The results of total knee arthroplasty in workers' compensation patients

Total knee arthroplasty was evaluated in 10 patients with post-traumatic osteoarthrosis secondary to work-related knee injuries (age- and sex-matched with 10 controls who had total knee arthroplasties for nonwork-related osteoarthrosis) to determine if Workers' Compensation status influenced treatment outcome. Using the Hospital for Special Surgery Knee Rating System (maximum possible score: 100), most recent follow-up scores averaged 64.1 for Workers' Compensation patients and 91.9 for controls. Subjective indices (pain, function) were significantly different between groups (p < 0.05), but objective indices (range of motion, strength, deformity, instability) were not. No significant differences were noted between groups on either immediate postoperative or most recent follow-up radiographs (which were assessed for alignment and radiolucencies at implant surfaces, respectively). Suboptimal outcomes can be anticipated in total knee arthroplasties performed on Workers' Compensation patients, particularly in cases where claims have not been settled at the time of surgery.