OBJECTIVES: In cases of severe knee joint wear, total knee arthroplasty combined with careful rehabilitation offers the potential for significant pain reduction, increased knee joint function and range of motion, and thus improved quality of life. New personalised prosthetic technologies take into account the anatomical characteristics of the individual. The aim of our study was to compare the early functional status of customized implants (ICI) and mass-produced conventional knee implants (SGYI).

METHODS: Our longitudinal, quantitative research was conducted with 30 participants between March 2022 and March 2023 in Pécs and Kaposvár, Hungary. Measures used were ROM and muscle strength test, VAS scale, Oxford Knee Score (OKS), Forgotten Joint Score (FJS), SF-36 questionnaires. Statistical data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U test, two-sample and paired sample t test, Friedman's test and Wilcoxon's test using Microsoft Excel and SPSS 28.0 programs. Our results were considered significant at p < 0.05.

RESULTS: At the end of the 9-month follow-up - months 3, 6, 9 - subjects in both groups had significantly improved ROM, muscle strength, VAS and FJS compared to the preoperative status (p<0.05), but no significant difference was found between the two groups. However, the Individualized group reported significantly better mean scores on pain questions at 3 months (p<0.050) and function at 3 (p=0.016), 6 (p=0.005) and 9 months (p=0.027) and on the SF-36, knee functionality questions at month 6 (p=0.018).

CONCLUSIONS: Both types of prosthesis resulted in significant improvements in pain, knee function and quality of life, but no significant difference between the groups was found in the first 9 months postoperatively.