Posterior cruciate-retaining total knee arthroplasty in patients with systemic rheumatoid arthritis - A retrospective observational analysis

Aim: Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) is a frequent surgical option for managing pain and improving movement in patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Nevertheless, the use of Posterior Cruciate Ligament-retaining (PCL-retaining) implants are reported less frequently. This research focuses on evaluating the clinical outcomes of PCL-retaining total knee arthroplasty and determining its therapeutic effectiveness in the management of RA. Methodology: The current retrospective study consists of total 262 primary posterior cruciate ligament-retaining total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) performed on patients diagnosed with RA between the month January 2019 and June 2022. Preoperative and postoperative evaluations were conducted to assess pain and joint functionality. Outcome measurements were recorded over a follow-up period of two years post-surgery. Results: After surgery, the patient reported clinical outcomes improved significantly among the patients which indicates improvement in functionality (p < 0.001) and painless range of motion. Overall, the data suggests significant improvements in pain and knee function following the primary TKA among patients with systemic RA affecting their knees. There were no revision surgeries or further surgical intervention for residual synovitis except medical management among our cohort of patients. Conclusion: Notwithstanding the requirement for prolonged follow-up, the findings from this short-term study indicate that PCL-retaining TKA demonstrated no early complications, no increase in revision rates, and considerable improvements in patient-reported clinical outcomes.