IS THERE ANY CORRELATION BETWEEN CLINICAL RESULTS, LIFE QUALITY AND RADIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS FOLLOWING TOTAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY?

Abstract

Aim of the study: The question wether there is a clinical relevance between the clinical outcome and life quality and radiological parameters.

Material and methods: 17 patients (average age 68.2 years) with total knee arthroplasty (Genesis I) were examined after a follow-up period of in average 24,6 months. The examination included the HSS-score for clinical parameters and the SF-36 for life quality. The evaluation of the radiological examinations were performed according to Ewald and Lotke and a special designed score of our unit.

Results: The HSS-Score resulted in average in 81 points and the SF-36 Fragebogens demonstrated significant worse results than in the age matched healthy population. The evaluation of the radiologic examinations according to Lotke showed an average value of 76,3. Correlations between the radilogical results and the HSS-score were not found. The correlation analysis between the SF-36 and HSS-score showed only positive values for the social functions. Correlations between the radiological evaluations according to Ewald and Lotke with the SF-36 score were found only for body pain and vitality.

Clinical relevance: This is the first study to find out the correlation between clinical and radiological parameters and also the outcome of life quality. The results of the positioning of the implants showed satisfying values in most of the cases, but some differences could be found. Because of deficits in the clinical and life quality outcome it can be supposed that the radiological parameters have significant influence. In our study we could not demonstrate correlations between the clinical and radiological examinations. Surprisingly also between the HSS and SF- 36 score no correlations were found. This findings showed us that the importance of the positioning of our implants has lower influence to the clinical results and life quality than we supposed.