Latest research on total knee arthroplasty

159 papers, newest 30 shown · updated 2026-09-26 · Adult Reconstruction · All topics

The newest papers on total knee arthroplasty from the orthopaedic journals The Reduction reads, newest first, each with a one-line summary. The list is drawn from the digest’s archive and refreshed every week.

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Recent papers

  1. Preoperative Medial Proximal Tibial Angle Does Not Influence Clinical Outcomes Following Mobile-Bearing Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty.

    Journal of Arthroplasty · Sep 21 2026 · PubMed

    Preoperative medial proximal tibial angle did not affect two-year outcomes after mobile-bearing UKA, though varus tibial component alignment helped patients with lower preoperative MPTA.

  2. Temporal Trends in Surgical Site Infections After Hip and Knee Arthroplasty in California, 2015 to 2024.

    Journal of Arthroplasty · Sep 21 2026 · PubMed

    A decade-long California statewide analysis found stable, low surgical site infection rates after THA/TKA with no association between hospital volume, policy changes, or the COVID-19 pandemic.

  3. Periarticular Injection Cocktails for Pain Management After Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

    Journal of Arthroplasty · Sep 21 2026 · PubMed

    A systematic review of 78 RCTs (8,515 TKA patients) found multimodal periarticular injection cocktails reduce pain and opioid use versus placebo, perform comparably to nerve blocks, and may benefit from corticosteroid additives, but no single optimal formulation was identified.

  4. Area Deprivation Index, Institutional Practice, and Utilization of Neuraxial Anesthesia in Total Knee Arthroplasty.

    Journal of Arthroplasty · Sep 21 2026 · PubMed

    In TKA patients, hospital site—not neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation—predicted use of neuraxial anesthesia, which itself was linked to fewer 90-day ED visits.

  5. Sobering Outcomes after Two-Stage Revision for Periprosthetic Joint Infection Among Patients Who Have Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty Components.

    Journal of Arthroplasty · Sep 19 2026 · PubMed

    Explantation of infected revision TKA components carries high morbidity, with only 35% 10-year survivorship free of reoperation and frequent reinfection, complications, and amputation.

  6. Patients Undergoing Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty for Stiffness Have Similar Perioperative Pain Scores and Postoperative Opioid Consumption Compared to Patients Undergoing Revisions for Other Aseptic Indications.

    Journal of Arthroplasty · Sep 16 2026 · PubMed

    Despite worse clinical outcomes, patients undergoing revision TKA for stiffness had similar postoperative pain scores and opioid consumption compared to those revised for other aseptic reasons.

  7. Patient-Reported Outcomes Following Custom Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty.

    Journal of Arthroplasty · Sep 14 2026 · PubMed

    Custom UKA implants showed no PROM advantage over off-the-shelf components and had higher 2-year revision rates, largely due to aseptic loosening, questioning their added value.

  8. Functional alignment robotic-assisted TKA improves clinical outcomes compared with conventional mechanical alignment TKA: A single-surgeon randomised controlled non-inferiority trial with 2-year follow-up.

    Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy · Sep 11 2026 · PubMed

    In this randomized trial, robotic-assisted functional alignment TKA produced modestly better 2-year patient-reported outcomes (function, satisfaction, pain) than conventional mechanically aligned TKA.

  9. Forecasting US Total Knee Arthroplasty Volumes to 2040: The Shift to Ambulatory Surgery Centers Has Just Begun.

    Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons · Sep 11 2026 · PubMed

    National data show a dramatic shift of TKA from inpatient to ambulatory surgery centers, with ASC volumes projected to exceed 2.1 million cases annually by 2040.

  10. Preoperative Frailty Correlates With Progression of Lateral Compartment Osteoarthritis After Medial Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty: A Mean 70-month Follow-up Study.

    Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons · Sep 10 2026 · PubMed

    Preoperative frailty (higher Clinical Frailty Scale) independently predicted lateral compartment osteoarthritis progression and worse functional scores after medial UKA over a mean 70-month follow-up, aiding patient counseling.

  11. The Effect of Posterior Tibial Slope Change on Functional Outcomes After Posterior-Stabilized Total Knee Arthroplasty: An Analysis of 370 Patients Who Had A Minimum 4-Year Follow-Up.

    Journal of Arthroplasty · Sep 09 2026 · PubMed

    In 370 PS-TKA patients followed over 4 years, changes in posterior tibial slope did not meaningfully affect functional outcomes, though increased slope modestly improved flexion; preoperative function was the strongest outcome predictor.

  12. Trends in Racial and Socioeconomic Differences in Cementless Total Knee Arthroplasty Utilization Among Medicare Beneficiaries from 2016 to 2022.

    Journal of Arthroplasty · Sep 07 2026 · PubMed

    Medicare data show cementless TKA use rose sharply from 2016-2022, but Hispanic and dual-eligible (lower socioeconomic) patients had modestly lower odds of receiving this newer technique.

  13. Peri-Incisional Blisters after Total Knee Arthroplasty: Risk Factors and Clinical Implications.

    Journal of Arthroplasty · Sep 04 2026 · PubMed

    In over 23,000 TKAs, peri-incisional blistering occurred in 3.1% of cases and was strongly linked to higher reoperation and infection risk, especially with anticoagulation and obesity.

  14. Preoperative Medial Proximal Tibial Angle of Less Than 84° Does Not Compromise Two-Year Clinical Outcomes After Unrestricted Kinematic Alignment Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Propensity Score-Matched Study.

    Journal of Arthroplasty · Sep 04 2026 · PubMed

    In a propensity-matched study of unrestricted kinematic alignment TKA, patients with severe preoperative tibial varus (MPTA <84°) achieved comparable 2-year outcomes, satisfaction, and survivorship to those with less deformity and to mechanically aligned TKA, suggesting this threshold need not be a contraindication.

  15. Factors associated with periprosthetic joint infection following total knee arthroplasty: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

    Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery · Sep 04 2026 · PubMed

    This meta-analysis of 25 studies identifies male sex, obesity, diabetes, smoking, transfusion, high ASA score, and several perioperative factors as associated with periprosthetic joint infection after TKA.

  16. Impact of Gastrointestinal Bleeding History on Postoperative Outcomes in Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty: A Retrospective Analysis.

    Journal of Arthroplasty · Sep 04 2026 · PubMed

    A history of GI bleeding before hip or knee arthroplasty was linked to higher 90-day medical complications and increased 2-year risk of mechanical loosening/revision (THA) or PJI/revision (TKA).

  17. Coronal Spinal Imbalance Dictated Side Preference in Symmetrically Well-Aligned Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty.

    Journal of Arthroplasty · Sep 04 2026 · PubMed

    In symmetrically aligned bilateral TKA patients, coronal spinal imbalance strongly predicted which knee patients preferred, despite similar overall clinical improvement between groups.

  18. Periarticular Hardware Retention does not Increase Reoperation Risk in Conversion Total Knee Arthroplasty.

    Journal of Arthroplasty · Sep 02 2026 · PubMed

    Retrospective study found retained periarticular hardware in conversion TKA increased operative time, blood loss, and early complications but not reoperation risk or two-year PROMs.

  19. Platform-specific learning curve and early tibial radiographic agreement of ROSA®-assisted medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty in an experienced high-volume surgeon: a consecutive case series.

    Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery · Sep 02 2026 · PubMed

    In a case series of 30 patients, an experienced surgeon reached proficiency with ROSA-assisted medial UKA by the sixth case, with excellent early tibial radiographic accuracy versus plan.

  20. Predictors of Inability to Kneel and/or Squat One Year after Knee Arthroplasty in a Southeast Asian Population.

    Journal of Arthroplasty · Sep 01 2026 · PubMed

    In 888 knee arthroplasties, roughly two-thirds of patients could not kneel or squat at one year, with higher BMI, lower preoperative ROM, poor kneeling confidence, older age, and female sex predicting inability.

  21. Impact of combined medial and lateral bone marrow lesions on clinical outcomes after medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty : a retrospective cohort study.

    The Bone & Joint Journal · Sep 01 2026 · PubMed

    In medial UKA patients selected by MRI, mild concomitant lateral bone marrow lesions did not worsen mid-term pain, function, or alignment outcomes compared to isolated medial lesions.

  22. Secondary patella resurfacing following primary total knee arthroplasty : patient-reported outcomes, satisfaction, and patient-acceptable symptom state.

    The Bone & Joint Journal · Sep 01 2026 · PubMed

    Secondary patella resurfacing after TKA produced meaningful improvements in knee scores and quality of life with high satisfaction, especially when performed more than 2.5 years after the index arthroplasty.

  23. A prospective double-blinded randomized controlled trial comparing conventional jig-based versus robotic arm-assisted medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty.

    The Bone & Joint Journal · Sep 01 2026 · PubMed

    In a randomized trial, robotic-assisted medial UKA achieved more accurate component positioning, less pain, shorter hospital stay, and better mid-term Forgotten Joint Scores than jig-based UKA, though standard PROMs were similar.

  24. Mildly Elevated Preoperative Inflammatory Markers and Postoperative Complications Following Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Propensity-Matched Cohort Analysis.

    Arthroplasty Today · Aug 2026 · PubMed

    Mildly elevated preoperative inflammatory markers are independently associated with increased periprosthetic joint infection, revision rates, and complications at three-year follow-up after knee arthroplasty.

  25. Iodine-Impregnated Adhesive Film Enhances Dressing Integrity and Patient Satisfaction After Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial.

    Arthroplasty Today · Aug 2026 · PubMed

    Iodine-impregnated adhesive film dressing eliminates postoperative dressing changes and improves patient satisfaction after TKA without compromising outcomes.

  26. Lateral Femoral Joint-Line Distalization Increases Lateral Collateral Ligament Strain During Total Knee Arthroplasty.

    Journal of Arthroplasty · Aug 27 2026 · PubMed

    In cadaveric TKA testing, lateral femoral joint-line distalization progressively increased LCL strain, with distalization beyond about 4 mm crossing a threshold linked to ligament microinjury and potential postoperative instability/dissatisfaction.

  27. Clinical Outcomes of Fixed-Bearing Lateral Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty: A Retrospective Cohort Study With Up to 22-Year Follow-Up.

    Journal of Arthroplasty · Aug 26 2026 · PubMed

    In 113 fixed-bearing lateral UKAs followed up to 22 years, implant survivorship remained high (87% at 20 years) with significant, durable improvements in Oxford Knee Scores.

  28. Do Patients Who Have Medicare Advantage Have Differing Lengths of Stay Following Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Procedures Compared to Traditional Medicare?

    Journal of Arthroplasty · Aug 25 2026 · PubMed

    In a single-center cohort, Medicare Advantage patients had longer hospital stays than traditional Medicare patients after elective hip/knee arthroplasty, with discharge disposition strongly modifying this relationship.

  29. Diabetes is Associated with an Increased Risk of Arthrofibrosis Following Total Knee Arthroplasty.

    Journal of Arthroplasty · Aug 24 2026 · PubMed

    In a large propensity-matched cohort, higher preoperative HbA1c levels were associated with progressively greater odds of early arthrofibrosis requiring MUA or lysis of adhesions within three months after TKA, highlighting the value of glycemic optimization.

  30. Effect of Dementia on Risk Factors for Postoperative Delirium in Older Patients Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Retrospective Cohort Study Based on a Large National Dataset.

    Journal of Arthroplasty · Aug 24 2026 · PubMed

    In a large national cohort of TKA patients over 75, dementia strongly predicted postoperative delirium and altered which other risk factors (falls, anemia, ASA class) mattered, suggesting a role for preoperative cognitive screening.

Landmark papers

  1. Projections of Primary and Revision Hip and Knee Arthroplasty in the United States from 2005 to 2030

    Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (American) · 2007 · cited 6,897 times · PubMed

    By 2030, primary total knee arthroplasty demand projected to increase 673% to 3.48 million procedures, while revision procedures expected to double by 2015-2026, requiring significant workforce expansion.

  2. Projections of Primary and Revision Hip and Knee Arthroplasty in the United States from 2005 to 2030

    Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (American) · 2007 · cited 5,489 times

    Projections predict primary hip and knee arthroplasty demand will rise 174% and 673% respectively by 2030, with revision knee procedures surpassing hip revisions after 2007, guiding future resource planning.

  3. Patient Satisfaction after Total Knee Arthroplasty: Who is Satisfied and Who is Not?

    Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research · 2009 · cited 2,554 times · PubMed

    In a large Ontario cohort, about one in five TKA patients were dissatisfied, with unmet expectations, poor 1-year WOMAC scores, preoperative rest pain, and complications as key predictors.

  4. The Knee Society Total Knee Arthroplasty Roentgenographic Evaluation and Scoring System

    Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research · 1989 · cited 1,958 times · PubMed

    This 1989 paper introduces the Knee Society's standardized radiographic scoring system for TKA to enable consistent, comparable reporting of results across surgeons and institutions.

  5. Health-Related Quality of Life in Total Hip and Total Knee Arthroplasty

    Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (American) · 2004 · cited 1,819 times · PubMed

    This systematic review of 74 studies confirms THA and TKA reliably improve health-related quality of life, with hip arthroplasty and primary surgery yielding greater gains than knee arthroplasty or revision surgery.

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