Functional outcome after total knee arthroplasty revision: a meta-analysis.

The objective of this study was to perform a systematic literature review to describe patient outcome after total knee arthroplasty revision procedures using various global knee score ratings. English language articles published from 1966 through 2000 were identified through a computerized literature search and bibliography review. A multistage assessment was used to determine the articles containing data that could meet our objective. Meta-analyses of global knee scores were undertaken using a fixed effects model with the assumption that the variances of each individual measurement were identical across studies. The initial inclusion criteria were met by 58 articles with a total of 1965 patients. There were 42 articles comprising 45 unique patient cohorts and a total of 1515 patients that had sufficient global knee score data for analysis and were used in the meta-analyses. Revision total knee arthroplasty is an effective procedure for failed knee arthroplasties based on global knee rating scales.