Results of revision total knee arthroplasties using condylar prostheses. A review of fifty knees.

Revisions of total knee arthroplasties for aseptic failure have provided varied results. In this review of fifty revisions in which a condylar prosthesis was used in carefully selected knees, the results were rated good or excellent in 76 per cent after an average length of follow-up of 4.8 years. At the follow-up examination, radiolucent lines were seen in 17 per cent of the knees. The complications included loosening of one or both prosthetic components in three knees (of which two were revised again); a hematoma in one knee; and a piece of loose cement, which had to be removed, in one knee. There were no deep infections. On the basis of these results, we concluded that revision total knee arthroplasty using a condylar prosthesis will have infrequent complications and will provide a satisfactory result in properly selected patients.