Posterior cruciate condylar total knee arthroplasty. Five-year results

A series of 189 consecutive posterior cruciate condylar total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) in 151 patients was reviewed. Of these, 18 patients died (22 knees), and two patients (three knees) were lost to follow-up study, leaving 164 knees in 131 patients for evaluation at 5.3 +/- 0.8 years (mean +/- SD). Before surgery 91% of the patients experienced moderate to severe pain with weight bearing, whereas 6% had such pain at five years. The average motion was -5 degrees -107 degrees before surgery and -1 degrees -101 degrees at last examination. The percentage of patients who could walk more than six blocks (600 m) increased from 9% preoperatively to 61% at last examination. The percentage of patients who could independently climb stairs increased from 37% preoperatively to 69% at last examination. Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) scores improved an average of 29 points, from 57 preoperatively (poor) to 86 (excellent) at last examination. Complications included an overall reoperation rate of 3.7% (seven knees), with a revision rate of 1.6% (three knees). Lucent lines greater than or equal to 1 mm at five years were present in 6% of knees and progressed in 3%. Overall, the results after posterior cruciate-sparing TKAs were excellent, with few complications.