Total knee arthroplasty in hemophilic knees requires its own learning phase: Lessons learned from 90 cases.

BACKGROUND

Intraoperative challenges and complications and their course over experience in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) applications in hemophilic arthropathy have seldom been studied. Our study aimed to analyze the learning dynamics and the evolving perspective of a single arthroplasty surgeon in hemophilic knees.

METHODS

The study encompassed all primary TKAs performed on hemophilic patients by a single experienced arthroplasty surgeon from May 2002 to October 2023. A total of 90 knees from 63 patients were included in the final analysis. Demographic characteristics, range of motion (ROM), degree of flexion contracture, and hip-knee angle (HKA) were noted. Anesthesia type, tourniquet duration, surgical approach, need for bone graft use, and lateral retinacular release (LRR) were also documented. Cases were categorized into three groups: the initial 30 cases (Group A), the subsequent 30 cases (Group B), and the final 30 cases (Group C).

RESULTS

All groups were homogenous in terms of age (P = 0.102), HKA (P = 0.696), ROM (P = 0.582), and degree flexion contracture (P = 0.546). Extended approaches were needed in seven cases (23.3%) in Group A, and in two cases (6.7%) in Group B. There was no need for extended exposure in Group C. LRR application rate and tourniquet time showed no differences across groups (P = 0.401, P = 0.482). The intraoperative problem rate exhibited a statistically significant decrease throughout the series (P = 0.016).

CONCLUSIONS

Arthroplasty in hemophilic knees poses unique challenges which require their own learning process. Intraoperative complication rate and need for utilizing extended approaches decreases after the initial 30 cases and decreases further after the subsequent 30 cases.