title: Safety and efficacy of bilateral total knee arthroplasty.
abstract: Recent studies have reported increased morbidity associated with bilateral simultaneous total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the morbidity and clinical outcome associated with simultaneous bilateral TKA in contrast to unilateral TKA. All primary TKAs, either unilateral or simultaneous bilateral, performed between May 1988 and July 1993 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were evaluated using Knee Society scores both before surgery and a minimum of 6 months after surgery. In addition to routine demographics, patients were evaluated for the incidence of both local wound and systemic complications. It is concluded that performing simultaneous bilateral TKA does not result in any significant increase in patient morbidity or compromise in postoperative function when compared with unilateral TKA.
authors.affiliation: Section of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson 85724-5064, USA.
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Forrest
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Benjamin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007720:Knee Prosthesis / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000601:surgery; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome