A prospective observational comparative study about foot pressure pattern of patients with knee osteoarthritis undergoing total knee arthroplasty

Archana Gadhia; Jignesh Kumar Gadhia; Samkit Jain; Tanmay Bhagwatkar

doi:10.18203/issn.2455-4510.IntJResOrthop20263927

Authors

Archana Gadhia Department of Orthopedics, SBKS Medical Institute and Research centre, Waghodia, Vadodara, India
Jignesh Kumar Gadhia Department of Orthopedics, SBKS Medical Institute and Research centre, Waghodia, Vadodara, India
Samkit Jain Department of Orthopedics, SBKS Medical Institute and Research centre, Waghodia, Vadodara, India
Tanmay Bhagwatkar Department of Orthopedics, SBKS Medical Institute and Research centre, Waghodia, Vadodara, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/issn.2455-4510.IntJResOrthop20263927

Keywords:

Changes in foot pressure, Osteoarthritis knee, Total knee Arthroplasty

Abstract

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) alters lower limb alignment and gait biomechanics. This study used a pedobarographic mapping system to evaluate early changes in dynamic single-leg stance plantar pressure distribution in OA patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) compared to healthy controls.

Methods: In this prospective study, 33 patients undergoing primary TKA and 33 healthy controls were evaluated. Clinical status (Knee Society score (KSS) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score) were measured pre-operatively. Single-leg plantar pressure distribution across nine anatomical zones (M1–M9) were measured preoperatively (T0), immediate post operatively (T1) and postoperatively at 6 weeks (T2) and 3 months (T3).

Results: TKA significantly improved clinical outcomes; mean VAS decreased from 8.91 to 0.84 and mean KSS improved from 38.03 to 88.39 at 3 months. Preoperatively, OA patients exhibited abnormal loading concentrated over the great toe (M1) and lateral deficits, differing significantly from controls (p<0.05). Postoperatively, significant progressive pressure redistribution occurred at 6 weeks (M2, M4, M8) and 3 months (M2, M7, M8, M9). By 3 months, pressure patterns approached control baselines, with residual differences limited only to the M4 and M5 regions (p<0.05).

Conclusions: Coronal realignment through TKA drives rapid postoperative redistribution of plantar pressures toward normal physiological patterns, aligning with marked clinical recovery. However, persistent lateral forefoot deficits at 3 months suggest that complete biomechanical adaptation requires a longer recovery period.

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