Hypesthesia after anterolateral versus midline skin incision in TKA: a randomized study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The anterior midline skin incision in a TKA provides excellent surgical exposure. However, it usually requires sectioning the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve which may be associated with lateral cutaneous hypesthesia and neuroma formation.

Questions/purposes

We asked whether an anterolateral skin incision to the knee would decrease the area of skin hypesthesia and associated postoperative discomfort.

Patients and methods

We randomized 69 knees to receive a TKA through either a midline or an anterolateral skin incision. We assessed skin sensitivity by application of the Semmes-Weinstein monofilament at 13 reference points at 6 weeks and 6 and 12 months postoperatively. The area of hypesthesia was measured using Mesurim Pro 9(®) software. Patient

SUBMITTER: Laffosse JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3183179 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature