Outcomes following total knee arthroplasty with CT-based patient-specific instrumentation.

PURPOSE

A 24-month prospective follow-up study was carried out to compare perioperative clinical outcomes, radiographic limb alignment, component positioning, as well as functional outcomes following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) between patient-specific instrumentation (PSI) and conventional instrumentation (CI).

METHODS

Ninety consecutive patients, satisfying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, were scheduled to undergo TKA with either PSI or CI. A CT-based PSI was used in this study, and a senior surgeon performed all surgeries. Patients were clinically and functionally assessed preoperatively, 6 and 24 months post-operatively. Perioperative outcomes were also analysed, including operating time, haemoglobin loss, the need for blood transfusion, length of hospitalisation, and radiographic features.

RESULTS

At 24-month follow-up, clinical and functional outcomes were comparable between the two groups. PSI performed no better than CI in restoring lower limb mechanical alignment or improving component positioning. There were no differences in operating time, haemoglobin loss, transfusion rate, or length of hospitalisation between PSI and CI.

CONCLUSION

No significant clinical benefit could be demonstrated in using PSI over CI after 24 months, and routine use of PSI is not recommended in non-complicated TKA.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

II.