Total condylar knee arthroplasty - A long-term followup

Between July 1977 and December 1983, 80 patients underwent 120 arthroplasti es using a total condylar knee prostheses. Forty-one patients (68 knees) di ed and 13 patients were lost to followup. Twenty-six patients with 34 total condylar replacements were available for clinical followup. During the fol lowup, 10 knees in nine patients (8.3%) from the overall 80 patients (120 k nees) underwent revision; three (four knees) for aseptic loosening, one for periprosthetic fracture, three for infection, and two patients underwent r evision for pain. Three revisions (three patients) occurred in the group of 26 patients available for followup. The average age of this group of patie nts at followup was 78 years (range, 53-94 years). There were 10 men and 16 women. Considering the high mean age of the patients in the series and pat ients' overall health status, the clinical results were extremely good. Kap lan-Meier analysis showed a survivorship of 91% at 23 years followup, consi dering revision as an end point. Although there have been several changes i n total knee replacement designs, materials, and implantation techniques, t he long-term outcome of the original total condylar knee prosthesis is exce llent.