This study evaluated the changes in the range of motion (ROM) with time postoperatively.
The pre- and intraoperative ROM was compared with the ROM 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively to clarify the effects of posterior cruciate ligament-retaining (PCLR) and posterior cruciate ligament-sacrificing (PCLS) prostheses on the ROM. The changes in the ROM in PCLR (n = 57) and PCLS (n = 51) mobile-bearing total knee arthroplasties for osteoarthritis patients for whom complete data were available were examined.
No significant difference was seen between the two prostheses at any time point. Nevertheless, the ROM 24 months after PCLR and PCLS prostheses could be predicted statistically from the ROM after 6 and 3 months, respectively.
This study showed the effects of retention of the PCL and the degree of its functional recovery on postoperative ROM for the two prostheses.