Jacobs CA. J Arthroplasty. 2014. doi:10.1016/j.arth.2014.03.022.
Among patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty, black patients were three times more likely to be dissatisfied with their procedure, and those with less severe degenerative changes intraoperatively were 2.1 times more likely to be dissatisfied, according to study results.
Researchers identified 989 patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and had complete preoperative and intraoperative data with a minimum 2-year follow-up.
Using the Outerbridge grading system, the researchers intraoperatively graded the degenerative change on the distal medial and lateral femoral condyle, proximal medial and lateral tibial plateau, patella and trochlea. At the most recent follow-up, patient satisfaction with their TKA was determined.
Study results showed 9.5% of patients were not satisfied with their procedure. The researchers found a significantly greater number of black patients in the dissatisfied group compared with the satisfied group, with black patients being three times more likely to be dissatisfied with their surgery compared with white patients.
Patients who were satisfied with their surgery had more severe degenerative changes at the time of surgery, as well as significantly greater Outerbridge grades for the distal medial femoral condyles, proximal medial tibia and trochlea. Satisfied patients also had significantly greater tibial resection, according to the researchers.
Compared with patients with more severe degenerative changes at the time of surgery, the researchers found patients with moderately arthritic knee were 2.3 times more likely to be dissatisfied with their operation.
Disclosures: Jacobs is a paid consultant for Biomet and received research support from Biomet and Zimmer. Christensen is on the speaker’s bureau for Biomet and received research support from Biomet and Zimmer.
