Biomechanical gait evaluation of pre and postoperative total knee replacement patients.

Gait analysis based on the triaxial electrogoniometric method was carried out on a large group of normals and total knee replacement patients before and after surgery. Analysis of the objective gait variables was performed to compare the pre and postoperative results with that of the normals. Eight most significant gait variables were identified and from which two functional indices were calculated to provide an overall assessment of the reconstructive procedure based on disease type, side of involvement, and prosthetic design. It was found that total knee replacement provides significant functional improvement. Such improvement was more pronounced in certain patients, but its dependence on prosthetic type remained less conclusive. The results also suggested that there is a critical timing for surgery to obtain its maximum benefit. Knee function after joint replacement is a time-related phenomenon and, therefore, the patients must be followed beyond one-year postoperatively to provide more accurate assessment.