Bicompartmental versus total knee arthroplasty for medial and patellofemoral osteoarthritis

To compare the outcome of bicompartmental knee arthroplasty (BKA) versus total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in patients with medial and patellofemoral knee osteoarthritis.

Records of 17 women and 10 men with medial and patellofemoral osteoarthritis of the knee who underwent BKA (n=15) or TKA (n=12) were reviewed. All surgeries were performed by the same surgeon. Patient haemoglobin level, length of hospital stay, range of motion, and visual analogue score for pain were recorded, as were the Knee Society Score, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and the SF-36 score.

Patients treated with BKA were younger than those treated with TKA (mean age, 52 vs. 60 years; p=0.006). BKA resulted in longer mean operating time (99 vs. 85 minutes, p=0.025), less mean intra-operative blood loss (reduction in haemoglobin level) [1.2 vs. 2.4 g/dL, p=0.003), and greater mean postoperative range of movement (125 vs. 116 degrees, p=0.019). The mean Knee Society scores, WOMAC, and SF-36 scores in both groups were not significantly different. There was no instance of implant loosening, peri-prosthetic fractures, patellar subluxation, and dislocation.

Short-term outcome of BKA and TKA was comparable.