BackgroundSex and obesity may influence knee biomechanics associated with poor outcomes following primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) however their long-term impact has not been investigated. Research questionDoes sex and/or pre-operative obesity influence change in gait biomechanics from pre-TKA to two-years after TKA, and do knee biomechanics return to normal two-years after TKA? MethodsIn this longitudinal study, gait analysis was performed on 78 patients undergoing TKA for knee osteoarthritis prior to surgery (baseline), and on 66 (85 %) of these who returned at the two year follow-up. Gait biomechanics were also collected on a reference sample of 40 asymptomatic participants. Knee variables were analyzed according to time (pre- and post-TKA), sex (men and women), pre-operative obesity (obese vs non-obese), and group (TKA vs reference). Mixed linear regression models were used to examine the effects of TKA, obesity status, gender and all interactions. ResultsThere were two-year reductions in peak knee frontal plane angle (mean difference −7.21°; 95% confidence intervals −9.37 to −5.05), peak knee adduction moment (KAM) (-17.64Nm; −23.04 to −12.24) and KAM impulse (-9.40Nm.s; −12.04 to −6.77) in males. These and other variables were unchanged in women. At two years, men exhibited a greater varus-valgus thrust excursion (4.9°; 2.7–7.2), and a lower peak knee frontal plane angle (−4.4°; −7.1 to −1.7) and peak KAM (−13.1Nm; −20.9 to −5.4), compared to the reference sample. Biomechanics at two years did not differ between pre-operative obesity subgroups, or between female TKA patients and the reference sample. SignificanceChanges in gait biomechanics two years after TKA are influenced by sex but not obesity. Men but not women showed altered knee biomechanics two years following TKR and compared to a reference sample. It is unknown whether these altered biomechanics in men impact longer term clinical outcomes and satisfaction following surgery.
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