Total condylar arthroplasty for gonarthrosis. A prospective 10-year study of 138 primary cases.

The results of 138 consecutive primary Insall-Burstein arthroplasties with an average observation period of 10 (9-11) years were assessed. Mean age at surgery was 71 (30-81) years. The patients were evaluated clinically, using the Hospital for Special Surgery knee rating scale, and radiographically, according to the radiolucency score of the Knee Society. At latest follow-up, the overall evaluation of the patients who completed the study was excellent or good in 86 percent, fair in 8 percent and poor in 6 percent. Residual functional pain was recorded in 12 percent of cases with prostheses in situ. An ability to walk more than 500 m was found in 62 percent. The median range of motion was 104 degrees. Arthrodesis was performed on 2 knees due to deep infection. There were 14 cases with substantial radiolucency around the prosthesis, but none of these patients had severe functional pain. The crude prosthetic survival rate was 98 percent. A correlation was found between the radiolucency score and both the total score and the intensity of the residual functional pain.