Abstract
Lumbar spinal stenosis is a common cause of lower back and leg pain in older adults.
Stenosis is not considered a contraindication for total knee arthroplasty (TKA); however,
it is unclear whether it is associated with less than optimal postoperative outcomes.
In a multicenter review of TKAs, 115 patients with lumbar disease were matched by
age, gender, body mass index, type of procedure, and length of follow-up to patients
who did not have stenosis. Spinal stenosis was found to be associated with significantly
lower Knee Society objective and function scores compared with patients without stenosis.
There was no observed difference in the revision rates (1%) or radiographic outcomes.
Surgeons should consider cautioning patients that they can expect relief of arthritic
symptoms following TKA, but they may continue to experience limitations in postoperative
function relative to their expectations.
Keywords
total knee arthroplasty - low back pain - lumbar spinal stenosis - postoperative outcome
