Increased early mortality after total knee arthroplasty using conventional instrumentation compared with technology-assisted surgery: an analysis of linked national registry data

Objectives This study aims to compare early mortality after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) using conventional intramedullary instrumentation to TKA performed using technology-assisted (non-intramedullary) instrumentation.Design Comparative observational study. Using data from a large national registry, the 30-day mortality after unilateral TKA performed for osteoarthritis was compared between procedures using conventional instrumentation and those using technology-assisted instrumentation. Firth logistic regression was used to calculate ORs, adjusting for age, sex, use of cement and procedure year for the whole period, and additionally adjusting for American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification system class and body mass index (BMI) for the period 2015 to 2019. This analysis was repeated for 7-day and 90-day mortality.Setting National arthroplasty registry.Participants People undergoing unilateral, elective TKA for osteoarthritis from 2003 to 2019 inclusive.Interventions TKA performed using conventional intramedullary instrumentation or technology-assisted instrumentation.Main outcome measures 30-day mortality (primary), and 7-day and 90-day mortality.Results A total of 581 818 unilateral TKA procedures performed for osteoarthritis were included, of which 602 (0.10%) died within 30 days of surgery. The OR of death within 30 days following TKA performed with conventional instrumentation compared with technology-assisted instrumentation, adjusted for age, sex, cement use, procedure year, American Society of Anesthesiologists and BMI was 1.72 (95% CI, 1.23 to 2.41, p=0.001). The corresponding ORs for 7-day and 90-day mortality were 2.21 (96% CI, 1.34 to 3.66, p=0.002) and 1.35 (95% CI, 1.07 to 1.69, p=0.010), respectively.Conclusions The use of conventional instrumentation during TKA is associated with higher odds of early postoperative death than when technology-assisted instrumentation is used. This difference may be explained by complications related to fat embolism secondary to intramedullary rods used in conventional instrumentation. Given the high number of TKA performed annually worldwide, increasing the use of technology-assisted instrumentation may reduce early post-operative mortality.