The total condylar knee prosthesis: a review of 71 operations.

Seventy-one operations are reviewed, in which knees were replaced with the total condylar prosthesis. The follow-up period ranged between 1 and 7 years, with an average of 3.25 years. Osteoarthritis was diagnosed preoperatively in 53 knees and rheumatoid arthritis in 18. The results obtained in cases of osteoarthritis were better than those in cases of rheumatoid arthritis. The prognosis was adversely affected by obesity, preoperative flexion contracture of 30 degrees or more, wound-healing problems, wound infection, and postoperative manipulation under general anesthesia. The overall results were excellent in 48% of cases (34 knees), good in 28% (20 knees), fair in 11.3% (eight knees), and poor in 4.3% (three knees). Failure was experienced in 8.4% of cases (six knees).