OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of gender on osteoarthritic knee rehabilitation outcome of osteoarthritis patient undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

METHODSWe prospectively studied thirty male and thirty female knee primary osteoarthritis patients receiving unilateral TKA with posterior stable-fixed plateau prosthesis at our hospital from March 2003 to March 2008. The age and body mass index of male and female patients were matched. The surgical and rehabilitation clinical factors were compared between two groups.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference in postoperative hospitalization time, surgical tourniquet time, and wound drainage volume between two groups (P>0.05). The extension/flexion degrees of knee joint before operation, 1-week, 2-week and 1-year after operation for male patients were 6.0 +/- 3.3 degrees/114.0 +/- 10.0 degrees, 2.0 +/- 1.6 degrees/93.0 +/- 7.4 degrees, 0.6 +/- 0.6 degrees/104.0 +/- 9.9 degrees and 0.3 +/- 0.5 degrees/125.0 +/- 8.8 degrees, for female patients were 7.0 +/- 3.4 degrees/112.0 +/- 14.0 degrees, 2.0 +/- 1.3 degrees/89.0 +/- 10.9 degrees, 0.9 +/- 0.8 degrees/101.0 +/- 11.8 degrees, 0.4 +/- 0.5 degrees/124.0 +/- 7.1 degrees. The range of motion before operation, 1-week, 2-week, and 1-year after operation for male patients was 108.0 +/- 9.5 degrees, 91.0 +/- 7.1 degrees, 103.0 +/- 9.9 degrees, and 125.0 +/- 8.9 degrees, for female patients was 105.0 +/- 14.1 degrees, 87.0 +/- 11.4 degrees, 100.0 +/- 11.9 degrees, and 124.0 +/- 7.0 degrees. The preoperative and 1-year postoperative HSS scores were 55.8 +/- 13.3 and 89.6 +/- 6.7 for males and 54.5 +/- 13.8 and 89.2 +/- 4.1 for females. No significant statistical difference was observed between two gender groups in regards to degree of extension and flexion, range of motion and HSS score (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSGender does not influence postoperative knee function of osteoarthritis patients. TKA significantly improves knee joint function and relieve osteoarthritis-related pain.