title: A 5-9-year follow-up study of the Sheehan total knee arthroplasty.
abstract: Of 83 Sheehan total knee arthroplasties evaluated 5-9 years after surgery, 14 had been revised for mechanical failure and 9 for late sepsis, leaving 60 cases for clinical and radiologic evaluation. Fifty-seven percent of the patients achieved satisfactory pain relief, but only 15% were satisfied with their knees. There was loss of alignment in 48% of cases. Most patients exhibited some degree of varus/valgus instability. These complications are attributed to polyethylene wear, a major problem in this series. Sixty percent of the patients had anterior knee pain and 48% had radiologic evidence of patellar dysfunction. The overall poor results and the high rate of revision have persuaded the authors to abandon this procedure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jakim
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barlin
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Sweet
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007720:Knee Prosthesis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000601:surgery*; D011095:Polyethylenes; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D011095:Polyethylenes