Denham total knee arthroplasty: a 10-year follow-up study

We reviewed 72 patients with 89 Denham total knee arthroplasties (Biomet, Warsaw, IN) (TKAs) 10 to 15 years after the operation. Of 8 TKAs that were considered as failures, 5 had been revised at the time of review for pain and aseptic loosening, and 3 others were considered to have failed because of breakage of the polyethylene tibial plateau, dislocation, and infection. Survival analysis suggested a 10-year survival rate of 92.7%. There were 36 patients with 45 TKAs alive at the time of follow-up. We reviewed 32 of the patients with 40 Denham TKAs that had not failed. Their average age was 81 years (range, 58-93 years). They were reviewed at an average of 11.8 years after TKA. Nine knees (6 patients) had some anterior knee pain from the unresurfaced patella. Restriction of function was mainly due to medical conditions and old age. Survival analysis performed with the living patients found the 10-year survival to be 91.1%. Long-term survival shows that the Denham knee prosthesis is effective despite its simplicity.