title: Success of different knee arthrodesis techniques after failed total knee arthroplasty: is there a preferred technique?
abstract: Arthrodesis is a widely accepted treatment for failed total knee arthroplasty when further revision is contraindicated. In this study, we retrospectively review the pre-operative characteristics, operation techniques, treatment plans, and eventual outcomes in 42 consecutive patients (43 knees) who underwent knee arthrodesis at a single institution. Femorotibial fusion was achieved in 30 cases (75.0%). No cases of implant failure were recorded. Post-operative complications occurred in 20 cases (46.5%). Repeat arthrodesis was performed in 4 cases, and 2 patients eventually required above-the-knee amputation. Comparing the cases with successful vs. unsuccessful outcomes, there was a significant difference in days until hospital discharge following arthrodesis (P = .026), mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate prior to arthrodesis (P = .012), and the proportion of patients with post-operative wound complications (P = .021).
authors.affiliation: University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, UCI Orthopaedic Surgery, Orange, California.
authors.forename: Ran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schwarzkopf
authors.affiliation: University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, UCI Orthopaedic Surgery, Orange, California.
authors.forename: Timothy L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Kahn
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Succar
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Ready
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001174:Arthrodesis / Q000379:methods*; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013977:Tibia / Q000601:surgery; D017211:Treatment Failure
keywords: arthrodesis; arthrodesis outcomes; arthrodesis techniques; factors in arthrodesis success; failed total knee arthroplasty