To examine the association between single-surgeon learning curve and clinical outcomes following total knee arthroplasty (TKA).
This prospective study included the first consecutive patients undergoing TKA conducted by the same surgeon using the JOURNEY II Bi-Cruciate Stabilized Knee System (Smith & Nephew, Andover, MA, USA). Patients were assessed preoperatively, and at three months and one year postoperatively using Oxford Knee Score (OKS), Knee Society Score (KSS) and Knee Function Score (KFS). Outcomes were statistically analysed using sequential patient cohorts.
Fifty patients were grouped into five sequential cohorts of 10 patients each. All patients showed significant improvement in postoperative knee scores following TKA. There was a trend toward increased improvement in knee scores in the later patient cohorts, at the three-month and 1-year follow-up.
The single-surgeon learning curve for minimally invasive TKA had a small effect on knee satisfaction scores at 3 months and 1 year following surgery in the first 50 consecutive cases, and only minor complications were encountered. A larger trial is necessary to draw generalizable conclusions regarding patient outcomes during surgeon learning.