Lateral skin flap numbness after total knee arthroplasty

The authors report the results of a study of lateral skin flap numbness in 25 consecutive primary total knee arthroplasties following the use of a midline, parapatellar incision. All 25 scars were found to have some degree of skin flap numbness, with 24 having an affected skin area of greater than 40 cm2. In two patients (7%), this was considered a significant problem and there appeared to be little improvement with time. The authors therefore feel that lateral skin flap numbness is a significant complication of total knee arthroplasty when a midline, parapatellar incision is used, and patients should be made aware of this complication before surgery.