title: Surgical practices in total knee arthroplasty in Turkey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the current practices in the total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and the differences of practice among the orthopedic surgeons in Turkey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data in this cross-sectional and descriptive study was collected through a questionnaire from 76 orthopaedic surgeons performing TKA. The questionnaire form contained 57 questions under four main headings, covering the professional properties of the surgeon, pre-surgery approach, surgical technique applied for TKA and the surgical details peculiar to the technique with solutions applied for complication scenarios, and finally the postoperative approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was determined that 39.7% of the TKA applications were performed in operating theatres without laminar airflow or HEPA filters. Nearly 1/5 of the surgeons used more than one antibiotic for prophylaxis, and more than 85% continued prophylaxis use over 3 days. Low-molecular-weight heparin was the most commonly used method for thromboprophylaxis. 94.67% of the surgeons used only the cemented technique in primary TKA. 44% indicated that they performed simultaneous bilateral arthroplasty, 89% did not use any scoring system and 72.37% preferred fixed-bearing and posterior-cruciate-retaining type prosthesis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results showed no standardization in TKA surgery among surgeons in Turkey, and important educational deficiencies were noted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Dokuz Eylül University, İzmir, Turkey. dr.erduran@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Erduran
authors.forename: Devrim
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Akseki
authors.forename: Sükrü
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Araç
mesh_terms: D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007720:Knee Prosthesis; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey