title: Total replacement of the rheumatoid knee: a review of currently available prostheses and a follow-up of 50 operations.
abstract: Total replacement of the knee has become an essential part of the overall management of rheumatoid arthritis. This paper reviews briefly the various forms of arthroplasty currently available, touching on some design features and associated problems. A study has been made of 50 knees in which one prosthetic design (the ICLH) has been used. The follow-up period varied between 2 and 7 years. Analysis of pain, walking ability and anatomical integrity before and after operation revealed an incidence of 82% good or fair results. Four patients (8%) developed septic complications, a higher incidence than that associated with total hip replacement. The factors associated with this increased incidence include steroid medication, previous surgery, general debility, and the thin soft-tissue cover of the knee.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D007720:Knee Prosthesis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement; D011183:Postoperative Complications