Impaction grafting and wire mesh for uncontained defects in revision knee arthroplasty

The current authors review the results of 17 revision total knee arthroplasties in 14 patients in whom large uncontained defects were treated with impaction allografting and molded wire mesh for containment. Knee Society clinical scores increased from an average of 47 points to 95 points and function scores increased from 48 points to 73 points at the most recent followup. No patients required revision surgery, although, nonprogressive tibial radiolucency has been observed in three patients. One patient required open reduction and internal fixation of a periprosthetic supracondylar femur fracture. One patient with an acute postoperative infection with Staphylococcus epidermidis was treated successfully with irrigation and debridement with retention of the implant. Impaction grafting with wire mesh containment for large uncontained defects in revision total knee arthroplasty is an effective method of treating massive uncontained bone loss in revision total knee arthroplasty.