Asynchronous Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty: Predictors of the Functional Outcome and Patient Satisfaction for the Second Knee Replacement.

BACKGROUND: The primary aim of this study is to identify independent preoperative predictors of outcome and patient satisfaction for the second total knee arthroplasty (TKA). METHODS: A retrospective cohort of 454 patients undergoing an asynchronous (6 weeks or more apart) bilateral primary TKA were identified from an arthroplasty database. Patient demographics, comorbidities, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and Short Form-12 scores were collected preoperatively and 1 year postoperatively. Overall patient satisfaction was assessed at 1 year. RESULTS: The 1 year WOMAC pain score (P = .01), and improvement in WOMAC pain (P < .001) and functional (P = .002) scores were significantly lower for the second TKA. Worse preoperative WOMAC pain, function, and stiffness scores were demonstrated to be independent predictors of improvement in the WOMAC pain, function, and stiffness scores, respectively, for both the first and second TKA. The overall rate of satisfaction with the first TKA was 94.0% and 94.7% for the second TKA (P = .67). The rate of satisfaction for the second TKA was 77.8% for patients that were dissatisfied with their first TKA, which was an independent predictor of dissatisfaction (P = .02). CONCLUSION: Improvement in pain and function is less with the second TKA, but the satisfaction rate remains similar. There are common independent predictors for change in the WOMAC score for the first and second TKA; however, the predictors of satisfaction were different with no common factors. Patients that were dissatisfied with their first TKA were more likely to be dissatisfied with their second TKA. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE II: Prognostic retrospective cohort study.

Synovectomy during total knee arthroplasty: a pilot single-centre randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is an effective procedure for late-stage osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee; however, up to 20% of patients remain dissatisfied. In some patients, this may be due to residual inflammation of the synovium. Our aim was to perform the first randomised controlled trial (RCT) of synovectomy during TKA for patients with macroscopically inflamed synovium. The main objectives were to assess recruitment rates, protocol adherence and outcomes relating to safety such as haemoglobin decrease and adverse events. We also collected data on patient-reported outcomes. METHODS: We performed a single-centre pilot RCT. Patients with a macroscopically inflamed synovium were randomised to receive synovectomy versus a control group that did not undergo synovectomy. We determined feasibility by measuring patient enrolment, completeness of follow-up, and safety via haemoglobin decrease and documentation of adverse events. RESULTS: We screened 360 patients with 260 deemed ineligible or could not be recruited. From the 100 eligible patients, 54 were enrolled and 40 progressed through to randomisation. All made it to the 12-month follow-up, indicating good protocol adherence. There were no major differences in adverse events or haemoglobin decrease demonstrating acceptable safety. Outcomes relating to satisfaction were reliably obtained. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with macroscopically inflamed synovium of the knee who are due to undergo TKA can be reliably recruited to a randomised trial and synovectomy can be performed safely. A large number is needed to be screened to identify eligible participants, and therefore, a multi-centre trial would be required to assess whether routine synovectomy would improve outcomes in these patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN, ISRCTN31010214. Registered 6 October 2016-retrospectively registered.