Total knee arthroplasty in the elderly. Is there an age limit?

The goal of this study was to compare the results of the total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in 2 study groups only differing by age. We have analyzed 218 TKA cases (138 women and 80 men) with at least 2 years follow-up. Mean age was 70 years (SD, 7.38 years; range, 43 to 98 years). An age cutoff point at 75 years defined the 2 study groups: 167 cases younger than 75 years and 51 older. Results were evaluated using the Hospital for Special Surgery Score. Mean score was raised from 53.43 (SD, 9.186) preoperatively to 85.57 (SD, 10.763) in 2 years follow-up (P < .001). The final score did not show significant differences between both groups (86.11 for the younger group and 83.8 for the older group). Differences in pain on walking, pain at rest, walk, range of motion, climbing stairs, transfer, muscle strength, or instability were not found between the patients younger and older than 75 years. We did not find any differences in TKA, functional score, or pain between the 2 studied groups.