The Attenborough total knee arthroplasty

A follow-up study was performed on 20 total knee arthroplasties of the Attenborough type in 15 patients. The follow-up term was from one to three years. In 16 cases the knee joint degeneration was caused by rheumatoid arthritis and in four cases by osteoarthrosis. Knee flexion improved from an average preoperative value of 17 degrees to 84 degrees, to an average of 3 degrees to 92 degrees. In one case (5%) a deep infection developed. In another case there was roentgenographic and clinical evidence of prosthetic loosening. Four patients were left with significant patellofemoral pain. With the exception of the infected knee, all patients showed significant improvement in their walking distance. Subjectively, 67% of the patients were satisfied or delighted, 26% felt improved and 7% were dissatisfied. These preliminary results with the Attenborough total knee prosthesis are comparable with the results of other authors; the indications seem limited to patients with restricted physical activity and severe deformity of the knee.