LONG-TERM OUTCOME AND SURVIVORSHIP ANALYSIS OF PRIMARY TOTAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY IN PATIENTS WITH DIABETES-MELLITUS

Sixty-eight consecutive primary total knee arthroplasties in 51 patien ts with diabetes mellitus were assessed for long term outcome and risk factors, The mean followup was 8 years, There was a higher complicati on rate compared with that of a matched control group, Wound complicat ions occurred in 4 knees, deep infection in 1, periprosthetic fracture s in 3, and definite aseptic loosening in 5. Urinary tract infections occurred in 4 patients, Radiolucencies of more than 1 mm were observed in 38% of arthroplasties, At last followup, the Hospital for Special Surgery knee score was 77 +/- 12 points, which is worse than the 86 +/ - 10 points of the control subjects, Only 74% of the patients had a sa tisfactory clinical result, Survivorship analysis showed a 91% probabi lity of implant survival at 10 years, which was not significantly diff erent from that of the control subjects, Previous surgery and increase d weight were the only risk factors associated with implant failure.