The outcome of the cementless tibial component: a minimum 14-year clinical evaluation

The long term survival of the Miller-Galante I cementless total knee arthroplasty was evaluated by studying prospectively for a minimum of 14 years (range, 14-17 years), 124 consecutive cementless total knee arthroplasties using a Miller-Galante I prosthesis in 99 patients with a mean age of 62 years who had primary or secondary osteoarthritis. Knee function and roentgenograms were evaluated using the Knee Society criteria. Kaplan-Meier survivorship analysis was conducted. Five patients (five knees) were lost to followup; six patients died with six knees in place. Fifteen knees (15 patients) failed and were revised. Thirteen metal-backed patellas were revised. Eight of these revisions also required exchange of the femoral component, but only one tibial tray was revised. One knee (one patient) was revised for an infection. Of the 98 knees not revised (73 patients) observed throughout this study, the average preoperative knee score was 31 (range, 0-47); postoperatively, the average knee score was 91 (range, 72-100). The average function score improved from 28 (range, 10-45) to 84 (range, 50-100). Twenty-four tibial trays (21%) and twenty femoral components (17%) of the 113 knees studied showed osteolysis. This study indicates that osteointegration of cementless tibial components can be successful with screw fixation, although there is a worrisome incidence of tibial and femoral osteolysis. The overall knee survival rate was 87%; however, the tibial component had a survival of 99%.