Cemented long-stem revision total knee arthroplasty

Abstract

Theoretical concerns about the use of cemented long-stemmed revision total knee arthroplasty include inducing stress shielding with adverse effects on prosthesis fixation. This study details the clinical outcome of 35 patients with 40 cemented long-stemmed kinematic stabilizer revision total knee arthroplasties at followup evaluation averaging 58.2 months (range, 24-111 months). Of these 40 revision arthroplasties, there were 25 long-stemmed tibial components and 38 long-stemmed femoral components. The Knee Society pain score improved from a preoperative value of 38 points (range, 4-80 points) to 83 points (range, 33-100 points) at last evaluation. The Knee Society function score improved from a preoperative value of 46 points (range, 5-100 points) to 64 points (range, 0-100 points) at last evaluation. Initial postoperative radiographs showed tibial bone-cement radiolucencies in 5 knees, but at final followup none of these radiolucencies had progressed. Radiolucencies developed in 5 additional tibial components by the time of final followup, but these were all incomplete and < 1 mm in width. Two femoral components had initial postoperative radiolucencies. These radiolucencies remained stable in 1 knee, whereas the other knee had asymptomatic radiographic loosening. Incomplete radiolucencies of < 1 mm developed in 3 additional femoral components at final followup. The incidence of tibial radiolucencies of 32% in the present study is similar to the incidence of radiolucencies with a nonstemmed revision cemented total knee arthroplasty, with the same prosthetic design, previously reported from the authors' institution.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)