Functional Outcome of Subvastus versus Medial Parapatellar Approaches for Total Knee Replacement in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Prospective Cohort Study

Background

Subvastus approach and medial parapatellar approach are two major approaches for total knee replacement (TKR). There is no global consensus on the superiority of either approach in terms of functional outcomes.

Objective

The present study aimed to evaluate the functional outcome of TKR through subvastus approach and medial parapatellar approach by using patient-reported scores at 3-, 6-, and 12-month post-operative follow-ups.

Methods

This prospective cohort follow-up study included patients with knee osteoarthritis who underwent elective primary TKR either through the subvastus or medial parapatellar approaches at King Abdullah Medical City, Makkah city, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from January 2019 to December 2022. Scores from the self-reported Oxford Knee Score (OKS) and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) were compared in the two groups of patients at 3-, 6-, and 12-month post-operative follow-ups.

Results

A total of 98 patients were included, of which 37 underwent TKR through the subvastus approach and 61 through the medial parapatellar approach. There was an overall significant change over time in both WOMAC and OKS scores (P < 0.001). Patients who underwent the subvastus approach had significantly higher mean of WOMAC and OKS than patients with the medial parapatellar approach at the 3- and 6-month follow-ups (P < 0.05), but not at the 12-month follow-up.

Conclusions

For TKR, the medial parapatellar approach results in better functional outcomes at the 3- and 6- month follow-up periods compared with the subvastus approach.

Comparison of Medial Parapatellar and Transpatellar Tendon Approach in Intramedullary Interlocking Nailing for Tibial Fracture: A Retrospective Analysis

Introduction

Tibial fractures are one of the most common traumatic fractures, particularly in automobile accidents. Percutaneous reduction with conventional reduction forceps and un reamed intramedullary nailing, transpatellar, and medial parapatellar tendon approaches are all used, but tibial intramedullary nails are still primarily inserted through a transpatellar tendon splitting or medial parapatellar tendon approach.

Objective

The aim and objectives of this study are to assess the mean pain score after nailing for a tibial fracture using a medial parapatellar versus a transpatellar tendon method retrospectively in order to enhance operational planning.

Materials and methods

This is a retrospective study that took place in a UK level 1 trauma center. Data from 60 patients were included between February 2019 and February 2020. An equal number of patients were selected for both approaches to maintain accuracy. The advanced trauma life support (ATLS) protocol was used to handle all of the patients in both groups in order to rule out any other injuries or fractures, after which they were scheduled for surgery after stabilization. They were subsequently evaluated during a three-month follow-up in an outdoor clinic, where they were given a pain score using the visual analogue score (VAS) while moving their knee joints. The mean pain score was differentiated by age, gender, body mass index (BMI), injury side, and injury type.

Results

Patients were divided into groups based on their ages. Patients in the transpatellar tendon group were 32.83±5.13 years old, whereas those in the medial parapatellar tendon group were 31.4 ±5.42 years old. The gender distribution of the patients revealed that the majority of the patients in both groups were male. In both groups, the left side was the most usually affected. The difference between the two groups' mean pain scores at three months was substantially lower in the medial parapatellar approach (p=0.005).

Conclusion

For patients having intramedullary nailing for tibial fractures, the medial parapatellar route is associated with a lower mean pain score than the transpatellar route. As a result, we may use this method in these individuals regularly.

Effect of the surgical exposure on the early postoperative period after total knee arthroplasty

INTRODUCTION

Total knee arthroplasty has become one of the most successful and safest surgical procedures in orthopedic surgery. Of the many different types of surgical exposure, the most common, so-called medial parapatellar (MP) incision is the cut of the quadriceps tendon, which impairs extensor function. In contrast, subvastus (S) exposure, which spares the extensor apparatus, may promise better healing.

AIM

The purpose of our prospective observational study at the Orthopedic Clinic of Semmelweis University is to compare the effects of the MP and the S excision on the early postoperative period.

METHOD

The 60 patients enrolled were randomly assigned to two different groups according to the type of intervention. In the study, we measured the effects of the two different methods of surgical exposure on homogeneous patient groups in the early postoperative period based on international literature and the parameters we defined.

RESULTS

Visual analog scale (VAS) measured resting and active pain levels for the first 10 days, suggesting a more pronounced difference in active VAS values for the S group. In the case of active VAS, patients in the S group also had significantly less pain on days 2, 3, and 10 than in the MP group. Taking into account the results of the other days, it is in favour of preserving the integrity of the extensor apparatus for improved postoperative functionality. Patients' knee joint range of motion was also measured. On day 1, those in the S group were significantly larger. As the days progress, MP group members catch up with S group during their rehabilitation. Group S patients had an average of 1.944 days to extended leg elevation, which is nearly two days shorter compared to the MP group (p<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

After statistical analysis of data, subvastus exposure appears to be more beneficial in the rehabilitation of the early postoperative period. However, large-scale, multicentre observational studies are required to establish evidence. Orv Hetil. 2020; 161(29): 1208-1214.

Surgical approaches in total knee arthroplasty: a meta-analysis comparing the midvastus and subvastus to the medial peripatellar approach

Subvastus, midvastus and medial parapatellar approaches are the most popular approaches in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, the superior approach in TKA still remains controversial. We therefore conducted a meta-analysis to quantitatively compare the midvastus and subvastus approaches to the medial parapatellar approach in TKA. A total of 32 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with 2451 TKAs in 2129 patients were included in this study. The meta-analysis suggested that, when compared with the medial parapatellar approach, the midvastus approach showed better outcomes in pain and knee range of motion at postoperative 1-2weeks but also was associated with longer operative time; the subvastus approach showed better outcomes in knee range of motion at postoperative 1week, straight leg raise and lateral retinacular release.