To compare the early clinical outcome between posterior cruciate-retaining (CR) and posterior stabilizing (PS) prosthesis of total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

From January to June of 2017, 74 patients underwent TKA in Shanghai Changhai Hospital were enrolled in this study, including 35 patients in CR group and 39 patients in PS group. The patients with injury or surgical history of the involved limb were excluded. The operation time, postoperative drainage volume, hemoglobin concentration at three days after surgery were recorded, and the knee range of motion (ROM), maximum flexion angle, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) osteoarthritis index and Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score at two weeks, one year and three years after surgery were recorded respectively. Independent sample t test was used for comparison between the two groups, and repeated measurement ANOVA was used for comparison at each time point.

The postoperative drainage volume of CR group was significantly lower than that of PS group (t=-16.68, P<0.001), and the hemoglobin concentration of CR group was significantly higher than that of PS group (t=6.95, P<0.001). In the follow-up of two weeks, one and three years after operation, ROM and maximum flexion of the knee in CR group were significantly higher than those in PS group. The knee ROM (F=10.358, P<0.001) and maximum flexion (F=10.358, P<0.001) in CR group were significantly higher than those in PS group at three years after operation.

Both CR and PS prostheses can significantly improve the knee function of advanced osteoarthritis patients, so both of them are alternative prostheses for primary TKA. However, in the early period after surgery, CR prosthesis has less postoperative blood loss, which is more conducive to early postoperative rehabilitation. In addition, compared with PS prosthesis, CR prosthesis has better knee ROM and flexion range in the early postoperative period.