Chronological Changes in Gait Oscillation in Patients after Total Knee Arthroplasty

Abstract

Background: Pain and knee function improve immediately following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, immediate improvements in gait oscillation are not observed following TKA. This analysis aimed to chronologically assess changes in gait oscillation during walking in post-TKA patients. Methods: Twenty patients who were diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis underwent unilateral TKA. A Bi-Surface posterior-stabilized (PS) prosthesis with cementation was used for all patients. Acceleration (anterior, vertical, TKA side -, and -contralateral side directions) was examined during walking. A preoperative analysis was performed followed by postoperative analyses at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Results: Acceleration in the anterior direction and the sacral region tended to increase until 6 months post-TKA, but remained largely unchanged thereafter. In the dorsal vertebral region, acceleration to the anterior direction trended to decrease over time. Additionally, acceleration in the TKA-side direction in the sacral and dorsal vertebral region also tended to decrease over time. The post-TKA sacral-dorsal vertebral ratio in the TKA-side direction tended to increase over time, and the values on the contralateral side direction tended to increase for up to 6 months; however, there was no significant change thereafter. Conclusion: Acceleration in the anterior and lateral directions (TKA side) may improve chronologically after TKA, and gait may be performed mainly on the pelvic girdle during the postoperative course of TKA.