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Simultaneous bilateral TKA effective in octogenarian population
In an octogenarian population, simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty demonstrated safety and effectiveness, with complications and mortality no higher than in unilateral total knee arthroplasty, according to study results.
Researchers retrospectively evaluated 45 patients with bilateral knee pain or deformity with evidence of end-stage osteoarthritis who underwent simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty (SBTKA) between 1990 and 2010. Patients’ mean age was 82.5 at the time of surgery. Average follow-up was 4.5 years.
Overall, 12 patients (27%) experienced complications, including two non-fatal pulmonary emboli and one wound debridement, as well as minor complications of urinary tract infection, decubitus ulcer, deep vein thrombosis, confusion, transfusion reaction and ileus. The average postoperative survival rate was 7.4 years, and no death occurred within 30 days postoperatively, according to the researchers.
Preoperative knee scores averaged 70 and functional scores averaged 62. After surgery, these scores had statistically significant improvements to 97 and 89, respectively (P < .0001). With regard to satisfaction, 19 patients rated their surgical outcome as excellent and two rated it as good. All but two patients reported they would choose SBTKA again, according to the researchers.
Disclosures: Schwarzkopf is a consultant for Smith & Nephew and is an editorial board member of the Journal of Arthroplasty. Scott received royalties from and is a paid consultant of DePuy and has stock options with Conformist.