Study of factors affecting range of motion after total knee arthroplasty in Indian patients

Abstract

Background: Range of motion is an important indicator of the success of total knee arthroplasty. To our knowledge there are no studies assessing the factors affecting the range of motion after total knee arthroplasty on Indian population which prompted us to undertake this study. Method: The present prospective study for all those patients with advanced arthritis of knee satisfying inclusion criteria, between August 2009 to June 2011. A total of 430 total knee replacements were done among 327 patients during this period out of which 354 primary total knee replacements among 254 patients were included in the study. Follow ups were done at 3 months, 6 months, one year and 2 years following procedure. Result: The average age was 63.8 years with a range of 50 – 80 years. 66.1% of the patients were female and 33.9% were male. The preoperative diagnosis was osteoarthritis in 81.1% of patients and 18.9% had rheumatoid arthritis. All poly implant was used in 83.1% of patients and in 16.9% of patients metal backed was used. The posterior tibial slope had no correlation with the postoperative range of motion at all the points of follow up. The preoperative range of motion had a statistical correlation with the postoperative range of motion at all the points of follow up and in all the age groups, p <0.0001. Conclusion: A more keen watch has to be kept in all young female patients with early onset of arthritis and mange them aggressively with conservative therapy.

Keywords

• total knee arthroplasty
• range of motion
• modified insall’s knee society scoring system