OBJECTIVE: To assess the possibility of extension loss of the knee after revision arthroplasties performed with approaches like quadriceps snip and TAT osteotomy, comparing the two methods and using a control group in who the conventional medial parapatellar approach was used. METHOD: This study was approved by the INTO Research Ethics Committee. The loss of extension of the knee was evaluated in patients submitted to unilateral revision arthroplasties of the knee conducted by the Knee Group of the INTO - National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics, the following approaches having been used: conventional - medial parapatellar, quadriceps snip, or anterior tibial tubercle osteotomy. The series included 26 individuals, ages ranging from 52 to 80, distributed into three groups: Group I: conventional - medial parapatellar approach (n = 10); Group II: quadriceps snip (n = 8); and Group III: TAT osteotomy (n = 8). Mean follow-up was 18.57 months. Extension loss of the knee was determined by the difference between the range of active extension before and after surgery. In the statistical assessment, the ANOVA variance analysis test was used, with a single factor, with significance level a = 0,05 (5%). RESULTS: Mean extension loss in the series was equal to 8.57º, varying between 2º and 30º. The p-value obtained was equal to 0.112, which leads to presume the hypothesis that groups are equal to one another. CONCLUSION: No significant difference was observed among the groups made up by the three types of approach used for arthroplasty revisions in terms of the loss of extension parameter.
Second-look surgery; Arthroplasty; replacement; knee; Evaluation of results of therapeutic interventions; Comparative studies
