Functional recovery following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) must occur at a rate that is consistent with fiscal constraints without compromising patient care. The primary physical therapy goals following TKA are unassisted transfers, unassisted cane ambulation, unassisted stair negotiation, and active knee flexion to 90[degrees]. Functional recovery may be influenced by many factors including whether surgery was performed unilaterally or bilaterally. The purpose of this study was to determine the differences in achievement of specific functional milestones in patients who underwent unilateral and bilateral TKAs. Three hundred and eighty-three consecutive patients undergoing unilateral and bilateral TKAs were monitored for postoperative day of achievement of walker, cane, and stair ambulation, ability to transfer, and 90[degrees] of active knee range of motion. Data were collected on a standard Hospital for Special Surgery Knee Functional Milestone Form and analyzed using student t test, Fisher exact test, and Pearson's [chi]². Results are as follows:

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