Arthroplasty in young adults: options, techniques, trends, and results

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has been established as a very successful and commonly performed procedure for primary and secondary osteoarthritis, and also for inflammatory arthropathies of the knee in all age groups and both genders. It has predominantly been used as a procedure in the age group of patients 65 years and above. Consequently, the literature is replete with data relevant to various issues associated with TKA in the above 65 years age group population. Although there is reasonable clarity and consensus on the broad parameters of the use of TKA in the above 65 years age group (older), this cannot be said for the same issue as relevant to the below 65 years age group (young adults). Over the last 2 decades there has been an increasing tendency toward the use of TKA in young adults, with some countries reporting a 5-fold increase in the last 10 years [1]. The present article is designed to review the most recent literature specific to this subject and assess it vis-à-vis various issues as listed in the subsequent text, with the aim of highlighting evolving thoughts and trends, which could be useful for decision making by clinicians practicing in the community.