Metal-backed patellar components - A brief report on 10-year survival

Two hundred ninety-six total knee arthroplasties were performed with metal- backed patellar components in 206 patients with an average followup of 10 y ears. These total knee arthroplasties were reviewed retrospectively for sur vivorship, failure, and revision. There were 28 patellar component failures in 24 patients. Eighteen patellar components required revision. The averag e time to failure was 6.8 years, The average time to revision was 6.3 years . Survivorship analysis revealed .9662 survivorship at 5 years, which decre ased to .8976 at 10 years, and .8641 at 14 years. These results do not comp are favorably with the results of total knee arthroplasty with all-polyethy lene patellar components, The use of metal-backed patellar components shoul d be avoided.