What Are the Game Changers in Total Knee Arthroplasty? A Narrative Review

Abstract

Background: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has evolved significantly, yet achieving consistently optimal outcomes remains challenging across diverse patient populations. This comprehensive narrative review identifies evidence-based "game changers" that genuinely transform TKA success while distinguishing them from interventions lacking clinical superiority. The analysis organizes findings across three perioperative phases: preoperative optimization, intraoperative techniques, and postoperative management. Preoperative game changers include end-stage bone-on-bone osteoarthritis, preoperative medical optimization of patients performed by dedicated practitioners, cryocompression therapy, and perioperative dexamethasone administration. Intraoperative interventions demonstrating substantial impact encompass reduced surgical time and optimized surgical instrumentation, personalized alignment, medial congruent bearings, cementless implants for high-demanding and high-BMI patients, and perioperative tranexamic acid. Postoperative game changers include early mobilization following surgery, venous thrombo-embolic prophylaxis avoiding high-bleeding-risk pharmaceuticals, and multimodal pain management. The review also identifies those initial promises without established clinical advantages, or "fake game changers", that consume resources without meaningful benefits. This evidence synthesis demonstrates that TKA optimization requires systematic implementation of validated interventions rather than pursuing technological innovations indiscriminately. The future of TKA lies in evidence-based adoption of proven strategies that translate to genuine patient outcome improvements rather than merely increasing procedural complexity.

Keywords: arthroplasty; cost–benefit analysis; cryotherapy; knee; operative; patient selection; replacement; surgical procedures; treatment outcome.