No difference in clinical outcome between fixed- and mobile-bearing TKA: a meta-analysis

To compare the clinical and radiographic results of fixed-bearing and mobile-bearing total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

We searched the PubMed, Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Google Scholar databases from 1966 to January 2012. No language restriction was applied. Reference lists of all the selected articles were hand-searched for any additional trials. Trial quality was assessed using the modified Jadad scale. Two authors independently extracted data from all eligible studies, including study design, participants, interventions, and outcomes (Knee Society Score, range of movement, radiolucent line, patient preference, walking support, pain score, and complications). The data were using fixed-effects or random-effects models with mean differences and risk ratios for continuous and dichotomous variables, respectively.

A total of 24 studies involving 2,799 patients were identified in this analysis. Meta-analysis showed lower pain score (OR, 0.66, 95 % CI 0.46, 0.94) in mobile-bearing TKA than fixed-bearing TKA. There was no significant difference between the two treatment groups regarding Knee Society Score (SMD, −0.17, 95 % CI: −0.60, 0.26), range of movement (SMD, −0.05, 95 % CI: −0.63, 0.53), radiolucent line (OR, 1.03, 95 % CI 0.74, 1.44), patient preference (OR, 1.15, 95 % CI 0.82, 1.61), walking support (OR, 1.07, 95 % CI 0.68, 1.70), and complications (OR, 0.85, 95 % CI 0.59, 1.21).

The available evidence suggested that there was no significant difference between clinical and radiographic results of fixed-bearing and mobile-bearing TKA except for pain score. Regarding clinical relevance, the less incidence of pain could be the advantage for selecting mobile-bearing TKA.

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