The Subvastus Approach in Total Knee Arthroplasty

• Length of hospital stay [ Time Frame: Post Operative ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Range of motion at discharge and six weeks post-operatively [ Time Frame: Discharge and six weeks post operative ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

• Length of hospital stay
• Range of motion at discharge and six weeks post-operatively

• Wound complications [ Time Frame: post operative until wound healed ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
• Post-operative narcotic use [ Time Frame: 24 months post operative ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
• Post-operative blood loss [ Time Frame: Post operative ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
• The ability to straight-leg raise at two and twenty-four hours post-operatively [ Time Frame: 2 and 24 hours post operative ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Knee Society Clinical Rating Scale [ Time Frame: pre-op, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months post operative ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• SF-12 [ Time Frame: pre-op, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months post operative ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• WOMAC. [ Time Frame: pre-op, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months post operative ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

• Wound complications
• Post-operative narcotic use
• Post-operative blood loss
• The ability to straight-leg raise at two and twenty-four hours post-operatively
• Knee Society Clinical Rating Scale
• SF-12
• WOMAC.

The purpose of this study is to determine if the observed benefits of minimally invasive total knee arthroplasty, namely decreased hospital stay and increased range of motion, can be achieved with standard knee arthroplasty using the subvastus approach.

• Experimental: MIS
  minimally invasive incision
  Intervention: Procedure: Surgical approach for total knee arthroplasty
• Active Comparator: Standard
  Standard incision length
  Intervention: Procedure: Surgical approach for total knee arthroplasty

Inclusion Criteria:

• You are willing to take part in the study, including signing this form after carefully reading it.
• You are available for follow-up for a minimum of 24 months (2 years).
• You have no medical conditions that prevent you from having surgery.
• This is the primary (first) knee replacement for this knee
• You are fluent in English and are able to understand your responsibilities in this study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Active, local or systemic infection
• Fibromyalgia or other chronic pain syndrome
• Inability to follow the study requirements
• Had this knee replaced before
• Had a previous surgery on this knee that would interfere with the MIS approach (examples are femoral-femoral bypass, femoral-popliteal bypass, and quadricepsplasty)
• Body Mass Index (BMI) > 35, as you would not be eligible for the MIS approach.