How Common and How Serious?

Chang, CB
Clinical orthopaedics and related research : 2013 Sep 25 pg

CONCLUSIONS
Radiographic lumbar spine degeneration and lumbar spine symptoms are common among patients with advanced knee OA undergoing TKA. Severe lumbar spine symptoms (visual analog scale score of ≥ 7) were likely to adversely affect the preoperative clinical scores of patients undergoing TKA; however, most of the adverse effects were not found 2 years after TKA. Nevertheless, because preexisting severe radiating pain during activity may be a source of a poorer outcome after TKA, careful patient consultation regarding this potential poorer prognosis after TKA needs to be provided to the patient with this symptom.

Unbound MEDLINE Reference:  http://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/24065173/Coexisting_Lumbar_Spondylosis_in_Patients_Undergoing_TKA:_How_Common_and_How_Serious