Side preference between CR vs. CS designs in patients undergoing bilateral TKA-an institutional experience in 2 years prospective follow up study

Aim: Patient satisfaction after total knee patient satisfaction after Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) is a matter of concern. There are multitude of patient, surgery and implant factors associated to it. Implant design is one of the important factors.

Materials and Methods: Here, we try to assess the correlation between the implant design (Cruciate Retaining (CR) or Posterior Stabilizing (PS)/Cruciate Sacrificing (CS)) and the patient’s preference of satisfaction in patients undergoing bilateral total knee arthroplasty for equally affected arthritic knees.

Results: 34 patients (68 knees) were followed up for a period of 2 years and knee society knee scoring, preference data were recorded and statistically assessed. Correlation between implant design were also looked into. At 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years follow up, there is significant association of side preference to the side which was operated first irrespective of the implant design. There was no association between the implant design (CR, PS) to the side preference. Patient showed a strong association of pain scoring to side preference.

Conclusion: Patient satisfaction after TKA is multifactorial. Implant design may play a role in it. Our study showed the side first operated had much more satisfaction rate than the second operated ones. Mostly, the worse knee was operated first. We would like to follow up this finding with more number of samples.