Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Gross deformity such as severe flexion contraction or severe varus deformity in both knees is better corrected simultaneously to prevent recurrence of flexion contracture and also to have equal leg length which facilitate proper physiotherapy post operatively. However, there is great reluctance in many institute to perform Simultaneous Bilateral Total Knee Replacement (SBTKR) fearing higher complication rate. The purpose of this paper is to show that SBTKR is economical, safe and sometimes is necessary in gross deformity such as bilateral flexion contracture. In this paper we will review the most recent literature about SBTKR which support our argument. Also we will review our cases of over 7500 of SBTKR done at our institution. In this study we will focus on the process that we went through at our institution to upgrade our medical care to enable to do this SBTKR safely. We will share also our post-operative protocol and some hint on the administrative level in order to perform SBTKR.
METHODS
In the last 20 years we performed over 7500 SBTKR, 15,000 implants. We have established at our institution a pre-operative team where this team included internist, physiotherapist, anesthesiologist and other medical sub specialty as recommended by the internist. The patient was pre-oped carefully and the extent of medical examination was determined by the internist and the anesthesiologist. Each patient care was determined preoperatively and also we have utilized special complexity scale that we have developed at our institution to reflect the complexity of the primary total knee replacement 1–5. The ASA and complexity scale is now routinely printed on our OR schedule. If the patient was cleared, SBTKR were carried on. The surgery is done first for the right side and after cementing the assistant will start the left side while the senior surgeon will clean the knee and then assist in the second knee. We have tried different modalities and the safest, less confusing was to first finish the first knee and after cementing the other limb was started by the assistant. The surgeon had only two assistants and one scrub nurse. Increasing the no. of assistant will make things more confusing. So we strongly recommend having only one senior surgeon. Post-operative care was almost identical to that of a single total knee replacement. We documented the complication rate, blood transfusion and unexpected ICU admission etc. in the SBTKR and we compared it to over 1000 cases of single knee replacement done at our institution by the same surgeon. The knee score was also was documented on both sides.
RESULTS
Blood transfusion as much higher in SBTKR and in spite of using many methods to decrease blood loss we continued to have transfusion rate of 52%. We have established a Task Force that usually meets every two weeks in order to improve the medical conditions. Infection rate was the same in the single and SBTKR. Of interest of the fact that the no. of unexpected ICU admission dropped significantly in the second year- which could be related more to the cooperation and collaboration between the medical team.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
SBTKR is safe as single knee replacement. It is needed in gross deformity and in non-ambulating patient. Getting the institution ready for such a procedure has to be organized through special Task Force and requires extensive collaboration among different part of the hospital dept. We strongly recommend doing SBTKR especially in patients who has a gross deformity and in non-ambulating patient.
