[Late outcome after implantation of the PFC modular knee system]

The objective of the current, prospective study was the evaluation of long-term results after total knee arthroplasty with the PFC-Modular-knee system.

A total of 514 total knee arthroplasties were implanted between 1991 and 1994 in 248 female and 55 male patients. Their average age amounted to 62.4 years and 449 of them (87.4%) were re-investigated within the first half-year of 2000. Clinical and radiological data were evaluated according the recommendations of the American Knee Society.

Late complications were observed in 6.5% of the cases. They consisted of prosthetic loosening (13 knees), patella problems (11 knees), instability (2 knees), periprosthetic fractures (2 knees), and one prosthesis fracture, 18 patients complained about a therapy-resistant, chronic pain syndrome. These findings lead to revision arthroplasty in 15 cases (3.3%). Preoperative American Knee Society Score values were on average 33, 35 an 17 points and improved to mean values of about 85, 79 and 5 points. Radiological signs of prosthetic loosening were observed in 12 cases (2.7%).

Long-term results after total knee arthroplasty with the PFC-Modular-knee system showed a significant improvement in the patients' complaints and clinical findings at an average of 7.8 years postoperatively. Complication and revision rates of 6.5% and 3.3%, respectively, were low when compared with the international literature and--apart from this--decreased in the course of the observation time.