Short Term Analysis of Fixed Bearing Total Knee Arthroplasty

INTRODUCTION: Arthroplasty is an operation to restore pain-free motion of a joint and function of the muscles, ligaments, and other soft tissue structures that control the joint. The goals of total joint arthroplasty are simple: to relieve pain, to provide motion while maintaining stability, and to correct deformity. Current total joint prostheses, properly implanted, consistently achieve exceedingly high success rates in meeting these goals in both short-term and long-term follow-up studies. Total Knee Arthroplasty is the most commonly performed adult reconstructive knee procedure. Implanting femoral and tibial component to replace the degenerated knee joint will relieve the pain and provide mobile,pain free and a stable joint. AIM: The aim of this study is to analyse the short term follow up of functional and radiological results of twenty cases of Fixed bearing Total Knee Arthroplasty prospectively done in our institute during the period April 2008 to September 2009. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a prospective study conducted at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Government General Hospital from April 2008 to September 2009.Out of the 25 cases of Total knee Arthroplasty done in our department during this period, We selected 20 Total Knee Arthroplasty which fulfilled the selection criteria for our study. The age range was 32 to 65 years. There were 5 male patients and 15 female patients. The diagnosis leading to surgery was Osteoarthritis in 13 cases and Rheumatoid arthritis in 7 cases. The inclusion criteria were :- 1. Bicompartmental Arthritis of knee – OA, R.A, Post trauma, 2. Neutral, Varus, Valgus and Flexion deformity 30°. In the study period 28 knees were operated in 20 patients. The age range was 32 to 65 years, average 48.5 years. There were 5 male patients and 15 female patients. The diagnosis leading to surgery was Osteoarthritis in 13 cases and Rheumatoid arthritis in 7 cases. Out of the 28 knees 5 were in neutral, 11 in varus , 2 in valgus , 2 in flexion , 2 in valgus and flexion and 6 were in varus and flexion. RESULTS: In our study we noted a similar outcome except for a less postoperative Knee score. No patients had loosening and osteolysis noted around the femoral and tibial components. This was not significant as this is a short term study. No implant needed to be revised during the period of study. There was no incidence of superficial or deep infection. Of the 20 patients 18 cases returned to their premorbid condition.Two patients who where rheumatoid has persistent pain. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the correct positioning of the components both axially and rotationally improves the functional outcome of fixed bearing knee in low demand patients with an excellent short term clinical outcome