims to fill this gap by comparing the risk of complications and revisions in patients undergoing TKA with DSD between patients with and without SF.

METHODS

This study is a retrospective review of the PearlDiver Mariner Database between 2010 and 2020. On the basis of whether or not patients had had prior SF, the patients undergoing TKA were divided into two groups: patients with DSD and SF and patients with DSD and without SF. The two groups were matched on the basis of age, gender, the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), and obesity. Surgical complications (mechanical loosening, prosthetic dislocation, periprosthetic fractures, and stiffness) and revisions at 1, 2, and 3 years were compared between the groups.

RESULTS

The patients in the TKA with DSD and no SF cohort were older (64.9 ± 8.4 versus 63.3 ± 8.1 years, p < .001), had higher CCI (2.0 ± 2.2 versus 1.6 ± 2.0, p < .001), and had a lower rate of obesity (58.7% versus 61.7%, p < .001). After being matched, 8887 patients remained in each group. There was a higher rate of stiffness and manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) in the no-fusion cohort at 1 year (0.7% versus 0.1%, p < .001; and 0.5% versus 0.2%, p < .001, respectively), 2 years (1.2% versus 0.5%, p < .001; and 1.1% versus 0.6%, p < .001, respectively), and 3 years (1.7% versus 0.7%, p < .001; and 1.6% versus 0.9%, p < .001, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows no increase in risk of surgical complications and revisions after TKA in patients with DSD and SF compared with patients without SF. Notably, SF was shown to be protective of stiffness and MUA after TKA in patients with DSD.

Predictors of Recurrent Flexion Contracture after Total Knee Arthroplasty in Osteoarthritic Knees with Greater Than 15° Flexion Contracture

Background

This study aimed to analyze the risk factors that predict recurrent flexion contracture (FC) after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in osteoarthritic knees with FC ≥ 15°.

Methods

Data from a consecutive cohort comprising 237 TKAs in 187 patients with degenerative osteoarthritis, preoperative FC ≥ 15°, and a minimum follow-up period of 2 years were retrospectively reviewed. Preoperative FC was corrected intraoperatively from 0° to 5°. The incidence of recurrent FC (FC ≥ 10°) at 2 years postoperatively was investigated. Potential risk factors predicting recurrent FC including age, sex, body mass index, unilateral TKA, severity of preoperative FC, 3-month postoperative residual FC, γ angle, change in posterior femoral offset ratio, and lumbar degenerative kyphosis (LDK) were analyzed using logistic regression analysis. The post-hoc powers for the identified factors were then determined.

Results

Forty-one knees (17.3%) with recurrent FC were identified. Risk factors with sufficient power for recurrent FC were unilateral TKA, severity of preoperative FC, residual FC at 3 months postoperatively, and LDK (odds ratios of 3.579, 1.115, 1.274, and 3.096, respectively; p < 0.05; power ≥ 86.1).

Conclusions

Recurrent FC can occur in TKAs with the risk factors including unilateral TKA, severe preoperative FC, residual FC at 3 months postoperative, and LDK despite appropriate intraoperative correction. Surgical strategies and rehabilitation protocols used in managing FC should be applied in TKA cases with risk factors for recurrent FC.

Spondylolisthesis and mismatch deformity affect outcomes after total knee arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

Little published data currently exist regarding the potential relationships between spondylolisthesis, mismatch deformity, and clinical outcomes following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We hypothesize that preexisting spondylolisthesis will result in decreased functional outcomes after TKA.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort comparison of 933 TKAs was performed between January 2017 and 2020. TKAs were excluded if they were not performed for primary osteoarthritis (OA) or if preoperative lumbar radiographs were unavailable/inadequate to measure the degree of spondylolisthesis. Ninety-five TKAs were subsequently available for inclusion and divided into two groups: those with spondylolisthesis and those without. Within the spondylolisthesis cohort, pelvic incidence (PI) and lumbar lordosis (LL) were calculated on lateral radiographs to determine the difference (PI-LL). Radiographs with PI-LL > 10° were then categorized as having mismatch deformity (MD). The following clinical outcomes were compared between the groups: need for manipulation under anesthesia (MUA), total postoperative arc of motion (AOM) both pre-MUA or post-MUA/revision, incidence of flexion contracture, and a need for later revision.

RESULTS

Forty-nine TKAs met the spondylolisthesis criteria, while 44 did not have spondylolisthesis. There were no significant differences in gender, body mass index, preoperative knee range of motion (ROM), preoperative AOM, or opiate use between the groups. TKAs with spondylolisthesis and concomitant MD were more likely to have MUA (p = 0.016), ROM < 0-120 (p < 0.014), and a decreased AOM (p < 0.02) without interventions.

CONCLUSION

Preexisting spondylolisthesis by itself may not have adverse effect clinical results following TKA. However, spondylolisthesis increases the likelihood of developing MD. In those with both spondylolisthesis and concomitant mismatch deformities, patients had statistically and clinically significantly decreased in postoperative ROM/AOM and increased need for MUA. Surgeons should consider clinical/radiographic assessments of patients with chronic back pain who present for total joint arthroplasty.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level 3.

Severity and location of lumbar spine stenosis affects the outcome of total knee arthroplasty

Background

Recent studies have noted that patients with pre-existing lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) have lower functional outcomes after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Given that LSS manifests heterogeneously in location and severity, its influence on knee replacement merits a radiographically targeted analysis. We hypothesize that patients with more severe LSS will have diminished knee mobility before and after TKA.

Methods

This retrospective case series assessed all TKAs performed at our institution for primary osteoarthritis from 2017–2020. Preoperative lumbar magnetic resonance image (MRI) with no prior lumbar spine surgery was necessary for inclusion. Stenosis severity was demonstrated by (1) anterior–posterior (AP) diameter of the thecal sac and (2) morphological grade. TKA outcomes in 103 cases (94 patients) were assessed by measuring preoperative and postoperative arc of motion (AOM), postoperative flexion contracture, and need for manipulation under anesthesia.

Results

Patients with mild stenosis did significantly better in terms of postoperative knee AOM. As AP diameter decreased at levels L1–2, L2–3, L3–4, and L4–5, there was a significant reduction in preoperative-AOM (p < 0.001 for each), with a 16 degree decrease when using patients’ most stenotic level (p < 0.001). The same was noted with respect to increased morphological grade (p < 0.001), with a 5 degree decrease for patients’ most stenotic level (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Severe LSS, which is readily demonstrated by a reduction in the AP diameter of the thecal sac or increased morphological grade on MRI, correlated with a significant reduction in preoperative AOM that was not improved after TKA. Persistent postoperative reductions in AOM may contribute to reduced patient satisfaction and recovery.

Level of evidence: Level 4