title: Joint line position correlates with function after primary total knee replacement: a randomised controlled trial comparing conventional and computer-assisted surgery.
abstract: The role of computer-assisted surgery in maintaining the level of the joint in primary knee joint replacement (TKR) has not been well defined. We undertook a blinded randomised controlled trial comparing joint-line maintenance, functional outcomes, and quality-of-life outcomes between patients undergoing computer-assisted and conventional TKR. A total of 115 patients were randomised (computer-assisted, n = 55; conventional, n = 60). Two years post-operatively no significant correlation was found between computer-assisted and conventional surgery in terms of maintaining the joint line. Those TKRs where the joint line was depressed post-operatively improved the least in terms of functional scores. No difference was detected in terms of quality-of-life outcomes. Change in joint line was found to be related to change in alignment. Change in alignment significantly affects change in joint line and functional scores.
authors.affiliation: St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Arthritis Research, Department of Orthopaedics, 35 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065, Australia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Babazadeh
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Dowsey
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Swan
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Stoney
authors.forename: P F M
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Choong
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000379:methods* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D020127:Recovery of Function; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome