Arthrodesis of the knee after failed knee replacement

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Biomedical engineering
• Musculoskeletal research

Background:

• Failed total knee replacement often necessitates knee arthrodesis.
• Achieving bony fusion in knee arthrodesis can be challenging.
• Existing methods may have limitations in efficacy or cost.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a novel method for knee arthrodesis.
• To evaluate the efficacy of the Portsmouth external fixator for knee fusion.
• To compare this technique with other arthrodesis methods.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of six patients with failed total knee replacement underwent knee arthrodesis.
• The Portsmouth external fixator, a simple and inexpensive device, was employed.
• Surgical technique details for applying the fixator were documented.

Main Results:

• Complete bony union was achieved in all six patients treated with the Portsmouth external fixator.
• The technique demonstrated successful fusion without complications in this series.
• Outcomes were comparable or superior to historical data from other arthrodesis methods.

Conclusions:

• The Portsmouth external fixator is an effective and straightforward method for knee arthrodesis after total knee replacement failure.
• This technique provides a reliable option for achieving bony union in challenging cases.
• The simplicity and cost-effectiveness of the fixator make it a valuable surgical tool.