Short-term results of primary total knee arthroplasties performed with a mini-incision or a standard incision.

A consecutive series of 144 patients who underwent 288 primary total knee arthroplasties (144 with use of a mini-incision [<or=10 cm, quadriceps-sparing approach] and 144 with use of a standard incision [16-25 cm, standard medial parapatellar approach]) were studied. No significant differences were found between the groups with respect to the knee score, range of motion, hospital data, and radiographic parameters. An iatrogenic tear of quadriceps tendon occurred in 0% of the standard incision cases; however, it occurred in 100% of the mini-incision cases. Although there was no difference in all parameters in both groups, most patients favor a shorter scar. Therefore, we recommend a standard approach with as short an incision as possible, unless patients are markedly overweight, heavy-muscled, and large individuals.