[Total knee replacement with modular Kinemax endoprosthesis in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis]

One to 7 years results (mean 3 years) of modular kinematic knee arthroplasty were compared in rheumatoid (RA, n = 29) and idiopathic (OA, n = 28) arthritis female patients. Comparisons of means showed lower age at surgery (59 yr. v. 66 yr., p = 0.002), lower body mass (66 kg v. 75 kg, p = 0.001) and lower Hospital for Special Surgery scoring (71.7 v. 80, p = 0.05) in RA patients. Two RA knees with prosthesis showed after 2-3 years deterioration of the previously good result. Late infections were indication for removal of the prosthesis in two patients with RA. Two patients of this group died due to complications of the disease. Authors point that knee arthroplasty carries higher risk in rheumatoid than in idiopathic osteoarthritis.