Subvastus Approach is a Good Alternative for Primary TKA without Increase in Complication Rate, AHMED M. KHOLEIF, YASSER A. RADWAN, ALI M. MANSOUR and HESHAM ALI H. ALMOALEM
Abstract
Purpose: Current prospective study compared the early functional results and complication rates of the subvastus approach to the medial parapatellar in primary total knee arthroplasty in primary osteoarthritic patients.
Hypothesis: The potential benefits of the subvastus ap-proach are less damage to the extensor mechanism and blood supply, less pain in the early postoperative period, earlier Straight Leg Raise (SLR), earlier return of quadriceps strength and shorter hospital stay, without any increase in complication rates.
Methodology: 40 patients of primary unilateral total knee arthroplasty, divided into two groups, each with 20 patients. Assessment of the results was based on the clinical and functional knee society score at preoperative, two weeks and 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively.
Results: The potential benefits of the subvastus approach: Less pain in the early postoperative period, earlier SLR, earlier return of quadriceps strength and shorter hospital stay. No increase in postoperative complications rate in comparison to the medial parapatellar approach. And according to the overall clinical and functional knee society scoring there was improvement at different follow-up periods in both groups without any significant difference between the two groups at any period of study. The subvastus approach is a good alter-native to the parapatellar in TKA.