Complications following single-stage bilateral total knee arthroplasty and unilateral procedures: experience of a high-volume community hospital

Abstract

Introduction: The safety of single-stage bilateral total knee arthroplasty (SSBTKA) compared to unilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) remains controversial. The present study compares the 90-day postoperative complications encountered following SSBTKA and unilateral TKA in an unselected cohort of patients performed at a high-volume community hospital.

Materials and methods: The perioperative electronic medical records of an unselected consecutive cohort of 1032 patients (1345 knees) having undergone unilateral or SSBTKA were reviewed. Ninety-day postoperative complications or need for additional procedures were compared between unilateral and SSBTKA groups.

Results: A total of 719 and 313 patients underwent unilateral and SSBTKA, respectively. There were no significant differences in age or BMI between groups. Patients undergoing SSBTKA were more likely to be male (p = 0.019), have longer lengths of stay (p < 0.001) and were less likely to discharge directly home (13.1%) compared to unilateral patients (80.9%) (p < 0.001). Patients undergoing SSBTKA were more likely to require a transfusion (14.7%) compared to unilateral patients (2.2%) (p < 0.001). Interestingly, mortality rate following unilateral TKA (1.7%) was significantly higher than SSBTKA (0.0%) (p = 0.013). There were no significant differences regarding other complications or need for additional procedures within 90 days following surgery.

Conclusion: SSBTKA did not result in greater complications when compared to unilateral TKA in this particular cohort. As expected, transfusion rates will likely be higher and there will be a greater need for acute inpatient care following surgery for SSBTKA patients.

Keywords: Bilateral; Complications; Safety; Single-stage bilateral knee arthroplasty; Total knee arthroplasty.