Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 27, 2026
09:31
Individualized Stem-positioning in Calcar-guided Short-stem Total Hip Arthroplasty
Published on: February 27, 2018
14.4K
Is bilateral total knee arthroplasty staged at a one-week interval safe? A matched case control study
P Maxwell Courtney1, Christopher M Melnic1, Hassan Alosh1
1University of Pennsylvania, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The Journal of Arthroplasty
|June 24, 2014
Summary
Staging bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) one week apart is as safe as simultaneous procedures. This approach offers a safe alternative for patients with bilateral knee osteoarthritis, showing similar complication rates.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) safety is debated.
- Staging TKA procedures one week apart is proposed as a safer alternative.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the safety and complication rates of staged versus simultaneous bilateral TKA.
- To evaluate staged TKA as a safe alternative for bilateral knee osteoarthritis.
Main Methods:
- A consecutive series of 234 patients undergoing bilateral TKA (simultaneous or staged) were compared.
- A matched control group of 131 unilateral TKA patients was included.
- Complication rates, perioperative complications, and 90-day readmissions were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Staged bilateral TKA showed no significant difference in one-year complication rates compared to simultaneous or unilateral TKA (15% vs. 19% vs. 15%, P=0.512).
- Perioperative complication rates (10% vs. 14% vs. 7%, P=0.231) and 90-day readmissions (8% vs. 4% vs. 4%, P=0.295) were similar across groups.
Conclusions:
- For selected patients with bilateral knee osteoarthritis, TKA staged at a one-week interval is a safe alternative.
- Staged bilateral TKA demonstrates comparable safety profiles to simultaneous bilateral and unilateral TKA.