Minimum 19 Year Clinical Results and Patient Satisfaction after Total Knee Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Long-term (minimum 19 year) outcome data on clinical results and patient satisfaction after posterior-stabilized total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) are missing in the literature. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the clinical and radiographic results as well as patient satisfaction at a mean of 21.2 years after posterior-stabilized TKAs.

METHODS: This study included 756 patients (1,350 knees) who had undergone TKAs. There were 96 men and 660 women (mean age, 58 years (range, 40 to 84). The mean follow-up was 21.2 years (range, 19 to 23). At each follow-up visit, the patients were assessed radiographically and clinically. Furthermore, patient satisfaction was determined.

RESULTS: The Knee Society total, pain, function, and deformity scores were 42, 18, 33, and 5 points, respectively, at the final follow-up. The mean WOMAC score was 25 points at the final follow-up. Revision or aseptic loosening as the end point, the 23-year intimated survival for the implant was 96% (95% CI [confidence interval], 91 to 100%). The overall patient satisfaction score at the final follow-up was 83.3 points (range, 81 to 86). Patient satisfaction scores with regard to pain, housework, recreation, and surgery were 84, 81, 82, and 86 points, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present, mean 21-year follow-up clinical study suggest excellent results with regard to the revision rates and survivorship of the posterior-stabilized total knee implants. However, consistent with the literature, we found that about 80% of patients expressed overall satisfaction with their primary TKAs. About 8% of patients were either somewhat or very dissatisfied with the procedure.