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Minimally invasive total knee arthroplasty: surgical implications for recovery
Michael R Dayton1, Michael J Bade, Tim Muratore
1Department of Orthopaedics, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado 80045, USA.
Background:
Despite growing interest in minimally invasive surgery (MIS) techniques for total knee arthroplasty (TKA), few randomized controlled trials have compared MIS and conventional TKA using a combination of functional performance, knee pain, knee range of motion (ROM), and surgical and radiographic outcomes.
Methods:
A prospective, randomized investigation comparing early outcomes of TKA using conventional or MIS approaches (n = 44). Patients were assessed preoperatively, 48 hours, 4 and 12 weeks postoperatively by blinded evaluators. Outcome measures included timed-up-and-go, 100-ft walk, knee pain, passive knee ROM, Knee Society Score, blood loss, tourniquet time, hospital length of stay, surgical complications, and radiographic outcomes.
Results:
No significant differences in functional performance, knee pain, knee ROM, surgical, or radiographic outcomes were observed between groups at 48 hours, 4 or 12 weeks postoperatively.
Conclusion:
While surgical and radiographic outcomes were not compromised with MIS surgery, there were also no improvements in pain, ROM, or functional performance with MIS TKA.
