REVISION RESURFACING KNEE ARTHROPLASTY FOR ASEPTIC LOOSENING

This re-investigation presents our experience with revision resurfacin g knee arthroplasty caused by aseptic failure. The evaluation of the r esults should elucidate the benefit of revision, its complications as well as the impact of the implant type used. The study involved 36 pat ients whose primary resurfacing knee prostheses failed by aseptic loos ening, The rather elderly patients (average 68.3 years) underwent revi sion 6 years later on average. In 30 cases (83.3%). arthroplasty could be repeated with resurfacing implants, whereas the use of hinge prost heses was unavoidable in 6 knees (16.7%). After an average of 7 years later, 30 knees were re-investigated according to the Hospital for Spe cial Surgery (HSS) scoring system. Results were compared with the HSS values prior to revision. Complications and revised implant survivorsh ip were reported chronologically. The revision knees had a 80% inciden ce of improved HSS score, In 73.3% the outcome was graded as good or e ven excellent. In contrast, scoring values before revision were dissat isfying without exception. The early complication rate after operation was 25% Persisting pain, instability and limited mobility led to repe ated revision in two cases and arthrodesis of one of the knees. The ou tcome of revision after 7 years revealed a remarkable early complicati on rate. Nevertheless, good or excellent results could be scored after implantation of PFC, PFC-modular, TC and TCIII prostheses.