[Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty. Short-Term Results]

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Surgical Innovation

Background:

• Bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a debated procedure due to potential complication risks.
• Assessing functional outcomes of simultaneous bilateral TKA compared to unilateral TKA is essential for clinical guidance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate and compare short-term functional results between patients undergoing one-stage sequential bilateral TKA and those receiving unilateral TKA.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 171 patients (342 knees) with bilateral TKA and 50 patients (50 knees) with unilateral TKA.
• Indications for bilateral TKA included severe gonarthrosis in healthy patients with stable knee joints.
• Functional outcomes assessed using Womac score, Knee Society Score (KSS 1, 2), range of motion, and complication rates over a three-year follow-up.

Main Results:

• Bilateral TKA patients showed improved Womac scores (87.2 vs. 71.0) and KSS scores (87.4/86.1 vs. 79.9/72.8) at 3 years compared to unilateral TKA.
• Range of motion (flexion) was significantly better in the bilateral group (114.0° vs. 100.2°).
• A low complication rate was observed, with one infection in the bilateral group.

Conclusions:

• One-stage sequential bilateral TKA yields functional results comparable to, and in some aspects superior to, unilateral TKA.
• The incidence of specific complications was low, supporting the safety of the procedure when indicated.
• Individualized patient assessment is paramount for determining appropriate candidates for bilateral TKA.