Does a laterally placed skin incision reduce sensory alteration and improve the ability to kneel after total knee arthroplasty? A randomised controlled trial of simultaneous bilateral surgery

Kneeling is a basic activity of daily living but is not routinely achieved following total knee arthroplasty. The traditional anterior midline incision that places the scar directly over the bony contact points and alters sensation on the lateral skin flap may contribute to this. The primary affirmative hypothesis of this study was that, compared to an anterior midline incision, a lateral paramedian incision that places the scar away from kneeling contact points and leaves the skin in contact normally sensate would improve the ability to kneel