Minimally invasive total knee arthroplasty using the contralateral knee as a control group: a case-control study

The primary purpose of this study was to compare clinical and functional results of bilateral total knee arthroplasties in which a conventional total knee replacement was initially performed on one knee and a minimally invasive total knee replacement was later performed on the contralateral side. Operative factors, clinical and radiographic outcomes, and quadriceps muscle strength were evaluated in twenty-five patients (50 total knee arthroplasties). Twenty-one of the 25 patients preferred the minimally invasive approach. Knee society objective scores and range-of-motion were significantly greater in the minimally invasive group. Isokinetic testing demonstrated statistically improved quadriceps muscle strength in the minimally invasive technique group compared to the standard approach at both 12 weeks and one year postoperatively. Radiographic analysis did not reveal differences in alignment variables between the two approaches. The results of this study suggest that minimally invasive total knee arthroplasty offers superior short-term as well as possible long-term results.