Functional outcome of single stage bilateral total knee replacement measured using oxford knee score

Arthritis of the knee joint is one of the most common cause of knee pain in middle age and elderly population. Among all, osteoarthritis remains the most common cause, followed by rheumatoid arthritis and other types of inflammatory arthritis. Though medical management remains the most common modality of treatment, patient with severe arthritis see total knee replacement as the definitive way to improve their quality of life. Bilateral total knee replacement in one stage has an advantage of single hospital admission, shorter rehabilitation and is less expensive. But till recently single stage bilateral total knee replacement was in limited vogue due to fear of the perioperative complications. This study was done to evaluate the functional outcome of this surgery. To study the clinical and functional outcome in a series of 101 patients who were operated for single stage bilateral total knee replacement using oxford knee score. The study is a prospective 1 year pilot study involving a series of 101 consecutive patients who were operated for single stage bilateral total knee replacement using Optetrak posterior stabilised high flex knee system (Exatech). Inclusion criteria were patients with bilateral osteoarthritis who underwent single stage bilateral total knee replacement. All patients underwent a pre and postoperative evaluation using oxford knee score at 3rd and 12th month. The mean age of our study population was 65.06 ± 7.53, 73.3% were female. The mean duration of hospital stay was 7.02 ± 0.346. The mean preoperative oxford knee score improved from 11.47 preoperatively to 35.57 three months postoperative. At one year the mean oxford knee society score was 46.31. The mean change in oxford knee score from preoperative to 3 month postoperative and from 3 month postoperative to 1 year postoperative was statistically significant. Single stage bilateral total knee arthoplasty improves the quality of life in patients with severe osteoarthritis as reflected in oxford knee score.