Outcomes of primary total knee arthroplasty in patients with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Patients who have undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplantation to treat underlying bone marrow pathology represent a unique and potentially high-risk patient population for total knee arthroplasty (TKA). This study retrospectively reviewed 15 TKA procedures performed on 11 patients with a history of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The authors analyzed patient survivorship; clinical outcomes, including complications; and implant survivorship. Mean follow-up was 5 years (range, 2-10 years). Patient survivorship free from mortality was 91% (95% confidence interval, 76%-100%) and 55% (95% confidence interval, 25%-85%) at 2 and 5 years, respectively. Patients who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma had a significantly higher 5-year mortality rate (100%) compared with patients who had an underlying diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (0%) (P=.008). Mean Knee Society Score improved to 83 postoperatively (P<.001). Two patients (13%) had postoperative wound healing complications that did not lead to periprosthetic joint infection; however, an additional patient (7%) underwent revision surgery at 5 years for periprosthetic joint infection. Estimated implant survivorship without revision was 80% (95% confidence interval, 60%-100%) at 5 years. Elective primary TKA does not appear to affect survivorship in patients with a history of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. These patients have modest clinical outcomes, higher complication rates as a result of delayed wound healing, and poorer implant survivorship compared with historical control subjects.