ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Controversy exists on whether gender-specific anatomic differences in the human knee have to be taken into account by gender-specific design in total knee replacement (TKR). We evaluated total knees that were implanted in both genders. OBJECTIVE: This paper will describe the influence of gender on the outcome after a unisex total knee arthroplasty. METHODS: 52 total knee prostheses (mobile bearing Brehm Precision Knee®, BPK) were implanted in 48 patients (16 male, 32 female, 4 bilateral). Median follow-up was 15 months. HSS score, KSS score, ROM, VAS, and radiologic axis were used as outcome measures. We also obtained preoperative scores of these parameters, creating difference parameters respectively. All surgeries were performed by a single surgeon. RESULTS: No significant difference could be determined between genders for postoperative parameters and difference between preoperative and postoperative parameters between both groups. Women scored higher on HSS score preoperatively and postoperatively with 50.0 and 91.0 points versus 47.0 and 88.0 points in the male group. On KSS score, the female group scored higher preoperatively and postoperatively as well, with 79.0 and 174.0 points versus the male group with 74.0 and 168.0. CONCLUSION: As the results obtained with this unisex prosthesis system were not statistically significant when compared for gender, we conclude the BPK currently addresses gender-specific anatomic differences sufficiently.