Long-term Functional Difference between the First and Second Knees in Simultaneous Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty

To compare the long-term functional results of the first and second knees in simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty.

Descriptive study.

Gulhane Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey from January 2003 to December 2010.

A total of 47 patients with at least 10 years of follow-up after simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty were included in the study. The range of motion, forgotten joint score (FJS), Oxford knee score (OKS), and Western Ontario McMaster university osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) were compared between the first and the second knees. The Dependent t-test and the Wilcoxon Sign test were used to determine the significance. Whether there was a statistically significant correlation, so Spearman's correlation test and Bonferroni correction were used.

WOMAC total scores both knees were 13 (p=0.755). The average OKS of the first operated knees was 40.53 ± 4.44, while it was 40.28 ± 4.59 in the second knees (p=0.239). The FJS of the first and second operated knees were 69.36 ± 21.97 and 69.02 ± 21.89, respectively (p=0.321). As the age increased, the ROM was decreased. As the patient age increased, WOMAC pain scores were found to decrease.

The functional scores of the first and the second operated knees in SBTKA were similar in the long term. Although no correlation was found between age and the functional scores, these results complied with the previous information about the effect of age on TKA results. Key Words: Simultaneous total knee arthroplasty, Bilateral, Clinical outcome, Osteoarthritis.