The effect of primary total knee arthroplasty on the incidence of falls and balance-related functions in patients with osteoarthritis

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is an established risk factor for falls and balance impairment. This study investigated the incidence of falls, balance-related outcomes and risk factors for falls before and after primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Three hundred seventy-six OA patients scheduled to undergo TKA were included. Falls data within the preoperative, first postoperative and second postoperative years were collected, balance-related functions were assessed using the Assessment of Quality of Life (AQoL), WOMAC, Falls Efficacy Scale International (FES-I), Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC), knee extension strength, Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Timed Up and Go (TUG) before surgery and 1 and 2 years after surgery. Compared with preoperative values, the incidence of falls significantly decreased (14.89%, 6.23% and 3.14% within the preoperative, first postoperative and second postoperative years, respectively) and the AQoL, WOMAC, FES-I, ABC, knee extension strength, BBS and TUG significantly improved after TKA. Logistic regression analysis revealed that Kellgren-Lawrence grade ≥ 3 of the contralateral knee was an independent risk factor for falls before and after TKA. Conclusively, primary TKA is associated with a reduced incidence of falls and improved balance-related functions, and the contralateral knee should be considered in the design of fall-prevention strategies in patients with OA.