Outcome following knee arthroplasty beyond 15 years.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Biomedical Engineering
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Limited data exists on long-term functional outcomes after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).
• Understanding outcomes beyond 15 years is crucial for patient management and implant longevity.
• Assessing TKA in both primary and revision cases provides comprehensive insights.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the long-term functional outcomes and implant survival of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) beyond 15 years.
• To compare outcomes between primary TKA and revision knee surgery.
• To assess patient satisfaction and pain levels in a long-term TKA cohort.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 150 patients (187 knees) with TKA implants beyond 15 years was analyzed.
• Patient-administered questionnaires, including WOMAC and SF-36, were used to collect outcome data.
• Implant survival rates and differences between primary and revision surgeries were scrutinized.

Main Results:

• Implant survival was confirmed in the long-term cohort.
• Mean WOMAC Pain scores indicated predominantly mild pain (72), while Function scores indicated moderate limitations (55).
• No significant differences in outcomes were observed between revised and un-revised knees.

Conclusions:

• Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) provides good long-term pain relief and patient satisfaction, extending even to those undergoing revision surgery.
• Functional outcomes demonstrate moderate limitations but are generally positive.
• TKA remains a beneficial procedure for long-term joint function and quality of life.