Incidence and survival of multiply revised knee arthroplasties in Denmark 1998-2021: a nationwide register-based study

The primary aim of our study was to identify the absolute incidence and implant survival of multiply revised knee arthroplasties based on nationwide register data. The secondary aim was to determine the change in the absolute incidence and implant survival of multiply revised knee arthroplasties Methods: We performed a retrospective observational study of primary knee arthroplasties using several nationwide Danish registers. All primary knee arthroplasties performed in Denmark from 1998 to 2021 were identified. From these primary arthroplasties, revision procedures were identified. Kaplan-Meier plots were used in survival analysis to estimate the likelihood of implant survival.

161,384 primary knee arthroplasties and their revisions performed between 1998 and 2021 were identified; of 13,786 (8.5%) revisions there were 10,638 1st revisions, 2,148 2nd revisions, 624 3rd revisions, 223 4th revisions, and 153 procedures that had been revised more than 4 times. The 10-year revision-free survival of primary arthroplasties was 92.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 92.2-92.5). First-time revisions had a 10-year revision-free survival of 75.9% (CI 74.9-76.9). The 10-year survival of second- and third-time revisions was 65.1% (CI 62.6-67.6) and 57.8% (CI 53.4-62.5), respectively. The 10-year implant survival probabilities of primary knee arthroplasties were 91.4% in 1998-2009 and 93.3% in 2010-2021 (difference 2.2%). The 10-year implant survival probabilities of 1st revisions were 77% in 1998-2009 and 75% in 2010-2021 (difference -2.4%).

We found that 0.3% of all primary knee arthroplasties resulted in 3 or more revisions. The implant survival decreased for each consecutive revision, with almost half of the 3rd revisions being re-revised within 10 years. The 10-survival of the primary implant was higher in 2010-2021, and the 10-year survival of the 1st revision was higher in 1998-2009.