ARTHRODESIS FOLLOWING FAILED TOTAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY - COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW AND METAANALYSIS OF RECENT LITERATURE

With the increasing duration of follow up on total knee arthroplasties , more revision arthroplasties are being performed. When revision is n ot advisable, a salvage procedure such as arthrodesis or resection art hroplasty is indicated. This article provides a comprehensive review o f the literature regarding arthrodesis following failed total knee art hroplasty. In addition, a statistical meta-analysis of five studies us ing modern arthrodesis techniques is presented. A statistically signif icant greater fusion rate with intramedullary nail arthrodesis compare d to external fixation is documented. Gram negative and mixed infectio ns are found to be significant risk factors for failure of arthrodesis .