Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 1,129 patients, who were divided into three groups based on whether they underwent unilateral, simultaneous bilateral, or staged bilateral total knee arthroplasty, and they were evaluated in terms of hospital stay, erythrocyte suspension transfusion needs, intensive care needs, and mortality rates.
Results: Of all the patients, 85.5% were women, with the mean age of 67.58±7.23 years; and 75.6% of them underwent unilateral, 19.9% underwent simultaneous bilateral, 4.5% had staged bilateral total knee arthroplasty, 8.8% required ICU care, and 5 patients died.
The need for erythrocyte suspension transfusion and length of hospital stay were highest in those who underwent staged bilateral knee arthroplasty surgery, while it was lowest in those who underwent simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty surgery (all p<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in terms of the need for intensive care need, length of stay in intensive care unit and mortality rates between patients who underwent unilateral, simultaneous bilateral, and staged bilateral total knee arthroplasty.
Conclusion: Simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty may be preferred in younger patients with bilateral knee osteoarthritis but without risky comorbidities, just as we practiced in our clinic.
Keywords : Osteoarthritis, Knee; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; Mortality