CEMENTED VERSUS UNCEMENTED KNEE JOINT ARTHROPLASTIES: FIVE-YEAR FOLLOW-UP COMPARING FUNCTIONAL OUTCOMES AND REVISION RATES

Abstract

Our objective was to examine revision rates and patient reported outcome scores (PROMS) for cemented and uncemented primary total knee joint replacement (TKJR) at six months, one year and five years post-operatively. Patients and Methods: This matched cohort study involved secondary analyses of data collected as part of a large prospective observational study monitoring outcomes following knee replacement in Christchurch, New Zealand. Cemented and uncemented TKJR participants (n = 1526) were matched on age (± 5 years), sex and body mass index (BMI). From this larger sample, PROMS data, Oxford Knee Score and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), out to five years post-operatively were analysed for a matched subset of participants (n = 252).The average age of participants was 67.9 years (SD 9.4, range 38-94). There were no differences between cemented and uncemented cohorts on the basis of age, sex, BMI or comorbidities, revision rates or PROMS outcomes. Cemented procedures had greater skin to skin times than uncemented procedures (p < 0.01). Unadjusted outcomes comparing risk for revision across the two participant cohorts did not significantly differ. Overall rates for revision were low (cemented 3.2% v uncemented 2.7%, p=0.70). Propensity adjusted associations between baseline characteristics (age, sex, BMI, comorbidity, baseline Oxford and baseline WOMAC scores) also revealed no differences in risk for revision at any post-operative timepoint.In this large multi-surgeon matched cohort study there were no significant differences in functional outcomes or revision rates, when outcomes following modern cemented and uncemented TKJR were compared out to 5-year follow up. Based on our findings, uncemented TKJR is predictable irrespective of patient's age, BMI or gender