Factors Influencing Knee Flexion Range of Movement after Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty : Study of a Consecutive Series over Ten Years
Faustin Atemkeng Tsatedem *
Faustin Atemkeng Tsatedem, Faculty of Medecine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
Arabo Saidou Mohamadou
University of Garoua, Cameroon.
Tsiagadigui Jean Gustave
Université de Douala, Cameroon.
Douryang Maurice
Faustin Atemkeng Tsatedem, Faculty of Medecine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
Djam C. Alain
Faustin Atemkeng Tsatedem, Faculty of Medecine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
Guifo Marc Leroy
Université de Yaoundé I, Cameroon.
Eone Handy
Université de Yaoundé I, Cameroon.
Farikou Ibrahima
Université de Yaoundé I, Cameroon.
Watcho Pierre
Faustin Atemkeng Tsatedem, Faculty of Medecine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Introduction: Knee flexion after total arthroplasty is not always satisfactory. Our hypothesis: many factors can influence it. Some of these factors have been studied, but with controversial results.
Methodology: It was a monocentric prospective and comparative study. All primary total knee replacement were included. For each factor, we compared a group of patients with above mean flexion to those with smaller flexion, using comparison of means, regression analysis and the chi square test.
Results: We had 110 arthroplasties from 88 patients. Three preoperative factors affected the outcome: pre-operative knee flexion < 110°, flexum deformity > 5° and a body mass index above 30kg/m2. The respective Pearson coefficient value for these three factors were +0.50, +0.05, and -0.13.The chi square values were respectively 12.019 (p<0.001) and 6.091 (p<0.02) for the first two ones. Mean postoperative flexion values were significantly low for the patients with high body mass index (p<0.03) and for those with knee flexion < 110° (p<0,001).
Conclusion: Such studies should be carried out in other settings to prepare later meta-analysis. The effect of early physiotherapy in knee arthritis treatment in preventing knee stiffness at the time of total knee replacement should be evaluated.
Keywords: Total knee arthroplasty, flexion, factors