Effect of range of motion on the success of a total knee arthroplasty.

Five hundred fifty posterior cruciate condylar total knee replacements rated on the Hospital for Special Surgery knee rating scale were evaluated to determine whether postoperative range of motion had any detrimental effects on the total score. The amount of flexion significantly influenced the total score (P less than .0003), the stair climbing score (P less than .004), and the walking ability score (P less than .02). Pain, the main determinant of success, was not affected by range of motion unless there was a flexion contracture when there was a significant effect (P less than .05).