Knee osteoarthritis is common, disabling and can be effectively treated by total knee arthroplasty (TKA). In North America, consideration has been given to the varying outcomes amongst racial groups. However, scant attention has been paid to the outcomes of surgery in different racial groups found in the United Kingdom (UK). We investigated the results of surgery in one of the principal ethnic minorities in the UK; that of a south Asian population.

We retrospectively analysed our prospectively collected database at the Southern General Hospital, Glasgow. We identified 39 Asian patients who had TKA. They were age and sex matched to a Caucasian group. Mean follow up was 40.3 months.

Mean pre-operative oxford knee scores were poorer than in the Caucasian group (8.5 vs. 14.7, p=0.001.) Post operative oxford knee scores were similarly poorer in the Asian group (29.9 vs. 36.1, p=0.07.) Interestingly, the change in oxford knee scores was similar in both groups.

SF-12 and WOMAC scores demonstrated poorer pre and post operative scores in the Asian group. Knee flexion was greater in the Asian group, however (107.5° vs. 106.2°, p=0.742.)

We conclude that while patients of Asian origin have poorer post operative pain and function following TKA, they have a similar gain from surgery as do a Caucasian group and therefore surgery is effective intervention in this group. An important topic for further work is to identify why Asians present later in their arthritic disease process to healthcare professionals than do their Caucasian counterparts.