[Roentgenological assessment of knee joint arthroplasties (author's transl)]

Besides radiographical signs of aseptic or septic loosening in knee joint prostheses which occurred in 6.2% resp. 3.8% of our cases alignement of the implant with respect to femur and tibia is of importance. In 113 knee arthroplasties (GUEPAR, Walldius-Debeyre, Blauth, Shiers, Sheehan) 22.1% of the cases were malaligned. 77.9% can be regarded as satisfactorily implanted, however, only 20.4% were idally or nearly exactly aligned. The causes are discussed. Artificial patella replacement is followed only by a low rae of complications. Few cases showed regressive changes of the remaining part of the patella in the radiograph without having clinical relevance.