Quad-Sparing Minimally Invasive Total Knee Arthroplasty

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate and define the factors affecting the success of quad-sparing (QS) minimally invasive total knee arthroplasty (TKA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 120 patients(150 knees) were tried consecutively to undergo QS minimally invasive TKA from July 2004 to February 2005. Seventy knees (Group 1) could be performed with this technique, but 80 knees (Group 2) were failed and required further incision. Two groups were compared for clinical, radiological and postoperative data. These cases were also divided into three groups according to the time undergone surgery. For these three groups, we analyzed the clinical data and surgical results. RESULTS: Age, height, weight, body mass index and pre-operative knee score were not significantly related to the success of QS minimally invasive TKA. Greater preoperative range of motion, low patella height, and smaller size of the tibial implant were of a significant correlation with the success of surgery. As the number of cases were cumulated, the success rate of this method increased and the operating time was shortened. CONCLUSION: QS minimally invasive TKA could not be successfully applied to every patients. For the success of this surgery, adequate preoperative assessment of the patient and sufficient experience on this surgical technique would be necessary.