Key result
The interval between staged bilateral TKA procedures (2-6, 6-12, or >12 months) did not significantly affect the incidence of postoperative complications (P=0.21).
Why the study?
The implications of the interval between staged bilateral total knee arthroplasty procedures for postoperative complications and costs were not clear under enhanced recovery protocols.
Does an interval of >6 months between staged bilateral TKAs reduce postoperative complications and length of hospital stay compared to a 2-6 month interval under the ERAS protocol?
Observational (n=281)
No
Does an interval of >6 months between staged bilateral TKAs reduce postoperative complications and length of hospital stay compared to a 2-6 month interval under the ERAS protocol?
p-value: p=0.21
Staging the second total knee arthroplasty for more than 6 months under the ERAS protocol reduces length of hospital stay and hematocrit decrease without significantly affecting postoperative complications.
Staging >6 months may shorten LOS and limit Hct drop without raising complications; leaves open optimal interval pending randomized trials.
OBJECTIVE: The implications of the interval of staged bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) procedures for postoperative complications and costs are not clear. We aimed to determine the optimal time interval between the two stages of bilateral TKA procedures under the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol. METHODS: This retrospective study of collected data included bilateral TKA cases under the ERAS protocol performed between 2018 and 2021 at the West China Hospital of Sichuan University. The staged time was subdivided into three groups according to the interval between the first TKA and second contralateral TKA: group 1: 2- to 6-month, group 2: 6- to 12-month, and group 3: >12 months. The primary outcome was the incidence of postoperative complications. The secondary outcomes were the length of hospital stay (LOS), hemoglobin (Hb) decrease, hematocrit (Hct) decrease, and albumin (Alb) decrease. RESULTS: We analyzed 281 patients who underwent staged bilateral TKAs between 2018 and 2021 at the West China Hospital of Sichuan University. Regarding postoperative complications, there were no statistically significant differences among the three groups (P = 0.21). For the mean LOS, the 6- to 12-month group had a significantly shorter LOS compared with the 2- to 6-month group (P < 0.01). There was also a significant decrease in Hct of the 2- to 6-month group compared with the 6- to 12-month group and the >12 months group (P = 0.02; P < 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION: Staging the second arthroplasty for more than a half year seems to offer a reduction in the rate of postoperative complications and LOS under ERAS protocol. ERAS shortens the interval of staged bilateral TKA by at least 6 months for patients who might receive their second surgery without the need to wait for an extended period.
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Sun et al. (2023) conducted an observational in Bilateral total knee arthroplasty (n=281). Interval between staged bilateral TKA procedures vs. Comparison among 2-6 month, 6-12 month, and >12 month intervals was evaluated on Incidence of postoperative complications (p=0.21). The interval between staged bilateral TKA procedures (2-6, 6-12, or >12 months) did not significantly affect the incidence of postoperative complications (P=0.21).
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