[Follow-up studies after bicondylar superficial replacement of rheumatoid knee joint destruction]

This study documents prospectively the Knee Society knee- and function score of 28 patients with rheumatoid arthritis with 34 PFC unconstrained total knee arthroplasties from preoperative values on at yearly intervals. The average follow-up period was 3.4 years (range 2-5.5 y). At last follow-up over 80% of the knees were painfree. All but one patient could walk more than 500 m. Knee and function score increased significantly from 30.1 resp. 35.0 to 83.8 resp. 74.6 (P < 0.000001). Postoperatively the knee score rose soon to a constant level whereas the function score showed a continuous slow increase up to 5 years. We observed one deep venous thrombosis and one subluxation. At an intermediate follow-up rheumatoid knees are clinically and functionally successfully operated on using an unconstrained TKA. Pain relief is excellent. We recommend the use of a scoring system assessing knee and functional results separately.