Abstract
Compared with staged bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA), simultaneous bilateral
TKA carries a higher risk of cardiac complications, pulmonary complications, and mortality,
especially in patients with preexisting cardiopulmonary disease or advanced age. However,
the period of time between staged TKAs that would eliminate these increased risks
has yet to be determined. The purpose of this study is to evaluate complication rates
and functional outcome in patients who underwent staged bilateral TKA and to determine
an optimal time frame for the second knee. The authors retrospectively reviewed 306
patients who underwent staged bilateral TKA between 2002 and 2013. Patients were grouped
into 31 to 90, 91 to 180, 181 to 270, and 271 to 365 days interval, where complication
and 90-day readmission rates for the second TKA were identified. Patients were also
assessed preoperatively and 2 years postoperatively using the Oxford knee score (OKS)
and Short-Form (SF)-36. There was no significant difference in complication and 90-day
readmission rates between the various groups. The functional outcome of the knees
scored 2 years postoperatively using OKS and SF-36 showed comparable results across
all four groups. Thus, the authors could not identify an ideal time frame for performing
the second TKA with the objective of maximizing functional outcome.
Keywords
staged - bilateral total knee arthroplasty - complications - functional outcome
