Patient outcome following revision total knee arthroplasty: a meta-analysis

The purpose of this study was to summarize the literature describing patient outcome following revision total knee arthroplasty. Original studies were included if they were published between 1990 and 2002, enrolled ten or more patients, and measured patient outcome using a global knee rating scale. We found 33 studies with a total number of 1,356 patients. There were 429 men and 611 women with a mean age of 67 (45-90) years. The weighted mean follow-up time was 57 (6-108) months. The main indication of revision was loosening. The weighted mean preoperative and postoperative knee scores were 49 (15-82) and 84 (58-109) respectively. There were significant differences between preoperative and postoperative knee and function scores and motion (knee: t=12.507 p<0.001, function: t=4.704 p<0.001, motion: t=5.346 p<0.001). Loosening was also the main complication after revision surgery. In this analysis, revision total knee arthroplasty was a safe and effective procedure.