Vascular Calcifications on the Preoperative Radiograph: Predictor of Ischemic Complications in Total Knee Arthroplasty?

BACKGROUND

Vascular calcifications seen on the preoperative radiograph of patients scheduled for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are intuitively seen as a risk factor for ischemic complications though there is no empiric evidence to support this assumption. The aim of this study was the correlation of perioperative ischemic complications and vascular calcifications of patients undergoing TKA.

METHODS

In this retrospective analysis, all 825 patients who had undergone primary TKA in the period 2009-2011 with intraoperative use of a tourniquet were included. Patients with pathologic pulse status and history of vascular intervention were excluded. Vascular calcifications seen on the preoperative radiograph were classified as intimal-type and medial-type calcifications and were correlated to perioperative ischemic complications.

RESULTS

Vascular calcifications were seen in 268 patients (medial type: n = 54, intimal type: n = 214). Major ischemic complications such as arterial thrombosis were seen in 2 patients, one of them with intimal-type calcifications and one without (complication rate 0.5% vs 0.2%, P = .715). The rate of minor ischemic complications such as protracted wound healing was significantly elevated in patients with intimal-type calcifications (6.1%) when compared to patients with medial-type calcifications (1.9%) and those without (1.6%, P = .003) even when multiple regression analysis was performed taking into account 2 potential influencing factors "age" and "diabetes mellitus" (P = .008).

CONCLUSION

Owing to the significantly increased risk of ischemic complications in patients with intimal-type calcifications undergoing TKA, we recommend high alertness to the presence of calcifications on preoperative radiographs, careful intraoperative soft tissue management, and postoperative monitoring of the vascular status.