Cruciate retained and excised total knee arthroplasty. A comparative study in patients with bilateral total knee arthroplasty.

A comparative study of posterior cruciate ligament retention and excision was conducted in patients who underwent bilateral total knee arthroplasty using the total condylar modifier prosthesis. The posterior cruciate ligament was excised in one knee and was retained in the other knee in 28 patients. Postoperative results were assessed using the Hospital for Special Surgery Knee Evaluation Score. In addition, stair activity was tested to determine whether there was preferential dependence on one of the two knees. There was no significant difference between the posterior cruciate ligament retained or excised knees in terms of postoperative Hospital for Special Surgery Knee Evaluation Score. Patients who ascended and descended stairs with one leg at a time tended to prefer the posterior cruciate ligament retention side. Those who could use each leg in sequence to go up and down stairs, however, did not show preferential dependence on either knee.