ICLH knee arthroplasty. A consecutive study of 108 knees with uncemented tibial component fixation

One hundred eight ICLH knee arthroplasties with cementless tibial component fixation were performed from 1978 through 1982 in Gothenburg, Sweden. The patients were followed for 2-8 years (mean, 4 years) with clinical and radiographic examinations at regular intervals, and the data were computer-analyzed. Patellar subluxation-dislocation, often accompanied by pain, occurred in 50% of the knees. Eleven arthroplasties failed due to aseptic loosening. Survival rate analysis performed using three different definitions of failure resulted in cumulative success rates after 8 years of 86%, 78%, and 72%. Most failures occurred between 2 and 5 years after surgery. Patients with bilateral arthritis were overrepresented among the failures. There was a significant correlation between failure and poor bone sclerosis around the polyethylene pegs. Most patients can be treated with cementless fixation, but other types of fixation should be considered for elderly patients and patients with severe bilateral disease.