Bilateral total knee arthroplasties were performed in twenty-six
patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Twelve had
simultaneous operations bilaterally and fourteen had separate, staged
procedures. The improvement in the two groups of patients was statistically
comparable to the relief of pain and the over-all restoration of function.
There were no intraoperative complications. The postoperative morbidity was
minimum and was not predominant in either group. Costs were greatly
increased with the staged procedure.