Clinical and radiographic results of 184 consecutive revision total knee arthroplasties placed with modular cementless stems

Abstract

Clinical and radiographic outcomes of 184 consecutive revision total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) placed with cemented components and press-fit fluted cementless stems were reviewed at average follow-up of 49 months. Revision was performed for septic failure in 53 of 184 knees, periprosthetic fracture in 10 of 184 knees, and aseptic failure in 121 of 184 knees. The press-fit cementless stems were placed to tightly contact the endosteum of the metadiaphyseal area of the femur and tibia. No knees were re-revised for aseptic loosening. There were 15 failures (15/184, 8.2%): 13 were septic failures, 9 of which were recurrence of sepsis and 4 of which were new cases of sepsis. Average Knee Society knee score improved from 134.6 to 167.8 (P < .05). Revision TKA with modular cementless stems provided excellent fixation with no revisions for aseptic loosening. Re-revision for sepsis was the dominant failure mechanism with an overall rate of 7%. Given the increasing prevalence of revision TKA, sepsis prevention strategies should receive increased attention.