Outcome measurements

All patients were examined using the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) at the baseline assessment and at clinical follow-up. A visual analog scale (VAS) was used to assess the pain levels on the day of surgery, within 1 week and 40 days after surgery. Hemoglobin and hematocrit were measured within 1 week following the surgery to evaluate blood loss. At 40 days after surgery, inflammatory markers, specifically erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein, were assessed, as was the postoperative range of motion (ROM) as a clinical measure.