PREOPERATIVE FACTORS INFLUENCING THE RANGE OF MOVEMENT AFTER TOTAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY FOR SEVERE OSTEOARTHRITIS

We report a prospective study, using multivariate analysis, of the fac tors which influence the range of movement after total knee arthroplas ty in 74 patients with 83 arthroplasties at a mean follow-up of 23.6 m onths (12 to 41), All the patients had a diagnosis of osteoarthritis, a severely disabled knee with a Knee Society system score of less than 60, varus deformity, no previous surgery to the knee, identical prost heses implanted with a similar surgical technique, and no postoperativ e complications which may have affected the range of movement. The mos t important factors which influenced the range of movement after arthr oplasty were the preoperative range of flexion and the body-weight of the patient, There was a significant improvement in flexion and reduct ion of flexion contracture at each successive review up to 12 months a fter operation, Patients with restricted movement before operation sho wed a satisfactory gain at final review.