Outcome of total knee replacement in osteoarthritis: A prospective study

Abstract

Background: Severe osteoarthritis of the knee cause pain and disability that affect the livelihood of people especially in rural areas and reduce the quality of life in general. Total knee arthroplasty is a cost-effective treatment for the surgical management of advanced osteoarthritis of the knee when other treatment options become ineffective. Objectives: To analyze the results of total knee arthroplasty for osteoarthritis of the knee using knee society score. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective study. The duration of study period was 4 years. 40 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee satisfying the inclusion criteria and who had given consent for posterior stabilized total knee arthroplasty during the period of January 2015 to December 2018 were included in the study. The patients were followed up at one, three and six months and then every year. They were evaluated radiographically and functionally using the Knee Society Score at each visit. Results: There was significant improvement in knee society scores as compared to the respective pre-operative treatment values. Majority of the patients (34) have knee society score (KSS) above 80 at final follow-up. One of the patients had surgical site infection which settled down with wound debridement and intravenous antibiotics. His final KSS was poor at last follow up. Conclusions: Total knee arthroplasty is an effective treatment for moderate to severe osteoarthritis of the knee in terms of improved quality of life.