Local experience of total knee replacement in Basrah

Abstract EN

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) represents a major advance in the treatment of degenerative joint disease providing excellent restoration of joint function and pain relief.

This is a prospective study undertaken in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery in Basrah Teaching Hospital, from October 2009 to June 2011.

Thirty-three patients who underwent primary total knee arthroplasty were included (25 females 75.7 % and 8 males 24.2 %).

The diagnosis was osteoarthritis in 20 knees and rheumatoid arthritis in 13 knees.

The operation included primary cemented TKA (25 cruciate-retaining and 8 cruciate-substituting), by anterior approach.

The knee function was evaluated by knee society score system.

Preoperative functional knee scores were uniformly poor and improved postoperatively with excellent results in 18 knees (54.54 %), good in 9 knees (27.27 %), fair in 5 knees (15.15 %), and poor in 1 knee (3 %).

Thus, excellent and good results were achieved in 81.8% of the cases (27 of 33 knees).

For knee scores, 2 knees (6 %) were fair preoperatively and another 31 knees (93.9%) were poor.

Post TKA results were excellent in 28 knees (84.84 %), good in 5 knees (15.15 %), fair in (0 %) and poor in (0 %).

Excellent and good results were achieved in 100% of cases.

The most common complications were superficial infection and deep venous thrombosis In conclusion, this study showed good outcome for total knee replacement surgery in our region.

Excellent relief of pain, range of motion, and restoration of function.