title: Impact of surgeon handedness and laterality on outcomes of total knee arthroplasties: should right-handed surgeons do only right TKAs?
abstract: In this study, we examined the impact of surgeon handedness on total knee arthroplasty (TKA) outcomes. From 1997 to 2001, a right-handed surgeon performed 728 primary TKAs while standing on the side of the operative extremity--377 on the right and 351 on the left. Extension and Knee Society Function and Pain scores were significantly better for right knees than for left knees 1 year after surgery. This is the first report that shows that handedness can play a role in TKA outcomes. Reasons for the difference have not been determined but may be related to dexterity or proprioception. A surgeon should be aware of this potential problem and take precautions to prevent diminished results when operating.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. samir.mehta@uphs.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Samir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Lotke
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000379:methods*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D020127:Recovery of Function