The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of gender on functional outcomes in Asian patients undergoing conventional total knee arthroplasty (TKA).
A review of 217 patients who underwent primary total knee arthroplasty by a single surgeon was conducted. Postoperative range of motion, Knee Society Score, Oxford Knee Score and Short Form-36 Physical Component Score (PCS) and Mental Component Score (MCS) were collected prospectively in all patients at both 6 months and 2 years following conventional TKA. The patients were then stratified based on gender and their outcomes were compared using Student's t-test.
Preoperatively, the females had a significantly poorer flexion range as compared to the males. Postoperatively at 6 months and 2 years following conventional TKA, both groups showed improvement from their preoperative range of motion and scores and had no significant differences in outcomes.
Similar to several studies in the Western literature, gender does not seem to affect short-term outcomes in Asian patients undergoing TKA. Longer-term data on survivorship and outcomes are needed before routine use of gender-specific TKA can be recommended.