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Lookup NU author(s): James Holland, Professor David Deehan
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AIMS: The primary aim of this study was to assess whether pain in the contralateral knee had a clinically significant influence on the outcome of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) according to the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score. Secondary aims were to: describe the prevalence of contralateral knee pain; identify if it clinically improves after TKA; and assess whether contralateral knee pain independently influences patient satisfaction with their TKA. METHODS: A retrospective cohort of 3,178 primary TKA patients were identified from an arthroplasty database. Patient characteristics, comorbidities, and WOMAC scores were collected preoperatively and one year postoperatively for the index knee. In addition, WOMAC pain scores were also collected for the contralateral knee. Overall patient satisfaction was assessed at one year. Preoperative contralateral knee pain was defined according to the WOMAC score: minimal (> 78 points), mild (59 to 78), moderate (44 to 58), and severe (< 44). Multivariate regression analysis was used to adjust for confounding. RESULTS: According to severity there were 1,425 patients (44.8%) with minimal, 710 (22.3%) with mild, 518 (16.3%) with moderate, and 525 (16.5%) with severe pain in the contralateral knee. Patients in the severe group had a greater clinically significant improvement in their functional WOMAC score (9.8 points; p < 0.001). Only patients in the moderate (22.9 points) and severe (37.8 points) groups had a clinically significant improvement in their contralateral knee pain (p < 0.001), but they were significantly less likely to be satisfied with their TKA (moderate: odds ratio (OR) 0.64, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.4 to 0.92, p = 0.022; severe: OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.39 to 0.82, p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Contralateral knee pain did not impair improvement in the WOMAC score after TKA, and patients with the most severe contralateral knee pain had a clinically significantly greater improvement in their functional outcome. More than half the patients presenting for TKA had mild-to-severe contralateral knee pain, most of whom had a clinically meaningful improvement but were significantly less likely to be satisfied with their TKA. Cite this article: Bone Joint J. 2020;102-B(1):125-131.
Author(s): Clement ND, Weir DJ, Holland J, Deehan DJ
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: The Bone & Joint Journal
Year: 2020
Volume: 102-B
Issue: 1
Pages: 125-131
Print publication date: 01/01/2020
Online publication date: 31/12/2019
Acceptance date: 02/04/2013
ISSN (print): 2049-4394
ISSN (electronic): 2049-4408
Publisher: British Editorial Society of Bone and Joint Surgery
URL: https://doi.org/10.1302/0301-620X.102B1.BJJ-2019-0328.R1
DOI: 10.1302/0301-620X.102B1.BJJ-2019-0328.R1
PubMed id: 31888366
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