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Intramedullary knee arthrodesis as a salvage procedure after failed total knee replacement
E Panagiotopoulos1, A Kouzelis, Ch Matzaroglou
1Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, University Hospital of Patras, Rio Patras, Greece.
International Orthopaedics
|May 10, 2006
Summary
Intramedullary nailing effectively achieves knee fusion after total knee replacement failure, offering stability and pain relief. This method resulted in an 89% union rate in a study of nine patients.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic surgery
- Reconstructive surgery
Background:
- Septic and aseptic loosening post-total knee replacement (TKR) are primary indications for knee fusion.
- Intramedullary nailing is often preferred over external fixation for TKR revision surgery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of intramedullary nailing for knee fusion following failed total knee replacement.
- To assess union rates, operative time, and patient outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Nine patients with failed TKR underwent knee fusion using intramedullary nailing.
- A mix of standard long nails with interlocking screws and custom nails were employed.
- Bone grafting was utilized in two cases.
Main Results:
- Successful knee fusion was achieved in eight out of nine patients (89% union rate).
- The average time to achieve joint union was 6.5 months.
- Average operative blood loss was 860 ml.
Conclusions:
- Intramedullary nailing provides a stable and effective option for knee fusion after TKR failure.
- The procedure allows for early weight-bearing and offers pain relief with a high success rate.
- Despite surgical complexity, intramedullary nailing demonstrates excellent outcomes for knee fusion.
