09.18.15
A recent study found higher rates of postoperative infection, stiffness and venous thromboembolism among patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty (TKA) within six months of ipsilateral knee arthroscopy compared with an age-matched arthroplasty control group who did not have arthroscopy.
Researchers with the University of Virginia Health System used the PearlDiver Patient Records Database to identify data on 681 patients who underwent TKA within six months after ipsilateral knee arthroscopy, 1,301 patients who underwent TKA between six months and one year after knee arthroscopy, 1,069 patients who underwent TKA between one year and two years after the knee arthroscopy, and a control group of 37,235 patients who underwent TKA but did not undergo arthroscopy.
Researchers calculated and compared the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) for each group. In addition, complications including infection, stiffness and venous thrombolism (VTE) were assessed.
Investigators discovered a similar average CCI for patients in the control group vs. patients who underwent TKA within six months after arthroscopy. Patients who underwent TKA six months to one year after arthroscopy had a significantly lower average CCI compared with patients who underwent TKA one year to two years after arthroscopy. Despite finding more cases of infection, stiffness and VTE in patients who underwent TKA within six months of arthroscopy vs. the control group, researchers found no significant difference in the instances of these complications when they compared the other arthroscopy/TKA groups with the control group.
Researchers calculated and compared the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) for each group. In addition, complications including infection, stiffness and venous thrombolism (VTE) were assessed.
Investigators discovered a similar average CCI for patients in the control group vs. patients who underwent TKA within six months after arthroscopy. Patients who underwent TKA six months to one year after arthroscopy had a significantly lower average CCI compared with patients who underwent TKA one year to two years after arthroscopy. Despite finding more cases of infection, stiffness and VTE in patients who underwent TKA within six months of arthroscopy vs. the control group, researchers found no significant difference in the instances of these complications when they compared the other arthroscopy/TKA groups with the control group.