The total condylar knee prosthesis in osteoarthritis. A 5- to 10-year follow-up

In 124 patients with osteoarthritis 152 knee arthroplasties were evaluated with a mean follow-up of 7 years (range 5.2-9.1 years). Forty-six patients (53 knees) were either dead or otherwise lost to follow-up. Thus, 99 knee arthroplasties were evaluated. Three arthroplasties had been revised. Of the remaining 96 knee arthroplasties, 95% had achieved a satisfactory result. Five arthroplasties were unacceptable. One had a poor result and four a fair result. The reason for the poor/fair results was in one case a loose patellar component and in one case malposition of the components and ligament insufficiency. In 54.2% of the arthroplasties, there were radiolucent lines beneath the tibial component. There was one fatal pulmonary embolism, and four knees with superficial wound infection. One of these probably went on to late loosening. There was one case of peroneal nerve palsy. Three cases of deep vein thrombosis were diagnosed.