Minimally invasive total knee arthroplasty: surgical implications for recovery.

Abstract

Despite growing interest in minimally invasive surgery (MIS) techniques for total knee arthroplasty (TKA), few randomized controlled trials have compared MIS and conventional TKA using a combination of functional performance, knee pain, knee range of motion (ROM), and surgical and radiographic outcomes. A prospective, randomized investigation comparing early outcomes of TKA using conventional or MIS approaches (n = 44). Patients were assessed preoperatively, 48 hours, 4 and 12 weeks postoperatively by blinded evaluators. Outcome measures included timed-up-and-go, 100-ft walk, knee pain, passive knee ROM, Knee Society Score, blood loss, tourniquet time, hospital length of stay, surgical complications, and radiographic outcomes. No significant differences in functional performance, knee pain, knee ROM, surgical, or radiographic outcomes were observed between groups at 48 hours, 4 or 12 weeks postoperatively. While surgical and radiographic outcomes were not compromised with MIS surgery, there were also no improvements in pain, ROM, or functional performance with MIS TKA.