Minimally invasive total knee arthroplasty using the contralateral knee as a control group: a case-control study

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a common procedure for end-stage knee osteoarthritis.
• Conventional and minimally invasive surgical techniques exist, with varying clinical outcomes.
• Direct comparison of these techniques within the same patient cohort is valuable.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare clinical and functional outcomes of bilateral total knee arthroplasties using conventional versus minimally invasive approaches.
• To evaluate patient preference, range of motion, quadriceps strength, and radiographic results.
• To determine the superiority of one TKA technique over the other.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study involving 25 patients undergoing bilateral TKAs (conventional on one side, minimally invasive on the contralateral).
• Evaluation of operative factors, clinical outcomes (Knee Society Objective score), range of motion, and quadriceps muscle strength (isokinetic testing).
• Radiographic analysis of alignment variables was performed.

Main Results:

• 21 out of 25 patients preferred the minimally invasive approach.
• Significantly greater Knee Society objective scores and range of motion in the minimally invasive group.
• Statistically improved quadriceps muscle strength in the minimally invasive group at 12 weeks and 1 year postoperatively.
• No significant differences in radiographic alignment between the two techniques.

Conclusions:

• Minimally invasive total knee arthroplasty demonstrates superior short-term clinical and functional results compared to the conventional approach.
• Improved patient preference and quadriceps strength suggest potential long-term benefits of the minimally invasive technique.
• Minimally invasive TKA may offer advantages for patient recovery and functional recovery.