Does Concomitant Low Back Pain Affect Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty Outcomes?

Wendy M. Novicoff PhD, David Rion BS, William M. Mihalko MD, PhD, Khaled J. Saleh MD, MSc
Original Article
Volume 467, Issue 10 / October , 2009

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Abstract

The number of revision total knee arthroplasties (rev-TKA) is increasing every year. These cases are technically difficult and add considerable burden on the healthcare system. Many patients have concomitant low back pain that may interfere with functional outcome. We asked whether having low back pain at baseline would influence amount and rate of improvement on standardized outcomes measures after rev-TKA. We retrospectively reviewed 308 patients from prospectively collected data in a multicenter study. A minimum 24-month followup was available for 221 patients (71.8%). Patients with low back pain at baseline had worse scores on most instruments than their counterparts at baseline, 12 months postsurgery, and 24 months postsurgery. The data suggest concomitant back pain in patients undergoing rev-TKA affects their outcomes as measured by standardized instruments. Orthopaedic surgeons should counsel their patients with back pain regarding the possibility of slower or less complete recovery.

Level of Evidence: Level II, prognostic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

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