Total knee replacement for patients with ankylosed knees

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Reconstructive Surgery

Background:

• Ankylosed knees present unique challenges for total knee replacement.
• Limited data exists on the objective outcomes of total knee replacement in this specific patient population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To objectively evaluate the mid-term outcomes of total knee replacement (TKR) in patients suffering from ankylosed knees.
• To assess the efficacy of condylar constrained or posterior stabilised prostheses in this cohort.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 82 patients (99 knees) with ankylosed knees underwent TKR.
• Pre- and post-operative data were collected using Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), Knee Society (KS), and Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) index scores.
• Mean follow-up was 8.9 years.

Main Results:

• Statistically significant improvements were observed in mean HSS scores (60 to 81), KS scores (53 to 85), and WOMAC scores (79 to 37).
• Physical, social, and emotional WOMAC scores also showed significant improvements (p < 0.05).
• Mean patient satisfaction score was high at 8.5/10.

Conclusions:

• Total knee replacement provides favorable mid-term results for patients with ankylosed knees.
• The use of condylar constrained or posterior stabilised prostheses appears effective in improving function and reducing pain.
• TKR is a viable option for improving quality of life in this challenging patient group.